[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 91 (Thursday, June 12, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3639-S3640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.
  Mr. PORTMAN. I hear the remarks from my colleagues from Alaska and 
appreciate her leadership on the Energy and Natural Resources 
Committee, where I have the privilege to serve, and she makes a lot of 
great points with regard to some of the student loan issues that affect 
our State of Ohio as well as Alaska. But today I am here to talk about 
something else, and that is the 90th birthday of a mentor of mine, a 
former boss of mine, and the 41st President of the United States, 
George H.W. Bush.
  In addition to honoring him by wearing some colorful socks today, I 
also want to make a statement in the Congressional Record, so this 
statement can go down in the ages and some of the young folks who are 
in the Chamber today and their kids and grandkids will have this as 
part of the Congressional Record, talking about truly one of our great 
American patriots and public servants in the history of our country.
  Like so many in his generation, President George H.W. Bush, when he 
heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor, answered the call to serve his 
country. He was 18 years old. So his service started long before he was 
sworn in as President of the United States.
  At 18 years old he became the youngest naval aviator in the U.S. 
Navy. He served greatly in the Pacific, famously completing one bombing 
after his aircraft was fired upon. In fact, his aircraft was on fire. 
Yet he completed that mission.
  For that and many other examples of heroism he earned the 
Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the highest honors any aviator could 
receive. But he went home, went out to Texas, had a successful business 
career, raised a growing family, and started to engage in politics.
  He became a successful politician and was an accomplished Congressman 
from Texas and then became a very respected international figure as 
Ambassador to the United Nations, and as envoy to China. He also headed 
up the Central Intelligence Agency at a very difficult time and helped 
to improve the morale and effectiveness of that agency. He then, of 
course, became Vice President of the United States. Then on January 20, 
1989, he was sworn in as the 41st President.
  President Reagan, 27 years ago today, in fact, made the famous 
statement that Mikhail Gorbachev should tear down the Berlin Wall. It 
was Reagan's successor, George H.W. Bush who actually saw it done and 
brought an end to the Cold War. He removed a brutal dictator in Panama 
and gathered the whole world with the United States in the lead to 
remove Saddam Hussein and turn back the invasion of Kuwait.
  At home in a time of divided government, when at the time one party 
was in control of the Congress and one party in control of the 
Executive Branch--as we have now to a certain extent--a divided 
government--he showed how we could work together, how to reach across 
the aisle and get things done and he did so.

[[Page S3640]]

  But of all the things he has accomplished, there is probably nothing 
he is prouder of than his call to volunteerism. He championed and 
established the Points of Light Foundation, which has been enormously 
successful in getting Americans in all walks of life more engaged in 
helping their fellow citizens. He inspired the Nation when he spoke of 
a thousand points of light to promote volunteerism and community action 
by all of us. It turns out that a thousand points of light was not as 
ambitious as he could have been because he underestimated what he would 
accomplish. It hasn't been a thousand; it has been a million. The 
latest year I was able to find information was in 2012. In that year 
alone, the Points of Light Foundation engaged millions of volunteers. 
It has supported thousands of nonprofits and volunteer organizations 
across 250 cities in America, providing volunteer services that have 
been estimated to be valued at over $635 million.

  That sort of generosity reflects the heart of the man I have come to 
know since I first had the honor of meeting him over 30 years ago. That 
generosity is what I experienced when President Bush took a chance on 
me--a young, inexperienced lawyer from Cincinnati, OH--when he made me 
Associate Counsel to the President. The experience I gained in that job 
was invaluable, and I continue to draw on it today. But even more 
valuable was what I learned from President Bush. I learned about being 
a father, being a husband, being a public servant, and serving--serving 
the folks we are honored to represent in the U.S. Senate.
  Today we honor a true American hero, selfless public servant, and a 
person I consider to be the most honorable and decent person in 
politics in my lifetime. I wish him the best for a truly happy birthday 
and blessings on him and his entire family as they celebrate an amazing 
year.
  He is apparently jumping out of an airplane again today on his 90th 
birthday, and he has received numerous awards this year. It has been a 
terrific 90th year.
  I hope he understands the American response to him, which is one of 
great appreciation, gratitude, and respect. I hope he has a very happy 
birthday, and I hope God continues to bless him and his family for 
years to come.
  I thank the Presiding Officer and note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. WARREN. 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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