[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 152 (Friday, December 12, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6776-S6781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTES TO DEPARTING SENATORS


                            Saxby Chambliss

  Mr. HATCH. Madam President, I rise today to honor my good friend 
Senator Saxby Chambliss on the occasion of his retirement. For 20 
years, he has served his fellow Georgians in Congress with honor and 
distinction. He will be sorely missed.
  A preacher's son, Saxby was born in Warrenton, NC. He graduated from 
the University of Georgia and the University of Tennessee College of 
Law. As a lawyer in south Georgia, he built a successful law practice 
representing the farmers that are the lifeblood of his state.
  He put his expertise on farm issues to good use here in Congress and 
became a key player in negotiations for each of the farm bills 
considered during his tenure. And just 2 years after he was elected to 
the Senate, he assumed the chairmanship of the Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry Committee, the fastest any new Senator has risen to chair 
a standing committee since 1947.
  Saxby and I served together for many years on the Select Committee on 
Intelligence, where I came to appreciate his wisdom, his sound 
judgment, and his unyielding commitment to keeping this nation safe. He 
has been an enormously effective vice chairman over the past 4 years. 
And even as his tenure here draws to a close, he has once again 
demonstrated his superb leadership in setting the record straight on 
the Intelligence Committee's investigation of the CIA's detention and 
interrogation program.
  Above all else, Saxby is a proud husband, father of two, and 
grandfather of six. I know that his lovely wife Julianne and the rest 
of his family are eager to spend more time together in the coming 
years.
  Mr. President, Saxby and the entire Chambliss family should know that 
his colleagues, his fellow Georgians, and his fellow Americans are 
truly grateful for Saxby's service and his family's sacrifices. I wish 
them all the best.


                               Tom Coburn

  Madam President, I also pay tribute to my friend Tom Coburn as he 
prepares to leave the Senate. For 10 years, Tom has served the people 
of Oklahoma as their junior Senator. He is a man of principle and 
fierce determination. He has shown himself willing time and again to 
stand up to special interests and to fight for what he believes in. He 
will be missed.
  Senator Coburn was born in Casper, Wyoming, in 1948 and was raised in 
Muskogee, OK. His father Orin was a prominent optician and the founder 
of Coburn Optical Industries. Tom attended college at Oklahoma State 
University, where he graduated with a degree in accounting. From 1970 
to 1978 he was a manufacturing manager at his family's company. After a 
bout with cancer, Tom returned to school to become a physician, 
graduating in 1983 from the University of Oklahoma Medical School. 
Following his residency, Tom moved back to Muskogee to practice family 
medicine and obstetrics. He has personally delivered more than 4,000 
babies.
  Senator Coburn began his career in public service in 1994, when he 
was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma. He 
served in the House for 6 years, then went back to Muskogee to resume 
his medical practice. Three years later, in 2004, Tom was elected to 
the U.S. Senate to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Don 
Nickles. Here in the Senate he has served with distinction on a number 
of important committees, including the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Government Affairs, of which he is the Ranking Member.
  Since first arriving in Congress, Senator Coburn has been a strong 
proponent of fiscal restraint. His efforts to fight deficit spending, 
pork barrel projects, and earmarks earned him the nickname ``Dr. No.'' 
I have always thought this nickname was a compliment to Tom. It shows 
he is willing to stand up against powerful interests in defense of his 
principles, and that he takes seriously the problems of unnecessary 
spending and long-term debt.

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Passing a balanced budget amendment has been a priority of mine for 
many years, and I have been glad to count Tom as a strong ally in that 
effort.
  I have also been fortunate to work with Senator Coburn on a number of 
other issues during his time in the Senate. Earlier this year, Tom and 
I, along with Senator Richard Burr, introduced the Patient CARE Act, a 
market-based alternative to Obamacare. Tom and I have also worked 
together to fight waste and corruption at the Department of Health and 
Human Services and to reinvigorate the States' roles in meeting 
transportation, safety, and other needs.
  Madam President, Senator Coburn is an honorable and steadfast man. He 
has served his country well. I wish him, his wife Carolyn, and their 
family the very best.


