[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 173 (Wednesday, December 22, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11013-S11022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO RETIRING SENATORS
Evan Bayh
Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, time and time I have come to the floor to
give a few remarks about Senators who are retiring and leaving the
Senate. They all contributed in their unique way one way or the other
to the Senate. Now I find myself with two left about whom I want to
comment on their way out of the Senate.
In the closing days of the 111th Congress, we are saying goodbye to a
number of colleagues, including a veteran Member, much respected on
both sides of the aisle. I speak of the Senator from Indiana, Mr. Bayh.
I listened with great interest to Senator Bayh's eloquent farewell
remarks earlier this month. The Senator was also kind enough to have
them typed up and sent to our offices.
Looking back on his 12 years in this body, he spoke about times of
national crisis, including after the 9/11 attacks and during the
financial meltdown of 2008. He talked of a time when Senators acted not
as Democrats and Republicans but as patriots concerned of doing one
thing: doing what is right for the American people. He said that these
times of bipartisan action were with the Senate at its very best.
For more than two decades, Senator Bayh has embodied everything that
is
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good about this body: a passion for public service, a sincere desire to
reach out across the aisle, a great talent for forging coalitions and
bringing people together, and a willingness to work long hours to
accomplish important things.
As we all know, Evan is what we might call a ``son of the Senate.''
He is enormously proud to have been elected to the same seat his father
Senator Birch Bayh held for two terms and who remains a great friend of
mine after all these years. He has followed in his father's footsteps
in fighting for quality public schools, student loans, retirement
security, and giving every American access to quality, affordable
health care.
In addition, he has been a leader in strengthening our Armed Forces
and national security. I know that Senator Bayh takes special pride in
leading the charge to provide our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with
much improved mine-resistant armored vehicles.
As he leaves this body, Senator Bayh is still a young man with many
chapters yet to be written in his life and career. For more than a
quarter century, he has devoted himself to public service, first as
Indiana's secretary of state, then as an enormously successful two-term
Governor of Indiana, and, of course, since 1999 as a Senator.
I have always been a big admirer of one of his signature
accomplishments as Governor, which was passing legislation creating the
21st Century Scholars Program. It is a wonderful program. Thanks to his
initiative, every child in Indiana who is eligible for the free lunch
program in public schools, who graduates from high school, and signs a
pledge not to experiment with illegal drugs is entitled--get this--is
entitled to a full tuition scholarship at the Indiana public university
of his or her choice.
Over the years, many thousands of Hoosiers of modest means have been
able to attend college thanks to this remarkable law. That is what I
call a great--I hope my friend does not mind me saying this--populist,
progressive accomplishment. It speaks volumes about Evan Bayh's
priorities and values throughout his 24 years in public service.
During his two terms in this body, Senator Bayh has always faithfully
served the people of Indiana and the people of the United States. I
hope and expect he will pursue new avenues of public service after he
leaves the Senate because our country sorely needs public servants of
his caliber, intelligence, and accomplishments.
I will miss the day-to-day friendships, the counsels, the
interchanges we have had together in the Senate. I wish Evan and his
wonderful wife Susan and their twin sons, Beau and Nick, the very best
in the years ahead.
Arlen Specter
Mr. President, I also wish to pay a farewell to another long-time
legislative partner, and that is Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.
I listened with great interest to Senator Specter's farewell remarks
yesterday. He decried the decline of bipartisan cooperation in this
body. As he put it:
In some quarters, compromising has become a dirty word.
Politics is no longer the art of the possible when senators
are intransigent in their positions.
During his remarkable 30 years in the Senate--he is the longest
serving U.S. Senator in Pennsylvania's history--Arlen Specter has been
admired for his fierce independence and for his willingness to cross
party lines in order to accomplish big and important things for this
country.
Nowhere has this been more vividly on display than in the Labor,
Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Committee on
Appropriations, on which Senator Specter and I are senior members.
Before last year, when he returned to his roots as a Democrat, Arlen
was the senior Republican and I was the senior Democrat on that
subcommittee. Since 1989, as the majority in the Senate has gone back
and forth between the two parties, we alternated as either chair or
ranking member. But the transitions were seamless as we passed the
gavel back and forth because Arlen and I forged an unshakable
partnership.
That partnership has been grounded in our shared commitment to
finding cures for diseases ranging from cancer to heart disease to
Alzheimer's and in our determination to maintain the National
Institutes of Health as the jewel in the crown of international
biomedical research. Our proudest accomplishment was our collaboration
in doubling funding for the National Institutes of Health over a 5-year
period, between 1998 and 2003. Last year, we again collaborated in
securing $10 billion for the National Institutes of Health in the
Recovery Act, although I must be honest and give the senior Senator
from Pennsylvania the lion's share of credit for that accomplishment.
I say without fear of contradiction that there has been no Member of
Congress in the Senate or the House who has championed NIH as
passionately and relentlessly and successfully as Senator Arlen
Specter. Indeed, at times, in my role when I was chair of the
Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee, I have
had to remind Arlen that there were other programs besides the NIH in
our appropriations bill. In fairness, Senator Specter has also fought
passionately to increase funding for public schools and to increase
access to higher education, but there is no question that his great
passion, his living legacy has been the National Institutes of Health
and biomedical research. Today, the prowess and excellence of the
National Institutes of Health is truly a living legacy to Senator
Specter, and we have countless new medical cures and therapies because
of Senator Specter's long and determined advocacy.
Mr. President, I will miss my good friend and colleague from
Pennsylvania, who has been a tremendous ally for many years. As he
departs the Senate, he can take enormous pride in 30 years of truly
distinguished service to the people of Pennsylvania and the United
States. I wish Arlen and his wonderful wife Joan the very best in the
years ahead.
With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor and wish the occupant of
the chair the best of the holiday season and a happy New Year. We will
see you when we come back to the next Congress.
I yield the floor.
Russ Feingold
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my
colleague and friend, Senator Russ Feingold.
I have had the privilege of serving with Senator Feingold since he
and I were both elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992. Over the past 18
years, Senator Feingold has been an independent, passionate advocate
for his State and his Nation. He was consistently a voice of conscience
in the Senate, never afraid to ask the tough questions or to speak out
against policies he believed were flawed.
Over the years, Senator Feingold has distinguished himself as a
leading expert on foreign and domestic policy who is willing to work
across party lines to get the job done, whether it was reforming our
Nation's campaign finance laws or working to end the atrocities
committed by Ugandan rebels in the Lord's Resistance Army.
I have had the privilege of sitting next to Senator Feingold in the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I have been proud to witness how,
as the chair of the Subcommittee on African Affairs, he has led the
Senate in recognizing and addressing many of Africa's unique issues and
challenges. He was one of the first to speak out about the genocide in
the Darfur region of Sudan. He has advocated for an end to the illicit
mining of conflict minerals that support armed conflict in the
Democratic Republic of Congo. And he has placed a spotlight on drug
trafficking in West Africa, the threat of terrorism in Somalia, and the
affects of global diseases such as malaria on African populations.
Senator Feingold is a great reformer, taking the lead on campaign
finance reform and on the Army Corps of Engineers.
Senator Feingold has been such an incredible champion for human
rights, and I am personally grateful for his work on women's rights,
particularly his commitment to combating violence against women and
girls worldwide.
