[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10388-S10400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS


                               Evan Bayh

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a colleague 
and friend of mine--Senator Evan Bayh--who will be retiring from the 
U.S. Senate when the 112th Congress convenes in January. I would like 
to take this moment to thank Evan for his service, and wish him, his 
wife Susan, and their twin boys Beau and Nick, the very best as they 
embark on the next chapter in their lives.
  Evan comes from a family tradition deeply rooted in public service 
and committed to improving the lives of our fellow citizens. Our 
fathers, Birch Bayh and Tom Dodd, served together in the U.S. Senate, 
and instilled in both of us the desire to serve as we grew older.
  Evan has dedicated the better part of his adult life to serving the 
people of Indiana. He began his career in public service when he was 
elected Indiana's Secretary of State in 1986. He then served as 
Governor of Indiana for two terms starting in 1988. As Governor he 
focused on fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, job creation and lean 
government. In 1998, Hoosiers once again demonstrated their faith in 
Evan Bayh by electing him to the U.S. Senate.
  Throughout his career in public service, Evan has been particularly 
vocal on issues related to our national security, economic 
competiveness, and job creation. He has demonstrated his willingness to 
work hard, a fact underscored by his membership on six Senate 
committees--Aging, Armed Services, Banking, Energy and Natural 
Resources, Intelligence, and Small Business. He has developed a broad 
range of subject matter expertise, and has time and again demonstrated 
his willingness to reach across the aisle to get things done for the 
people of Indiana.
  This Congress, as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, I had the 
opportunity to work with Evan on several vital issues, such as his 
contributions to the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and 
Disclosure, CARD, Act and Wall Street reform.
  When Evan leaves the Senate in just a few short weeks, I believe he 
will be remembered as a public servant who was devoted first and 
foremost to advancing the interests of Hoosiers, and who was willing to 
work across the aisle whenever he saw an opportunity to do the right 
thing for our Nation.
  Once again, I would like to thank Evan for his years of service, and 
wish him well as he leaves the Senate. It has been a pleasure working 
with him over the years, and I firmly believe that this body will not 
be the same without him.


                              Bob Bennett

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a friend and longtime 
colleague Senator Bob Bennett who, like me, will be departing from the 
U.S. Senate in just a couple of weeks. I would like to take this 
opportunity to wish Bob, Joyce, and the rest of his family the very 
best as he leaves the Senate and embarks on this new chapter in his 
life.
  Since he was first elected to this body in 1992, Bob has served the 
people of Utah well as their Senator. Bob comes from a long line of 
individuals dedicated to public service, and it is no surprise that he 
himself decided to go down that path. Bob's grandfather, Heber J. 
Grant, was the seventh President of the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. And Bob's father, Wallace F. 
Bennett, represented the state of Utah in this very Chamber between 
1951 and 1974, serving alongside my father, Tom Dodd.
  Throughout the time that I have known and worked with him, I have 
always found Bob to be receptive to the ideas of others and careful and 
deliberate in his own evaluation of complex policy questions.
  Of course, that is not to say that Bob Bennett isn't also a 
determined partisan. Indeed, throughout his three terms here, Bob has 
been one of the Senate's most consistently conservative voices. But in 
spite of that, Bob has frequently reached across the partisan divide to 
seek out areas of common ground and mutual interest with Democrats.
  That willingness to engage and cooperate with colleagues has perhaps 
been most evident in his work on the Senate Banking Committee. 
Throughout our years of service together on that panel, Bob and I have 
frequently been among the first to reach out across the aisle and 
search for solutions to the challenges facing our Nation's financial 
services sector. And from our work together during the savings and loan 
crisis, to passage of legislation that provides a safety net for our 
economy in the event of a devastating terrorist attack, we have 
achieved some important results.
  Bob chaired and I served as vice chairman of the Y2K Committee, to 
ensure the integrity of our Nation's financial services sector. More 
recently, in the fall of 2008, when the global financial system was on 
the verge of collapse and our country was standing at the precipice of 
an economic depression, Bob took a significant political risk by 
supporting the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, which established 
TARP. I realize that this was an incredibly difficult vote for Bob and 
every other Member of this Chamber at the time.
  But I am convinced that without elected officials who are willing to 
cast those kinds of tough, yet necessary votes, this country would be a 
very different place.
  So I would like to once again thank Bob for his 18 years of service 
in this body and for his willingness to listen to and work with 
colleagues with whom he hasn't always agreed. And I would like to once 
again wish Bob and his family the very best as he leaves the Senate 
this January.


                            Blanche Lincoln

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the Senior Senator from 
Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln, who, like me, will be leaving the U.S. 
Senate in the coming weeks. I would like to take this moment to thank 
Blanche for her service, and wish her, her husband Dr. Steve Lincoln 
and her two twin boys Bennett and Reece, the very best as they embark 
on the next chapter in their lives.
  As a seventh generation Arkansan, Blanche has dedicated the better 
part of her adult life to serving the people of Arkansas. She was 
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. After two terms 
representing Arkansas's first district she retired briefly to give 
birth two her twin sons. However, the call of public service led her to 
run for a vacant seat in the U.S. Senate and in 1998, at the age of 38, 
the people of Arkansas elected her to serve them as their U.S. Senator 
the youngest woman ever to be elected.
  As a young woman growing up on her family farm in the small town of 
Helena, AR, Blanche developed a strong appreciation and understanding 
for American farmers and ranchers and the important work they do for 
our country. She carried the lessons she learned, and the values they 
instilled in her, with her to Congress. Throughout her career in public 
service, Blanche has been particularly vocal on issues related to 
agriculture, hunger, working families and children.
  In 2009, Blanche became the first ever woman to chair the Senate 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. She played the key role 
in brokering the compromise that led to passage of the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, otherwise known as the farm bill, 
which reauthorizes U.S. agriculture policy every 5 years and is of 
vital importance to farmers and food producers across the country.
  Senator Lincoln and the Agriculture Committee also played a vital 
role in shaping the derivatives provisions in the Dodd-Frank Wall 
Street reform bill. These were difficult, highly complex matters, and 
Senator Lincoln worked tirelessly to lead her committee throughout the 
process. Her seriousness and hard work were a tremendous asset to the 
overall process, and I commend her and her committee for helping to 
shape the legislation.
  In addition to her work on the Agriculture Committee, Blanche has 
been focused on our country's children. She formed the Senate Caucus 
for Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children and the Senate Hunger 
Caucus. She recently worked to pass the child nutrition bill, which 
will improve the lives of millions of children in our country.
  After Blanche leaves the Senate, I believe she will be remembered as 
a tireless public servant who was devoted first and foremost to 
advancing the interests of the people of her beloved home State, 
Arkansas.
  Once again, I would like to thank Blanche for her years of service, 
and

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wish her well as she leaves the Senate. It has truly been a pleasure 
working with her over the years, and I firmly believe that this body 
will not be the same without her.


                                Kit Bond

  Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes today to pay 
tribute to a longtime colleague, the senior Senator from Missouri, who 
like me will be leaving this body in a few short weeks. It has been an 
honor to serve with him, and I wish him, his wife Linda, and his son 
Samuel--who is bravely serving his Nation as a 1st lieutenant in the 
U.S. Marine Corps and the rest of his family the best of luck in the 
future.
  Senator Bond, or ``Kit'' as many of us know him, knew at an early age 
that his calling was public service. After earning his law degree and 
practicing for a few years here in Washington, DC, he returned to 
Missouri to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1968. While he 
was unsuccessful in that first run, at the young age of 29 he caught 
the eye of the then-Missouri Attorney General John Danforth, who hired 
him as an assistant attorney general.
  After heading the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection, 
Kit was elected in his own right to serve as Missouri's State Auditor, 
and later went on to two terms as Governor of Missouri. He still holds 
the distinction of having been the youngest Governor elected in his 
State's history at the age of 33.
  Kit was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986. During his time in this 
body, he has established himself as a strong advocate for the people 
and interests of the State of Missouri. He has also established himself 
as a national leader on issues that are important not only to his State 
but to our Nation as a whole.
  For years, as a member and later chairman of the Small Business and 
Entrepreneurship Committee, he has served as a leading voice for small 
businesses.
  As the vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 
Senator Bond has worked continuously to ensure our Nation's 
intelligence community has the tools and resources necessary to keep us 
safe. Throughout his career in the Senate, he has also been a 
knowledgeable, leading voice on matters of importance to veterans, and 
has time and again proven his unwavering support for our men and women 
in uniform.
  As a member of the Appropriations Committee, and chairman and ranking 
member of the Transportation and Housing Subcommittee, he has played a 
significant role in advocating for improvements to our nation's roads 
and other vital infrastructure.
  These are just some of the areas which Senator Bond will no doubt be 
remembered. But I would like to take a moment to speak to an issue 
which he and I have worked together for many years, for which he may 
not receive the attention he deserves--his strong advocacy for the 
health of our nation's children and families.
  Senator Bond and I have worked together on these issues for many 
years. In 1991, his support was vital to gaining enactment of a piece 
of legislation of which I am most proud--the Family and Medical Leave 
Act. To date, this bill has been used more than 100 million times to 
ensure that workers can care for ailing loved ones, or care for a new 
child, without the fear of losing their job. This seems like common 
sense now, but it took 7 years, and 2 Presidential vetoes to finally 
see this important law enacted.
  That wouldn't have happened without the involvement of Kit Bond.
  He was also one of the key supporters of the successful effort in 
2009 to ensure that airline workers have full access to their Family 
and Medical Leave Act benefits.
  Senator Bond and I have also partnered over the years to improve 
maternal and child health and end preventable birth defects. I was 
proud to be a cosponsor of the Birth Defects Prevention Act of 1998, 
which he authored. I was also honored to partner with him and others 
again in 2003, when we were successful in passing the Birth Defects and 
Developmental Disabilities Prevention Act. These measures helped to 
establish, and then expand, the role of the Centers for Disease Control 
in researching and developing solutions to the problems posed by birth 
defects and developmental disabilities.
  He was also a key Republican sponsor, along with Senator Hatch of 
Utah, of the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act, which I authored in the 
110th Congress. This legislation is the next step in our work together, 
and seeks to educate every parent, and provide access for every 
newborn, to a battery of life-saving prenatal tests. This landmark 
legislation helps build on the successes which we have had on this 
issue in the past, and I was pleased that Senator Bond was a supporter 
yet again, as he has been throughout his career in the Senate.
  While we did not always see eye-to-eye on every issue, Senator Bond 
was always someone with whom those policy disagreements were never 
personal. He has been an honorable legislator, and a valued colleague 
during our time serving in the Senate together.
  Once again, I would like to wish Senator Bond, his wife Linda, his 
son Samuel and his family, and all their extended family the very best 
in all their future endeavors.


