[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 171 (Monday, December 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10808-S10810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTES OF RETIRING SENATORS
Bob Bennett
Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to my distinguished
colleague from Utah, Senator Robert Bennett, who will be retiring from
the Senate at the end of the 111th Congress.
I have worked with Bob since coming over to the Senate in 1998. I
have also had the privilege of serving on the Senate Energy and Banking
Committees with Bob. In fact, we sat next to each other for years in
the Banking Committee.
He is a man of integrity and devotion. As a young man, he worked as a
staffer on Capitol Hill and moved on to become a successful
entrepreneur in Washington, DC. In 1992, he followed in his father's
footsteps and was elected to the U.S. Senate. Over the course of his
three consecutive terms in the Senate, Bob has fought hard for our
shared conservative values of fiscal discipline, securing our borders,
and energy independence.
Bob has served the people of Utah proudly as their Senator. His
leadership on the Banking Committee and in the Senate will be missed.
I am honored to know him and to have worked with him. I would like to
thank Bob for his contributions to the Senate and to the country we
both love. I wish him and his family the best in all of their future
endeavors.
Kit Bond
Mr. President, I wish to join my fellow Senators to honor a colleague
and a friend, Senator Christopher Samuel ``Kit'' Bond, who, like me,
will be retiring from the Senate at the close of this Congress.
I have had the privilege of working with Senator Bond on a variety of
issues in the Senate for over a decade. He is an advocate of our
Nation's military, infrastructure and energy needs, and intelligence
community. The two of us have stood together on numerous issues--most
notably advancing coal technology and maintaining a strong national
defense.
Representing Missouri, home to major military bases and
installations, Senator Bond has been instrumental to ensure that all
citizens who are a part of our armed services--including
servicemembers, family members, and survivors of veterans--are provided
the world-class care and benefits they have earned. Additionally,
whether the items of the day were funding for our Armed Forces and
intelligence communities or improving U.S. relations among the
international community, Senator Bond brought a voice of wisdom and
reason to the Senate and governing bodies worldwide.
The Senate will not be the same without Senator Kit Bond. In a time
when America has needed leadership in the Senate to address threats
from conventional and unconventional means, Senator Kit Bond has
continued to rise to the occasion by giving those who defend us the
critical tools needed to prepare and protect our nation. I will miss my
friend Kit Bond.
Sam Brownback
Mr. President, I rise today to honor my friend from Kansas, Senator
Sam Brownback.
Born in Parker, KS, Sam has dedicated his time to serving the great
people of Kansas. Beginning his service as the secretary of agriculture
in Kansas, Sam has represented Kansas with dignity and honor.
Following his election in 1994, I have had the opportunity to work
with Senator Brownback in both the House of Representatives and the
Senate. While in the Senate, Sam and I worked tirelessly on the Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to utilize the energy
resources we have in this great country.
Sam has created a long list of accomplishments on a wide range of
issues for the people of Kansas and this Nation. I know his family and
the people of Kansas are proud to call him one of their own. His
leadership in the Senate will be missed, but our loss is a gain for the
State of Kansas as Sam prepares for his new role as Governor. It has
truly been an honor serving with him during these many years.
I would like to thank Sam for his contributions to the Senate and
wish him and his family well as they embark on this new chapter in
their lives.
Judd Gregg
Mr. President, I wish to honor my colleague from New Hampshire,
Senator Gregg, who is retiring from the U.S. Senate after serving 18
years in this Chamber and serving 8 years in the U.S. House of
Representatives.
Born and bred in New Hampshire, Judd has dedicated his life to public
service. Judd served on the Executive Council of New Hampshire in 1978
before running for national office. In 1980, he was elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives and was elected to three additional terms
before returning to New Hampshire. In 1988, Judd became the Governor of
New Hampshire, a seat formerly held by his father Hugh. During his two
terms as Governor, Judd managed to balance the State's budget and left
Concord with a surplus. Following his tenure as Governor, Judd returned
to Washington in 1993 and has represented New Hampshire in the Senate
ever since.
While working in the Senate, I have had the opportunity to serve with
Judd on the Banking Committee and the Budget Committee, where he
currently serves as the ranking member. I have respect for the manner
in which Judd has conducted himself in the role of ranking member and
the Republican leader on the Budget Committee. I also admire the fact
that he always keeps our national deficit in mind when making touch
decisions, whether or not these decisions are going to be popular.