His passion, expertise, and dedication to these issues are unmatched
and will be greatly missed.
Byron Dorgan
Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague and
friend, Senator Byron Dorgan.
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It has been an honor to serve with Senator Dorgan since he and I were
both elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992.
Nobody can get to the heart of a matter like Byron Dorgan. He has an
unbelievable ability to lay out both challenges and solutions with
clarity. He is a populist in the best sense of the word, and our
country is better for his service in this Chamber.
Senator Dorgan has always been a champion for the people of North
Dakota, for our workers, and for rural Americans. For the last 18
years, he has devoted himself to supporting family farms and promoting
economic development across our country.
Senator Dorgan has been a leader in the Senate in fighting to
preserve jobs here in America and end tax breaks for companies that
ship jobs overseas. No one has fought harder for the middle class.
He used his position as chairman of the Senate Energy and Water
Appropriations Subcommittee to advance important projects and create
jobs, and I will always be thankful for his support in our efforts to
protect California communities from flooding.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senator Dorgan
has worked tirelessly to improve health care and economic opportunities
for Indians. He has helped streamline the bureaucracy of the Bureau of
Indian Affairs. He developed the landmark Tribal Law and Order Act,
which helped give tribal justice officials the tools they need to
protect their communities. I was so proud to cosponsor that bill and so
pleased that President Obama signed it into law this year.
He leaves a distinguished legacy and will be greatly missed by all of
us.
Arlen Specter
Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to our friend and colleague,
Senator Arlen Specter.
Senator Specter has spent five terms serving the people of
Pennsylvania here in Congress--longer than any other Pennsylvania
Senator. All of us can take a lesson from his dedication and passion
for fighting for the people of his State.
A member of the Judiciary Committee since he joined Congress, Senator
Specter built on his background as an attorney and eventually assumed
the chairmanship of the committee. His expertise on constitutional
issues has long been admired by his colleagues.
Senator Specter was always a leader on issues relating to our
National Institutes of Health, championing investment in scientific
research to find lifesaving treatments and cures for a range of
diseases. He understood firsthand how crucial such funding could be,
having fought his own battle with cancer. When we passed the Recovery
Act, it was Senator Specter who ensured that it would include
significant investments in NIH. His efforts to help double NIH's budget
have contributed to advances in treatments for Parkinson's, cancer,
heart disease and Alzheimer's.
I am pleased to have had the opportunity to work closely with Senator
Specter on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. He has
been a thoughtful and constructive member committed to addressing
climate change and fighting for clean energy jobs.
Senator Specter loves this institution, and he will be missed. He has
left his mark, and I thank him for his decades of dedicated public
service.
Chris Dodd
Mr. President, I would like to ask my colleagues to join me today in
recognize the extraordinary leadership and service of our friend,
Senator Chris Dodd.
Senator Dodd has served the Senate with grace, intelligence, and
compassion for three decades. The son of a U.S. Senator, he loves this
institution and has done everything he could to preserve its best
traditions. Senator Dodd has always encouraged all of us to keep our
disputes and differences from becoming personal.
He leaves behind an incredible legacy of accomplishments that have
touched the lives of virtually all Americans.
I will never forget the leadership role he played in helping to pass
health care reform last spring--a fitting tribute to his close friend
Ted Kennedy, whose vision finally became a reality.
As chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs,
Senator Dodd led the effort to pass Wall Street reform legislation. He
was a forceful advocate for holding banks accountable for their
actions, and we could not have enacted this landmark accomplishment
without his leadership.
Senator Dodd has devoted his career in public service to making life
better for our families and our children. I saw this firsthand as we
worked together to ensure that our children have safe places to go
after school. As chairman of the Senate Afterschool Caucus and the
founder of the Senate's first Children's Caucus, Senator Dodd worked
hard to expand the Head Start program, to reform the No Child Left
Behind Act, and to make college more affordable for students and their
families.
In the face of Presidential vetoes, Senator Dodd dedicated 8 years to
enacting the Family and Medical Leave Act, which has helped ensure that
50 million Americans can care for their loved ones during difficult
times without fearing for their jobs.
Senator Dodd is a fluent Spanish speaker and has been the Senate's
leading expert on Latin America. I have been proud to work closely with
him to reform our Nation's drug certification laws.
His own years of service in the U.S. Peace Corps inspired Senator
Dodd to support and promote President Kennedy's call to service in this
Chamber. In the Senate, he has helped expand and modernize the Peace
Corps and worked to provide loan forgiveness to Peace Corps volunteers,
teachers, and others who devote themselves to public service.
All of us in the Senate will greatly miss Senator Dodd.
Blanche Lincoln
Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague and
friend, Senator Blanche Lincoln.
Senator Lincoln has spent her entire career serving the people of
Arkansas, and she has been a passionate and effective leader for her
State.
She has been an inspiration to so many women. Senator Lincoln made
history as the first woman to chair the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry Committee, and I will never forget how Senator Lincoln led
by example, showing us you could be a young mom in the Senate,
dedicated to your children, while also being a strong advocate for your
State.
She has been a leader in the Senate on child nutrition and has worked
tirelessly to pass important legislation, including the Healthy,
Hunger-Free Kids Act that was just signed into law by President Obama.
The measure will help combat the nationwide epidemic of obesity by
making sure our schoolchildren have access to healthy, nutritious
meals.
As a cofounder of the Senate Hunger Caucus, Senator Lincoln has
played a crucial role in shedding light on a problem that affects so
many, both at home and abroad.
Senator Lincoln was never afraid to stand up for what she believed
in. She showed her tenacity in fighting for greater transparency and
accountability in derivatives markets during the debate over Wall
Street reform.
She has been a fighter for her State and her legislative
accomplishments will have a profound impact on the lives of so many
children and communities across our country.
I want to thank her for her years of friendship and for her dedicated
service here in the Senate. We will all miss her.
christopher dodd
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in
paying tribute to Senator Christopher Dodd, a longtime public servant
and fellow New Englander whose dedication to advancing the common good
with common sense, independence, and a genuine desire to solve problems
has served both his constituents of Connecticut as well as his country
for 36 years. With trust, comity, and a love for the institution of the
Senate, Senator Dodd has for more than three decades contributed to
creating a legislative environment where at crucial moments in the life
of the greatest deliberative body in human history, the upper Chamber
was able to work its will to the lasting benefit of the American
people, and we could not be more grateful.
Indisputably, and as countless colleagues have noted, public service
has
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always been at the center of Senator Dodd's life--literally, as he is
the first son of Connecticut to follow his father into the U.S. Senate,
and remarkably, for the past 30 years, Senator Dodd has had the
privilege of sitting at the same desk used by his father, Senator
Thomas Dodd, during his 12 years in the Senate. Chris Dodd's
longstanding devotion to the public arena has spanned from his three
terms in the U.S. House--the last of which I was privileged to serve
with him--to his five terms in the U.S. Senate. And Senator Dodd earned
the lasting gratitude of his constituents and admiration of his
colleagues with his stalwart leadership in foreign policy, his vigorous
and unwavering battle to enact the Family and Medical Leave Act, and
his longstanding stewardship of our Nation's most precious resource--
our children.