                             Sam Brownback

  I woul'd like to say a few words in honor of Senator Sam Brownback, 
my colleague from Kansas for these past 14 years. Like me, he will be 
ending his service in the U.S. Senate at the conclusion of this 
Congress. I would like to congratulate him on his election as Governor 
of the State of Kansas, and I wish him and his family the very best in 
his new endeavor.
  His election to the governorship should come as no surprise--he has 
proven time and again that his first priority is serving the people of 
Kansas. He has a long track record of service, beginning with his 1986 
election to the position of State Secretary of Agriculture. At the time 
of his election, he was only 30 years old, the youngest person ever to 
hold the position.
  After serving as Agriculture Secretary, Sam was elected to the House 
of Representatives as part of the famous Republican class of 1994. He 
quickly ascended to the Senate in 1996 with the departure of a Senate 
and Kansas legend, then-Majority Leader Bob Dole. Sam had some big 
shoes to fill, and he has done so admirably.
  Senator Brownback will be remembered for many things, his 
conservatism and his passion to name a few, but perhaps the most 
important is his dedication to his faith. His religious values provided 
an anchor for everything he did, and led to his pursuit of issues that 
provided assistance for those in need.
  Senator Brownback's commitment to ending the genocide in Darfur is an 
example of one of those issues. Tragically, more than 200,000 people 
have died in Darfur and more than 2.5 million have been displaced as a 
result of the unrest in Sudan. Senator Brownback's expertise and 
dedication to this critically important issue has made a real impact on 
the fight to end this horrific crisis. With his retirement, the Senate 
will lose one of its great human rights champions.
  Senator Brownback and I may not have always seen eye-to-eye, but no 
one ever questioned his commitment to principle, or his commitment to 
the people of Kansas.
  I wish him, his wife Mary, and their five children all the best. 
While the Senate will miss him, I wish him luck as he embarks on his 
next journey as the Governor of Kansas.


                             James Bunning

  Mr. President, I rise today to say a few words of farewell to my 
colleague from Kentucky, Senator Jim Bunning. We will both be retiring 
from this Chamber when this Congress concludes, and I wish him and his 
wife Mary Catherine, their sons and daughters and the rest of their 
family the very best in the future.
  As we all know, prior to becoming a politician Jim Bunning was a 
world-class baseball pitcher. He had a distinguished career primarily 
with the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies, during which he 
became the second pitcher in Major League history to record 1,000 
strikeouts and 100 wins in both the American and National Leagues. He 
was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.
  Of course, after such a distinguished career he could have simply 
hung up his cleats, moved back to his home state of Kentucky, and 
enjoyed a quiet retirement with his family.
  Instead, he decided to take the work ethic and competitive spirit 
that drove

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him in baseball and use his energy to give back to his community as a 
public servant. In 1977, he ran for and won a city council seat in Fort 
Thomas, KY. He was then elected to the Kentucky State Senate in 1979. 
After serving in the State Senate as Republican leader, he ran to 
represent Kentucky's 4th Congressional District in 1986. He also won 
that election, and served for 12 years in the U.S. House of 
Representatives.
  In 1998, Jim ran to replace Senator Wendell Ford, who was retiring. 
He kept his winning streak alive, not only winning that initial Senate 
contest, but also reelection in 2004. When he retires this year, Jim 
Bunning will have amassed an impressive winning streak in politics, 
just as he did in baseball.
  As you know, life in the U.S. Senate is about working out 
disagreements through deliberation and debate. This process of 
lawmaking has served to ensure that the voices of a broad range of 
Americans are heard as we work to craft the laws and policies we must 
ultimately all abide by.
  As a Senator, Jim Bunning has always stood up for his beliefs, and 
fought for what he thought was right. As a member of the Senate 
Banking, Budget, Energy, and Finance Committees, Senator Bunning has 
been a staunchly conservative voice on economic policy.
  While he and I seldom have seen eye to eye on these matters, his deep 
convictions have given voice to the concerns of citizens who share his 
point of view, and thereby have helped to shape and enrich our debates 
on the important questions we have faced over the years.
  I wish him further success in whatever endeavors he pursues, as well 
as many happy, healthy years to come with his family.


                             Russ Feingold

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a longtime colleague 
and friend of mine, Senator Russ Feingold, who will be leaving the 
Senate this January after 18 years of service. I would like to take 
this opportunity to wish Russ and his family the very best as they 
embark on this new chapter in their lives.
  Born and raised in the city of Janesville, WI, Russ has dedicated the 
better part of his career to serving the people of his home State. 
Prior to his first election to the U.S. Senate in 1992, Russ served as 
a Wisconsin State senator for nearly a decade. Throughout his career in 
public service, Russ has proven to be a passionate and articulate 
advocate for the people of Wisconsin and their needs.
  Since he first entered the Senate, Russ has perhaps become best-known 
as one of this body's most stalwart progressives. Indeed, on any number 
of issues, from campaign finance reform, to the Iraq war, to our work 
together during Senate consideration of legislation reauthorizing the 
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Russ has demonstrated a strong 
commitment towards ensuring that respect for human rights, the rule of 
law, and democracy remain cornerstones of American policy, both at home 
and abroad.
  Over the course of his three terms in the U.S. Senate, Russ has 
perhaps become most closely identified in the minds of many Americans 
with his work on campaign finance reform with Senator McCain. In 2002, 
when the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill was being 
considered, Russ took a very courageous position in pushing legislation 
that, at the time, was relatively unpopular with some of our colleagues 
on both sides of the aisle. I was proud to join those efforts as the 
floor manager of McCain-Feingold, and would like to express my 
gratitude to Russ for his strong and consistent leadership on that 
issue.
  I have long appreciated Russ's strong, principled stands on those 
issues, and have welcomed the opportunity to work with him over the 
years. I know that Russ's commitment to justice, fairness, and the rule 
of law will be missed come January, and I would once again like to wish 
him the best as he leaves this institution.


                              Byron Dorgan

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a longtime colleague 
and friend of mine Senator Byron Dorgan who will be retiring from the 
U.S. Senate when the 112th Congress convenes in January. I would like 
to take this moment to thank Byron for his service, and wish him, his 
wife, Kim, and the rest of his wonderful family the very best as they 
embark on this new chapter in their lives.
  Byron has dedicated the better part of his adult life to serving the 
people of his State. When he was just 26 years old, Byron became the 
youngest constitutional officer in North Dakota history when he was 
appointed to serve as the State's Tax Commissioner. In 1980, Byron once 
again demonstrated his commitment to public service when he was elected 
to the State's lone House seat. Twelve years later, after six terms in 
the House, the people of North Dakota once again returned Byron to 
Washington, this time as their U.S. Senator.
  Throughout his career in public service, Byron has been particularly 
vocal on issues related to U.S. agricultural policy. As a young man 
growing up in the small town of Regent, ND, Byron developed a strong 
appreciation for American farmers and ranchers and the important work 
they do to keep our country fed. Indeed, Byron's own family worked in 
the farm equipment business and raised cattle and horses. As a result, 
he has been a consistent advocate for greater economic security and 
opportunity in rural America.
  Since 2005, Byron has also served as chairman of the Senate 
Democratic Policy Committee, where he has played an important role in 
helping to craft the Senate Democratic policy agenda over the last 
several years. But after Byron leaves the Senate in just a few short 
weeks, I believe he will be remembered as a public servant who was 
devoted first and foremost to advancing the interests of the people of 
his beloved home State, North Dakota.
  Once again, I would like to thank Byron for his many years of 
service, and wish him well as he leaves the Senate. It has truly been a 
pleasure working with him over the years, and I firmly believe that 
this body will not be the same without him.


                               Judd Gregg

  Mr. President, I rise today to bid farewell to my colleague, a fellow 
New Englander and Banking Committee member, the senior Senator from New 
Hampshire, Judd Gregg.
  It has been an honor and a pleasure serving with him in this body for 
the past 18 years. As we both prepare to leave the Senate this year, I 
would like to take this opportunity to wish him and his family the very 
best in the future.
  Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Senator Gregg has been an ardent 
advocate for his home State of New Hampshire, and a knowledgeable 
legislator. Time and again, during floor debate and committee 
proceedings, he has demonstrated his sharp intellect and deep knowledge 
of a broad range of issues--particularly on economic and budget policy.
  He is a deeply committed public servant, who has been elected by the 
people of New Hampshire to serve them for 9 years in the House of 
Representatives, for 4 years as Governor, and as their U.S. Senator for 
the last 18 years. In fact, they returned him to the Senate in 2004 
with the highest number of votes in New Hampshire history. It is clear 
that his constituents have a great deal of faith in this man, and 
during his time in Congress, he has represented them and their values 
extremely well.
  As one would expect from a man of New Hampshire, Senator Gregg has 
always demonstrated his independence, commitment to hard work, and 
self-sufficiency. Yet he has also been someone that has sought 
compromise and has been ready to collaborate with those willing to 
tackle the difficult problems facing our Nation.
  In 2001, he was one of the lead Republicans working on the No Child 
Left Behind law to improve education across the Nation for generations 
of Americans. In 2003, he and I worked together with Senator Ted 
Kennedy, Senator Lamar Alexander, and Senator Susan Collins to craft 
the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, which updated our nation's 
laws to meet the serious problem of child abuse.
  Of course, improving education and ending child abuse are issues on 
which both liberals and conservatives broadly agree, so bipartisanship 
and collaboration on these matters is easy.
  Of course, in the fall of 2008, our Nation was faced with a nearly 
unprecedented economic collapse--and the

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views of liberals and conservatives on how to respond could charitably 
be described as divergent, at best.
  It was at that moment, when our Nation faced a calamity of historical 
proportions, that Senator Gregg grit his teeth and set to work, 
negotiating with me, Treasury Secretary Geithner, Federal Reserve 
Chairman Bernanke, and others, to fashion a legislative response to the 
crisis.
  Despite the heavy criticism that came with being a party to those 
discussions, he remained a key negotiator, and in the end, the House 
and Senate approved the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. Today, 
our economy, though far from recovered, is far better off than it would 
have been without this bill and many of the institutions which received 
assistance have repaid the Treasury with interest.
  Let me be clear that was a bill that none of us ever, in our wildest 
dreams thought we would have to write, or vote to pass. However 
distasteful, it would have been wrong to allow our financial system to 
go into full cardiac arrest, with little chance of survival.
  The politically expedient route to take would have been to walk away, 
vote against the bill, and join the pundits, commentators, and bloggers 
who've said ``It never should have passed, and we would have been fine 
without it anyway.''
  But that wouldn't be leadership. That wouldn't be statesmanship. And 
that isn't the type of legislator that Judd Gregg is.
  I would also like to thank Senator Gregg for his work as a member of 
the Banking Committee. He joined the committee late in his tenure, but 
his deep knowledge of the economy and expertise in financial matters 
was greatly appreciated. He played an important role in helping to 
craft what became the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act.
  Though he was a staunch opponent of some of the bill's provisions, he 
didn't see that opposition as an impediment to continuing to offer 
ideas and thoughtful debate in order to shape the legislation into what 
he thought was a better product.
  Yet, as fierce a partisan as Senator Gregg is, he is also a 
consummate legislator. He knows that the people of New Hampshire sent 
him here to work hard, and work with the other members of this body. He 
has shown that at the end of the day, even if you work hard on 
something, you may not be able to support it--but you will know that 
you have done your best to advocate for your positions and shape the 
debate.
  The Senate will miss his knowledge and work ethic, and I hope that 
newly elected members--of both parties--will follow his example.
  I wish him, his wife Kathleen, his children and granddaughter the 
very best.


