[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 148 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6366-S6369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FAREWELL TO THE SENATE
Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I have to begin today by saying one thing,
that is, to God be the glory. I will finish with that too. But first
let me say a few words.
Since election night I have had many Arkansans come up to me and
thank me for my service. I appreciate that. But I need to thank them
for allowing me to do this for the last 12 years. It sounds like a
cliche, but it is not. Serving in the Senate has been the greatest
honor of my life. It truly has been. I have loved it. I have always
done it with a cheerful heart. When I go back to my beloved Arkansas, I
have to thank the people of Arkansas for allowing me to work for you.
But I must confess I will miss waking up every morning and thinking,
how can I make a difference for Arkansas and for America today? Those
years were momentous in so many ways, for our country and for our
world. I had a front-row seat to making history, and I hope I made a
little bit of it myself.
On a personal level, those years were filled with family and friends,
a remarkable staff, my Senate colleagues, and a whole series of rich,
once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
The Lord has given me two wonderful children who are now in college.
I know many of you all saw them for the first time when they were in
elementary school. I am very proud, and their mother is very proud, of
Adams and Porter Pryor. I am very excited about their future.
God has also brought an old sweetheart back into my life, Joi. She
and I attended the sixth and seventh grades together. So when I say God
has brought joy in my life, I mean it, literally.
Many of you know my parents. Of course, I would be nothing without
them. Dave and Barbara Pryor have touched so many lives. They continue
to do so.
For the last 8 years, I have lived with my brother David and Judith
and Hampton Pryor in Washington, when I am here in Washington. I will
always be grateful for their love and hospitality.
Scott and Diane and Devin Pryor in New York have been a great
inspiration to me as well.
My staff is simply awesome. I love them all and they are all part of
my family too. There are too many to mention, but words such as talent,
commitment, public service, effectiveness, all come to mind whenever
their names come up. I have said this many times about my staff, and
they keep telling me not to say it, but I am going to say it one last
time: They do 99 percent of the work and I get 99 percent of the
credit. So I want to acknowledge them for a job well done. They should
all hold their heads high for the difference they have made. I ask
unanimous consent that a list of their names be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Lisa Ackerman, Adrianna Alley, Ronnie Anderson, Suzanne
Bartolomei, Tim Bass, Frank Bateman, Jason Bockenstedt,
Patrice Bolling, Cathy Bozynski, Zac Bradley, Becca Bradley,
Ruth Bradley, Rachel Brown, Sonya Bryant, LaRonda Bryles,
Tamara Buchholz, Britton Burnett, Margery Buzbee, Macio
Cameron, Lauren Carter, Rachel Colson, Kim Cooper, Paul Cox,
Laura Culver, Emily Culver, Olivia Dedner, Shiloh Dillon,
Martine Downs, Wes Duncan, Michael Fangue, William Feland,
Greg Feldman, Jeff Fitch, Sherry Flippo, Bradford Foley,
Derrick Freeman, Conor Frickel, Bess Ginty, Terri Glaze,
Andrew Grobmyer.
Russell Hall, Beth Hallmark, Julie Hamilton, Megan
Hargraves, Ruth Hargraves, Jacob Hargraves, Justin Harper,
Ehren Hartz, Tonya Hass, Mary Grace Hathaway, Whitney Haynes,
Brigit Helgen, Larry Henderson, Lauren Henry-Cowles, Hannah
Herdlinger, Carrie Hern, Tate Heuer, Gene Higginbotham,
Brandon Hirsch, Emily Hoard, Sarah Holland, Greg Holyfield,
Vincent Insalaco, Susie James, Mark Johnston, Louis Keller,
Hank Kilgore, Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi, Shannon Lane,
Stephen Lehrman, Autumn Lewis, Sam Losow, Shannon Lovejoy,
Stan Luker, Scott Macconomy, Amanda Manatt-Story, Elizabeth
Manney, Randy Massanelli, Eric May, Madra McAdoo, Nathan
McCarroll, Lauren McClain.