                              Mike Johanns

  Madam President, as well I honor my colleague and friend Mike 
Johanns. For many years, Senator Johanns has worked tirelessly for the 
people of Nebraska, first at the local level, then at the state level 
as Governor, and most recently as senior Senator from Nebraska. Mike is 
a kind and thoughtful man, and I have been grateful to serve with him 
these past 6 years.
  Senator Johanns was born and raised in Osage, IA, where he grew up 
working on his family's farm. After high school, he attended Saint 
Mary's University of Minnesota and Creighton University School of Law. 
Following law school Mike clerked on the Nebraska Supreme Court and 
then practiced law in Lincoln, NE, where he was a founding partner at 
the firm Nelson, Johanns, Morris, Holdeman, and Titus.
  In 1983, Senator Johanns was elected to the Lancaster County Board. 
Five years later he won election to the Lincoln City Council, and then, 
3 years after that, became Mayor of Lincoln. Mike followed his success 
in local politics with success in state politics. In 1998, he won his 
first term as Governor of Nebraska, and was reelected by a landslide 4 
years later.
  Senator Johanns entered national politics in 2004 when President 
George W. Bush asked him to serve as Secretary of Agriculture. Four 
years later he won election to the U.S. Senate from Nebraska, where he 
has served with distinction ever since.
  When he retires later this month, Senator Johanns will have spent 
more than 25 years as a public servant. I commend him for his service 
to the state of Nebraska and to the people of this Nation.
  Although his tenure in the Senate was brief, Senator Johanns wasted 
no time. His previous experience as Secretary of Agriculture proved 
indispensable as a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. To 
this committee, he brought an expertise on farming issues unrivaled by 
other freshman senators. He also served actively on the Banking 
Committee and was a member of the Senate's Gang of Eight during budget 
negotiations in 2011. Throughout his service, Senator Johanns always 
had the best interests of the Nation at heart.
  Madam President, Senator Johanns is a good man who has served his 
country well. His retirement is well deserved. I wish him, his wife 
Stephanie, and their children the best going forward.


                            Jay Rockefeller

  Madam President, in addition I pay tribute to my friend and colleague 
Jay Rockefeller, who will soon retire from the Senate. I have known Jay 
for many years. He is a man of principle who has dedicated his life to 
serving the citizens of West Virginia. He is a serious legislator and 
an honorable man. I will miss him.
  Senator Rockefeller is a member of a prominent and distinguished 
American family. He is the great-grandson of John D. Rockefeller, the 
founder of Standard Oil. Jay was born in New York City and attended 
school at Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard College, from which he 
earned an A.B. After college Jay worked for the Peace Corps and the 
Department of Far Eastern Affairs. He then went to work for the 
Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program, during which time he 
moved to West Virginia.
  Senator Rockefeller began his political career in 1966, when he was 
elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates. Two years he later 
became the West Virginia Secretary of State. After a brief stint as 
President of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Jay returned to public 
service in 1976, when he was elected Governor of West Virginia. 
Following two successful terms as Governor, he won election to the U.S. 
Senate in 1984, where he has served ever since.
  Senator Rockefeller has held a number of important positions in the 
Senate, including Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on 
Intelligence, where I was privileged to serve with him. This is a 
crucially important committee that deals with some of the weightiest 
issues that come before Congress. Jay led the committee with equanimity 
and respect. His work helped keep our country safe.
  Senator Rockefeller has also been an active legislator. I was honored 
to work with him on the creation of the State Children's Health 
Insurance Program, or SCHIP, which has made health insurance available 
to millions of children. Other issues Jay and I have worked on together 
over the years include tax reform, stem cell research, and protecting 
the American flag. He and I did not always see eye to eye, but I always 
knew he did what he thought was right.
  Mr. President, I am grateful to have been able to serve alongside 
Senator Rockefeller these past 30 years. He's a man of deep conviction, 
and a man utterly devoted to the people of his home state of West 
Virginia. I wish the very best for him, his wife Sharon, and their 
family as they enter the next chapter of their lives.


                               Mark Pryor

  Madam President, I also honor my friend Mark Pryor. For 12 years 
Senator Pryor has served the people of Arkansas in this body. He is 
independent, open-minded, and hard-working. He will be missed.
  Senator Pryor comes from a distinguished Arkansas political family. 
His father, David Pryor, was Governor of and later Senator from 
Arkansas. Mark was born in Fayetteville, AR, and attended college at 
the University of Arkansas. He received a law degree from the 
University of Arkansas School of Law and then spent several years in 
private practice.
  In 1991, Senator Pryor was elected to the Arkansas House of 
Representatives. Eight years later he was elected Attorney General of 
Arkansas. In 2002, Mark won election to the U.S. Senate from Arkansas, 
winning the same seat his father once held.
  In the Senate, Mark has distinguished himself through his 
independence and his willingness to reach across party lines. Although 
Mark and I have not always agreed, I have always known he has acted in 
what he firmly believes are the best interests of his State.
  Senator Pryor has served on a number of important committees during 
his time in the Senate, including the Appropriations Committee, the 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. I have been fortunate to work 
with him on a number of important pieces of legislation, on topics 
ranging from medical care to homeland security to victim restitution. 
He has been a strong partner in these efforts, and I have been grateful 
to have him as an ally.
  Senator Pryor is a decent and thoughtful man. He has served his State 
honorably. I wish him and his family the very best.