And on this last point, like many in this Chamber, I cannot begin to
justly measure the depth and breadth of the legacy Senator Dodd has
forged in safeguarding the most vulnerable in our society. Consider for
example the issue of child care. Time and again, Senator Dodd has
battled to ensure both the quality of child care in America as well as
the funding for it, and as he keenly and presciently understood, in
this matter, our Nation could not have one without the other.
An undeniable focus of Senator Dodd's, child care has unquestionably
become one of his crowning achievements and legislative hallmarks--and
nowhere was his imprint on the issue greater than during the landmark
welfare reform debate in 1995 and 1996. I well recall working with
Senator Dodd as we made the case that there was indeed a pivotal link
between viable welfare reform and child care--that for families
struggling to reduce their dependency on welfare--especially single
parents--unaffordable, unavailable, or unreliable childcare was the
chief barrier to steady employment, and one that could and should be
lessened, if not eliminated.
That is why I was pleased to join with Senator Dodd on our amendment
to add $6 billion in child care funding to welfare reform legislation,
especially at a time when that funding was very much imperiled.
Arriving at a consensus required leaders from both parties to jettison
their competing and hardened ideologies in favor not just of making
dependable childcare more accessible, but in support of welfare reform
that would effectively move more Americans from welfare to work.
Senator Dodd, as colleague after colleague can attest, heeded his own
beliefs that ``you don't begin the debate with bipartisanship--you
arrive there. And you can do so only when determined partisans create
consensus.'' Because he never lost sight of the primacy of working
across the aisle, we were victorious in including the funding we sought
in the Senate-passed bill.
That bipartisan effort to garner concrete results designed to make a
difference in the daily lives of the American people was not an
isolated instance. Senator Dodd and I collaborated on legislation to
support campus-based child care for low income mothers trying to
further their education, and we authored legislation to help states
improve training in early childhood development to make improved child
care more available to more people. With innate New England pragmatism
and a desire for solutions, Senator Dodd saw impediments to success
that were impinging upon a segment of our society that if only reduced
or removed would aid not only families striving to improve their lives,
but a Nation seeking to help stem the tide of dependency.
Ultimately, what occupied Senator Dodd's agenda was the active
pursuit of an even better America. We didn't always agree on what that
path should be, but where we did find common ground, as in child care,
we cultivated it. That dynamic was at work recently as Senator Dodd and
I, as the former chair and current ranking member of the Senate
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, collaborated to help
the economic engines and catalysts of our economy--America's small
businesses, the very enterprises that will lead us out of recession and
into recovery.
During the consideration of what would become The Dodd-Frank Wall
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, I truly appreciated Senator
Dodd's perseverance in including a provision I authored allowing small
businesses to raise concerns over burdensome regulations through small
business review panels within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Senator Dodd and I also worked to reduce the regulatory compliance
burden for small banks by striking a provision of the bill which would
have required these lending institutions to report their transactions
to the Federal Government down to each individual ATM.
This kind of rapport was emblematic of how Senator Dodd viewed good
governance. In his valedictory address on the floor of the Senate, he
observed that ``in my three decades here, I cannot recall a single
Senate colleague with whom I could not work.'' Indeed, Senator Dodd
always saw adversaries as potential allies--and foes as unwon friends.
From the days of his youth, Senator Dodd grew up steeped in the
tradition of and respect for the Senate--and an abiding admiration for
this venerable institution that runs at its own pace and by its own
rules. Instead of exhibiting rancor and a burning desire to win at all
costs, Senator Dodd sought instead to build relationships and by doing
so, strengthened his capacity for legislating and contributed mightily
to the advancement of this esteemed Chamber. Legendary American poet
and son of Maine, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, once wrote that ``if you
would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it.'' Chris Dodd has
always aimed high--and met his target--leaving a legacy of enormous
accomplishment to his constituents in Connecticut and to the American
people.
In closing, let me just extend my personal appreciation to his wife
Jackie and their daughters Grace and Christina for sharing Christopher
Dodd with us
judd gregg
Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in paying a well-
earned tribute to Senator Judd Gregg, a fellow New Englander and one of
New Hampshire's much-admired icons of public service over the last
three decades.
Senator Gregg has been immersed in public service his entire life,
beginning with his father's election as Governor of New Hampshire in
1952 when Judd was only 5 years old. And through the years, he has
amassed a record of leadership at every level of government that is
truly remarkable. It comes as no surprise that Judd is the first public
servant from the Granite State ever to realize the political trifecta
of being elected to the three offices of Congressman, Governor, and
Senator. Serving others goes to the very core of Judd Gregg's persona
and DNA. It always has and always will.
And let me just say, at every step along the way, it has been a
privilege for me to witness Senator Gregg's impressive trajectory in
public life firsthand. In fact, it was during Judd's years in the U.S.
House of Representatives, where my husband, Jock McKernan, and I first
got to know him as well as his wonderful wife Kathy. And that
friendship grew further during Judd's time as Governor as both he and
Jock were chief executives of their respective States during the same
period.
And having served with Judd for nearly his entire tenure in the
Senate, I have been proud to work side by side with an individual whose
organizing principle behind public service has always been driven by
common sense, pragmatism, and the imperative to forge solutions across
the aisle. Time and again, Judd has sought to bridge the political
divide to garner results, whether by tackling our Nation's fiscal
challenges, promoting land conservation, or most notably, co-authoring
the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 with the late Senator Edward
Kennedy.
Indeed, Senator Gregg's rigorous intellect, financial acumen, and
budgetary expertise have earned him the respect and admiration of his
Senate colleagues from both parties and made him one of the Nation's
most well-regarded, leading champions of fiscal discipline and
accountability, and one of the most knowledgeable voices and
authorities in addressing our Nation's deficits and debt.
In fact, the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility
and Reform, created by President Obama, is modeled after legislation
first introduced by Senator Gregg, the former chair and current ranking
member of
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the Senate Budget Committee, and the current Chair, Senator Kent Conrad
of North Dakota--both of whom are commissioners. What a fitting coda
for one of this generation's stalwart guardians of our Nation's budget.
And Senator Gregg's service could not be more emblematic of his
overall approach to public service which has always hewed to principle
with a genuine desire to forge solutions across the aisle. No wonder
that earlier this month, Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus wrote
that in ``both parties, there are too few Greggs, and too many of them
. . . are leaving public office.'' I couldn't agree more!
Just as Senator Gregg has rightly earned national acclaim as a fiscal
steward and sentinel on behalf of the American taxpayer, the heart of
his leadership has always remained with his beloved Granite State as
well as our region of New England. I well recall the ironclad
solidarity our two delegations have shared, particularly in defending
against efforts to close the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Through each of
the five Base Realignment and Closure, BRAC, rounds from 1988 through
2005, we have left no stone unturned to champion the cause of the U.S.
Navy's oldest and best shipyard--and to ensure that the BRAC Commission
recognized the legendary work-ethic and world-class craftsmanship of a
workforce that is second to none.
Former Senate majority and minority leader, Senator Robert Dole, with
whom Senator Gregg and I both served, once observed ``as long as there
are only 3 to 4 people on the floor, the country is in good hands. It's
only when you have 50 to 60 in the Senate that you want to be
concerned.'' When Judd Gregg was on the floor the people of New
Hampshire and, indeed, the Nation knew that our country was in
tremendously capable and conscientious hands, and we could not be more
grateful!