                             George LeMieux

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague, the 
Senator from Florida, George LeMieux, who will be leaving the U.S. 
Senate before the 112th Congress convenes. I would like to take this 
moment to thank George for his service, and wish him, his wife Meike, 
and their four children the very best as they embark on the next 
chapter of their lives.
  George is a native Floridian who has served as deputy attorney 
general, and later as Governor Charlie Crist's chief of staff.
  When Senator Mel Martinez retired in 2009, George was appointed to 
fulfill the remainder of the term. Since then he has worked to help the 
people of Florida through his work as a member of the Senate Armed 
Services Committee, the Commerce Committee, and the Special Committee 
on Aging.
  Though he has only been in the Senate for a short time, Senator 
LeMieux has been an engaged and hard-working Member of this body. He 
has emerged as a strong advocate for solving our long-term Federal debt 
concerns, and a devoted advocate for the people and businesses of his 
home State of Florida.
  While we did not share the same views on a number of issues, Senator 
LeMieux proved that he was a man of deep conviction who was not afraid 
to stand up for what he believed. He spoke often on the floor to 
advocate for his positions. However, he showed that he was a serious 
legislator, and leader, on issues of vital importance to our Nation.
  For example, he was the lone Republican to cast a vote in favor of 
the Small Business Jobs Act. This legislation was designed to expand 
access to credit, and provide tax incentives, for small businesses. 
George recognized that these were two things that Florida's businesses 
desperately needed--much more than partisan gridlock.
  After George leaves the Senate in just a few short weeks, I believe 
he will be remembered as a public servant who was devoted first and 
foremost to advancing the interests of the people of his home State, 
Florida.
  Once again, I would like to thank George for his service, and wish 
him well as he leaves the Senate. It has been a pleasure working with 
him.


                             Arlen Specter

  Mr. President, I rise today to honor my friend and longtime 
colleague, Senator Arlen Specter, the longest serving U.S. Senator in 
Pennsylvania history.
  As many of you know, Arlen and I were freshmen Senators together 30 
years ago. I was the only Democrat newly elected to the Senate in 1980. 
Senator Specter was one of 12 new Republicans elected that year, in the 
so-called ``Reagan Landslide,'' that gave his party the Senate for the 
first time in 28 years.
  I bring this up because, even though I was a new Senator in the 
minority, we quickly began working on a bipartisan basis. For those 
listening today, the idea of a bipartisan Senate may seem strange. Back 
then, it was commonplace and I know that Arlen and I both hope that 
newly elected Members of this body will revive this tradition in the 
coming years.
  Early in our Senate careers, Arlen and I started the Senate 
Children's Caucus. We believed that as the largest nonvoting 
constituency in the country, children had the greatest need for 
champions to advocate on their behalf. The Children's Caucus has 
provided strong leadership on early childhood education, funding for 
childcare programs, and making passage of the Family Medical Leave Act 
reality. I want to thank Senator Specter for being one of my partners 
on these critically important issues for almost 30 years.
  Senator Specter's accomplishments carry beyond his defense of 
children. Over the course of his career, he has served as the chairman 
of three important and influential Senate committees: the Select 
Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
Committee on the Judiciary. In each of these capacities he has worked 
to ensure that America's legal system is true to our best traditions 
and ideals, while ensuring that we have the tools to prevent terrorism 
and protect our citizens. He has also used his role on the Senate 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and 
Education to increase research funding for the National Institutes of 
Health. His work here in the United States Senate has improved the 
lives of countless Pennsylvanians and countless Americans.
  Of all of Senator Specter's achievements, I have yet to mention the 
most impressive: Since 2005, he has continued to serve while fighting 
Hodgkin's lymphoma. Twice since being diagnosed, Arlen has undergone 
chemotherapy for the disease. Yet he continued serving the people of 
Pennsylvania.
  I have worked with Senator Specter both as a Democrat and a 
Republican, and I can tell you this his commitment to bipartisanship 
and independence should be a model for all current and future Members 
of the U.S. Senate.
  I would like to thank Arlen for his many years of service, and wish 
him and his wife Joan well as he leaves the Senate. It has truly been a 
pleasure working with him over the years. I know the State of 
Pennsylvania will miss their senior Senator and I firmly believe that 
this body will not be the same without him.


                            George Voinovich

  I rise today to honor Senator George Voinovich, my colleague from 
Ohio who has served with me in this body for 12 years. Senator 
Voinovich has had a distinguished career in Ohio politics, spanning 
every level of government. His work as a public servant began when he 
was a bright young assistant attorney general, and has taken him 
through the Ohio House of Representatives, the mayor's office in 
Cleveland, the Ohio Governor's Mansion and the U.S. Senate.

[[Page S10392]]

  Not only will Senator Voinovich be remembered for the more than four 
decades of service to his fellow Ohioans but also for his 
bipartisanship. He was never afraid to put his beliefs ahead of party, 
opposing President Bush's $750 million tax cut proposal in 2003 for 
example.
  I was especially proud to work with Senator Voinovich on legislation 
to help ensure the United States' continued dominance in the world 
aeronautics industry. Our bill, the Aeronautics Competitiveness Act of 
2007, increased research funding, technology transfer, and workforce 
development, all of which are vital to maintaining the United States' 
competitive edge. I was also proud to have served on the Foreign 
Relations committee with him for 5 years, working to strengthen the 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO.
  Senator Voinovich was known as the resident Senate ``debt hawk'' and 
has long stood for fiscal responsibility at the local, State and 
Federal levels.
  It has been a pleasure to serve with Senator Voinovich. As we depart 
the Senate, I know this body will miss the presence of one of its more 
esteemed members and the people of Ohio will miss one of their most 
dedicated servants. I wish him and his wife Janet many more years of 
happiness.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to bid farewell to a number of 
our friends and colleagues who are ending their service in the Senate. 
Their contributions are too numerous to mention, therefore I would like 
to take just a few minutes to highlight some of the memories of the 
Senators I came to know personally.
  Some of the departing Senators I have served with for decades. Others 
were here for only part of a term. All of them worked hard for their 
constituents and our country.


                              Ted Kaufman

  Senator Ted Kaufman served for the past 2 years on my Senate 
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal 
Workforce, and the District of Columbia.
  Throughout Senator Kaufman's time with the subcommittee, he made a 
remarkable effort to honor the critical work of Federal employees. His 
regular statements on the Senate floor highlighting their work were an 
inspiration and I know were greatly appreciated by the dedicated 
Federal employees in Delaware and across this great Nation. I also 
appreciated Senator Kaufman's strong leadership on addressing 
longstanding shortcomings in Presidential transition planning, 
culminating in the enactment of the Pre-Election Presidential 
Transition Act this year.


                             Roland Burris

  Senator Roland Burris served on the Senate Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, which I have the honor of chairing. Throughout his months with 
the Committee, he made time in his busy schedule to attend and 
participate in numerous committee hearings and meetings. His 
participation played an important part in the committee's ability to 
conduct oversight and, ultimately, to improve benefits and care for our 
Nation's veterans. Senator Burris's work on the committee was a great 
service to the men and women of Illinois who wore the Nation's 
uniforms, as well as to servicemembers, veterans, and their families 
nationwide.


                             Carte Goodwin

  Senator Carte Goodwin handled a tough assignment and filled in like 
an experienced professional. He is a gentleman who knows about and 
cares for West Virginia deeply, so much so that he moved to Washington 
to serve and advocate for his State in an emergency situation. Senator 
Goodwin was friendly and cordial and made himself as helpful as 
possible during his short tenure.


                            Blanche Lincoln

  My good friend Senator Blanche Lincoln was a passionate advocate for 
Arkansas throughout her Senate service. She is recognized as a fighter 
who speaks her mind. She cares deeply about American families. She 
worked hard on her committee assignments. She has been a champion for 
farmers, veterans, seniors, and Americans of all stripes. She can be 
proud of her service. I thank her for her contributions to this 
institution and her friendship.


                               Evan Bayh

  Senator Evan Bayh served with me on the Committees on Armed Services 
and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. He showed his commitment to 
our national security when he took over the Armed Services Readiness 
Subcommittee at the beginning of this Congress. He was a strong 
moderate voice for the people of Indiana.


                             Arlen Specter

  I served with Senator Arlen Specter for many years on the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee. He twice served as the committee's chairman, and, in 
recent years as I chaired the committee, he remained a strong and vital 
force working on behalf of our Nation's veterans, on both sides of the 
dais. He has been an institution in the Senate for many years, and it 
has been a genuine pleasure working with him. I appreciate and applaud 
his long, dedicated service to those who have worn our Nation's 
uniforms.


                             Sam Brownback

  I will miss my good friend Senator Sam Brownback. Despite sitting 
across the aisle from me, he was always approachable and friendly. I 
know him to be committed to helping people in Kansas and across the 
country. He felt so strongly about ending homelessness that I remember 
him spending the night on the street with a group of homeless people to 
experience first hand the obstacles they face. That is dedication. He 
cares about people. Senator Brownback should feel proud about all that 
he has accomplished to make life better for people in our country.


                             Russ feingold

  I want to thank Senator Russ Feingold for his 18 years of service in 
the U.S. Senate and his time in public service before that. Senator 
Feingold has worked with me as an outspoken advocate for so many of the 
issues that I hold dear, such as protecting Americans' personal privacy 
and good government.
  In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there was 
a rush of strong executive branch moves for authority. Senator Feingold 
repeatedly joined me and other Members in ensuring civil liberties and 
privacy protections of all Americans were observed. He was a leader in 
protecting liberties during debate over reforming the Foreign 
Intelligence Surveillance Act. When the Department of Homeland Security 
was established, we worked to ensure that it had a strong official 
dedicated to protecting privacy. In 2007 I authored the POWER Act, 
which provided the Homeland Security Chief Privacy Officer with 
additional powers, and Senator Feingold was a strong supporter, 
cosponsoring that bill which then became law in 2008.
  I must also mention how proud I was to support Senator Feingold on 
perhaps his most lasting accomplishment--campaign finance reform. The 
election process can be opaque, and it is full of more money than ever. 
However, in the last decade, many of the new campaign finance rules 
championed by Senator Feingold have curbed many abuses which used to be 
common. While much work is left to be done in this area, especially 
with the recent Citizens United ruling, this country and voters owe a 
tremendous thank-you to Senator Feingold.