Marietta McClure, Audrey McFarland, Valerie McNeese, Rodell
Mollineau, Melissa Moody, Reed Moody, Brook Mumford, Callie
Neel, Eric Nelson, Wayne Palmer, Allison Pearson, Mia
Petrini, Brad Phelan, Jim Pitcock, Marisa Pryor, Walter
Pryor, Hayne Rainey, Candace Randle, Kris Raper, Robbie Reed,
Mary Renick, Erin Ridgeway, Jenny Robertson, Kirk Robertson,
Bob Russell, Paul Sanders, Amy Schlesing, Kymara Seals,
Kristin Sharp, Ashley Shelton, Ashely Simmons, Jason Smedley,
Haley Smoot, Kate Melcher, Lucy Speed, Brandon Spicher,
Jeffrey Stein, Arthur Stokenbury, Michelle Strikowsky, Kelvin
Stroud, Kelsey Stroud, Richard Swan, Frances Tate, Michael
Teague, Jennifer Thompson, Courtney Van Buren, Joan Vehik,
Crystal Waitekus, Brad Watt, David West, Preston Weyland,
Libby Whitbeck, Deke Whitbeck, Marco White, Amanda White,
Quinten Whiteside, Elizabeth Wilson, Andy York, Mary Claire
York, Julie Zelnick.
Mr. PRYOR. My colleagues. What can I say about my colleagues that has
not been said before? Or maybe I could say, what can I say about my
colleagues that they have not said about themselves before?
You know, politics is about people; not just the people out there,
but the people in here, the people the people elect. I have served with
some greats and some giants. Robert C. Byrd, Ted Kennedy, Daniel
Inouye, Ted Stevens are at the top of the list. But the truth is that
every single Senator I have served with is a giant.
I have served with about 175 other Senators, so there are too many to
single out. But I have made lifelong friendships here. We have done a
lot of good things together. This is what I will remember: all the
personalities, all the times when we came together to do the right
thing, and all the successes we had together.
While in the Senate, I had more than 70 initiatives signed into law.
Almost all of those have been bipartisan. I ask unanimous consent to
have that list printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Highlights of Senate Accomplishments
Opened a New Opportunity for the Forestry Industry. Allowed
domestic forestry products to be recognized by USDA as
biobased, leveling the playing field with imports and
ensuring such products can be procured by the federal
government and sold as a greener alternative to consumers,
P.L. 113-179
Funded Critical Agriculture Needs as Chairman of the
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. Crafted and
passed $20 billion annual spending measure that allocates
funds for agriculture programs, P.L. 113-76
Ensured Veterans Could Collect Retirement Benefits without
Gimmicks. Restored the full retirement pay promised to
disabled veterans and their survivors, P.L. 113-76
Honored Former Senator Dale Bumpers for his Conservation
Efforts. Renamed the White River National Wildlife Refuge to
the Senator Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife
Refuge, P.L. 113-76
Ensured Patients Have Access to Lifesaving Medical
Treatment. Allowed the FDA to access industry-paid user fees
that had been blocked by sequestration, P.L. 113-76
Ensured Disabled Veterans are Treated with Dignity During
Airport Security. Ensured the dignity of wounded and severely
disabled service members and veterans during airport security
screenings, P.L. 113-27
Protected Food Safety Inspections from Sequestration.
Ensured USDA food inspectors were not furloughed, protecting
500,000 industry jobs at meat, poultry, and egg production
facilities, P.L. 113-6
Sought Greater Employment Opportunities for Veterans.
Allowed states to accept military training as fulfilling
credentials or certifications for special skills required for
certain civilian jobs, P.L. 112-239
Protected Consumers from International Scams. Extended the
FTC's ability to coordinate investigation efforts with
foreign counterparts and obtain monetary consumer redress in
cases involving Internet fraud and deception, P.L. 112-203
Expanded the Safety Mission at the National Center for
Toxicological Research. Allows the FDA to focus on the health
and safety implications of nanomaterials, P.L. 112-144, P.L.
112-55
Kept Fatigued Truck Drivers Off the Road with Electronic
Logging Devices. Required truckers to use electronic logging
devices to more accurately monitor hours on the job, P.L.
112-141
Prevented Dangerous Drivers from Driving Big Rigs with
National Drug Database. Established a national database of
drug testing information for commercial drivers to ensure
they can't bypass the law, P.L. 112-141
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Stepped Up Vehicle Safety Following Numerous Recalls.
Updated safety and compliance standards, and increased
resources at DOT to conduct additional research and address
emerging technologies, P.L. 112-141
Reduced Distracted Driving, Established a grant program for
states to enact and enforce laws discouraging distracted
driving, P.L. 112-141
Provided Flexibility in Pension Plan Payments. Allows
certain companies to invest in growth opportunities instead
of setting aside millions to cover certain pension payments,
P.L. 112-141
Protected Homeowners from Buying Unnecessary Flood
Insurance. Defeated a mandate that would force families and
businesses behind certified levees, dams and other protection
to purchase unnecessary flood insurance, P.L. 112-141
Stabilized Arkansas Funding for Rural Schools Program.