                               John Walsh

  Madam President, finally I pay tribute to Senator John Walsh. I have 
known John for only a brief time, but I know that he is a good man who 
has served his country well.
  Senator Walsh began his service to our country long before he came to 
the Senate. He joined the Montana National Guard right after high 
school-the start of an impressive military career. John served 8 years 
as an enlisted U.S. Army soldier before he was commissioned as a Second 
Lieutenant in 1987. As an officer, he distinguished himself and quickly 
rose through the ranks.
  Senator Walsh led the 163rd Infantry Battalion in Iraq, commanding 
more than 700 Army National Guard soldiers in combat. He later received 
the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman's badge for his service. In 
2008, Governor Brian Schweitzer appointed John the Adjutant General of 
Montana's National Guard. As Adjutant General,

[[Page S6778]]

John oversaw the command of thousands of troops. These soldiers and 
their families looked to him for leadership and strength, and he always 
delivered.
  Senator Walsh moved from military service to public office when he 
became Montana's Lieutenant Governor in 2013. Governor Steve Bullock 
appointed John to fill former Senator Max Baucus's seat in February 
2014, making John the first Iraq War veteran to serve as a Senator.
  Though his time here in the Senate was brief, Senator Walsh was an 
active member of the Committee on Rules and Administration; the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation. He always treated me and our 
other colleagues with the utmost kindness and respect.
  Senator Walsh is a good man who has dedicated his life to serving our 
country and keeping us safe. I wish him, his wife Janet, and their 
children the very best.


                               TOM COBURN

  Mr. ENZI. Madam President, at the close of each session of Congress 
it is our tradition to take a moment to express our appreciation and 
say goodbye to those of our colleagues who will be retiring at the 
session's close. It is always a bittersweet moment to reflect on the 
important contributions our friends have made as they worked so hard to 
represent their States and our Nation.
  Such an individual is Tom Coburn and that is just one of the reasons 
why we will miss him. Tom always has and always will be a strong voice 
for conservative values and principles. There are not many who can 
express their beliefs with the same kind of clarity and power he brings 
to the issues the Senate takes up for deliberations.
  I will always believe that Tom has been so successful in his career 
as a political leader and a doctor because he began his life with one 
of the greatest of all advantages--he was born in Wyoming, in Casper. 
That was not all. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a 
degree in accounting. As an accountant myself I was not surprised by 
that. His love of accounting, his fondness for numbers and details, and 
his Wyoming birth all help to explain his power of persuasion.
  I am kidding about that but one thing that is true about his 
background is how his love of numbers and his understanding of budgets 
and accounting practices has helped him to understand the financial 
problems we currently face as a nation and the importance of taking 
action to address them before they get so far out of hand we will be 
jeopardizing the future of our children and our grandchildren.
  That would have never happened on Tom's watch. Grandfathers are like 
that. With one eye on the bottom line and the other on the future of 
our Nation, Tom has developed an amazing knack for finding ways to cut 
waste and save money, time and effort. For Tom it is clear, if it is 
not worth doing at all, it is not worth doing well.
  His insight and his immediate grasp of the essence of so many 
controversial and complicated issues has made him a great asset on the 
committees on which he has served. His willingness to get involved and 
lead on some pretty difficult issues has enabled him to make a 
difference that will be remembered around here for quite a while.
  In our deliberations one of Tom's great weapons has been his mastery 
and understanding of the facts surrounding his positions on the issues 
we have taken up in committee and on the floor. He is an excellent 
speaker and when he talks we are all very attentive. The reason why is 
simple. If you agree with him you want to know what his views are so 
you will be able to strengthen your own arguments on the bill with some 
of his reflections and recommendations. If you disagree with him you 
will still want to hear him speak so you will know what the toughest 
arguments are you will be faced with during our deliberations.
  No matter what side you are on, it is rare that anyone has ever 
questioned his facts. They may not like them--but you can not avoid 
acknowledging them.
  In addition, as a father, a grandfather and a physician, Tom has been 
an outspoken advocate on health and medical issues. During his career 
he has worked to increase the access of seniors to the health care 
services they need. He has also been active in efforts to try to 
control health care costs and protect the right to life of the unborn.
  He has such a strong kinship with the delegations of the West because 
Tom has a strong and heartfelt understanding of the challenges of our 
urban communities. I have often said one of our great battles here in 
Washington is to help our colleagues get a deeper understanding of the 
difference in life in the large eastern cities and the smaller rural 
communities of the West. It is a crucial difference that must be 
understood to get a better sense of what is needed to help both our 
rural and urban communities to grow and prosper.
  In the next session I know we will miss him, his understanding of our 
conservative values and principles and his commitment to this 
generation and the next--and beyond. Tom knows that if future 
generations are to have it as good as we have we will all have to learn 
to get along with a little less.
  Now Tom is closing that great chapter of his life that contains his 
service in the House and the Senate. It has not been easy. The House 
and Senate are very different places in which to work--and make 
progress but Tom has managed to do it--and he has the results to show 
for his efforts.
  Thank you, Tom, for all you have done to make our Nation a better 
place to live. We are grateful for your service, for your vision for 
America and most of all, your commitment to the future of Oklahoma and 
our Nation. Please keep in touch with us. I am going to keep your 
number on speed dial in my office so I'll have it when one of those 
days comes along when I need a thoughtful word or two for a debate or a 
committee session. As the saying goes facts are tough and powerful 
things and when it comes to those issues in which he truly believes so 
is Tom Coburn.


