[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 29, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CONGRATULATING JOHN KERRY

  Mr. HARKIN. Madam President, as we say goodbye to Secretary Clinton 
in her capacity as Secretary of State, we say welcome aboard and 
congratulations to my good friend Senator John Kerry on the resounding 
confirmation of his nomination to serve as our next Secretary of State. 
His departure will be a tremendous loss to the Senate, but I respect 
President Obama's decision to tap him for this absolutely critical 
position. There is no one in the United States better qualified by 
experience, knowledge, and temperament to step into this 
extraordinarily demanding job.
  To repeat what my colleagues already know, but it always bears 
repeating, after volunteering to serve in the U.S. Navy during the 
Vietnam war, John Kerry was awarded the Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and 
three Purple Hearts. Upon returning home, he became a national leader 
in the fight for justice for veterans who served beside him in Vietnam 
as well as for veterans of wars before and since Vietnam. He joined 
with others to found the Vietnam Veterans of America organization. He 
has worked hard here in the Senate over all of these years to secure 
veterans' benefits, for an extension of the GI bill for higher 
education, and for appropriate treatment for veterans with post-
traumatic stress disorder.
  As we all know, Senator Kerry has played a leading role in shaping 
American foreign policy for many years in his position on the Foreign 
Relations Committee and as chair of that distinguished committee. As 
chair of that committee, he was instrumental in securing passage of the 
New START treaty, a vital arms accord with Russia that is helping to 
reduce the danger of nuclear proliferation. He has served as a trusted 
special envoy to Afghanistan, Sudan, and Pakistan at crucial moments. 
Senator Kerry advocated for democratic elections in the Philippines. He 
was part of a delegation that uncovered the fraud that ultimately led 
to the removal of President Ferdinand Marcos. He was a strong proponent 
of U.S. action to end ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and to oppose 
sanctions on Burma tied to human rights abuses. Senator Kerry has been 
a leader in promoting economic development and recovery in Haiti, 
fighting global HIV/AIDS, supporting democracy and human dignity, 
poverty assistance, and the advancement of women's empowerment 
throughout the world.
  In his early days in the Senate, Senator Kerry and I--in fact, we 
were elected together in 1984; we came to the Senate together. But 
shortly after that, Senator Kerry and I went on a factfinding mission 
to Nicaragua and unearthed information regarding the activities of the 
Contra guerillas, which he presented to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations. Based in part on his groundbreaking findings, the committee 
launched an investigation into the funding of the Contra guerillas that 
ultimately uncovered the Reagan administration's Iran-Contra scandal, a 
scheme to divert profits from illegal arms sales to Iran to support the 
Contra guerillas.
  Senator Kerry and I, as I said, were both Members of the class of 
1984 here in the Senate. We worked together to end illegal support of 
the Contras in Nicaragua, and we have collaborated on a range of human 
rights issues since then.
  In particular, I salute his tireless and valiant attempt last year to 
pass the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I can't 
tell my colleagues how hard he worked to get it through the committee 
and before that worked with others to make sure we had a good 
convention to the U.N. that mirrored our own Americans With 
Disabilities Act. John Kerry worked tirelessly on this, and I am deeply 
grateful for all that work and the passionate commitment he made to 
this treaty. I know he shares my disappointment that the Senate failed 
to give its consent to this treaty, but I look forward to working with 
him in his new role as Secretary of State and with Senator Menendez, 
our new chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, not only to 
promote the convention around the world, which I know Senator Kerry 
will do in his position as Secretary of State, but to once again bring 
this convention to the floor of the Senate and this time to prevail and 
pass it.
  There is no question in my mind that John Kerry will be a great 
Secretary of State. I wish him and Teresa the very best, and I look 
forward to working with him in the years ahead.
  Madam President, I yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BROWN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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