In thanking Senator Gregg for his immeasurable contributions to this
storied chamber, I know I join all of my colleagues in wishing him and
his beloved wife Kathy, Godspeed, as they embark on the well-earned,
next chapter of their lives.
GEORGE VOINOVICH
Mr. President, I rise today to join in paying tribute to my longtime
good friend and colleague, Senator George Voinovich of Ohio. In the
U.S. Constitution, our Founding Fathers made it clear that there is no
one clear path, background, or station in life that leads to serving in
the U.S. Senate. There is an age requirement and a residency
stipulation and no more. That said, if ever there were a job
description for being a Senator, it occurs to me that a model example
we should consider is that of Senator George Voinovich.
Senator Voinovich's depth and breadth of wisdom, knowledge, and
experience about making government work at all levels which he has
harnessed throughout his sterling, four decade trajectory in public
life recall what James Madison wrote in The Federalist, No. 62 in
advocating for a higher age requirement for Senators than members of
the House. Madison postulated that the deliberative disposition of the
Senate required a ``greater extent of information and stability of
character.'' I don't think it's too far of a stretch to say that James
Madison must have had a Senator like George Voinovich in mind when
making this case.
Before Senator Voinovich even stepped onto the floor of the U.S.
Senate he had already been Governor of Ohio, mayor of Cleveland,
Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, county commissioner, auditor, and a member
of the Ohio House of Representatives. With a wealth of insights to draw
upon through many years of public service, George has always been a
force with whom to be reckoned, someone whose viewpoint and counsel are
sought, and whose example is worthy of being emulated many, many times
over.
My husband Jock, former Governor of Maine, and I first got to know
Senator Voinovich and his wonderful wife of nearly 50 years, Janet, in
the 1990s when Jock and George were both serving as Governor of their
respective States and active in the National Governors Association. In
Ohio's State capital of Columbus, George was building on his enormous
success as Mayor of Cleveland where he inherited a stagnant economy,
rejuvenated it through fiscal discipline and acumen and public-private
partnerships, and forged a three-time All-America City winner in the
1980s.
George made similar, remarkable strides as Governor, where, under his
watch, unemployment hit a 25-year low and 600,000 new jobs were
created. Many accolades were bestowed upon George for his
accomplishments at the State level, and they were all well- earned to
say the least. In fact, he is still the only individual to serve as
both chairman of the National Governors Association and president of
the National League of Cities.
There are many laudatory characterizations of Senator Voinovich that
have already been expressed by my colleagues, and there are certainly
some that come to mind, especially as a highly regarded U.S. Senator--
thoughtful, independent, principled, rigorous, courageous, and
pragmatic. With George, you always knew where he stood on an issue and
frankly where you stood with him. In an institution whose very
foundation is built upon trust and forging relationships, George was
someone you could count on time and time again.
And to say that Senator Voinovich was a workhorse in this Chamber
from day one is an understatement to be sure. His word is as good as
gold--and as they say, you can take it to the bank. If he shook your
hand on a deal, that was all that was required. The fact is, they don't
make enough legislators or public servants like Senator Voinovich
anymore. Like the Ohio State flag, the only one in the U.S. not shaped
like a rectangle, George has been and will always be . . . one of a
kind.
I can tell this Chamber from firsthand experience, there was no one
you would rather be in the trenches with in the Senate, especially when
the stakes were high, than George. I will never forget--and I know
George won't either--how we stood side by side as stewards of fiscal
accountability during the tax cut debate in 2003. We were certain that
reducing taxes and hewing to our budget concerns did not have to be
mutually exclusive--that we could champion billions in tax cuts without
jeopardizing our Nation's fiscal future by proposing offsets.
The fact is, once Senator Voinovich determined to chart a particular
course, he was not easily dissuaded--and rightfully earned a reputation
for being tireless and relentless in his pursuits. His moral fiber,
character, and integrity can be traced back to being the grandson of
Serbian and Slovenian immigrants who crossed the Atlantic from Croatia
at the turn of the century. As a proud Greek-American whose parents
emigrated from Greece, I see in George the same stalwart work ethic so
prevalent in my own roots and culture growing up in Maine.
Senator Voinovich once said that ``doing a good job at running your
government is the best politics,'' and that ``people just want you to
get the job done.'' But for him, these weren't platitudes worthy of a
government class, they have been truly organizing tenets that have
shaped a distinguished 40-year tenure of serving the common good for
Ohioans and the Nation.
In the Senate, when others refused to reach across the aisle, Senator
Voinovich understood that doing so made the system work, especially for
those who elected us in the first place--the American people. When
political scorekeeping and posturing have ruled the day, Senator
Voinovich has managed to transcend the short-term efforts to jockey for
position in favor of immersing himself in the substance of the policy
with the intention of championing it or opposing it based on the facts,
not political sway or the temper of the times. The legacy of George's
clear voice of reason and brave vision in this body will extend into
the next Congress and for Congresses to come. My only regret is that
the Senate could use more George Voinovichs, not fewer.
For all of his dedicated public service to his Buckeye State and this
great land, undoubtedly, George will tell you that his greatest
achievement is his marriage of 39 years to his beloved wife Janet,
their three children, and eight grandchildren. I wish them all the
best.
BLANCHE LINCOLN
Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in paying tribute
to Senator
[[Page S11018]]
Blanche Lincoln, one of the finest public servants I have had the
pleasure not only to know, but to work with during our one term in the
U.S. House together and her distinguished 11-year tenure in the Senate.
A seventh-generation Arkansan, Senator Lincoln has always been firmly
rooted in the values and the people of her great State. Their concerns
have been her battles--their hopes have been her cause. Her State's
bedrock values of family and faith have always been at the center of
Blanche's life as a daughter, wife, mother, church member, and
Congresswoman. She has always been as authentic as they come, warm as
she is determined, gracious as she is resolute, and Arkansans wouldn't
have it any other way.
Blanche understood the inherent human element and dimensions of
public service as well as anyone--that you pursued elective office not
for personal gain, but in order to make a difference on behalf of
others, especially for rural America. For Senator Lincoln, the phrase
``The People Rule'' was more than her great State's cherished motto, it
was an organizing principle and a clarion call which inspired her to
serve.
The youngest woman ever elected to the Senate and the first woman to
serve as chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Committee in its 184 years of existence, Senator Lincoln was making her
mark from the first time she entered the august Chamber of the U.S.
Senate. From the beginning, she stood upon the mightiest of shoulders,
Arkansas's legendary Hattie Caraway, the first woman to win a statewide
U.S. Senate race in Arkansas and the first woman to chair a U.S. Senate
committee. How fitting it is that Senator Lincoln paid homage to her
predecessor by using the same desk on the Senate floor that Senator
Caraway used 60 years ago.
I was privileged to work with Senator Lincoln for her entire time and
mine as well on the venerable Senate Finance Committee where we were
kindred spirits and compatriots from day one. In fact, our very first
year on the committee we forged an historic, bipartisan alliance to
make the childcare tax credit refundable for the first time ever, and
the bond we formed during that undertaking only increased as we
shepherded other dependent care issues through the years to help give
families the resources to be stronger and find empowerment through
work.