                              TIM JOHNSON

  Madam President, it is a tradition here in the Senate to take a 
moment before the end of each session of Congress to express our 
appreciation for the service of those Members who will be retiring at 
the end of the year. It is always a difficult time to lose some of our 
best and brightest. One fellow Senator I know we will all miss is Tim 
Johnson.
  Tim has had quite a remarkable career and legacy of service to South 
Dakota of which he should be very proud. He came to the Senate to work 
for the people of his State and he did such a good job they kept 
sending him back. It is been a mutual admiration society--the people of 
South Dakota and Tim.
  Tim followed a proven path of success for his service in Congress by 
first serving in the South Dakota State Legislature. He had a knack for 
getting things done there that it preceded him to serve in the House as 
South Dakota's at-large Representative. He quickly developed a 
reputation in the House as someone who had an abundance of good ideas. 
As a freshman he had a list of bills he had dropped in that was longer 
than any other freshman in the House. It was clear to everyone that Tim 
was the kind of person who knew how to get results.
  Tim and I were part of the same freshman class of the Senate. Over 
the years I have enjoyed having a chance to come to know him. He has 
proved to be a good friend, a great ally and someone who was willing to 
work with members on all sides to get things done for South Dakota and 
our Nation.
  For me, it meant a great deal to have a Senator from a neighboring 
State who had an understanding of our agriculture industry. As I have 
often said, urban life is very different from rural life and it was 
good to have someone to work with whose background made those issues 
and the need for action clear to him.
  That is one of the reasons why Tim has such a strong understanding of 
one of the key issues of the West--water. For many of us water is 
something that we take for granted. It is easy. You turn on the tap and 
you can have as much as you want.
  Unfortunately, for our rural communities, it is not that easy. Water 
is a precious commodity--down to the last drop. In fact, just about 
everyone from the West has heard the old adage, ``Whiskey is for 
drinking, Water is for fighting!''

[[Page S6779]]

  It is a message that has stayed with Tim throughout his service in 
the House and the Senate. It has been a priority for him to ensure that 
good, clean water supplies are available to everyone in South Dakota 
and the West. That is why you will find his legislative record of 
accomplishments filled with his efforts to pass infrastructure projects 
to ensure our water supplies would be both reliable and available.
  I could go on about his other accomplishments and our work together 
on agriculture issues but I would be here for quite a long time and not 
begin to make a dent in what he has been able to achieve during his 
career. Let me just say that the work Tim began in the State 
Legislature and continued when he came to Congress has helped to make 
South Dakota what it is today. I think by any standard he has done a 
good job and made the people of his home State proud.
  Through the years, Tim has had some health problems, but he never let 
them stop him or slow him down in his work for South Dakota. Sometimes 
I think of him as a warrior--a quiet one--who is blessed with a spirit 
to work for the people of South Dakota that just can not be diminished.
  When I think of Tim I will always think of him as someone who leads 
the best way, by example. I have learned a lot from him over the years 
and I think we have made a difference together in our shared commitment 
to our Nation's agriculture industry. We have worked on a lot of bills 
together and by placing both our names on a bill we made it a 
bipartisan effort that I would like to think drew a lot of other 
Members to our side to work with us.
  Thank you, Tim, for your service, not only to South Dakota but to the 
West and to all our Nation. You have a lot to look back on with the 
satisfaction that comes from having done a job and done it well. Diana 
joins in sending our best wishes to you for your hard work and 
determined effort to address the problems and challenges of our Nation. 
Thanks, too, for your friendship. Good luck on the next chapter of the 
great adventure of your life.