Authorized USDA to allocate federal dollars for road projects
in the state despite a missed deadline, P.L. 112-141
Expanded Possibilities at the U.S. Marshals Museum. Enabled
the sale of coins to raise $5 million to enhance exhibits at
the U.S. Marshals Museum, P.L. 112-104
Ensured Military Families Receive Death Benefits. Provided
death benefits to a family should a Reservist die at home
during training, P.L. 112-81
Facilitated Camp Robinson Land Exchanges to Improve
Training and Safety. Twice waived a statute to allow the
National Guard to gain land more conducive for training and
for an aviation support facility, P.L. 112-81, P.L. 109-13
Enabled First Responders to Help Neighboring States During
a Disaster. Secured $2 million for a program enabling first
responders to help their neighbors in times of emergency,
P.L. 112-74
Fixed FEMA'S Errors in Disaster Assistance Repayment
Process. Used legislative privileges to stop FEMA from
recouping disaster aid from an elderly couple who did nothing
wrong, and granted FEMA the clear authority to waive debt in
cases of FEMA error, P.L. 112-74
Leveraged Funds for Economic Development in the Delta.
Increased the Delta Regional Authority's budget by nearly $2
million, P.L. 112-74
Expanded Environmentally-Friendly Options for Military
Construction Projects. Encouraged DoD to recognize all
American National Standards Institute approved building
ratings and certification systems, P.L. 112-74
Provided Community Access to Health Care. Provided HHS with
the authority to issue a waiver and preserve funding for
Arkansas Health Education Centers, P.L. 112-74, P.L. 112-10
Promoted Exports Abroad. Required the Commerce Department
to develop an outreach plan to strengthen export promotion
entities such as the Arkansas World Trade Center, P.L. 112-55
Expanded Science Parks. Enables the government to make loan
guarantees and grants to create or expand science parks, P.L.
112-55
Protected Taxpayer Dollars from Prisoner Fraud. Required
federal and state prison systems to share information on
inmates with the IRS. This step allows the IRS to cross
reference tax returns with the list of inmates to determine
if a legitimate return is filed, before tax refunds are paid,
P.L. 112-41
Expanded Environmentally-Friendly Options for Military
Construction Projects. Encouraged DoD to recognize all
American National Standards Institute approved building
ratings and certification systems, S. Rept. 112-29
Modified Product Safety Law to Reflect Lead Limit
Capabilities. Allows flexibility for certain manufacturers
and charities in complying with new lead limits, P.L. 112-28
Weeded Out Border Corruption. Required applicants for law
enforcement positions within U.S. Customs and Border
Protection to receive a polygraph exam before they are hired,
P.L. 111-376
Spurred Innovation in Technology through Monetary Prizes.
Enables federal agencies to hold competitions with monetary
prizes in order to encourage innovation in research and
technology, P.L. 111-358
Improved Investments to Advance U.S. Manufacturing.
Required the National Science and Technology Council to
identify priorities for R&D programs and address challenges
in those programs, P.L. 111-358
Incorporated Entrepreneurship into STEM Activities.
Requires lessons in innovation and entrepreneurship be taught
as part of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
education activities, P.L. 111-358
Improved Technology Access for Blind and Deaf. Ensures all
Americans are able to fully utilize online devices,
regardless of disability, P.L. 111-260
Prevented Excessive Financial Regulation of Non-Banks.
Ensured banks and financial companies receive a higher
threshold of review by the Federal Reserve, but that
companies who were not part of the fiscal crisis, like Home
Depot, do not have to undergo additional supervision, P.L.
111-203
Empowered Consumers to Make Informed Choices When Selecting
Health Plans. Ensured consumers have an easy-to-use Internet
tool to select the best plan on the health care exchange,
P.L. 111-148
Retired Certain C-130Es. Retired outdated C-130Es and saved
taxpayers millions of dollars in maintenance and storage
costs, P.L. 111-84
Streamlined DoD Research Requirements. Eliminated a
duplicative report to Congress on DoD development programs to
allow the Pentagon to spend more time on research and less
time on paperwork, P.L. 111-84
Blocked Unreasonable Regulation to End Pocketknife Sales.
