[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 155 (Tuesday, December 16, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6912-S6918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTES TO DEPARTING SENATORS
Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, before this Congress ends, I wanted to pay
tribute to several of my colleagues who will not be here when we
convene next year. Some chose not to run again, and others
unfortunately lost their reelection campaigns, but we will miss them
all next year. I begin in order of seniority.
Tim Johnson
Mr. President, I wish to begin with Senator Tim Johnson. After
several years of service in South Dakota, where he received the
Outstanding Citizen Award and the Billie Sutton Award for Legislative
Achievement, Tim was elected to the House of Representatives in 1986.
He served there for 10 years, earning many distinctions, among them,
one for passing more legislation than the other 50 first-term Members.
In 1996 he was elected to the Senate, where he has served three terms.
In recent years Senator Johnson has served as chairman of the banking
committee, of which he has been a member since 1997. Over the years he
has advocated for community banks in South Dakota, worked to pass the
Safe and Fair Deposit Insurance Act of 2005, which updated the Federal
deposit insurance system, and pushed to deal with the special needs of
consumers in rural areas. Tim has also shown immense courage in dealing
with health issues and has been an exemplary public servant. We will
miss him next year and wish him and Barbara well.
Mary Landrieu
Mr. President, Senator Mary Landrieu started a career of public
service in the Louisiana State Legislature and then as State treasurer.
She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996 becoming her State's first
female Senator. Senator Landrieu has always fought for her State, a
fact never more apparent than in the aftermath of Hurricanes
[[Page S6913]]
Katrina and Rita when she fought valiantly for disaster funding and
reforms that helped countless people in Louisiana. Mary has also been a
champion for our children, and I have seen her commitment as we worked
together on adoption and foster care issues over the years. We will
miss Mary's spirit, but we know she will never stop fighting for what
she believes in. I wish Mary and Frank well in this new chapter of
their lives.
Mark Pryor
Mr. President, Senator Mark Pryor comes from a family with a history
of public service. Mark served as Arkansas attorney general before
being elected to the Senate in 2002, occupying the same Senate seat his
father David held. As a member of the Agriculture Committee, Mark
fought hard to protect the interests of Arkansas' farmers, and through
his position on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee
he pushed for regulatory reform, all the while asking how each decision
he made would impact people back in Arkansas. Through his work, Mark
embodied what it meant to be a public servant.
Mark Udall
Mr. President, Senator Mark Udall's family has served the United
States for decades. His cousin Tom has served beside him in the Senate
for the past 6 years. His father Morris ``Mo'' Udall was a Member of
the U.S. House of Representatives for 30 years and also ran for
President. His uncle Stewart served as Interior Secretary under
Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s. Before
being elected to the Senate in 2008, Mark served in the U.S. House of
Representatives and the Colorado State Legislature. Through his
position on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Mark has
continued his family's commitment to our public lands and resources,
chairing the National Parks Subcommittee. Senator Udall has also worked
hard to help the U.S. Government get its fiscal house in order, pushing
his colleagues to make tough choices today to help create a better
tomorrow. As a member of the Armed Services and Select Intelligence
Committees, Mark has advocated for more transparent detention and drone
policies and pushed to make public the ``Committee Study of the Central
Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program.''
Kay Hagan
Mr. President, Senator Kay Hagan spent 10 years serving in the North
Carolina State senate before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008.
I have had the pleasure of sitting next to Kay on the Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and working with her on issues
such as medication therapy management to help ensure our seniors are
taking the prescription drugs that help keep them healthy and the
Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act that provides funding
for the screening of newborn babies for heritable disorders, allowing
them the earliest possible access to treatments. Through her position
on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, Senator Hagan has
pushed to protect and grow North Carolina jobs. On the Armed Services
Committee, she has fought for North Carolina's military families. I
wish Kay and Chip well in the years ahead.
Mark Begich
Mr. President, Senator Mark Begich arrived in the Senate in 2008,
having previously served as mayor of Anchorage. Mark worked hard and
accomplished a lot in his 6 years here, but what I will always remember
is Mark's commitment to our veterans. Alaska has more, veterans per
capita than any other state in our Nation, and through his position on
the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Begich has been their
champion. I thank Mark for his public service and his commitment, and I
wish him and Deborah well.