Senator Lincoln and I, as the former chair and current ranking member
of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, also
joined forces on the Small Business Health Options Program, or the so-
called SHOP Act, to increase the number of insurers available to small
businesses, so that these engines of our economy could benefit from
greater competition. On issue after issue, I valued our collaborations,
our mutual respect, and our common desire to achieve results and
jettison the partisan bickering that impedes not only progress, but our
obligation to do the will of the American people.
Central to that collegiality has been our great tradition as women in
the Senate of getting together once a month for dinner, and there is no
question that Senator Lincoln's absence will be keenly felt.
Appropriately, we described one of our dinners in the prologue to the
book we labored on together in the 1990s, entitled ``Nine and
Counting,'' to demonstrate the progress women had made in the upper
Chamber. In it, Blanche is described as ``ebullient, energetic, and
unpretentious--she is the picture of representative government.'' That
is the Blanche Lincoln I know and the Blanche Lincoln I will miss.
Like all of the women I have had the honor of serving with on both
sides of the aisle, Blanche has been a bulwark against the all-too-
prevalent dynamic confronting the American political system--the
ongoing erosion of bipartisanship, cooperation, and civility. She has
helped bridge the partisan divide as much as anyone, and has acted time
and again as a catalyst for cultivating common ground in order to
advance the common good.
The Arkansas State flag contains diamond shapes in its center as
Arkansas is the only State where diamonds have been discovered. It has
been the pinnacle of generosity for Arkansans to share one of their
gems here in our Nation's Capital in the form of Senator Blanche
Lincoln. We also thank her husband Dr. Steve Lincoln and their twin
boys, Reece and Bennett, for doing the same.
evan bayh
Mr. President, today I wish to join in paying a well-deserved tribute
to my good friend and colleague, Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana. When it
comes to reflecting on his tremendous experience and influence in this
esteemed Chamber for the past 12 years, the simple truth is that our
Nation and our government would be exponentially improved by having
more like Evan Bayh serving in the United States Senate.
A proud native of the Hoosier State--as well as a son of the
legendary former Senator Birch Bayh--Senator Evan Bayh is a man of
unwavering principle and conviction, who has been a stalwart legislator
and unparalleled guardian of the first branch of government over his
two terms serving the people of Indiana. Born in Shirkieville, educated
at Indiana University, and a graduate of the University of Virginia Law
School, Senator Bayh went on to clerk for a Federal court judge,
eventually being elected as Indiana's secretary of state in 1986.
Yet even before Senator Bayh stepped onto the floor of the United
States Senate he had already served two terms as Governor of Indiana,
beginning in 1988. In fact, that is where I first got to know him as
both he and my husband, John McKernan, were chief executives of their
respective States during much of that same period. The depth and
breadth of Evan's insight and experience that was forged during his
years as Governor would become truly indispensable as a United States
Senator.
Having served side-by-side with Evan for his entire tenure--including
this Congress as fellow members of the Senate Select Committee on
Intelligence and the Senate Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship, where I serve as ranking member--I can attest
firsthand to his intellect, independence, and integrity that will truly
leave an indelible mark on this institution and this Nation. Evan has
also been a next-door neighbor in my hallway in the Russell Senate
Building. So I will profoundly miss seeing him not only in the Senate,
but also simply walking down the hall outside my office.
Throughout his storied career, Senator Bayh has reached across the
aisle to find consensus on legislation to advance both Indiana and the
Nation. From focusing on job growth and fighting for America's small
businesses to national security and trade, Evan has been a leader whose
achievements truly leave an indelible mark.
Indeed, I was pleased to work with Senator Bayh on legislation in
2007 that linked the troop surge in Iraq to meaningful consequences and
telegraphed to the Iraqi Government that they had to meet the
benchmarks they themselves had set. And just this year, Senator Bayh
and I worked with a number of our colleagues in the Senate to crack
down on unfair currency manipulations in China--ensuring our government
is equipped with the tools to adequately address inequities and provide
consequences for countries that violate our global trade rules by
holding down the value of their currency.
Earlier, in 2001, Senator Bayh and I introduced a bipartisan
resolution in the Senate, as well as a subsequent amendment on the
Senate floor, to ensure that decisions on the use of the budget
surpluses that were projected at the time--whether for tax cuts or for
spending--should be linked to the surpluses actually realized. Simply
put, the idea, based on a proposal first outlined by then-Federal
Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, was that long-term tax and spending
plans should include a kind of ``trigger'' mechanism that limits the
surplus-reducing impact of those proposals if budget targets weren't
achieved, such as specific levels of debt reduction.
We believed such a trigger would provide a strong incentive for
Congress to act responsibly in the future allocation of any surpluses,
while also serving as a ``backstop'' should estimates prove too
optimistic. As I said at the time, we should have been utilizing those
surpluses as a window of opportunity to address our most pressing
domestic issues, such as strengthening Social
[[Page S11019]]
Security and Medicare. And frankly, how prescient that trigger
mechanism proved to be--just imagine where we might be today if it had
passed nearly 10 years ago.
In multiple facets, Senator Bayh has been an esteemed colleague and
friend in our mutual cause to revitalize and advance the political
center--in our concerted effort to answer the challenges facing our
Nation by producing results, not rancor, and accord instead of
acrimony. His departure not only diminishes the Senate, but is also a
loss for the country--because we require more voices seeking to craft
compromise and consensus to forge solutions, not fewer.
I have long argued that the legislative stalemate and political
quagmire that has gripped much of this Congress has been to the
detriment of our country--especially at a time when our Nation faces a
number of challenges, not the least of which is a struggling economy
that has caused far too many Americans to lose their jobs and their
paychecks. In February, Senator Bayh wrote an op-ed for the New York
Times in which he said, ``The most ideologically devoted elements in
both parties must accept that not every compromise is a sign of
betrayal or an indication of moral lassitude. When too many of our
citizens take an all-or-nothing approach, we should not be surprised
when nothing is the result.'' I could not agree more--and Senator
Bayh's advocacy of moderation and reason in this body will truly be
missed.
President Theodore Roosevelt once said that ``far and away the best
prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth
doing.'' Well, if ever there were a Senator who epitomizes that
sentiment, it is Senator Bayh as he has given his very best to make an
already great Nation greater still. I wish Evan, his wife, Susan, and
their two sons, Beau and Nick, all the best for the future.
judd gregg
Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it has been a great pleasure and honor to
serve in this body with Judd Gregg. He and his wife Kathy have enriched
our lives with their friendship and their contributions to the work and
responsibilities of the U.S. Senate.
Judd's leadership on the Budget and Appropriations Committees have
been especially important and worthy of high praise.
His sense of humor has helped make our service in the Senate an
enjoyable experience.
I wish for him and his family all the best in the years ahead.
SAM BROWNBACK
Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the service of my
friend and colleague Sam Brownback. Sam was elected to the House of
Representatives in 1994 during the Republican Revolution and was
subsequently elected to the Senate 2 years later when former majority
leader Bob Dole made his bid for the White House.