Prevented Customs and Border Patrol from banning certain
pocket knives, bringing relief to consumers and the 20,000
employees that could have been impacted, P.L. 111-83
Preserved President Clinton's Birthplace for Future
Generations. Designated the former president's home as a
National Historic Site and unit of the National Park System,
P.L. 111-11
Helped Parents Protect Children from Inappropriate Content
on the Internet. Required the FCC to fulfill its obligation
to continuously review and implement blocking technology as
it is developed, P.L. 110-452
Fixed Housing Contract Problems for Military Families.
Requires DoD to investigate and prevent base housing
problems, P.L. 110-417
Fought for Fairness for Military Pilots. Directed the Air
Force and Navy to review pilot assignments to non-flying
duties, and the effect of these assignments have on these
officers' eligibility for flight pay, P.L. 110-417
Ensured Farmers Access to Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer.
Required DHS to ensure that any person who produces or sells
ammonium nitrate (AN) registers their facility and maintains
records of sales. Buyers are checked against a terrorist
screening database, which keeps AN out of the wrong hands
without placing an undue burden on farmers, P.L. 110-329
Protected Consumers from Toxic Toys and Other Dangerous
Products. Overhauled the Consumer Product Safety Commission
and established strong product safety safeguards that cut
fatalities in half and dramatically reduced toy-related
recalls, P.L. 110-314
Fought for Fairness in the Tax Code for Military Families.
Enabled men and women in uniform to collect combat pay and
other tax benefits, such as the Child Tax Credit and the
Earned Income Tax Credit, P.L. 110-245, P.L. 108-311
Provided Relief to Military Families Affected by Landlord
Foreclosures. Allowed the military to move household goods
for members of the Armed Forces who are forced to relocate
when the housing they are renting goes into foreclosure, P.L.
110-289
Advanced Investment in Cellulosic Biofuel. Required USDA to
conduct a nationwide analysis of where the greatest potential
for development of cellulosic biofuel exists, P.L. 110-234
Updated Regulations for Private-Public Partnerships
Following Disrupted Rice Exports. Improves quality control
standards for university and private sector research, P.L.
110-234
Ensured Soldiers Receive Fair Time for Rest and
Recuperation. Offered additional leave for troops serving
extended tours, P.L. 110-181
Kept the Do Not Call List Free. Permanently kept the Do Not
Call program free, simple and effective, P.L. 110-188
Improved Medical Care for Wounded Warriors. Increased
personnel and resources available to treat wounded warriors,
with an emphasis on training health care workers on
identifying and treating PTSD and TBI, P.L. 110-181
Made Swimming Pools Safer for Children. Requires drain
covers to meet anti-entrapment safety standards, P.L. 110-140
Improved Fuel Economy Standards. Negotiated an agreement
that overcame 30 years of deadlock on fuel economy standards,
P.L. 110-140
Maintained Training for First Responders. Secured funding
for the Domestic Preparedness Equipment Technical Assistance
Program, a nationwide training program for first responders,
P.L. 110-53, P.L. 109-295
Tapped an Arkansas Center to Head Rural Transportation
Security Research. Designated the Mack-Blackwell Rural
Transportation Center at the University of Arkansas as a
``National Center of Excellence for Transportation
Security,'' P.L. 110-53
Expanded Online Education Opportunities for Minorities.
Established a pilot program for Historically Black Colleges
and Universities to develop online courses, P.L. 110-16
Improved Energy Efficiency in Military Housing. Directed
DoD to consider products that meet Energy Star specifications
in order to reduce the military's energy bill, P.L. 109-364
Cracked Down on Foreign Truck Drivers Entering the U.S.