Jay Rockefeller
Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to my friend and
colleague, Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, who will soon retire from
the Senate after representing his beloved West Virginia for the last 30
years.
Senator Rockefeller and I both came to Washington after having
previously served as Governors of our home States, and I have been
grateful for his friendship and counsel. I would also note that Senator
Rockefeller has some familiarity with New Hampshire, having graduated
from Phillips Exeter Academy.
Senator Rockefeller will forever be remembered in the Senate for his
dedication to the hard-working people of West Virginia. When West
Virginia coal mining companies threatened to abandon their pension
obligations to miners, Senator Rockefeller successfully fought to pass
the Coal Act of 1992 to safeguard their retirements. Among his numerous
other legislative accomplishments, Senator Rockefeller will certainly
be remembered as the father of the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Since its creation in 1997, CHIP has provided millions of low-income
children and pregnant women access to health insurance. Just last year,
CHIP touched the lives of more than 8 million Americans.
During his lengthy career Senator Rockefeller chaired the Senate
Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Intelligence, and most recently
Commerce, Science, and Transportation. As a chairman, Senator
Rockefeller believed strongly that good policy started with listening
and ran his committees in a way that allowed all Senators, no matter
their party, a voice and a role in the legislative process.
The example set by Senator Rockefeller is an inspiration to all of us
who serve in the Senate. On behalf of the people of New Hampshire, I
thank him for his years of dedicated service to our country and wish
him the best in his well-deserved retirement.
Carl Levin
Mr. President, I wish to honor Senator Carl Levin as he prepares to
retire after 36 years of dedicated service in the Senate.
As the longest serving Senator in Michigan's history, Senator Levin
has been a stalwart advocate for the people of his State. In the
aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, Senator Levin played a critical
role in drafting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to ensure
it would bolster the Midwestern manufacturers that would prove integral
to our national economic recovery. As cochair of the Great Lakes Task
Force, Senator Levin has worked throughout his career to protect the
vast waterways that are critical to Michigan's economy and those of the
other Great Lakes States.
I have had the honor of serving on the Senate Armed Services
Committee under the leadership of Chairman Levin, and his concern for
the people of Michigan is perhaps only matched by his concern for the
soldiers, sailors, marines, and airman who defend our Nation, as well
as the families who support them. Under his steady leadership the
Senate has kept faith with our military by passing the annual National
Defense Authorization Act, and this year's defense bill bears Senator
Levin's name as tribute to his lengthy service on the Committee. As
chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management
Support, I have always appreciated Senator Levin's commitment to a
strong bipartisan spirit in the work of the committee, and I know it
will endure thanks to his example.
A sharp legal mind, Senator Levin also worked in a bipartisan fashion
as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to
hold powerful public and private institutions accountable. Born from
the highly successful Truman Committee formed in the lead-up to World
War II, Senator Levin's subcommittee investigated critical issues such
as the 2008 financial crisis, systemic credit card fraud, as well as
corporate abuse of off-shore tax havens--bringing light to complex and
obscure issues to the benefit of the American people.
Senator Levin has been a source of reasoned counsel for many in the
Senate, and I know his presence will be missed. However, I also know he
is looking forward to spending some well-earned time back in Michigan
with his children, grandchildren, and wife Barbara.
Tom Harkin
Mr. President, I wish to recognize Senator Tom Harkin and his 30
years of Senate service.
When Senator Harkin retires at the end of this year, he will also
step down from his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Health,
Employment, Labor, and Pensions, a post from which he has advocated
progressive policies
[[Page S6914]]
aimed at increasing opportunity for all Americans.
One of Senator Harkin's greatest legislative achievements is the
Americans with Disabilities Act, legislation that he fought for on
behalf of millions of disabled Americans. The ADA is truly a landmark
law in this country, and Senator Harkin's decades of work on this issue
will never be forgotten.
Senator Harkin also has a strong legacy as a champion for human
rights, which began even before his election to public office while he
was still a staffer on Capitol Hill. Invited to travel with a
congressional delegation to Vietnam in the summer of 1970, Senator
Harkin arranged for the group to visit the Con Son prison in order to
investigate allegations of human rights abuses by the South Vietnamese
Government. At the prison, the delegation strayed from the official
tour and found abused prisoners held in so-called ``tiger cages,''
which Senator Harkin documented extensively with a camera. In defiance
of some of the delegation members, Senator Harkin courageously handed
over the pictures to Life magazine in order to better educate the
American public about U.S involvement in Vietnam.