It has been both a privilege and a pleasure serving alongside Sam
during these past 16 years. All of us who seek public service want to
make a difference, and most certainly, Sam Brownback has done that. In
these endeavors I have enjoyed working with Sam in achieving some note
worthy accomplishments for our State of Kansas. As I reflect upon our
mutual efforts, it is hard to figure out who was driving the stage and
who was riding shotgun. Simply put, it has been a team effort, and I
have been both humbled and proud to work with my colleague who has
provided unique and respected leadership. Sam's record speaks for
itself: bringing the Big Red One back home to Fort Riley, KS, where it
started and now belongs; bringing the National Bio- and Agro-Defense
Facility, NBAF, to Manhattan, KS; ensuring fair treatment of the
general aviation industry in FAA bills; and working together to rebuild
Greensburg, KS, after 95 percent of the community was literally blown
away by an EF5 tornado.
But beyond our work together on State specific issues, it is Sam's
Federal legislative initiatives that I think will have the longest
impact on the Senate and the lives of so many people, pot only within
Kansas and our Nation but, indeed, around the world.
Since the late 1970s, the term ``compassionate conservative'' has
been tossed around quite a bit to describe a philosophy--a philosophy
that states by applying conservative ideals, our government can best
improve the welfare of our society. I think many of my colleagues would
agree that if anyone in public service over the past 30 years embodies
this philosophy, it would be Sam Brownback.
What is unique about Sam and his approach to politics these past 16
years is that his ideas went beyond words and rhetoric. The Sam
Brownback approach was simple but effective. He applied his beliefs to
action, reflected by the many legislative accomplishments he championed
during his tenure in the Senate.
Sam is a big believer in forgiveness and second chances. How to put
that belief into action? Sam introduced a bill that really shows his
heart for those in society who many times are not given an opportunity
to make amends: the Second Chance Act.
Signed into law during the Bush administration, this act created a
grant program for State and local governments to fund job training and
family mentoring programs to help reintegrate past offenders as they
are granted release back into society.
But Sam's legislative victories did not focus solely on domestic
issues. Sam has a great love for the continent of Africa.
Serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he traveled to
Africa on multiple occasions to gain a better understanding of how he
could help provide relief to those most vulnerable. His experiences led
him to champion the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006.
Enacted that same year, this law created sanctions against individuals
and groups responsible for the terrible crime of genocide in Darfur,
while establishing measures to protect civilians and humanitarian
efforts within the borders of Sudan.
The more Sam did, the more he felt called to do, and no one did more
for the protection of victims of human trafficking than Sam. In 2000,
he helped enact the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This law
created criminal punishments for individuals caught in the United
States operating as traffickers. It established an annual reporting
mechanism to help track individuals engaged in sex trafficking and
created a new immigration status for victims of sex trafficking.
Lastly, I believe Sam's prominence during his time in the Senate had
a great deal to do with his willingness to work across party lines on
issues where he could seek and find common passion and ground.
The legislative item I think will leave the largest impact on many of
us in the Senate is the bill upon which he worked tirelessly with the
late Senator Ted Kennedy.
Signed into law by President Bush, the Prenatally and Postnatally
Diagnosed Conditions Act provides those families with children
diagnosed with Down Syndrome the support services and networks they
need to help them deal with the unique challenges they face. Put
another way, what better legislation to help protect the lives of those
in our Nation uniquely challenged but who deserve every right to the
same opportunities we all enjoy everyday.
I could easily and proudly recount many more of Sam's achievements
during his time in the Senate, but I would do so in danger of Sam
saying ``enough'' and giving me ``the hook.'' I have often said that
the high road of humility is not often bothered by heavy traffic in
Washington, but in Sam Brownback, we have indeed enjoyed the friendship
of a humble man.
In closing, I leave my colleagues with one of Senator Brownback's
favorite quotes that I think sums up the man that Sam is and the love
he has for all people, regardless of their nationality or place in
society.
Sam likes to say: `` I am pro-life and whole-life. Applying this
belief to the child in the womb and to the child in Darfur. It includes
the man in prison and the woman in poverty. It does not fail to cherish
the child with Down syndrome or stand for the inherent dignity of the
immigrant.''
Sam, I remember the first campaign rally we attended together. The
featured guest speaker, Senator Phil Gramm of Texas, introduced me as
one who made significant changes in the House of Representatives and
then introduced Sam as: ``One who not only wants to change things, but
to make the right changes.''
[[Page S11020]]
Sam, you have done just that and it has been an honor to serve with
you over these past 16 years. I thank you for your courtesy,
cooperation, leadership, example and your friendship and support. As
you head west, my friend, to lead our beloved State of Kansas, I look
forward to continued cooperation and success. The people of Kansas are
in good hands. God bless.
arlen specter
Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, when I came to the Senate in 2007 as a
Senator-elect, one of the first things I did was to go see Senator
Specter. He asked me at the time to go to lunch, and from the moment
that I arrived in the Senate, he made it very clear to me, not only did
the people of Pennsylvania expect, but he expected as well that we work
together. From the beginning of his service here in the United States
Senate, way back when he was elected in 1980, all the way up to the
present moment, he has been a Senator who has focused on building
bipartisan relationships and, of course, focusing on Pennsylvania
priorities.
I have been honored to have worked with him on so many Pennsylvania
priorities, whether it was veterans or workers, whether it was dairy
farmers or the economy of Pennsylvania, or whether it was our soldiers,
or our children, or our families. He has been a champion for our state,
and he has shown younger Senators the way to work together in the
interest of our state and our country. That bipartisanship wasn't just
a sentiment. He is a legislator who sought compromise that led to
results in a Senate often divided by partisanship.
His record is long, so I will only highlight a few areas.
He helped to lead the effort to dramatically increase funding for the
National Institutes of Health, that great generator of discoveries that
cure diseases and create jobs and hope for people often without hope
because of a disease or a malady of one kind or another.
His experience working on a farm as a boy, Kansas not in
Pennsylvania, helped him to understand and work on problems affecting
Pennsylvania agriculture and farm families.
He stood up for Pennsylvania industry and workers against subsidized
or dumped products that hurt Pennsylvania's steel industry.
He fought to bring Federal funding back to Pennsylvania to create
jobs, build infrastructure and invest in local communities.
No Senator in the history of the Commonwealth has served longer than
Senator Specter. In fact, the Senator that he outdistanced in a sense,
in terms of service, was only elected by the people twice after several
terms elected by the state legislature. Senator Specter was elected by
the people of Pennsylvania five times, but it is the life in those
Senate years, the contribution to our Commonwealth and our country in
those 30 years that really matter. His impact will be felt for
generations, not just decades, but for generations.
There was a history book of our State that came out in the year 2002.
It was a series of stories, essays and chapters on the history of
Pennsylvania, and it is a fascinating review of the State's history.
The foreword of that publication, that book, was written by Brent D.
Glass, at the time the executive director of the Pennsylvania
Historical Museum Commission. He wrote this in March 2002. It is a long
foreword which I won't read, but he wrote in the early part of this
foreword the following, ``One way to understand the meaning of
Pennsylvania's past is to examine certain places around the state that
are recognized for their significance to the entire nation.'' Then he
lists and describes in detail significant places in Pennsylvania that
have a connection to our history, whether it's the Liberty Bell or the
battlefield at Gettysburg, whether it's the farms in our Amish
communities or whether it's some other place of historic significance.