                              Byron Dorgan

  It has been a pleasure to serve with Senator Byron Dorgan of North 
Dakota, and I will miss him greatly. I have had the honor to work 
alongside Senator Dorgan on two committees of great importance to both 
of our States, the Committee on Indian Affairs and the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Senator Dorgan and I served on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs 
together beginning in the 104th Congress. During his tenure as chairman 
during the last 4 years, I saw firsthand the leadership skills and 
compassion he possesses. Chairman Dorgan has shown his dedication to 
all of our Nation's indigenous people: American Indians, Alaska 
Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Thank you Senator Dorgan for your 
efforts to improve the quality of life for America's native people.
  I am grateful that Chairman Dorgan has been a strong ally to Hawaii's 
indigenous people, the Native Hawaiian people. He has stood with 
Senator Daniel Inouye and me as we have worked to have the United 
States fulfill its obligations to all of its Native people, including 
Native Hawaiians. Mahalo, Chairman Dorgan, for your aloha to the people 
of Hawaii.

[[Page S10393]]

  Senator Dorgan is a great statesman and a gentleman who has served 
the people of North Dakota in the U.S. Congress for three decades. 
During our combined service on the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources, I repeatedly saw Senator Dorgan's passion for the people of 
North Dakota as he worked to make his State a pioneer in renewable 
energy efforts. For those of us who serve in the Senate, we work 
tirelessly to advance the needs of not only our home States, but the 
whole Nation. Senator Dorgan has proven himself both a great North 
Dakotan and a great American.
  The Senate will be a much different place without his leadership, and 
I know that I am joined by many of my colleagues in wishing him many 
successes in the future. Many of my constituents in Hawaii will miss 
his leadership just as his own constituents in North Dakota will.
  Mahalo for your friendship and for your service to our Nation. On 
behalf of Millie and our family, I send our aloha to you and Kim and 
your family. We wish you the best as you begin a new chapter in your 
lives.


                               Chris Dodd

  I am proud to express my great appreciation and gratitude for Senator 
Chris Dodd's service to our country. He brought extraordinary 
leadership to the Senate that enabled us to make meaningful 
improvements to the education and economic security of Americans.
  I traveled with Senator Dodd to South America early in my tenure here 
in the Senate. Although I enjoy traveling, each time I go abroad I 
worry about my ability to communicate with my foreign hosts. But, on 
that trip, the language barrier was not an issue because, as I quickly 
found out, Senator Dodd is fluent in Spanish.
  Senator Dodd recognizes the importance of language skills and 
cultural knowledge, not only to survive in the world but to prosper in 
it. I have truly appreciated his great respect for other cultures and 
passion for learning. Senator Dodd has lent tremendous support to my 
national foreign language coordination bill, which aims to equip 
Americans with foreign language skills and knowledge of other cultures. 
It is just one example of Senator Dodd's outstanding work to provide 
our children with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve 
prosperity and economic security.
  I would also like to thank Senator Dodd for his leadership in the 
111th Congress. We are making historic and substantial improvements to 
the health care delivery system and the regulation of our financial 
system, and neither would have been possible without Senator Dodd's 
guidance, persistence, good judgment, and support.
  Senator Dodd has been selfless and generous in his efforts to 
increase access to health care services everywhere in our country, 
including Hawaii. I am grateful that Senator Dodd has always recognized 
the unique health care needs and challenges of my home State. His 
contributions have been vital to the protection of Hawaii's system of 
employer-provided health insurance and ensuring that health care 
providers in Hawaii are more capable of meeting the uncompensated costs 
of providing care for the poor and uninsured.
  I am proud to have served alongside Chairman Dodd on the Senate 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, where he has been a 
tireless leader and an outstanding consumer advocate. The Dodd-Frank 
Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act rightfully bears his 
name because no one has done more to educate, protect, and empower 
consumers and investors. Through his support, the act makes significant 
investments in financial literacy and education, and it provides 
meaningful disclosures and protections that will allow consumers to 
make better financial decisions. Americans are now better protected 
against abusive, predatory, and anticonsumer business practices than 
they were because of Senator Dodd's unmatched contributions. Senator 
Dodd is a great champion of consumers, investors, and financial 
literacy, and I am honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to 
work together with him on the Banking Committee.
  Since I joined the Senate 20 years ago, Senator Dodd has been a great 
colleague and ally. More importantly, he is kind, generous, 
trustworthy, and a loving family man, and I am proud to call him my 
brother and my friend. Although I am saddened to bid him farewell 
today, I wish Senator Dodd well in all of his future endeavors.
  Before I close, I would also like to thank and applaud Senator Dodd's 
family Jackie, Grace, and Christina. They have been a source of 
strength, happiness, and calm for their husband and father.
  Mahalo nui loa, Chris, for your service and friendship. Millie and I 
send our warmest aloha to you and your family, and we wish you well as 
you begin this new chapter of your lives together.


                            George Voinovich

  Finally, I would like to pay tribute to my dear friend and brother, 
Senator George Voinovich, as he prepares to retire from public life 
after more than 40 years of dedicated public service.
  Senator Voinovich's retirement is a sad occasion for me, and it is 
difficult to put into words what Senator Voinovich's friendship has 
meant to me over the years. Senator Voinovich and I have worked so well 
together on the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government 
Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia for 
many years, where we have both had the honor of serving as chairman. It 
has truly been a pleasure to serve with him as we have addressed so 
many difficult government management issues.
  Senator Voinovich's background as the Governor of Ohio and the mayor 
of the city of Cleveland provided him with a unique perspective on the 
Federal Government's management and workforce challenges, and I believe 
his vast experience made our subcommittee more effective. On a light 
note, I know that one of Senator Voinovich's proudest moments as 
Governor was watching his beloved Cleveland baseball team reach the 
World Series for the first time in over 40 years. I am sure that 
Senator Voinovich will enjoy having more time to spend in his hometown 
of Cleveland during his retirement.
  Senator Voinovich can take his grandchildren to see parks, buildings, 
and other improvements he helped bring about in Ohio during his time as 
mayor and Governor, but there are few similar opportunities in Federal 
Government oversight and management. The tough management issues we 
have tackled seldom make front-page news. But that is what makes 
Senator Voinovich remarkable he chose to focus on the details of the 
government's toughest management challenges rather than more glamorous 
issues.
  Like me, Senator Voinovich has always recognized that the Federal 
Government's most valuable resource is its workforce of dedicated men 
and women. I often refer to him as the ``father of human capital.'' We 
have worked closely together on a large number of workforce 
initiatives, with the common goal of making the Federal Government the 
employer of choice in this country. I am especially proud of our work 
to reform the broken Federal hiring process. I will keep fighting in 
Congress for our bill--the Federal Hiring Process Improvement Act, S. 
736. In the meantime, I am pleased that our joint oversight on this 
issue has spurred considerable progress in the executive branch.
  Senator Voinovich and I also worked together on an amendment to last 
year's National Defense Authorization Act, which included my Non-
Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act, along with several other 
Federal workforce provisions. I cannot overstate how much Senator 
Voinovich's support for providing retirement equity has meant to the 
thousands of Federal employees in my home State of Hawaii.
  Senator Voinovich simply has too many Federal workforce 
accomplishments to discuss all of them today. However, I would like to 
point out that he authored the Federal Workforce Flexibility Act to 
modernize Federal human capital planning, pay, and benefits; the 
Federal Employee Student Loan Assistance Act; the Senior Executive 
Service Performance Improvement Act; and many other important bills 
that have improved the government's ability to provide services.
  In addition to his focus on important workforce issues, Senator 
Voinovich

[[Page S10394]]

has worked tirelessly on complicated management challenges. Our 
subcommittee has held a total of seven hearings on reforming the 
security clearance process. This work has been a tremendous success, 
eliminating the clearance backlog, dramatically reducing processing 
times, and improving investigation quality. These improvements enhance 
our national security and help the Federal Government hire the right 
people for the right jobs.
  I am also proud of our work together in establishing Chief Management 
Officers at the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland 
Security. It is vital that we maintain strong focus on management at 
these critical departments. I could easily point to so many other 
things that Senator Voinovich has accomplished during his Senate 
service.
  I want to express my deep appreciation to Senator Voinovich for his 
friendship and partnership over the years. He has been a model public 
servant, and our country is a better and safer place because of his 
work. I wish Senator Voinovich, his lovely wife Janet, and his entire 
family joy and happiness during his richly deserved retirement.
  In closing, the end of this Congress is bittersweet, with so many 
talented and dedicated public servants leaving this institution. All of 
them made a lasting impact on the Senate and on our country. Mahalo nui 
loa, thank you, for all your work.


                              Jim Bunning

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my 
colleague, Senator Jim Bunning. After 12 years in the U.S. Senate, 
Senator Bunning is retiring from this chamber at the end of this 
session.
  Jim has led a remarkable life. As a baseball fan, I am especially 
envious of his first career as a Major League pitcher. He was a 
classic, hard-nosed competitor, which foreshadowed his style as a 
public servant later in life. My favorite story about Senator Bunning's 
baseball career is that he was the only pitcher to strike out Ted 
Williams three times in a single game. He is also one of only seven 
pitchers to throw a perfect game and a no-hitter. Senator Bunning 
retired from the sport in 1971 with 2,855 career strikeouts, which, at 
the time, was the second highest total of all-time. He was rightfully 
inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.
  Following his outstanding baseball career, Jim went into politics. 
And, once again, he was a winner. He has held office at the local, 
State, and Federal level. After serving Kentucky's 4th District for 12 
years in the House of Representatives, Senator Bunning began his 
service in this Chamber in 1999. I have served with him on the Budget 
and Finance committees, and have always known him to freely speak his 
mind and ask tough questions. He remained true to the fierce style he 
first demonstrated as a young pitcher who was not afraid to brush back 
a hitter.
  Nor was Senator Bunning intimidated by the often arcane and technical 
issues we confronted as members of the Finance Committee. Over the 
years we have served there as colleagues, we have worked productively 
on a wide range of legislative proposals that included the taxation of 
life insurance companies, shortening the depreciation period for farm 
equipment, and capital gains treatment for songwriters, just to name a 
few. He was always willing to reach across the aisle to help achieve a 
common objective a longstanding Finance Committee tradition.
  Senator Bunning will now enter a new phase in his life, and I am 
certain he will now have the luxury of spending time with his wonderful 
family. Jim has the good fortune of being married to his childhood 
sweetheart, Mary. They met in grade school, and I am impressed that Jim 
knew at such a young age that he found a truly special person. I find 
Mary to be an absolutely lovely woman and admire their lasting love for 
each other. Mary is the mother of their nine children, and Jim and Mary 
now share 40 grandchildren. I wish Jim, Mary, and their entire family 
many years of health and happiness.