I have been fortunate to witness firsthand Senator Harkin's passion
for U.S. leadership in human rights during our service together on the
Senate Appropriations Committee, where he has brought heightened
attention to the scourge of child labor and exploitation. I know this
is one particular issue on which Senator Harkin feels his work has just
begun, and I look forward to hearing of his continued efforts on behalf
of vulnerable children around the world.
On a more personal note, I will miss competing with Senator Harkin's
office for the most staff participants in the Everybody Wins! DC
reading mentorship program, a great cause in which Senator Harkin has
been involved in for the last 16 years.
I join my colleagues in thanking Senator Harkin for his dedicated
service in the Senate and wish him all the best in retirement.
Kay Hagan
Mr. President, Senator Hagan and I came to the Senate 6 years ago
with a shared commitment to bipartisan problem solving reflective of
the independent spirit of the States we represent. I am glad to say
that in Senator Hagan I found not only a strong partner in policymaking
but also a good friend.
Born in Shelby, NC, Senator Hagan got her start in politics, as many
of us do, at the State level. During 10 years in the North Carolina
Senate, she built a reputation as a committed public servant, and that
reputation would eventually propel her to the United States Senate.
In Washington, Senator Hagan has used her position on the Senate
Armed Services Committee to support the military families stationed at
Fort Bragg, Camp Lejune, and other military installations in North
Carolina. Thanks to her efforts, Congress passed legislation in 2012 to
provide health care and compensation to military families impacted by
water contamination at Camp Lejune. Also a member of the small business
committee, Senator Hagan's private sector experience has been a
tremendous asset to the legislative work of the committee.
I would like to wish the very best to Senator Hagan, who I know is
looking forward to the opportunity to spend more time with her family,
especially her grandchildren.
Mark Udall
Mr. President, I wish to take a moment to thank my friend and
colleague Senator Mark Udall for his dedicated service to the people of
Colorado and our Nation.
As many of my colleagues are aware, long before Senator Udall was
climbing the steps to Capitol Hill he was hiking the mountains of
Colorado as a course director and educator with Outward Bound, an
organization he would eventually lead as executive director. However,
as a member of the Udall family, headed by his father Congressman
Morris ``Mo'' Udall, who served in the House of Representatives for 30
years, elected office was never far from Senator Udall's mind. After 20
years with Outward Bound, Senator Udall left to pursue a career in
public service.
After serving a term in the Colorado State Legislature, Senator Udall
ran successfully to represent Colorado's Second Congressional District
in the House of Representatives, a seat he held for five consecutive
terms. When we arrived at the Senate in 2008, Senator Udall and I found
common cause in our work on both the Senate Armed Services Committee
and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Senator
Udall's commitment to working across the aisle to confront the
difficult issues facing our Nation was appreciated by many in the
Senate, and I know his presence will be missed.
I wish the very best to Senator Udall and thank him for his service.
Mary Landrieu
Mr. President, my friend from Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu has
devoted her entire life to public service, and today I wish to
recognize the extraordinary leadership and energy that she has brought
to the Senate throughout her career.
Senator Landrieu has been a leader on so many issues, none more so
than as a passionate advocate for children around the world. I was
proud to work with her on legislation to address the decline in
international adoptions, in addition to several other bills that
Senator Landrieu has authored to support children both in the United
States and in developing nations. This issue is particularly near to
Senator Landrieu's heart, and I know I am speaking for countless
children around the world when I thank her for her efforts to ensure
all children experience the benefits of a safe and loving family.
I also had the pleasure of working with Senator Landrieu during her
leadership of the Senate Small Business Committee, as well as on the
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Senator Landrieu has always fought hard for her home State of
Louisiana, and her dedication to her constituents was made clear in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. All Americans vividly recall the scenes
of destruction caused by the storm--more than 1,800 killed and $100
billion in property destroyed in just days. Those who were fortunate to
escape the storm physically unscathed were more than likely left
homeless, and over 80% of Senator Landrieu's hometown of New Orleans
was under water for weeks after Katrina made landfall.