Judd has a long list of accomplishments to show for the people of New
Hampshire and the United States. His leadership in the Senate will be
missed, and it has truly been an honor serving with him.
I would like to thank Judd for his contributions to the Senate and
wish him well as he closes a chapter in his life and begins another.
George Voinovich
Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to my friend and colleague,
Senator George Voinovich. Over the past 12 years I have had the
opportunity to work with Senator Voinovich on many issues that impact
our adjoining States and this Nation. While working with Senator
Voinovich, I gained respect for his firm commitment to his principles.
Prior to our time together in the Senate, I only knew of Senator
Voinovich through his reputation as mayor of Cleveland and Governor of
Ohio. In these positions, he cut spending, fought corruption, and
created jobs. These experiences taught Senator Voinovich how to make
tough decisions, and he never lost that quality here in the Senate.
Senator Voinovich also never forgot his roots. As a child of
Yugoslavian parents, the Senator never lost interest in the Balkans,
and through his work on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he made
sure that this region was not forgotten by the U.S. Government. I also
worked closely with him on Department of Energy issues because Ohio and
Kentucky have neighboring DOE uranium sites.
Although Senator Voinovich accomplished many things in his life, his
greatest achievement has been as a father and husband. George and his
wife
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Janet have been married for over 47 years. I wish him nothing but the
best as he embarks on a new chapter in his life.
George LeMieux
Mr. President, today I would like to honor my distinguished colleague
from Florida, Senator George LeMieux, who will be retiring from the
Senate at the end of the 111th Congress.
George has humbly served the people of Florida for many years as
deputy attorney general, chief of staff to the Governor, and most
recently as a Member of the U.S. Senate. While his time in the Senate
might have been short, his list of accomplishments is not. George has
proven to be a principled leader that is unafraid to tackle the
difficult issues facing our Nation. He has offered thoughtful and
proactive solutions to problems that many would rather defer to a
future Congress and a future generation. The people of Florida should
be proud to have been represented by a man of such dedication and
character.
I am honored to know George and to have worked with him. I would like
to thank him for his contributions to the Senate and wish him and his
family the best in all of their future endeavors.
Evan Bayh
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to offer some remarks on the
departure of my friend, the junior Senator from Indiana. Senator Evan
Bayh has served the good people of his State for two full terms and
will be leaving the Senate at the end of this session. He will most
certainly be missed.
Senator Bayh was born in Shirkieville, IN, in 1955. He is, of course,
the son of the distinguished Senator Birch Bayh, who served in this
Chamber for 18 years. Evan attended college at Indiana University,
where he graduated with honors. He received his law degree from the
University of Virginia. After graduating from law school and serving a
year as a clerk to a Federal judge, Evan returned to Indiana to go into
private law practice.
Senator Bayh's career in public service began in 1986, when he was
elected to serve as Indiana's secretary of State. He held that position
for 2 years before he was elected Governor of Indiana in 1988.
As Governor, Senator Bayh earned a reputation as a fiscal
conservative and a voice of moderation. He was able to work with
members of both parties to achieve the best results for the people of
Indiana. During his tenure, taxes in Indiana remained low, while the
State enjoyed multiple budget surpluses. He also had great successes in
areas such as education, crime, and job creation. Indeed, he was a very
effective Governor throughout his two terms in office.
Two years after completing his second term, Evan was elected to serve
in the same Senate seat held by his father. And, he brought with him
the reputation and skills that had made him such a successful Governor.
As Indiana's Senator, Senator Bayh has demonstrated that one can be a
proud member of their party and still find ways to work with the other
side. No one can doubt that Evan is a Democrat. He comes from a family
of Democrats and I think his credentials as a supporter of his party's
agenda are beyond dispute. However, he has often been looked to as a
deal-maker here in the Senate. Senator Bayh has demonstrated sound
judgment and strong leadership throughout his career in public service.
That, coupled with his willingness to reach across the aisle and find
common ground, has made his one of the most respected voices in the
U.S. Senate.
Earlier this year, Senator Bayh announced his retirement. As he
explained his decision not to run for re-election, said the following:
For some time, I have had a growing conviction that
Congress is not operating as it should. There is too much
partisanship and not enough progress--too much narrow
ideology and not enough practical problem-solving. Even at a
time of enormous challenge, the peoples' business is not
being done.
In a lot of ways, I agree with Senator Bayh's assessment of Congress.