                            BLANCHE LINCOLN

  Mr. President, I come to the floor today to recognize one of our 
departing colleagues, the senior Senator from Arkansas, Mrs. Blanche 
Lambert Lincoln.
  A 7th generation Arkansan and a native of Helena, AR, Senator Lincoln 
grew up on a cotton and rice farm. She spoke often of her experiences 
on the farm, and fondly recalled how she was a farmer's daughter. It 
was her experience helping her father work the land that taught her the 
same core values she brought to the Senate--honesty, fairness, hard 
work, and common sense.
  Senator Lincoln is the kind of colleague you want to have in the 
Senate. She is pragmatic. She is rational. And she is reasonable. If 
you ever had an issue with her you needed to resolve, you could count 
on her to be someone you could work with. In fact, she is well known as 
someone who tried to bridge the partisan divide. She even cofounded and 
cochaired an organization dedicated to working across the aisle to 
bridge differences and create practical solutions.
  Senator Lincoln first came to Congress in 1992 as a Representative 
for Arkansas's First Congressional District, serving two terms. 
Following the birth of her twin boys, Reece and Bennett, she made a 
successful run for the Senate in 1998.
  During her time here in the Senate, she served her home State of 
Arkansas with great distinction, serving in the same seat as the late 
Senator Hattie Caraway, the first woman ever elected to the Senate. 
Like Senator Caraway, who also made history for being the first woman 
ever to be chairman of a Senate committee, Senator Lincoln made history 
in 2009 by becoming the first woman in the 184-year history of the 
Senate Agriculture Committee to be named chairman.
  Senator Lincoln and I were able to collaborate on many issues during 
her time in the Senate because we served together on two committees--
Agriculture and Finance. On the Agriculture Committee, she was a fierce 
advocate for her State's agriculture interests, particularly rice and 
cotton producers. Since farm bills tend to be more regional than party 
driven, she always represented her producers with vigor. She was a key 
player in the 2002 and 2008 farm bills, both of which have been widely 
popular throughout the countryside in the North and the South.
  She also looked out for those who are less fortunate, making hunger 
in our country a signature issue of hers. This year she pushed through 
the Senate a landmark bill to improve school lunch programs. The child 
nutrition reauthorization bill she authored contains almost 10 times 
more new funding than the 2004 child nutrition reauthorization. It 
includes $3.2B for the first school lunch program base-level 
reimbursement increase since 1973. I hope the House will follow the 
Senate's lead and pass this important bill yet this year.
  She also served as the chair of Rural Outreach for the Senate 
Democratic Caucus. It was in this role that we collaborated to 
introduce the Rural Revitalization Act, a bill to boost the economy in 
rural America in the wake of the recent recession. This bill made 
significant investments in rural development priorities, including 
infrastructure projects, energy programs, housing assistance and rural 
health care.
  Senator Lincoln also has been a champion for rural health care issues 
as a valued member of the Senate Rural Health Caucus. During her time 
in the Senate, she successfully fought to protect small businesses, 
health care providers, and, most importantly, seniors in rural 
communities. Because of Senator Lincoln's dedication, critical 
improvements to the Medicare Program were enacted into law. In 
particular, senior women now have improved access to bone density 
tests, osteoporosis screenings, and other preventive services.
  Senator Lincoln also authored the Elder Justice Act, legislation 
enacted into law this year which authorizes new efforts to prevent, 
detect, treat, and prosecute elder abuse and exploitation. Her work as 
a lead author of the SHOP Act led to the adoption of tax credits and 
small business health insurance exchanges in health reform. These 
legislative accomplishments and many others will leave this country 
with a lasting legacy of Senator Lincoln's commitment to improving the 
health of Arkansans and of all Americans.

[[Page S10395]]

  On the Finance Committee, Senator Lincoln was a strong and effective 
advocate for working families. She worked hard to make sure that the 
full child tax credit was available to as many low-earning workers with 
children as possible. She knows how valuable that benefit is for 
parents who really have to struggle to support their families.
  Senator Lincoln and I share a commitment to promoting savings for 
retirement. She shares my concern that retirement income security is a 
growing challenge for the baby boomers who are beginning to head into 
retirement right now as well as the generations that are following. An 
important focus for her has been the promotion of employee stock 
ownership plans, which not only help small businesses--including many 
successful ones in my State of North Dakota--to grow but also help the 
employee-owners build a separate pool of retirement savings that they 
can use during their retirement years.
  It is unfortunate that we are losing such a capable and pragmatic 
colleague as Senator Lincoln. It will be sad to see the Senate without 
her next year, but I know nothing but good things await her in her 
future. I wish her the best.


                             Russ Feingold

  I would like to pay tribute and recognize the accomplishments of my 
good friend Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, who will be leaving the 
Senate at the end of this session.
  Senator Feingold has faithfully served the people of Wisconsin for 
the last 28 years, serving three terms in the Wisconsin State Senate 
and three terms in the U.S. Senate. During all of that time, he has 
never forgotten who put him in office. Every year, Senator Feingold has 
held listening sessions in all 72 counties of Wisconsin. The input he 
received in those sessions was his guide for every issue he worked on 
in the Senate.
  Russ Feingold has also been guided by his tremendous intellect. After 
growing up in Janesville, WI, he graduated from the University of 
Wisconsin-Madison and went on to receive a Rhodes Scholarship from 
Oxford University and a law degree from Harvard Law School.
  To say that Senator Feingold has been independent-minded in the 
Senate is an understatement. He has been a true maverick. He never let 
party or political pressure influence his efforts here.
  The clearest example of this was his work on campaign finance reform 
with Republican Senator John McCain. After years of struggle, the 
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, known to most as the McCain-Feingold 
Act, was enacted in 2002. Although the Act continues to evolve and face 
challenges, it will forever change the landscape of political campaigns 
in this country. And Senator Feingold has led other efforts to promote 
clean government, such as moving to electronic filing of campaign 
finance reports and fighting against lobbyists' gifts to lawmakers.
  Senator Feingold has also been an independent voice in the area of 
foreign policy. He spoke out eloquently against the Iraq war and was 
one of 21 Democratic Senators to vote against the Iraq war resolution. 
And, as a member of the Intelligence Committee and chairman of the 
Foreign Relations Africa Subcommittee, his opinion on matters related 
to Africa have carried an added weight.
  Of course, I have known Senator Feingold best from his work with me 
on the Senate Budget Committee. Since he joined the panel in 1997, he 
has been a powerful voice on the committee for fiscal responsibility. 
He was one of the leading advocates for restoring the paygo, or pay-as-
you-go, requirement to ensure any new mandatory spending or tax cuts 
are fully paid for. And, in 2009, he introduced a comprehensive Control 
Spending Now Act, including several important spending reforms that 
have since been adopted.
  It has been a true honor to serve alongside Senator Russ Feingold. He 
has made a tremendous contribution to this body, to his State of 
Wisconsin, and to our Nation. He will certainly be missed. I wish him 
all the best in his future endeavors.


                                Kit Bond

  Mr. President, I want to join my colleagues in paying tribute to 
Senator Bond as he prepares to leave the Senate.
  Senator Bond and I came to the Senate together in 1987. While we have 
not seen eye to eye on some issues, I have admired his passion and 
convictions as he worked to faithfully represent his State.
  Even before coming to the Senate, Senator Bond had a distinguished 
career in public service for the State of Missouri serving as assistant 
attorney general, State auditor, and later as Governor. He cares deeply 
about his home State, which is evidenced by his long list of 
accomplishments in the Senate--a robust highway bill, targeted 
investments in public housing and infrastructure, and a strong national 
defense to name just a few.
  Senator Bond and I have long shared a common interest in the Missouri 
River. Though we disagree on how it should be managed and the ability 
of our State's to utilize this resource, I have enormous respect for my 
colleague for his passion in defending Missouri's claims to this 
resource.
  In particular, I deeply appreciated Senator Bond's work with me on 
the Dakota Water Resources Act. This legislation was critical for the 
economic future of North Dakota. During discussions on the bill, he was 
a tenacious advocate for his State's interests. His diligence in 
representing his State, coupled with his willingness to gain a better 
understanding of the water needs of my State, ultimately helped us 
reach a compromise acceptable to both States. The people of Missouri 
can be proud of his work fighting for their interests.
  Senator Bond has been a man of his word who served his State and 
country with distinction. I wish him well in his future endeavors.


                            George Voinovich

  Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to recognize our 
retiring colleague from Ohio, Senator George Voinovich.
  George Voinovich has led a remarkable life of public service, 
stretching across all levels of government. Beginning in 1963, Senator 
Voinovich has made the people of Ohio his priority, serving as an 
assistant attorney general in Ohio, a member of the Ohio House of 
Representatives, Cuyahoga County commissioner, Lieutenant Governor of 
OH, Mayor of Cleveland, Governor of Ohio, and finally, U.S. Senator.
  Throughout his career, Senator Voinovich has been a steady hand, 
guiding Ohio through difficult times. As mayor, he led the city of 
Cleveland out of bankruptcy and mismanagement through smart budgeting 
and pragmatic governing. As Governor, he led Ohio out of a recession 
and into more prosperous times, holding the State budget's growth to 
its lowest level in 30 years and overseeing the state's lowest 
unemployment rate in 25 years.
  As Senator, he continued his commitment to fiscal responsibility, 
focusing on this country's exploding debt and long-term challenges. 
Senator Voinovich also fought for reform of our tax and entitlement 
systems as author of the SAFE Commission Act and cosponsor of the 
Conrad-Gregg Bipartisan Task Force for Fiscal Responsibility Act. 
Warning about our Nation's fiscal crisis at a Budget Committee hearing 
in 2009, he testified courageously: ``We must find a compromise and we 
must act now. Many people believe that this generation of Americans 
will be the first whose standard of living will be less than those 
before them. Our failure to act now will guarantee that they are 
right.'' With Senator Voinovich's retirement, the Senate is losing one 
of its strongest and clearest voices on the importance of fiscal 
responsibility today to keep our country strong and growing into the 
future.
  I was also pleased to join with Senator Voinovich in introducing the 
Truth in Budgeting Act. Our bill would have put a stop to the fiscally 
reckless practice of using trust fund surpluses to pay for tax cuts and 
other spending priorities. Senator Voinovich always recognized that our 
current fiscal policies are putting future generations in the position 
of having to borrow trillions of dollars to make good on our Social 
Security, Medicare and other commitments.
  I have always respected his commitment to principle and his 
willingness to take independent positions, regardless of popularity or 
political expedience. He has rejected the knee-jerk partisan politics 
that unfortunately

[[Page S10396]]

have taken hold of Washington over the past decade, opting instead for 
reasonable, level-headed discourse. Always willing to reach across the 
aisle, Senator Voinovich has spent his 12 years in the Senate being an 
honest broker and a true public servant. He will be greatly missed.
  I wish a happy and healthy retirement to George and his wife of 47 
years, Janet, and congratulate him on an outstanding career.