After the storm Senator Landrieu immediately set to work building
support for legislation to jump start the gulf coast recovery and help
her constituents put their lives back together. Senator Landrieu nearly
singlehandedly pushed through critical funding and reforms to help
Louisiana rebuild.
It has been an honor working with her, and I thank her for her years
of service to the Senate and the Nation.
Mark Begich
Mr. President, today I wish to recognize my fellow Senator from the
class of 2008, Senator Mark Begich of Alaska.
Senator Begich's career in public service began earlier than most at
the young age of 19, when he was hired by the Anchorage city health
department. By that time, Senator Begich was also well on his way to
establishing himself as an enterprising businessman and entrepreneur.
Born and raised in Anchorage, AK, Mark Begich would go on to serve in
the Anchorage Assembly where he was the youngest member ever elected,
before successfully running for the post of mayor in 2003, a role in
which he served until his election to the Senate.
Here in Washington Senator Begich has used his position as chair of
the commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast
Guard, as well as his extensive knowledge of the Alaska economy, to
advocate for Alaska-first policies. As a Senator from a State with one
of the highest populations of veterans per capita, Senator Begich has
also been a passionate defender of our Nation's military. I also have
had the pleasure of serving with Senator Begich on the Senate
Appropriations Committee and have greatly appreciated his
contributions.
I would like to thank Senator Begich for his years of dedicated
service both to Alaska and the Nation.
Mark Pryor
Mr. President, Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas has served the people
of Arkansas in the Senate for the last 12 years, guided by his strong
faith and
[[Page S6915]]
determination to bridge the partisan divide.
As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Pryor has
successfully directed Federal assistance to his Arkansas constituents,
helping to strengthen his State's economy. As a member of the commerce
committee, he prioritized bringing broadband Internet service to the
rural parts of Arkansas. When Senator Pryor served on the Senate Armed
Services Committee, he successfully introduced and passed legislation
to provide tax relief for our servicemembers deployed in combat zones,
as well as legislation to more quickly inform military families when
their loved ones are injured in combat.
Senator Pryor has time and again proved his dedication to the State
where he was born and raised, and I wish to thank him for his service
in the Senate.
Mike Johanns
Mr. President, over three decades as a public servant, my friend and
colleague Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska has proven time and time
again that politicians can be deeply principled while still recognizing
the need to find common ground on the complex and difficult choices we
must make as a nation. I believe this is a lesson that all former
Governors carry with them after holding executive office, and Senator
Johanns and I were often able to reach an understanding on that basis.
Before coming to the Senate in 2009, Mike Johanns had already built a
distinguished record of public service as a county board member, city
council member, mayor and two term Governor of Nebraska. Senator
Johanns also served for 3 years in the White House Cabinet as Secretary
of Agriculture to President George W. Bush. While leading the
Department of Agriculture, Senator Johanns helped U.S. agriculture
producers find new markets overseas, promoted expanded use of renewable
fuels, and encouraged conservation of agricultural lands. Having played
a key role in developing the farm bill passed by Congress in 2008,
then-Secretary Johanns decided to return to legislating full time and
successfully ran to represent Nebraska in the Senate.
Senator Johanns' time in Congress is best characterized by his low-
key approach to the most high-profile and consequential issues of the
day. He was one of the bipartisan Gang of 8 Senators who tackled the
challenge of crafting a comprehensive Federal deficit reduction plan in
2011, and in 2013 we worked together on a bipartisan deal to reopen the
Federal Government and avoid a default on our national debt. I was also
very proud to work with Senator Johanns on legislation to address the
unacceptable trends in military sexual assault. Senator Johanns always
brought the work ethic he developed growing up on a Nebraska farm to
our business in the Senate, and for that and many other reasons I very
much enjoyed working with him.
Senator Johanns has given many years to public service, earning him
the right to seek a bit of a break from the spotlight, and I wish him
all the best in his retirement.
Carl Levin
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to pay tribute to
Senator Levin as his distinguished Senate career comes to a close at
the end of the 113th Congress. Senator Levin has proudly represented
the people of Michigan in the Senate for 36 years.
The desire to help others has been in Senator Levin's makeup long
before coming to Washington. In fact, one might say it is in his DNA.
He comes from a family with a distinguished record of public service. I
served with his brother Sander in the House of Representatives, another
truly distinguished Member of Congress. Their father served on the
Michigan Corrections Commission. His uncle served as a chief judge on
the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and his
cousin was a Michigan Supreme Court Judge.