Illegally. Directed DOT and DHS to comply with measures that
eliminate fraud in the Commercial Drivers License process and
verify citizenship, P.L. 109-347
Put the FEMA Mobile Homes to Good Use. Ensured that mobile
homes purchased by FEMA in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
went to serve the public good, P.L. 109-295
Removed Unnecessary Obstacles for a Local Manufacturing
Company. Eliminated a 4.5 percent tariff on Crotonaldehyde
for Eastman Chemical Corporation, P.L. 109-280
Kept Local Manufacturer Globally Competitive. Eliminated a
4.5% tariff on LCD display panels in order to reduce
production costs for Sanyo, P.L. 109-280
Funded the Completion of the Little Rock Central High
School Museum and Visitors Center. Secured more than $5
million to complete the Center, P.L. 109-146, P.L. 109-54
Identified Gasoline Price Gouging. Requires the FTC to
determine if and where gasoline price gouging occurs in the
supply chain, P.L. 109-108
Prioritized Cleburne County for Water Infrastructure
Assistance. Encouraged the Agriculture Secretary to
prioritize Cleburne
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County, Arkansas for Rural Utilities Service water and waste
water loans and grants, P.L. 109-97
Improved Medical Care to Soldiers. Increased funding for
mobile medical shelter prototypes, and later urged FEMA to
use up to $10 million to acquire a mobile medical system for
evaluation, P.L. 109-90, P.L. 108-287
Prevented Moving Companies from Holding Goods Hostage.
Requires movers to release goods if a customer pays the
estimate, P.L. 109-59
Promoted the Commercialization of Biodiesel and Hythane.
Requires DOE, in conjunction with universities throughout the
country, to prepare reports that would evaluate how to best
deploy biodiesel and hythane and create an infrastructure to
support their potential, P.L. 109-58
Protected Soybean Industry. Directed the USDA to initiate a
stronger response to combat Asian Soybean Rust, which
resulted in a $1.2 million for the effort, P.L. 109-13
Established Tracking System for Wounded Service Members.
Ensures families receive timely information when loved ones
are wounded, P.L. 108-375
Mr. PRYOR. I do not do very many press conferences, as you all know,
and I have always been first in line to work with any and all of my
colleagues to try to get things done. The Senate is a special place. On
a personal level, we talk about the Senate family. It is a family. When
people mention the Senate to me, I think of other Senators, of course,
and I think of legislation, but usually the first thing that comes to
mind is the people who work here: the Parliamentarians, the clerks, the
doormen, the Capitol Police. I am appreciative of the other Senators'
staffs and the committee staffs, and even to my House colleagues--most
of them, anyway. No, even to my House colleagues.
But I have always been mindful of the people who really make this
place run: the janitorial staff, the folks in the restaurants, the
maintenance guys, the painters, the carpenters, the tech people. The
list goes on and on. All of them contribute to make the Senate what it
is. We work here together. We go through life and budget cuts and
changing political winds together. There is a bond we all feel because
we all have been in the Senate together.
Please give me just a few moments of your time to make this next
point. As great an institution as the Senate is, the Senate is broken.
The American people know it. In fact, this is an area where the
American people are way ahead of Washington. The people around our
Nation look at Washington and they shake their heads. We sometimes
cannot see the forest for the trees because we get bogged down in
personalities or perceived wrongs or whatever the case may be.
This is not a Barack Obama problem, this is not a George Bush
problem. In fact, all recent Presidents have gone through periods of
deep unpopularity. This is an ``all of us'' problem. The political
environment today grinds the trust and confidence out of our system.
Let me tell you, that is not good for anybody.
The Republicans have a great opportunity in 2015 and 2016. They
convinced the voters they are the party that can govern. Now it is time
for them to turn off the rhetoric and turn on the governing. In the
Senate, if the new Republican majority will run the Senate the way they
have said it should be run, then this is a very good start. If we can
replay the tape over the last 2 years, we will hear Republican Senators
time and again clamor for an open amendment process and for regular
order. They were caustic when the Democratic majority changed the
rules--a change, by the way which I did not support. So let's change
the rules back to what they were. Let's govern the way we know we ought
to.
Democrats--this is an important message--Democrats should help the
Republicans govern. The rules are not the problem around here. We are
the problem, all 100 of us. Hyperpartisanship has gotten the best of
us. When things get too partisan, good judgment and common sense go out
the window. The biggest and most serious problem facing our Nation
today is the dysfunction in our political system within Washington.
America has incredible potential, but we cannot reach it unless
Washington starts to work again for all of us. If we are to continue to
be the greatest Nation on Earth, we must work together. That is, after
all, the American way. That is our history. This country was created,
this country was forged. The great melting pot is just that, a melting
pot. E pluribus unum actually means something: Out of many, one. We
have many differing viewpoints, many philosophies, many backgrounds,
many priorities. So we have the pluribus part down pat. That is not the
problem. No, the challenge comes with the unum.