                               Carl Levin

  Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I wanted to speak today about Senator 
Carl Levin and his years of service to the Senate and the people of 
Michigan. Senator Levin has served 36 years and is Michigan's longest 
serving senator.
  John F. Kennedy once said that ``leadership and learning are 
indispensable to each other.'' Senator Levin's time here has been an 
illustration of that statement, and I have experienced this firsthand 
ever since I arrived in the Senate in 2007 and sought his guidance on 
difficult issues like the war in Iraq. He is one of the best informed 
and knowledgeable members of the Senate.
  Carl Levin has been a leader for years on the Senate Armed Services 
Committee and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Senator 
Levin has served as the Democratic leader of the Armed Services 
committee since 1997, a term that overlapped with several defining 
events for U.S. national security, including the terrorist attacks on 
September 11, 2001, the beginnings of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, 
the operation against Osama bin Laden and the current conflict against 
the terrorist group ISIS. Chairman Levin has guided our caucus through 
the National Defense Authorization Act process every year, working to 
ensure members have an opportunity to include their priority issues in 
the bill. I am grateful for Senator Levin's support of my efforts to 
ensure Afghan women and girls remain at the forefront of our 
Afghanistan policy through this transition period. One of Senator 
Levin's most important legacies will be his thoughtful and principled 
opposition to shifting attention away from the fight against al Qaeda 
in Afghanistan to Iraq. Our caucus will miss Carl Levin's steady hand 
guiding us through these important matters.
  At the helm of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Senator 
Levin has led the charge against some of the worst abuse and corruption 
occurring in our country. Under Senator Levin's leadership the 
subcommittee conducted an eighteen month investigation into the causes 
of the financial crisis that culminated in four hearings in April 2010. 
The hearings brought forth information that helped craft the Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. He also led an 
investigation into abusive and unfair practices of the credit card 
industry, which would lead to the Credit Card Accountability 
Responsibility and Disclosure Act, along with investigations into tax 
shelters, offshore tax havens and Federal contractor tax delinquency, 
among other issues. In 2012, the National Journal wrote that ``the 
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is one of the few institutions 
in Congress that's still working. Carl Levin is a big reason why.''
  Carl Levin's legacy can be summed up in one word: integrity. His 
commitment to our security and our servicemembers is incomparable. We 
wish him well as he returns to Michigan and moves on to new challenges 
and I thank him for his service.


                               Tom Harkin

  Madam President, I also wanted to speak about my colleague Tom Harkin 
who will be retiring at the end of this Congress. I commend him for his 
40 years of service in Congress for the people of Iowa.
  Senator Hubert Humphrey once said that the moral test of government 
should be how it treats those in the dawn of life, our children; those 
in the twilight of life, our older citizens; and those in the shadows 
of life, people with disabilities, among others. Tom Harkin's work in 
the House and Senate has been a testament to what Senator Humphrey 
said. Senator Harkin has never hesitated to stand up and fight for 
those without power. He is also proud of the legacy of the Great 
Society under President Lyndon Johnson and never shies away from 
reminding us of the work that was done then, or how much more we still 
have to do.
  When it comes to protecting and championing people with disabilities, 
there is no equal to Tom Harkin. He helped write the Americans with 
Disabilities Act, ADA, of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. 
These bills did for people with disabilities what the civil rights acts 
of the 1950s and 1960s did for African-Americans. He authored the 
Television Decoder Circuitry Act to create universal closed captioning 
and he expanded services for children with disabilities under the 
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, IDEA. Under the 
Workforce Investment Opportunity Act, he enhanced employment 
opportunities for young people with disabilities and under the 
Affordable Care Act he created the Community First Choice Option to 
give states that offer services to people with disabilities outside of 
nursing homes extra federal funding.
  Senator Harkin pushed the issue of prevention and the health and 
wellness of Americans long before those issues became national themes. 
Senator Harkin wrote the prevention title in the Affordable Care Act 
and introduced the first bill that allowed the Food and Drug 
Administration, FDA, to regulate tobacco. He is also the reason the 
word ``Prevention'' is included in the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention's name. Child labor is another area where Tom was ahead of 
the curve. The Clinton Administration's Executive Order, ``Prohibition 
of Acquisition of Products Produced by Forced and Indentured Child 
Labor,'' was backed by Senator Harkin and he helped obtain the adoption 
and Senate ratification of United Nations Convention 182, a treaty that 
called for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
  On a personal note, I want to express my appreciation to Chairman 
Harkin and his staff on the HELP Committee for their help in getting 
three bills I introduced this Congress passed into law--the Children's 
Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act, the Emergency Medical 
Services for Children Reauthorization Act and the Traumatic Brain 
Injury Reauthorization Act. Without the efforts of Chairman Harkin and 
his team, these bills would not have moved forward.
  The late Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, once said that 
``Politics is not just about power and money games, politics can be 
about the improvement of people's lives, about lessening human 
suffering in our world and bringing about more peace and more 
justice.'' Tom Harkin is a living example of those words. Our Nation 
and our world are better today because of his life of service.