                               judd gregg

  Mr. President, I have come to the floor today to pay tribute to 
Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, who will be leaving the Senate at 
the end of this session.
  Although I am happy for Judd and his wife Kathy, as they set off on 
the next stage of their lives, Judd's retirement represents a great 
loss for the U.S. Senate, for the people of New Hampshire, for the 
entire Nation, and for me personally.
  Simply put, Judd has been an outstanding public servant. He has 
worked tirelessly and effectively on behalf of his State, first as a 
Congressman, then as Governor, and then as a Senator. The people of New 
Hampshire rewarded his faithful service by repeatedly electing him by 
wide margins. When he was reelected to the Senate in 2004, Judd 
received the highest number of votes in New Hampshire history.
  Judd has been a true leader in the Senate. Few Members have the 
breadth of knowledge and insight that he holds on the key issues that 
come before this body. Whether it be the budget, education policy, or 
banking reform, he has been at the center of the debate, and Members on 
both sides of the aisle seek out and respect his judgment.
  I have come to know Judd best for his work on the Budget Committee. 
He has been on the committee for all of the 18 years he has been in the 
Senate. He served as chairman in 2005 and 2006, after Senator Nickles 
retired, and has been the ranking member ever since.
  I could not have asked for a better partner on the committee. It has 
been a pleasure to work closely with him. Our staffs have also worked 
very well together, which is a testament to the leadership of Judd and 
the example he set in his work with me.
  And Judd has tremendous integrity. His word is his bond.
  Although we haven't always agreed on policy, Judd has always upheld 
the highest standards of the Senate by knowing how to disagree without 
being disagreeable. We have had fierce debates over the years, but we 
have never let that affect our ability to work together.
  Of course, the highlight of our work together came in our legislative 
effort to adopt a bipartisan fiscal task force to address the country's 
long-term debt crisis. That joint effort was truly one of the most 
rewarding experiences of my career in the Senate. I will never forget 
the days we spent discussing the proposal during a trip in 2006.
  While we were not able to pass our legislation in the Senate, our 
effort resulted in the creation of the President's fiscal commission. 
It has been an honor to work alongside Judd in this fight. Like me, 
Judd cares deeply about our nation's fiscal future and understands the 
danger of rising Federal debt. He has been a tenacious advocate of 
fiscal discipline and putting the budget on a sustainable long-term 
path.
  Judd is a true-blue fiscal conservative. But that has never stopped 
him from reaching across the aisle to work with Democrats. In addition 
to working with me, Judd teamed up with Senator Ted Kennedy in 2001 to 
co-author the No Child Left Behind Act. More recently, he teamed up 
with Senator Wyden to write the first major bipartisan tax reform 
legislation in decades, the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification 
Act.
  Notably, Judd also played a key role in the bipartisan negotiations 
that led to the creation of the TARP legislation. TARP was widely 
criticized during this past election season, but the results are now 
in, and it is clear that the TARP program was successful in stabilizing 
the financial sector and helping to prevent the economy from dipping 
into a full-blown depression. The success of the program and the 
repayments now coming into the Treasury can be attributed, at least in 
part, to Judd's insistence on including provisions in the legislation 
to protect American taxpayers.
  Finally, Judd's retirement means more to me than just losing a great 
partner on the Budget Committee. I am also losing a great friend. At a 
time when Washington is filled with so much partisan rancor and 
disagreement, we need more individuals from across the aisle to form 
friendships like ours.
  Judd, I wish you all the best in your retirement. You will truly be 
missed.


                              Bob Bennett

  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I join my colleagues in appreciation and 
admiration of Senator Bob Bennett.
  Senator Bennett understood the perspectives of America's small 
business owners. After all, he was one of them. As CEO of Franklin 
Quest, Bob grew the company from 4 employees to over 1,000. During his 
tenure the firm became one of the best known providers of time 
management seminars and products, and became listed on the New York 
Stock Exchange.
  Reducing obstacles for small business owners has been one of Senator 
Bennett's top priorities in Washington. In his first 6 months of 
service, he took to the floor to identify three ways the Federal 
Government was growing at the expense of the entrepreneur. Those three 
obstacles--increased regulation, increased taxation, and increased 
difficulty in capital formation--remain challenges to job creators 
today, and Bob has never stopped voicing their concerns.
  Senator Bennett was elected to the U.S. Senate from his beloved State 
of Utah, which his father, Senator Wallace Bennett, represented for 
many years. And by the time I was elected to the Chamber, Senator 
Bennett had already been one of the ``wise ones'' in his own right for 
many years. I have long admired Bob's sincere appreciation and respect 
for the traditions and history of the Senate--to which he and his 
father have both contributed tremendously.
  Throughout his service here in Washington, Bob's family has helped 
keep him grounded--all 6 children and 20 grandchildren. Sandy and I 
wish the best for Bob and his wife Joyce.


                             Sam Brownback

  Mr. President, I join my colleagues in appreciation and admiration of 
Senator Sam Brownback.
  Sam's commitment to public service grew out of the farmlands where he 
was raised and where his parents still reside. As a student, Sam earned 
the respect of his peers as State president of the Future Farmers of 
America and student body president at Kansas State University. The 
people of Kansas have put their trust in Sam multiple times: as their 
Secretary of Agriculture, as one of their members in the House of 
Representatives, and for 14 years in the U.S. Senate.
  Sam drew upon his experience in Kansas to shape legislation here in 
Washington. He offered legislation to create more opportunity for 
America's farmers, and to reduce foreign trade barriers to their 
products. In time Sam rose to become a leader on the Senate 
Appropriations Committee, as well as the Energy and Natural Resources 
Committee.
  Sam also has a heart for victims of disease and human rights 
violations all over the world. He proposed incentives for drug 
companies to offer discounts for life-savings medications for people of 
developing nations. He boldly called for the end to human rights 
violations in Darfur and Iran. I have been proud to stand with him on 
numerous pieces of human rights legislation, including the Iran 
Democratic Transition Act in this Congress.
  Sam's tenure in the Senate has come to an end, but not his service to 
the people of Kansas. They overwhelmingly called him back home to serve 
as their Governor, and begin the next chapter in his remarkable career. 
Sandy and I wish him and his family all the best.


                               Judd Gregg

  Mr. President, today I would like to join with my colleagues in 
appreciation and admiration of Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire.
  Judd is a native of New Hampshire and after practicing as an attorney 
in Nashua, where he was born, he began a devoted career of public 
service to his State. Before coming to the Senate, Judd served as a 
member of his State's executive council, as a Representative, and then 
on to become, as his father Hugh Gregg had been before him, Governor of 
the Granite State.

[[Page S10397]]

  Judd was a successful and accomplished Governor. When he left Concord 
to join the Senate, he left his State with not only a balanced budget 
but a surplus as well. His leadership and record of fiscal 
responsibility has served as an example for our entire Nation to 
follow.
  His expertise on budgetary and fiscal issues has benefitted all his 
fellow Senators on the Budget Committee. As both chairman and ranking 
member of the committee, Judd put together both excellent staff and the 
resources necessary to advance our goals of cutting spending, balancing 
the budget, and reducing our nation's debt. With steps such as his 
successful sponsorship of the fiscal year 2006 budget resolution, which 
reduced mandatory spending for the first time in years, hard-working 
American taxpayers have saved billions thanks to Senator Gregg's 
efforts.
  Senator Gregg and I worked hard together in fighting to reduce our 
government's burden on taxpayers and the excessive spending that fuels 
it. We have both fought hard for our government to take our financial 
future seriously and to make the tough decisions necessary for it to be 
secured for our generation and for many more to come.
  I would like to thank Senator Gregg again for his leadership on these 
important issues, and his extensive service to the people of New 
Hampshire. My wife Sandy and I wish Senator Gregg, his wife Kathy, and 
their family all the best.


                                Kit Bond

  Mr. President, I join my colleagues in appreciation and admiration of 
Senator Kit Bond. Kit has been a faithful public servant to the people 
of Missouri for many years. I feel privileged to have had the 
opportunity to serve alongside him in the U.S. Senate.
  Before being elected to this body, Kit made a strong impression as a 
student, a lawyer, and a public servant. He graduated Cum Laude from 
Princeton University, and was first in his law school class at the 
University of Virginia. He practiced law as an assistant attorney 
general for the State of Missouri under John Danforth, who himself was 
a future Senator from the ``Show-Me State.'' His colleagues at that 
time included John Ashcroft, who also went on to serve in this Chamber, 
and future Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
  Kit often jokes that he transitioned from the second most hated 
career--a lawyer--to the first: a politician. The people of Missouri 
have repeatedly affirmed that he made the right choice. They elected 
him to be their State Auditor. They elected him as the youngest 
Governor in Missouri's history. And they have elected him four times to 
represent them in the U.S. Senate.
  Senator Bond brought many of his passions as Governor to this 
Chamber, including his longtime support for Missouri's successful 
Parents as Teachers Program. He also kept a special place in his heart 
for issues relating to children. In time he rose to become a senior 
member of the Appropriations Committee as well as the Environment and 
Public Works Committees.
  Senator Bond and I worked most closely together on issues relating to 
national defense and foreign affairs. In this Congress alone, he and I 
jointly introduced the Military Voting Protection Act of 2009, the Iran 
Democratic Transition Act of 2010, and a resolution affirming Israel's 
right to self-defense. His leadership as vice chairman of the Select 
Committee on Intelligence has been a lasting contribution to the 
security of our Nation,
  Kit has helped shape legislation that will govern our Nation for 
years to come, but his spirit is what I will miss the most. As he has 
said: ``Serving Missouri has been my life's work. I have walked the 
land, fished its rivers and been humbled by the honesty and hard work 
of our people. The highest honor is to receive and safeguard the public 
trust.''
  In his retirement, Kit will now have the opportunity to focus his 
time on his other loves: his wife Linda, his son Sam, and his new 
daughter-in-law Margaret. The Mizzou Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals 
will also likely see him in the stands more often. Sandy and I wish 
both Kit and Linda the very best as they continue their journey 
together.