I have no doubt whatsoever that if the same history were recounted
about the people of Pennsylvania, the people who moved Pennsylvania
forward, the people who in addition to moving our State forward had an
impact on the Nation; if we had to make a list of Pennsylvanians who
made such contributions; whether it would be William Penn, Benjamin
Franklin, you can fill in the blanks from there, I have no doubt that
that list would include Senator Arlen Specter, a son of Kansas who made
Pennsylvania his home, a son of Kansas who fought every day for the
people of Pennsylvania.
So it is the work and the achievements and the passion and the
results in those years in the Senate that will put him on a very short
list of those who contributed so much to our Commonwealth that we love
and to our country that we cherish.
So for all that and for so many other reasons, I, as a resident of
Pennsylvania and a citizen of the United States, but as a Senator, want
to express my gratitude to Senator Arlen Specter for his 30 years of
service, but especially for what those 30 years meant to the people of
Pennsylvania. Thank you, Senator Specter.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes to
pay tribute to the 16 Senators who will be departing this body at the
end of the year.
I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve alongside each
of these Senators as colleagues and as friends. All served their States
with distinction and gave their constituents strong voices in the
world's greatest deliberative body. Senators Evan Bayh, Robert Bennett,
Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Roland Burris, Chris Dodd, Byron
Dorgan, Russ Feingold, Carte Goodwin, Judd Gregg, Ted Kaufman, George
LeMieux, Blanche Lincoln, Arlen Specter, and George Voinovich each left
an indelible mark on the Senate, and I wish them well as they take on
new challenges and opportunities into the future.
I would like to speak briefly about a few of the Senators I knew best
and served with in committees to recognize their contributions and
accomplishments and share my fond memories of them and the legacies
they will leave behind.
Bob Bennett
For nearly two decades, Senator Bob Bennett has honorably served the
people of Utah.
His career in the U.S. Senate has been marked by his commonsense
solutions to many of the most pressing issues facing our country.
Before serving in the Senate, Bob was a successful entrepreneur as
the CEO of Franklin International Institute. Under Bennett's
leadership, the business grew from 4 employees to more than 1,000 and
was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Bob brought his past experiences running a successful company with
him to the Senate. His business sense was certainly an asset that
informed his decisions as a U.S. Senator and made him an effective
advocate for businesses, large and small, who keep our economy strong.
Being a former businessowner myself, I valued his pragmatic perspective
and ability to get things done.
As a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee and a member of
the distinguished Joint Economic Committee, Bob has been a leader in
many national economic policy decisions.
In addition, while serving as the ranking republican on the Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, he has worked to
address the critical funding needs our country faces on a wide range of
energy and water related issues.
I am proud to have served with Bob for so many years, and his
leadership and kind manner will be sorely missed in the Senate.
Jim Bunning
I wish Senator Jim Bunning well as he departs the Senate. Much of his
legacy can be defined by his competitive spirit and strong work ethic.
These attributes have been evident throughout his many successes in
life, first in his career as a Hall of Fame baseball player and then
later as a public servant, representing the people of Kentucky. Being
an avid sports fan myself, I hold deep admiration for those who can
play at the highest levels of competitive sports and later bring that
drive to the Senate!
Following his highly successful professional baseball career for 17
years, Jim decided he wanted to give back to his community. In 1977, he
ran for city council and then later ran for the Kentucky State Senate
eventually becoming the Republican leader.
In 1986, Jim was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the
4th
[[Page S11021]]
District of Kentucky, where he served for 12 years before being elected
to the U.S. Senate in 1998.
During Jim's tenure in Congress, he has established himself as an
expert and defender of social security, fighting hard to protect social
security for current and future generations.
His hard work and devotion will be missed by the people of Kentucky,
whom I know are grateful for his many years of service.
Kit Bond
Kit Bond has a long and distinguished history of service to the
people of Missouri. As one of the longest serving Members in the U.S.
Senate and a former two-term Governor, his life's work has been
dedicated to the State of Missouri.
In the Senate, Kit has been a respected leader on many issues, such
as national security, transportation, and global economic
competiveness. While serving as the vice chairman on the Senate Select
Intelligence Committee, he has worked hard to strengthen national
security through supporting the U.S. military and reforming the
Nation's intelligence community. And as the leader of the Senate
National Guard Caucus, no one has done more to support the role of the
National Guard in our defense.
Kit and I have worked on many issues together during our time in the
Senate. In particular, last year when Democratic lawmakers tried to
push cap-and-trade bills through Congress, Kit and I released the
report, ``Climate Change Legislation: A $3.6 Trillion Gas Tax.''
Our joint report revealed how climate legislation would result in a
massive new national gas tax on American families, farmers, workers and
truckers--by increasing the price of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
It has been my pleasure to serve with Senator Bond. His office has
been next to mine for 12 years and it will not be the same without that
familiar cigar aroma lingering in the second floor halls of Russell.
Without a doubt, he will be missed by his colleagues in the Senate and
his constituents in Missouri.
Sam Brownback
While Senator Sam Brownback will certainly be missed by the Senate,
the people of Kansas will continue to benefit from his leadership, as
he serves as their newly-elected Governor.
Prior to being elected to public office, Sam's professional
experiences include working as a radio broadcaster, attorney, teacher,
and administrator.
From these varied professional experiences he brought with him a
unique and dynamic perspective to the U.S. Senate.
Through his leadership as the ranking member on the Joint Economic
Committee, ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on
Agriculture, and ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resource
Subcommittee on Water and Power, Sam established himself as a leader on
a wide range of issues.
During his tenure in the Senate, he has supported aviation research
and expanded global aviation markets. Through these efforts, he has
effectively spurred economic growth and strengthened the U.S. military.
Some of Sam's most distinguishing characteristics are his personal
integrity and his commitment to his Catholic faith. These principles
came through in much of what he did in the Senate. I will always
appreciate his passion and his work to translate his beliefs into his
actions as a U.S. Senator.
I am confident Senator Brownback will continue to serve the people of
Kansas with the same character and dedication in his new role as
governor.
Chris Dodd
Senator Chris Dodd departs the Senate after nearly three decades
faithfully representing the people of Connecticut.
From his service in the Peace Corps, the U.S. Army National Guard and
Reserves as well as his many years in the U.S. Senate, Senator Dodd's
commitment to public service and love for his country have been evident
throughout his life.
Chris was a leader in the Senate, serving as the chairman of the
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, chairman of the Foreign
Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and
Narcotics, and chairman of its Children and Families Subcommittee.
Although we had our differences on various policy issues, I always
appreciated his willingness to put partisanship aside to reach
consensus when possible in order to improve legislation. For instance,
earlier this year when working on the financial reform bill, despite my
public opposition to the legislation, Chris worked with me to
incorporate my amendments in the final version of the bill. I
ultimately voted against the bill, but I am grateful for the efforts he
made to include my amendments.
Today we bid him farewell after 29 years of tireless service in the
U.S. Senate.
Byron Dorgan
Today we say goodbye to Senator Byron Dorgan after 18 years in the
Senate, serving the State of North Dakota.
First elected to Congress in 1980, Dorgan has devoted his career to
serving North Dakota and fighting for the interests of rural America.