                            Jay Rockefeller

  Madam President, as the 113 Congress comes to a close, the time has 
come to

[[Page S6780]]

say goodbye to several colleagues and friends who will leave at the end 
of this Congress. Today, I would like to pay tribute to our friend and 
colleague, Jay Rockefeller. Senator Rockefeller has served the people 
of West Virginia for 50 years, the last thirty of them in the United 
States Senate.
  While Senator Rockefeller has accomplished many notable things in his 
decades of service, you can really sum up much of what he did for our 
country in one word--kids. Nelson Mandela once said ``There can be no 
keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats 
its children.'' Jay Rockefeller worked tirelessly to ensure that we 
never lost sight of our children as we worked on issues large and 
small.
  One key example of his advocacy is the Children's Health Insurance 
Program or CHIP as it is better known. In the 1990s, members like Jay 
Rockefeller came together and created CHIP to ensure low-income 
children of working parents had access to health care. When my father 
was governor of Pennsylvania, he signed into law the CHIP program that 
initially insured over 50,000 children across the state and served as a 
model for the national program. On a personal level, I thank Senator 
Rockefeller for helping to expand this program to children around the 
country and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure CHIP 
remains strong for children in the years ahead.
  In 2009 health care reform was on the agenda again and Jay 
Rockefeller played a key role in getting a number of important 
provisions included. He pushed to expand Medicaid and to make sure 
insurance companies actually spent the bulk of dollars on health care 
and not administrative costs. He also worked to ensure that information 
provided to consumers buying insurance on the exchange could be 
understood by all, and, of course, he led the charge to protect CHIP 
kids and make sure they did not end up with the short end of the stick.
  Senator Rockefeller's work extends far beyond health care and 
children. Coal miners and their families have had no better friend in 
the Senate than Jay Rockefeller. He has tirelessly fought and won 
battles to protect their health, safety and pensions while also 
protecting and preserving Black Lung benefits for workers made sick by 
doing their jobs. His advocacy in this body will be missed. Now it is 
up to the rest of us to carry the torch.
  Senator Rockefeller is quoted as follows in the Charleston Daily Mail 
last year:
  ``Rockefeller said he knew all the Kennedys well but liked Bobby 
best. `Because he struck me,' Rockefeller said. `He had a soul, and 
there are a lot of photographs of him in West Virginia later when he 
ran for president sitting on a slag heap, looking mournful, looking off 
into the distance, thinking, `Why does this condition exist, what can I 
do?' ''
  Jay Rockefeller also has a soul and he has spent his life asking 
those same questions and finding ways to make things better. We will 
miss him in the Senate. We will miss his conscience and his voice, but 
we will never forget his example. I thank him for his decades of 
service and wish him well.