From my perspective, I see the ultimate question as a question of
loyalty. Who are we loyal to? I just mentioned that we have many
different viewpoints, philosophies, and agendas. But if we have
different loyalties, then we are a divided nation. That will only lead
to bad things. When each of us takes our oath of office, we swear
allegiance to the Constitution, not a party, nor a President, nor an
interest group. We do not swear allegiance to those who pay for our
campaigns or to a certain agenda. We need to hash out our differences
in the Senate in committee and on the floor, then hash them out with
the House, but at the end of the day, produce legislation. That is the
essence of the legislative branch. We also must exert our authority as
article I, the first branch of government.
We have checks and balances. We cannot provide the check or the
balance if we are not functioning. Making this place function is part
of our oath of office. One thing we should all remember: The Senate is
bigger than we are. We do not have to look farther than our own desks
to see that. Look inside your desk and you see the names written in the
drawer. In my desk I see Senator Gronna, elected in 1911 from North
Dakota. Names such as Everett Dirksen and George Mitchell, David Pryor,
Joe Lieberman and Carl Levin--these men molded history. These are
Senators who shaped world events. These Senators were good stewards of
what our Founding Fathers created for us. We should be too, each and
every one of us.
The Father of our Country had a lot to say about partisanship. In his
Farewell Address, he warns us of the ``continual mischiefs'' and ``ill-
founded jealousies'' caused by parties. We should take heed. It is the
greatest mistake of our time to allow these prophesied mischiefs and
jealousies to divide us and damage the American political character.
Abraham Lincoln once famously said, ``A house divided against itself
cannot stand.'' That is so true. His voice is echoing down through the
halls of history to us. If we are divided, we cannot stand. We will not
stand a chance in the future. Let Lincoln's words be a clarion call to
all Members of Congress. That includes all Senators.
Look at what is happening to us. The Congress is getting more liberal
and more conservative. Look at the wild swings in regulations that have
occurred from President Clinton to President Bush to President Obama.
No wonder we are seeing a sluggish economic recovery.
Washington is creating uncertainty and instability. The private
sector cannot make investments or take risks with confidence. It should
be the opposite. The Federal Government should be fostering economic
growth. This country needs Washington to function. That starts in this
Chamber.
One thing I like to say in meetings is this: ``Don't just bring me
the problem, bring me the solution.'' So I have identified a big
problem here this afternoon. It is fair for you to ask about the
solution. Regardless of your political philosophy, bipartisanship is
the answer. Let's take off the red jersey and take off the blue jersey
and let us all put on the red, white, and blue jersey. Our Nation's
challenges, large and small, require us to get on the same team; that
is team USA.
Remember, I mentioned Abraham Lincoln saying that, ``A house divided
against itself cannot stand.'' Well, he was actually quoting an
itinerant Jewish rabbi who said that about 2,000 years ago. Jesus was
right then and He is right now. A house divided against itself cannot
stand. Good government is good politics. Although there are short-term
gains to be had by political division, the long-term consequences are
bad for the country. It is time for the giants of the Senate to emerge.
Jesus has offered us some advice. Probably the best practical advice of
wisdom He left us here in the Congress is called the Golden Rule: Do
unto others as you would have them do unto you. If we applied that
around here, about
[[Page S6369]]
three-quarters of our problems would vanish. Poof.
Is that impossible? Not at all. Most of us claim to have a Judeo-
Christian faith, so why not apply what we know to be true? The first
step in this process is another one of Jesus's admonitions--forgive one
another.
I know each Senator, from time to time, feels betrayed, let down,
slighted, or somehow wronged. We need to forgive one another and let
the healing begin.
I am not trying to combine religion and politics, but I think most
everyone in the world agrees that Jesus is one of the greatest moral
teachers of all time. He has a lot to say about how we should treat one
another.
There are and there will be 100 Senators. Healing the Senate and
getting it to function as it did for two centuries is up to each
individual Senator. That means doing the right thing but also
persuading others to do the right thing. It is not about us, it is
about our country, our children, and our grandchildren. It is about
being good stewards.
In closing, let me say I loved my time with you. I will always
remember you with fondness and I will always be cheering for you. I
expect great things from you because I know you are capable of doing
great things. God bless the Senate and the work we do, and God bless
the United States of America.
I yield the floor.
(Applause, Senators rising.)
Mr. NELSON. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Ms. COLLINS. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum
call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, are we in morning business?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are.
Ms. COLLINS. I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to proceed
for not longer than 5 minutes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________