                              Jim Bunning

  Mr. President, I join my colleagues in appreciation and admiration of 
Senator Jim Bunning.
  Millions of American baseball fans know Jim as one of the most 
accomplished athletes of his generation. Jim pitched for both the 
Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies during his 17-year career. He 
was the second pitcher in history to notch 100 wins and strike out 
1,000 batters in both the American and National Leagues, and when he 
retired he was second on the all-time strikeout list. His impressive 
career earned him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
  While he wore the uniforms of teams in Michigan and Pennsylvania, 
Jim's heart never left his native Kentucky. Six years after retiring 
from baseball, Jim decided to run for public office and won a city 
council seat in Fort Thomas, KY. He was later elected to the Kentucky 
State Senate and became the Republican leader. Kentuckians then elected 
Jim to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 4th District of 
Kentucky where he served until 1998. During his time in the House, Jim 
committed himself to defending Social Security as chairman of the 
Social Security Subcommittee. His unwavering stance on protecting 
Social Security contributed to the establishment of the Social Security 
Administration as a separate agency.
  Jim was elected to the Senate in 1998 and quickly became a strong 
voice for fiscal responsibility. He became the first native Kentuckian 
on the Finance Committee in 40 years, and also served on the Budget 
Committee--and in both capacities I had the opportunity to work with 
him. Jim also served as chairman of the Banking Committee's Economic 
Policy Subcommittee, where he authored legislation that reformed the 
National Flood Insurance Program and made it possible for millions of 
Americans to protect their homes affordably.
  Jim's passion for policymaking has helped him shape legislation that 
will govern our Nation for years to come, but his greatest legacy is 
his family. He and Mary raised 9 children and have 35 grandchildren and 
4 great-grandchildren. Sandy and I offer our best wishes to the entire 
Bunning family, and we thank him for his years of service to our great 
Nation.


                            George Voinovich

  Mr. President, I join my colleagues in appreciation and admiration of 
Senator George Voinovich.
  Senator Voinovich represents the great State of Ohio--and in some 
sense he has never left. He was born and raised in Cleveland, earned a 
bachelor of arts degree in government from Ohio University, and 
received a law degree from the Moritz College of Law at the Ohio State 
University. After more than four decades of public service, he and 
Janet still live in Cleveland with their family.
  Before coming to Washington, Senator Voinovich established a long 
record of service to the people of the Buckeye State: as a member of 
the State legislature, a Cuyahoga County Commissioner, the Lieutenant 
Governor of Ohio, mayor of Cleveland and Governor of Ohio. As mayor of 
Cleveland, he helped turn around the local economy after the city 
declared bankruptcy in the 1970s. As Governor, George spearheaded 
economic recovery efforts after Ohio fell into a recession during the 
early 1990s. He helped reduce Ohio's unemployment rate to a 25-year low 
and maintained the lowest budgetary growth levels in 30 years. Along 
the way, he became the only person to hold the highest leadership 
positions in both the National Governors Association and the National 
League of Cities.
  The people of Ohio sent George to Washington to serve in the U.S. 
Senate in 1998 and then reelected him 6 years ago in a landslide 
victory. Senator Voinovich's policy accomplishments reflect his 
dedication to maintaining fiscal responsibility, enhancing national 
security, increasing America's global competitiveness, and improving 
the federal government's efficiency. His Mortgage Relief Act of 2007 
was the first piece of legislation to be signed into law that aimed to 
lessen the impact of America's foreclosure crisis.
  Senator Voinovich has also been a strong voice for America's 
interests and values all over the world. He has been a strong proponent 
of NATO expansion, U.N. reform, and U.S. public

[[Page S10398]]

diplomacy efforts. He has also spoken out strongly against global anti-
Semitism, racism and other forms of intolerance.
  Sandy and I wish all the best to George and Janet, as well as their 
three children and eight grandchildren. And we thank George for his 
many years of service in the U.S. Senate.


                              Jim Bunning

  Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I rise in tribute to Senator Jim Bunning, 
who is retiring after honorably serving the people of Kentucky for 24 
years.
  Throughout his political career, Jim has been a fierce taxpayer's 
advocate. A bold defender of life and protector of families. A small 
business ally. And, a courageous critic of bad government policy.
  As the targets of his criticism have learned, Jim's words can 
sometimes be sharp. That is because cold, hard truths have sharp edges 
and Jim Bunning speaks in cold, hard truths.
  Even when it comes to his own party.
  In the summer of 2008, shortly after a Republican Treasury Secretary 
obtained the authority to pump unlimited money into Freddie Mac and 
Fannie Mae, Jim was rightfully upset. ``When I picked up the newspaper 
yesterday, I thought I woke up in France,'' he told the Secretary in a 
hearing. ``But no,'' Jim said, ``it turned out it was socialism here in 
the United States.''
  Jim often asked simple questions that were easy to answer truthfully 
and didn't tolerate equivocation. In the case of the Fannie and Freddie 
bailouts, he asked the Treasury Secretary, ``Where will the money come 
from?''
  The Treasury Secretary said it was better to ``be unspecified and 
enhance confidence in the market.''
  Jim asked again saying that ``doesn't answer the question. Where is 
the money going to come from if you have to put it up?''
  There was more waffling, but Jim finally pushed the Treasury 
Secretary to admit the money was going to come from the taxpayer. The 
taxpayers were going to pay.
  He later called for the resignation of that Republican Treasury 
Secretary because he was, as Jim put it, ``acting like the minister of 
finance in China.''
  ``No company fails in Communist China, because they're all partly 
owned by the government,'' Jim noted.
  Jim has also been a brave critic of the Federal Reserve. He has told 
the Fed Chairman, who was appointed by a Republican President and 
helped orchestrate bailouts for those considered too big to fail that, 
``You are the definition of a moral hazard.''
  ``Your Fed has become the creature from Jekyll Island,'' Jim said. 
And then he asked for the Fed Chairman's resignation, too.
  Jim has performed a great public service by bringing attention to the 
economic damage being caused by the Fed with cheap money when no one 
else would. He was there calling for more oversight of the Federal 
Reserve long before it became a Tea Party cause and he deserves credit 
for driving the issue into the mainstream.
  As Senator, you could say Jim's approach has been direct as the 
fastballs he threw that made him a major league, Hall of Fame pitcher. 
When the Democrats tried to pass off phony paygo rules as real reform, 
Jim exposed it as a trick pitch. It was a gimmick to fool Americans 
into thinking they would pay for their big-spending plans.
  The Democrats said paygo would obligate Congress to offset any new 
spending with new revenues or spending cuts elsewhere in the budget. 
Soon after, they tried to pass $10 billion in unpaid for unemployment 
extensions Moreover, the Democrats wanted to pass it by unanimous 
consent. Meaning, no public debate. No rollcall vote. No 
accountability.
  The Democrats bet no one would oppose benefits for the unemployed in 
this bad economy. They believed, as they continue to, that they can 
keep giving out money without paying for it and without any 
consequences.
  Jim did not concede. He objected and stood his ground on the Senate 
floor. And by doing so, he showed everyone what a sham paygo is. The 
Wall Street Journal called it ``his finest hour.''
  Bunning announced his retirement in July 2009, more than a year ago. 
He could have taken it easy during his last years in the Senate. He 
didn't have to tackle the Treasury, the Fed or insist unemployment 
extensions be paid for.
  But, he did. Jim Bunning, the Hall of Fame Pitcher, the distinguished 
Senator, father of 9 and grandfather of 40 cared too much for this 
country to sit this one out.
  He said in his farewell speech that he prays the Members of Congress 
will stop spending our future generations into higher taxes and a lower 
standard of living than we have now. I pray for that, too.
  Finally, I express my gratitude to Senator Bunning for supporting the 
new Republican from his state who will inherit his Senate seat next 
year. Jim campaigned for someone to take his place who would say no to 
bailouts, stop the takeovers, end the wasteful spending and bring down 
the national debt. The nation will benefit greatly by continuing to 
have a senator at Jim's desk who believes as much in the principles of 
free markets and freedom as Jim.
  Thank you Jim for giving America your best until the very last 
inning.


                             Sam Brownback

  I rise in tribute to my good friend, Senator Sam Brownback, who will 
soon be Governor Sam Brownback.
  Senator Brownback leaves this Chamber as a man of character and 
success. He made a promise to the citizens of Kansas to only serve two 
terms in the U.S. Senate and he is honoring it.
  He will continue to serve his constituents well, as he will soon join 
the ranks of Republican Governors who are committed to saving freedom 
and free-markets. Sam and his fellow Republican Governors will stand 
sentry in their state capitols, defending Americans from unaffordable 
mandates and unprecedented intrusions by the Federal Government.
  The current Secretary of Health and Human Services, Democrat Kathleen 
Sebelius, left Topeka to come to Washington and impose an 
unconstitutional health care takeover on all Americans. I am confident 
Republican Governor-elect Sam Brownback, who is leaving Washington for 
Topeka, will successfully fight for state rights in court and preserve 
freedom for Kansans.
  Sam won on a platform of opportunity, accountability and 
responsibility--the very principles his State was founded upon.
  His ``Road Map for Kansas'' is built on ideas to grow the economy, 
create private-sector jobs, improve education, reform the state 
government and support Kansas families. This is exactly the kind of 
leadership our nation so desperately needs. His five-point plan is a 
clear and bright as the tips of the stars on the Kansas flag.
  In addition to the roadmap for Kansas, Sam has promised to institute 
a spending freeze for his State his very first month in office.
  It has been an honor to serve alongside Sam, one of our nation's 
premier pro-life leaders. He knows no one should be denied the right to 
life--especially the unborn. As he said in a speech at the 2004 March 
for Life, ``If we demean and degrade one human life, we demean and 
degrade all human life.''
  As a U.S. Senator, Sam relentlessly fought to protect the unborn. He 
was the principle sponsor of the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, the 
Prenatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act, the Human Cloning 
Prohibition Act, and others. He has also worked to advance the Partial-
Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and the 
Born-Alive Infants Protection Act.
  Sam has increased awareness about the joy of adoption. He can 
personally attest to it. He and his wife Mary and three children Abby, 
Andy and Elizabeth have welcomed two children in need of a loving home 
into their lives. The Brownback's youngest son Mark is from Guatemala. 
Their youngest daughter Jenna is from China, where families are 
subjected to grave and callous one-child policy.
  Thank you Sam for fighting for a better life for all of God's 
children.
  As we bid him farewell, I would like to reflect on one short passage 
from his book, ``From Power to Purpose.'' In it, Sam wrote ``The heart 
of the matter is the human heart, which is where human goodness 
begins.''
  That shows the kind of heart Sam has for public service. His tenure 
in the U.S. Senate is marked by his compassion and care for his fellow 
man.

[[Page S10399]]

  He will be dearly missed here in Washington. But, as Jesus said, 
``There are many rooms in my Father's house.'' And Sam is just moving 
to another room where he will continue to serve God.