                             Mary Landrieu

  Ms. HEITKAMP. Madam President, I honor my friend and colleague from 
Louisiana, Senator Mary Landrieu, who is departing the Senate at the 
end of this year. Her career in public service began 34 years ago when 
she was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. During that 
time and in her service in the United States Senate, she has proved 
time and again that the people of Louisiana could not have asked for a 
better advocate and fighter on their behalf.
  It is tough to describe someone like Senator Landrieu. Senator 
Landrieu is selfless, dedicated, tenacious, and resilient, but these 
are just words that, while accurate, fail to truly capture who this 
woman is and what she stands for. It is only by looking at Senator 
Landrieu's significant accomplishments that someone can truly begin to 
understand the depths of her selflessness, dedication, and resiliency. 
During my time in the Senate, I have seen Mary embody these words like 
few others in this body.
  Senator Landrieu and I both come from large families. I know the 
impact being one of seven children had on me growing up and I am sure 
Senator Landrieu can attest to how big of an impact being one of nine 
children had on her. During her time in public service, Senator 
Landrieu has worked hard to ensure that all children can benefit from 
having a family to call their own. Senator Landrieu has worked 
extensively with the Angels in Adoption program since its inception, 
and cochaired the Congressional Coalition on Adoption and the 
Congressional Foster Care Caucus. Senator Landrieu's work has changed 
the lives of children across Louisiana, the country, and around the 
world. Because of her work, there are countless children who are now 
able to feel the love and benefits of having a family.
  In 2005, Louisiana was victim of one of the worst natural disasters 
to ever hit this country. Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and 
Louisiana the likes of which this country has rarely seen. With one of 
the country's great cities devastated and in ruins, it was Mary 
Landrieu who took the lead on recovery efforts. It was Mary Landrieu 
who held FEMA's feet to the fire to better serve Louisianans. It was 
Mary Landrieu who helped direct billions of dollars in recovery funds 
to the State. It was because of Mary Landrieu that the great State of 
Louisiana has bounced back strong as ever.
  Senator Landrieu's leadership did not end with the recovery and 
rebuilding efforts. Following the passage of the Biggert-Waters Flood 
Reform Act in 2012, Senator Landrieu was one of the first to recognize 
and sound the alarm on the impending problems homeowners would face 
with unreasonably high flood insurance rates. Because of her early 
recognition of these problems and her proactive approach to finding 
solutions, Congress was able pass a bill preventing thousands of people 
across the country from being forced to pay disastrously high flood 
insurance premiums.
  I have also had the privilege of working with Senator Landrieu on 
energy issues. There is no better advocate in the Senate on energy than 
Senator Landrieu. I came here with the intent of learning everything 
that I could from Senator Landrieu. My only regret is that there was no 
way to fully take in all of her knowledge in the brief time that I have 
been here. That is a testament to the incredible work that she has done 
over her career to advance a pragmatic energy policy for this country, 
work that I hope to continue in the years ahead building upon the 
energy legacy that Senator Landrieu will leave behind. A word you hear 
often when people describe Senator Landrieu is tenacious, and this was 
never more apparent than on her work to advance the Keystone XL 
Pipeline. Anyone who watched Senator Landrieu work that bill and work 
behind the scenes to get the votes knows that she will fight to the 
very last second for what she believes in and that the word ``can't'' 
doesn't exist in her vocabulary. Senator Landrieu single-handedly 
forced this bill to the Senate floor and brought us closer than we have 
been in 6 years to approving this project once and for all. Senator 
Landrieu's pragmatic approach to this issue and willingness to embrace 
solutions over politics stands as an example for the rest of the Senate 
to strive for.
  Senator Landrieu always looked out for the energy interests of her 
State, while recognizing the need to provide and protect her gulf coast 
communities. She has pushed for increased LNG exports that would bring 
new jobs and significant investment to her State. She also has been 
instrumental in expanding oil exploration and production in the Gulf of 
Mexico, but while doing so she has made sure that her coastal 
communities receive a bigger share of the royalties and revenue to 
mitigate any impacts from the development. Working for jobs and 
economic development and protecting those most impacted by this 
development, that is a pretty good legacy to leave behind in Louisiana.
  The Landrieu family name comes with a long history of public service 
in Louisiana. The Landrieus, known for their big personalities that are 
eclipsed only by their accomplishments in office, can rest easy knowing 
that Mary has more than lived up to the family name. The Senate, 
Louisiana, and the country, are better off because of the work Mary 
Landrieu has done in the

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Senate. I know I am not alone in saying that we will miss having her 
here. I also know I am not alone in saying that I am sure her work is 
not done. I wish her luck in this next chapter of her life and look 
forward to seeing the tremendous work she will accomplish outside of 
this Chamber.