After serving six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Byron
was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992.
I have had the pleasure to serve with Senator Dorgan on the Senate
Commerce Committee. Last summer, we joined together with several of our
colleagues in the Senate to introduce bipartisan legislation that
reauthorized the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA.
The legislation accelerated the modernization of the Nation's air
traffic control, ATC system, addressed critical safety concerns in the
national airspace system, NAS, and improved rural community access to
air service.
I appreciated Byron's willingness to champion good ideas put forward
by members from either side of the aisle. By focusing on issues where
consensus could be achieved, he helped to move the debate forward on
important issues and solve problems.
Senator Dorgan leaves the Senate with my best wishes and respect.
Judd Gregg
As a leading voice for fiscal responsibility, Senator Judd Gregg will
be deeply missed in the Senate.
Throughout his long and distinguished career, with unparalleled
commitment to fiscal discipline, Senator Gregg worked to address many
pressing issues.
Senator Gregg is a well known budget expert and national leader on
the most critical issues facing our country in recent years, notably
health care, economic issues, and financial regulation.
His efforts to address the looming entitlement crisis, the rising
cost of health care, and the inefficient and complex tax system are
commendable and serve as an example to all elected officials.
In the Senate, Senator Gregg has also focused his efforts on helping
the U.S. maintain its position as the leading destination for capital
and investment in the world.
I appreciate the job Senator Gregg has done in his position as the
former chairman and current ranking member of the Budget Committee.
In 2006, Judd sponsored an amendment that strengthened border
security by providing resources to integrate biometric databases as
well as construction of new stations and check points and tactical
infrastructure for immigration and customs enforcement.
Unlike other similar proposals at the time, his amendment was offset
and did not add to the deficit.
I will miss working with him in this Chamber, and I will miss his
friendship and support on the issues that matter most to America.
In conclusion, the departing Senators' contributions, their dedicated
service, and the issues they championed will be remembered long after
their final days in the Senate.
I believe I can speak for my fellow Senators when I say that we will
all miss our departing friends.
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, when the 111th Congress draws to a
close, we will bid farewell to 16 colleagues who have collectively
given more than 200 years of service to our Nation through their
service in the Senate. These include seven of the Senate's most
experienced Members. People like Chris Dodd and Arlen Specter who have
each served five terms in the Senate. Kit Bond who has served
[[Page S11022]]
four terms and Bob Bennett, Byron Dorgan, Russ Feingold, and Judd
Gregg, who have each served three terms in this Chamber.
When the 112th Congress convenes in January, the ranks of women
Senators will be reduced by one. In fact, the 112th Congress will be
the first Congress in recent memory in which the total number of women
Senators will actually decline. And with the departure of our
colleague, Roland Burris, there will not be a single African-American
Senator when the new Congress convenes.
In January we will feel the loss of the great pitching ace, Jim
Bunning, and Evan Bayh, both respected colleagues on the Energy and
Natural Resources Committee. They are among six of my Energy Committee
colleagues who are leaving the Senate this year.
Judd Gregg, one of our Nation's foremost experts on the Federal
budget leaves us at the end of the year. As this Senate comes to grips
with the challenges of a rising deficit and economic stagnation we will
miss his firm hand and thoughtful guidance. My neighbor in the Hart
Senate Office Building, Arlen Specter, is one of the Senate's most
independent voices and perhaps the best friend that the National
Institutes of Health, and every American who benefits from its cutting
edge research, has ever had on Capitol Hill. Bob Bennett, one of the
most thoughtful among us, who draws wisdom from experience as an
entrepreneur as well as in public service, will not be among us. I
learned much from Senator Bennett during the period that he served as
counselor to the Republican leader and I served as vice chair of the
Senate Republican Conference.
I would also like to acknowledge contributions of Kit Bond, one of
the foremost experts on our Nation's transportation and infrastructure
needs. I appreciate Senator Bond's interest in understanding the unique
transportation and infrastructure challenges that we in Alaska, the
largest State in our Union in terms of land mass and one of the
youngest must contend with. Senator Bond, like all of us, wears many
hats in this institution. He has also earned the undying respect of our
Nation's citizen soldiers through his leadership of the Senate National
Guard Caucus.
One of Chris Dodd's legacies to the Nation is legislation to ensure
that the unique needs of children are addressed in our Nation's
response to catastrophic disasters. I was honored to partner with
Senator Dodd in helping to pass this legislation.
Russ Feingold may have earned his place in history for his work on
campaign finance reform but I will also appreciate him for his efforts
to ensure that members of the National Guard and Reserve do not fall
through the cracks when they return home with battlefield injuries.
Senator Feingold and I teamed on the Wounded Warrior Transition Act, a
portion of which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2010. I will continue to pursue the remaining
provisions in the new Congress.
Sam Brownback has forever earned a place in the heart of our first
Americans for his work on the adoption of a joint resolution
apologizing to American Indians and Alaska Natives for centuries of ill
conceived policies carried out by our Federal Government. He is known
around the world as a champion of religious freedom as well.
George Voinovich came to the Senate after a distinguished career that
included service as Governor of the State of Ohio and mayor of the city
of Cleveland. He has made a substantial contribution to the efficient
operation of our federal government as a leader of the Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. I appreciate his support
of the effort that Senator Akaka and I advanced, along with others, to
make locality pay available to Federal employees in Alaska and Hawaii
through the Non-Foreign Act of 2009.
I would like to say a few words about my friend Byron Dorgan. In
2007, following the sudden and unexpected death of our friend and
colleague Craig Thomas, I was elevated to vice chair of the Senate
Committee on Indian Affairs. Senator Dorgan was the chairman of that
committee. Last week both of us had the honor of addressing the
National Congress of American Indians at one of the meetings that
preceded President Obama's tribal summit. Each of us reflected on that
fact that the committee has highly productive during the period we
shared the gavel. During our time together the committee laid the
groundwork for reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement
Act, more than a decade in the making. We reauthorized the Native
American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act, we pursued a
settlement of the Cobell litigation, and we crafted and introduced the
Tribal Law and Order Act, which President Obama signed into law earlier
this year. Senator Dorgan has consistently championed adequate funding
for the Indian Health Service and he has come to the floor on many
occasions to speak to the unacceptable rates of suicide among Native
youth. I am pleased to know that he will continue this work after he
leaves the Senate. It comes from the heart.
As I noted at the outset, 2011 will be the first year in recent
memory that the number of women serving in the Senate has actually
declined. All of the women of the Senate will miss our dear friend and
highly respected colleague Blanche Lincoln. Blanche Lincoln made
history in her own right when she became the youngest woman ever
elected to the Senate at the age of 38. Senator Lincoln represented the
people of Arkansas with distinction for two terms, juggling a demanding
career in public service while raising two wonderful twin boys Reece
and Bennett. She is truly a wonderful colleague to work with. A
centrist who comfortably works across the aisle and votes her
convictions. One of the kindest people in the Senate. I expect great
things of Blanche Lincoln in the future and I have every confidence
she will deliver on that prediction.
It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve with each of the people
who will leave this Chamber when we adjourn sine die. Each has made
substantial contributions to their States, to the Nation and to the
Senate during their time here.
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