                            george voinovich

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, when George Voinovich came to the Senate 
in 1998, he brought with him a wealth of experience as a State 
legislator, county commissioner, mayor, and Governor. More important, 
he brought an independent mind, common sense, and a commitment to 
results.
  Through more than four decades of public service, he has always been 
guided by the principle that a fundamental obligation of government is 
to honor its responsibilities to citizens. His goal has always been to 
ensure that those in public office ``work harder and smarter, and do 
more with less.''
  But Senator Voinovich is revered here and at home for deeds, not 
words. As mayor, he brought Cleveland back from bankruptcy and led its 
transformation into a three-time All-America City. As Governor, he 
steered Ohio through the recession of the early 1990s, turned a State 
budget in the red back to black, and helped rebuild Ohio's industry and 
infrastructure for the 21st century.
  From his executive background in local and State government, Senator 
Voinovich knew that any government is only as good as the people 
working for it. He has been a strong advocate for improved government 
management, and for recruiting, retaining, rewarding, and recognizing 
the best government workforce.
  It has been my privilege to work closely with Senator Voinovich on 
the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. He is devoted 
to protecting our Nation and our people.
  Our committee's work was aided greatly by his leadership of the 
Subcommittee on Oversight and Government Management, and his conviction 
that government works only when it ensures that the right people have 
the right resources to get the job done. He has been instrumental in 
virtually every major civil service issue for more than a decade and 
has championed 17 pieces of legislation to transform and improve our 
Federal workforce.
  Since coming to Washington, the ``Workforce Senator'' has been a 
watchdog for the interests of the taxpayers and of government 
employees. Early in his service, the Senior Executive Service 
Performance Improvement Act and the Chief Human Capital Officers Act 
recognized that the Federal Government must compete if it is to attract 
the best. In this Congress, the Federal Hiring Process Improvement Act 
addressed the need to streamline recruiting so that the right person 
can be hired at the right time.
  And his efforts have been successful. A recent Federal employee 
survey on the best places to work found that the top three agencies--
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, GAO, and NASA--are the agencies with 
the personnel flexibilities Senator Voinovich worked to achieve.
  I know how deeply George Voinovich cares about the men and women who 
serve as Federal employees because on many issues we have fought 
together. In particular, I want to recognize his role in pressing for 
pay for performance reforms in our Federal workforce. If we want an 
effective government, we must encourage excellence in our workforce, as 
Senator Voinovich clearly understands.
  He has been an effective voice for fiscal discipline, for 
comprehensive tax and entitlement reform, and for enhancing America's 
competitiveness in a global economy. All of these issues and so many 
more demonstrate his commitment to honoring responsibilities and 
achieving results.
  When Senator Voinovich announced early last year that he would not 
seek reelection, the outpouring of tributes was heartfelt and 
bipartisan. As one Ohio newspaper wrote, ``Once he latches on to an 
issue, he doesn't let go until he is satisfied with the outcome.''
  Senator Voinovich's determination, combined with wisdom, experience, 
and decency, made him an outstanding U.S. Senator and public servant. I 
thank George Voinovich for his years of service and for his friendship, 
and wish him and Janet all the best in the years to come.


                             Russ Feingold

  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I take a moment to say a few words about the 
junior Senator from Wisconsin, Senator Russ Feingold, who will be 
leaving the Senate at the end of this session. We have served together 
in the Senate, working for the people of Wisconsin every day, since he 
was elected in 1992. But now Wisconsin is losing a powerful and 
thoughtful advocate that carried on the proud progressive tradition of 
Robert LaFollette.
  Russ came to the Senate by winning an upset election, running as an 
outsider. He famously wrote a promise to the people of Wisconsin on his 
garage door, and people responded to his sincerity. Keeping that 
promise has kept him close to the people of Wisconsin as he traveled to 
every county in the State once a year to hold a listening session. That 
kind of accessibility, and his pledge to raise his campaign money 
mostly from the people of Wisconsin, gives him a credibility and 
integrity that no one in the State can question.
  Money and politics has always been an issue that Russ felt 
passionately about. So it should be no surprise that his biggest 
legislative win was when he worked with Senator John McCain to put 
restrictions on campaign financing with the historic Bi-Partisan 
Campaign Finance Reform Act, better known as the McCain-Feingold bill. 
That legislation, like many of his stands over the years, didn't always 
make him popular with his colleagues, but it was the right thing to do 
to try and root out corruption and roll back the influence of the 
special interests. The American people will never have confidence in 
our system as long as they believe that a politician's support can be 
bought and sold. Russ worked to restore confidence in our government 
and he should be commended for that.
  He took a lot of unpopular positions over the years. Most notable was 
his sole opposition to the Patriot Act. He stood up for his ideals when 
it would have been easy to brush them aside. But that is the kind of 
person Russ is. He was never willing to sacrifice his principles to do 
the politically easy thing. Our country is safer because of his work.
  Russ also has been a tough budget hawk, working tirelessly to bring 
down spending and give the next generation a debt-free future. He also 
helped form the current lobbying rules that restrict gifts, employment, 
and perks that can be given to members and staff by special interest 
lobbyists. These policies didn't always make him popular around here--
and sometimes caused problems inside his own party--but he was willing 
to buck the system when he felt he had to.
  Janesville should be proud of their hometown son who has accomplished 
so much. He leaves the Senate, but I hope he doesn't leave public 
service. His character and intelligence are needed by his community, 
State and country. We will miss him.


                               Chris Dodd

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, occasionally in the career of a U.S. 
Senator, one is given the opportunity to shape legislation that will 
bring historic change to our Nation. The Senators who have seized such 
opportunities stand among the Senate giants of our lifetime: ``Scoop'' 
Jackson. Hubert Humphrey. Everett Dirksen. Ted Kennedy.
  As this Congress comes to a close, we must say goodbye to Chris Dodd, 
a Senator who has seized such opportunities, one whose drive and 
dedication and wisdom have enabled us to bring great and needed change. 
Senator Chris Dodd has been a good friend to me. He has been a leader 
to those who seek an America that is stronger, fairer and more just.
  Senator Dodd will be rightly remembered for his essential role in 
passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection 
Act. In the aftermath of a financial crisis that brought the nation's 
economy to a halt and threatened a second Great Depression, the need 
for Wall Street reform was clear, but so were the enormous obstacles to 
passage. In addition to honest disagreements about how best to proceed, 
we faced determined opposition from Wall Street, which wanted to 
maintain a status quo that put profits ahead of economic stability. All 
of us who participated in the debate over that bill know how complex 
and difficult it was to craft it, and we all have enormous hopes that 
this landmark

[[Page S10400]]

bill will curb the excesses that cost so many Americans their jobs and 
homes and businesses in the financial crisis.
  History also will mark Senator Dodd's key role in passage of the 
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a landmark step in the 
decades-long fight to ensure that every American has access to 
affordable health care. Taking up the baton for his dear friend, 
Senator Kennedy, Senator Dodd provided strong and sure leadership, 
again in the face of obstacles that at times threatened the bill's very 
survival. Thanks to his dedication, health coverage is more secure and 
affordable for families who have it, and more accessible to families 
without it.
  If Senator Dodd had accomplished no other legislative victories than 
these two, he could rightly claim a place among the Senate's most 
effective legislators. But Chris Dodd accomplished much more.
  Millions of American families have benefitted from his work in 
enacting the Family and Medical Leave Act. Before this legislation 
became law in 1993, Americans faced wrenching choices between their 
responsibilities at home and at work. Despite two Presidential vetoes, 
Senator Dodd continued fighting until he had succeeded. And today, 
American workers are able to give their families the time and attention 
they need without fear of losing their job.
  Families and children have been at the heart of much of his work. The 
child care and development block grant program, which he fought to 
establish, has helped millions of low-income families get the child 
care they so desperately needed. The Head Start program has been a 
career-long priority, and his hard work to ensure that Head Start 
remains strong has made a huge difference in countless lives.
  His work on behalf of families extends to protecting them from 
predatory credit card companies. I worked closely with him in the fight 
for passage of the Credit Card Accountability and Disclosure Act, which 
provided tough new protections against unfair practices in the credit 
card industry.
  Part of the reason for Chris Dodd's extraordinarily successful 
legislative career is that people simply like working with him. He is 
good-natured, open and non-defensive, willing to listen to differing 
points of view. His openness is accompanied by an infectious sense of 
humor that has eased tense moments and helped us all take ourselves a 
little less seriously, which in turn has helped overcome some mighty 
serious impasses.
  A common thread runs through all his signature accomplishments. 
Throughout his career, Chris Dodd has been dedicated to the idea that 
compassion has a place in this chamber; that as we do our work, we 
should keep in mind that real families, with real problems, are looking 
to us for solutions; and that a Senator, with hard work and 
resourcefulness and teamwork, can make a difference in the lives of 
those families.
  As Chris Dodd's Senate career draws to a close, speeches will be 
given, portraits will be hung, someday statues will be raised, but the 
ultimate monument to his Senate career will be the mother or father who 
has time to care for a sick child because of the Family and Medical 
Leave Act. It will be the parent who doesn't have to choose between 
putting food on the table or providing health insurance for his 
children. It will be the child who excels in the classroom because of 
Head Start. The monuments to Chris Dodd will be the millions of 
Americans whose lives are safer, more secure and more prosperous 
because of the work he has done here. No Senator could ask for more 
meaningful tributes. I will miss his wisdom and his humor as we conduct 
business here, but I will continue to value his friendship. I wish him 
and his wonderful family the happiest of times in all the years to 
come.


                             Russ Feingold

  Mr. President, true bipartisanship has been in sadly short supply in 
this Chamber recently. Sadly, at the end of this Congress, the supply 
of bipartisanship will be a little lower, because we will no longer 
have the benefit of Russ Feingold's presence in the Senate.
  Senator Feingold's service to the Senate demonstrates that one need 
not abandon strongly held convictions to reach bipartisan solutions. 
His example proves that disagreeing with someone on one issue need not 
prevent working with them on another issue. He has shown that one can 
act as a good steward of taxpayer dollars and a careful advocate for 
fiscal responsibility without leaving behind the working families who 
need us to stand up for them.
  There are many examples of Senator Feingold's search for bipartisan 
solutions, but justifiably, he is best known for the McCain-Feingold 
campaign finance legislation. The assault on this legislation in the 
courts should not distract us from its wisdom. This bipartisan 
legislation was based upon the inherently American and inherently 
democratic notion that elections should be decided by the will of the 
people, and not because of the influence of wealthy donors or moneyed 
interests. This is a notion that is not Republican or Democratic, not 
liberal or conservative. It relies not on party loyalty or ideological 
fervor, but on a sense of justice. That sense of justice is central to 
what Russ Feingold has brought to the Senate.
  Likewise, the civil rights of American citizens are not a matter of 
party or ideology. I admire Senator Feingold's unflagging commitment to 
those rights, and his efforts to find a reasonable balance between 
protecting our safety and preserving our freedom.
  Now, Senator Feingold and I have not agreed on every issue. While we 
both believed the Iraq war was a mistake, he believed we should respond 
by ending funding for the war. I disagreed, and believed that such a 
move would harm our troops in the field whom we should support. But I 
never doubted that Senator Feingold came to his conclusions only after 
giving careful consideration to the arguments opposing them.
  We will miss Russ Feingold, miss his intellect, his independence, and 
his dedication. I will always call him my friend. The Senate will be 
poorer for his absence. But I know that the Nation will continue to 
enjoy the benefits of his service.

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