Given this public service pedigree, it is no surprise that he got
started in politics at an early age. He was elected class President at
Detroit's Central High School. After Swarthmore College and Harvard Law
School, he served as an assistant attorney general and general counsel
of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. In 1969 he was elected to the
Detroit City Council and in 1978 joined the Senate.
Senator Levin has served on the Armed Services Committee for as long
as he has been in the Senate. His Armed Services Committee tenure has
provided him the opportunity to work with 11 Secretaries of Defense,
helping to ensure that our Armed Forces were ready and able to meet the
national security challenges facing our Nation. He has long been a
champion of the men and women of our military and their families. From
visiting deployed troops far from home, to ensuring much needed
training, equipment, and pay increases, and improving the delivery of
benefits and services they have earned, Carl Levin has been there for
our troops.
Senator Levin is also a problemsolver. In order to improve the way
the Pentagon buys its weapons and to get the most out of the taxpayer
dollars the government is entrusted to spend, he has worked hard to
improve acquisition practices throughout his career. In this arena, he
led the way in passing the Competition in Contracting Act and the
Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act.
I was fortunate to serve on the Armed Services Committee during my
first 2 years in the Senate. I have been able to observe Chairman Levin
firsthand as he led the committee with a steady hand in a very
bipartisan manner. I have been proud to be part of two National Defense
Authorization Acts--including the one this body passed last week, which
bears his name--which preserve our readiness and provides for the well-
being of our men and women of the armed services and their families.
Senator Levin also chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on
Investigations, where he has led investigations in many critical areas,
including the 2008 financial crisis, energy and food market
speculation, abusive offshore tax havens, and unfair practices within
the credit card industry. His investigations have led to many reforms
and laws to fix these problems. 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.''
The Senate is losing one of its giants--a voice of reason, integrity,
and fairness. Michigan's working families are losing a lifelong
advocate for their best interests who has really made a difference.
Carl, thank you for your service to our country. I wish you, Barbara,
and your entire family all the best as you move to the next chapter of
your journey.
Aloha Carl, a hui hou, ``until we meet again.''
Tom Harkin
Mr. President, I wish to recognize the accomplishments of the
distinguished Senator from Iowa, Tom Harkin, who is retiring this year.
Senator Harkin has served in the House and Senate for nearly 40
years. During those 40 years he has been a consistent and inspirational
voice for the idea that America should be a place where everyone can
succeed.
Tom's life experiences shaped who he fought for and why. His mother
died when he was 10. His father never got beyond the sixth grade and
suffered from black lung disease. He grew up in a tiny town in Iowa. He
saw what the New Deal, Social Security, and Medicare did for his family
and he saw government as a force that could lift people up and give
them hope.
Last week, during his farewell remarks to this body, he said
something that the progressives among us should take to heart. He said:
`` . . . I believe government must not be just an observant
bystander to life. It must be a force for good, for lifting
people up, for giving hope to the hopeless.''
Under Tom Harkin's watch, government certainly has not been a
bystander.
One of his proudest accomplishments was gaining passage of the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Tom stood with people with
disabilities, one of the largest minorities in the United States, to
enact historic legislation that changed the lives of millions of
people. I was proud to cosponsor and support the 2008 Americans with
Disabilities Amendments Act, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan
support. His commitment to creating and expanding
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opportunities for those with disabilities is a hallmark of his career.
Senator Harkin will also be remembered for his tireless leadership as
the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Committee. As chairman he worked to promote health care and education,
fairness for workers, equal rights, and, above all, the American dream.
He worked to fund those priorities for years on the Appropriations
Committee.
These are some of Tom's signature issues. But equally important has
been his work fighting injustice and human rights violations across the
globe.
As a young Congressional staffer he travelled to Vietnam and
uncovered torture on Con San Island, off of Vietnam. There people were
being held in ``tiger cages''--5 foot by 9 foot cells dug into the
ground where three to five people were held captive.
While he lost his staff job over the pictures he took, he shed light
on atrocities that too many others had either ignored or covered up.