Too often, the peoples' business gets set aside in favor of politics
and partisan agendas. While I think we all hope that things will get
better in the future, one thing is certain: we need more people like
Evan Bayh in both parties.
I am certain that Senator Bayh will be successful in whatever
endeavor he chooses. But, while I am sure he doesn't need it, I want to
wish him and his family the very best of luck.
Russ Feingold
Mr. President, I rise today to offer some remarks on the departure of
my friend, the junior Senator from Wisconsin. Senator Russ Feingold,
the fierce and independent Democrat who has served the good people of
his State for 18 years, will be departing at the end of this session.
He will certainly be missed.
Senator Feingold was born in 1953 in Janesville, WI. He received his
bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin and then went to
University of Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. After returning to the
U.S., he attended and graduated from Harvard Law School and then went
back to Wisconsin to begin a career as a lawyer in private practice.
While Russ was a long-time political activist, having volunteered and
worked on a number of election campaigns, he began his career in public
service in 1982 when he was elected to serve the first of two terms in
the Wisconsin State Senate. Ten years later, he was elected to serve in
the U.S. Senate, and he has been here ever since.
I don't think it is any secret that Russ and I tend to disagree on
most issues. But, I have always admired his commitment to his
principles and his devotion to his beliefs. Now, I may give Democrats a
hard time every now and then with my criticism, particularly when I
find myself at odds with their agenda. But, I have never been able to
fault Senator Feingold personally because I believe he is principled
public servant who is simply trying to do what he believes is best for
the country. He has been willing to do so even when it has been
unpopular or when the majority of his own party was moving in a
different direction.
Russ has a reputation for being contrarian at times. To be honest, I
think he is probably proud of that fact. While he has certainly earned
that reputation, I have always believed his actions and his positions--
including those I have strongly disagreed with--have been rooted in his
sincerely held beliefs.
Throughout his time in the Senate, Senator Feingold has been a
fierce, articulate, and effective advocate for his ideals. While he and
I have rarely been in agreement, he has always had my respect and
admiration. I want to wish him the best of luck in any future
endeavors.
Christopher Dodd
Mr. President, I rise today to offer some remarks on the departure of
my good friend, the senior Senator from Connecticut. After five terms
and 30 years in the Senate, Senator Christopher Dodd will be leaving us
at the end of this session. He will most certainly be missed.
Chris was born in Willimantic, CT, in 1944. He was the fifth of six
children born to his parents, Grace Mary Dodd and another Connecticut
Senator, Thomas J. Dodd. Senator Dodd graduated from Providence College
and then spent 2 years in the Peace Corps. When he returned to the
U.S., he enlisted in the Army National Guard and later served in the
U.S. Army Reserves. After graduating from the University of Louisville
School of Law in 1972, Chris practiced law in New London. However, just
2 years later, he would answer the call to public service. Chris was
elected to the House of Representatives in 1974 and has represented the
good people of Connecticut in Congress ever since. All told, Senator
Dodd spent three terms in the House before coming to the Senate in
1980.
Throughout his time in the Senate, Chris has been an unwavering
presence. He's chaired the Rules Committee and the Banking Committee.
He has been among the most prominent members of the HELP and Foreign
Relations Committees. Over the years, our paths have crossed numerous
times. Of course, most of the time, we have been on opposing sides.
But, there have been a few times--some significant times--where we have
been able to put our differences aside and work together.
Most recently, I worked with Senator Dodd on passing the Edward M.
Kennedy Serve America. Chris talks often of his service of the Peace
Corps and the lessons he learned during that time. As a Senator, has
been a tireless
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advocate for the Peace Corps program and for volunteerism in general.
In that regard, he and I have much in common. As a young man, I served
a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. I too learned much about the benefits of selfless, volunteer
service while serving as a missionary and those 2 years were
instrumental in my understanding of the world and instilled me with a
desire to serve and help others. The Serve America Act was meant to
embody these ideals and provide similar opportunities for others. It
could have very easily been a purely Democratic endeavor. But, in the
end, we were able to work together in drafting and passing this
legislation. With Chris's help, the Serve America Act became one of
very few bills passed during this Congress with a broad, bipartisan
majority here in the Senate. It was, in my opinion, a piece of
legislation that represents the best of what both parties have to
offer. Fittingly, we named the bill after Chris and my mutual friend,
the late Senator Ted Kennedy.
I want to wish Senator Dodd and his wife Jackie the very best of luck
going forward.
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