                               Mark Pryor

  Madam President, I also wish to honor my colleague, Senator Mark 
Pryor, who will be leaving the Senate at the end of this Congress. 
Senator Pryor has been a tireless champion for the people of Arkansas 
for 12 years in this legislative body. However, his commitment and 
dedication to the State of Arkansas is reflected not only in his work 
here, but in the public service he and his family have given for 
decades.
  As the son of the former Governor and U.S. Senator, Senator Mark 
Pryor grew up in a family which embodied public service, instilling his 
interest and desire to do the same in his career. After attending the 
University of Arkansas and working in the private sector as an 
attorney, he turned his sights to public service. While serving as a 
member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and then as attorney 
general for the State of Arkansas, Senator Pryor honed his 
understanding of the needs of the State and developed strong 
connections through its institutions which served him well throughout 
his career. It was here that I first met Mark. He was serving as 
attorney general in Arkansas at the same time I was serving as attorney 
general in North Dakota. I was immediately impressed with this young 
public servant and grew to understand that he is intelligent and 
principled in how he approaches his life and career. In 2003, Senator 
Pryor was elected U.S. Senator from Arkansas, reclaiming the seat his 
father once held.
  As a Senator, he served on various committees which allowed him to 
fight for the priorities of Arkansas, pass legislation and champion 
initiatives which helped this Nation. During his tenure on the Armed 
Services Committee, Senator Pryor protected the interests of Arkansas 
servicemembers and their families. His work on the Appropriations and 
Commerce Committees created opportunities for growth in transportation, 
rural broadband, energy, and agriculture, all critical interests for 
Arkansas. Leading these issues with bipartisan proposals and working 
closely with his colleagues on marshalling these efforts Congress after 
Congress, Senator Pryor earned the respect of his colleagues for his 
quiet devotion and steadfast commitment.
  Mark is a Senator who promotes common sense solutions--solutions that 
seek strong support and address some of the more important needs of 
this Nation's citizenry. During my short time in the Senate, we served 
together on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Small 
Business Committees. I very much enjoyed working with him and serving 
together for the benefit of others. I continue to find him to be a man 
of great honesty and integrity. This type of stewardship is to be 
admired and appreciated by those inspired to serve on the local, State 
or Federal level.
  I applaud my colleague for his years of tireless commitment in 
defense of his home State, for his service in the Senate and this 
Country. I wish the very best to him and his family in the years to 
come.


                              Mark Begich

  Madam President, finally I pay tribute and recognize the 
accomplishments of a trusted ally and dear friend, Senator Mark Begich, 
who will be leaving the Senate at the end of the term. Mark has been a 
tenacious and steadfast advocate for his constituents and the State of 
Alaska and a strong moderate voice during his years in the Senate.
  I have had the honor and privilege to work with Senator Begich on 
both the Indian Affairs and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
Committees. As someone who represents one of the most rural States in 
America, he has an impressive understanding and compassion for the 
unique challenges rural communities face.
  As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, he played a major 
role in postal reform negotiations. He understood rural citizens rely 
most on the Postal Service for critical deliveries of prescription 
medicines, time sensitive bills, and other important communications. He 
knew that without a rural post office, many small, rural communities 
would cease to exist.
  During his tenure on the Indian Affairs Committee, he was dedicated 
to confronting and addressing the unpleasant truths about the Federal 
Government's treatment of Native people in our country. He understood 
the threats facing subsistence rights, native languages, and rich 
cultural traditions, and fought to ensure they were given parity and 
respect. Senator Begich also knew far too many Native women today 
experience violence and sexual assault, particularly in remote areas, 
and so he fought for the tribal provisions in the reauthorization of 
the Violence Against Woman Act--VAWA--and advanced his Safe Families 
and Villages Act to extend those protections to Native women in Alaska. 
He has also been a fighter for American Indian and Alaska Native 
veterans and worked hard to increase their access to care at both 
Indian Health Service and Veteran Affairs facilities. His compassion 
for indigenous issues extended to tribes in the lower 48 States and 
Native Hawaiians, and I know Native people across the country feel they 
have lost a true champion with his departure.
  Anyone who knows Senator Begich knows he is an intellectually curious 
and energetic person. He always approached issues from a solutions-
oriented mindset, which meant he was more tied to outcomes than to 
rhetoric, and the Senate was well-served by his presence. Senator 
Begich is also a devoted family man to his wife Deborah and young son 
Jacob. I remind myself that our loss is their gain, as I am sure they 
are excited to have him home more. I truly enjoyed working alongside 
him and look forward to when our paths cross again. I wish him 
incredible happiness and success in the next chapter.

                          ____________________