Tom's values and the results he has been able to achieve have made
him a powerful moral and progressive voice for decades. Some of us were
drawn to Tom during his Presidential run in 1992. I was. As a Hawaii
State legislator, I supported the Senator from Iowa long before I ever
had the privilege of serving with him in the Senate. In fact, when his
bid for the presidency ended, some of us continued to support him,
making buttons with a slogan I coined: ``Harkin for the Heck of It!''
Tom Harkin has done much to help build the ladders of opportunity
that he so firmly believes is a big part of what government should do.
His work inspires us to continue pushing to see that every individual
in our country has an opportunity to improve his or her life for the
better.
Last week in his farewell remarks, Tom noted that while he is
retiring from the Senate, he is not retiring from ``the fight.'' He
also gave those of us who are still here a list of unfinished business
to continue the fight.
First, we have to do more to address income inequality and restack
the deck so that working people have confidence that their government
works on their behalf. Second, we have to work on addressing climate
change. Third, we have to do more to give employment opportunities to
the disabled, and finally, we have to pass the U.N. Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
These are all big fights. But it speaks to Tom's passion for public
service and improving access to opportunity that in his farewell
remarks, he would give us a list of unfinished business.
I will miss him in the Senate. I am confident that Tom Harkin will be
a prominent voice in American society for years to come.
Aloha Tom, a hui hou, or ``until we meet again.''
Jay Rockefeller
Mr. President, I also wish to pay tribute to a man who has dedicated
nearly 50 years to public service. That is our retiring colleague
Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia.
Jay Rockefeller's lifetime of service was shaped by his experience as
a VISTA worker in a rural coal town in West Virginia. Jay told me that
this experience was life changing, coming as he did from a very
privileged background. Working day-to-day in that community, learning
the hopes and fears and anxieties of the people, and seeing their
struggles led to his lifelong commitment to improving the lot of
working people everywhere.
In his farewell remarks to the Senate, Senator Rockefeller said that
the Senate must be a ``place in which we embrace the commitment to be
deliberative, passionate, and unrelenting.''
Senator Rockefeller embodied these qualities while serving the people
of West Virginia. He has been a deliberative, passionate, and
unrelenting champion, especially for those whose circumstances in life
are the hardest.
His work on health care has impacted Americans in every corner of the
United States, from the mountains of West Virginia, to my State of
Hawaii. He was instrumental in the efforts to establish the Children's
Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, which provides care to more than 8
million children across the Nation. More than 30,000 of those children
who currently receive coverage for necessary primary and preventive
health care are those children in my State of Hawaii.
From his Medicare Drug Savings Act to his Rebuilding America's
Schools Act, Jay Rockefeller has truly been a champion for those who
needed a hand up in life.
We are all aware of Jay's efforts to enhance our national security
while also holding our Nation to the highest standards possible as a
chairman and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. His
commitment to keeping America safe is met only by his commitment to
ensure that our Nation's veterans get the care and benefits that they
have earned and deserve. I have been privileged to serve with Jay on
the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Senator Rockefeller reminds us that to those upon whom fortune has
smiled, there is no greater calling than to dedicate ourselves to fight
hard for those struggling, for those hard working, and for those who
put us here.
As Senators I hope that we heed Jay's words and in the coming
Congress we work together on a bipartisan basis to collaborate and
compromise on behalf of America's workers and families.
On a personal note, Jay and I had one of the best conversations
recently on the Senate floor where we discovered that we were two
pretty private people, some would even describe as introverts, who
picked a most public of arenas, politics, to do our life's work of
making a difference in the lives of those we are privileged to
represent.
Thank you for your service, Senator Rockefeller. It has been an honor
being your colleague and serving with you.
Aloha Jay, a hui hou, or ``until we meet again.''
Tim Johnson
Mr. President, I wish to recognize the contributions of Senator Tim
Johnson of South Dakota, who is retiring at the end of this year.
Senator Johnson has served South Dakota in the House and the Senate
for nearly 28 years. He was elected to the House in 1986 and was
elected to the Senate in 1996. During those 28 years, Senator Johnson
has been an advocate for bipartisanship to get results in Congress. In
fact, bipartisanship could be considered one of the campaign platforms
that first got him elected to Congress. As he related in his farewell
remarks on this floor last week, when he first ran for the House of
Representatives, he told the people of South Dakota that neither party
had all the answers, that both parties had good ideas, and that both
parties had men and women of good will.
``My job, as I understood it, would be to work in a bipartisan
manner, listening to all parties and reaching a good fit--also known as
compromise.''
Twenty-eight years later, it is clear that he not only understood his
job well then, but his efforts to compromise have paid big dividends
for South Dakota. Over the years he has worked on a number of issues,
from the farm bill, to highway funding, to flood relief and to protect
South Dakota's Ellsworth Air Force Base.
No one Senator can deliver results on their own, but by working
across the aisle, Tim has not only done well for his constituents but
has gained a good reputation here in the Senate. He has served in
leadership positions on the Senate banking committee, which he
currently chairs, as well as the Senate Appropriations, Energy and
Natural Resources, and Indian Affairs Committees. On each of these
committees, Senator Johnson has championed issues that are important to
the people of his State but has always done so with an eye toward
fairness--listening to all parties, promoting compromise, and doing
what is right for working people across the country.
For these reasons, Senator Johnson is well-respected and has earned
the good will of the Senate. When he was faced with the challenge of a
lifetime--a brain hemorrhage in 2006--he was supported by a Senate
community that set aside partisanship and political calculations.
Everyone wanted to see him recover. When he returned to the Senate
after months of recovery, he was welcomed by the whole community. Tim
continues to be a profile in courage.
His legacy is one of compromise and collaboration--two attributes
that are
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critical to the functioning of this body and two attributes which we
would do well to remember.
We will all miss Senator Johnson in the Senate. Aloha to him, his
wife Barbara, his three children, and his six grandchildren, and a hui
hou, ``until we meet again.''
MARK UDALL
Mr. President, I would like to say a few words about my colleague,
Senator Mark Udall of Colorado, who will be ending his 6-year tenure in
the Senate at the end of this Congress.
Senator Udall has served in public office for 18 years, serving in
the Colorado House of Representatives for 2 years before being elected
to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served for 10 years. He
was elected in 2008 to the Senate.
For Mark, public service is a family affair. His father, Arizona
Representative Mo Udall, served in Congress for 30 years. His father
ran for the U.S. Presidency. His uncle, Stewart Udall, served as
President Kennedy's Secretary of the Interior. And his cousin, Tom
Udall, serves as one of New Mexico's U.S. Senators.
This legacy, coupled with Mark's love of the outdoors, give him a
unique perspective on public service. Before running for office, Mark
worked as an educator and executive director of the Colorado Outward
Bound School. As an avid mountaineer and educator, Mark understands the
value of America's open spaces, smart policies for conservation and
economic growth, and finding practical solutions to our shared
challenges.
Mark Udall is a champion for the environment. His efforts to support
progressive renewable energy policies as a State legislator and Member
of Congress have helped Colorado become a frontrunner in clean,
sustainable energy to prepare for a more sustainable future. He has
also fought hard to expand the National Park Service, saying the Earth
is borrowed from our children, not inherited from our parents, and that
we must work to preserve these public lands to ensure their existence
for future generations.
I have had the privilege of serving with Mark in the House and on the
Senate Armed Services Committee to support the men and women who defend
our country. We have worked together to focus on making our military
more energy efficient and less reliant on fossil fuels.
Mark has climbed some of the most daunting peaks in the world. The
kind of self-reliance and focus required to meet those kinds of
challenges mark his work in public service. His decency and integrity
in fighting for the middle class, for our environment, for transparency
in government, inspire us to continue his work.
It has been a privilege to serve with Mark.
Aloha Mark and Maggie and a hui hou, ``until we meet again.''
kay hagan
Mr. President, I thank my colleague Kay Hagan for her service in the
Senate. Kay has spent every day of her 6 years fighting for North
Carolina's families.
Kay's father, brother, husband, and father-in-law are all veterans.
She has two nephews on Active Duty. Their experiences--and the stories
of thousands of North Carolina servicemembers and veterans--have helped
guide Kay's work on the Senate Armed Services Committee, SASC, where I
have been privileged to serve with her.
As a member of SASC, I have seen firsthand Kay's deep knowledge and
commitment to our servicemembers, veterans, and military families--in
North Carolina and around the country. North Carolina, like Hawaii, has
a large number of servicemembers and veterans, and Kay has worked to
make sure our troops get the support they need while they are in harm's
way and when they get home.
Making sure veterans get the benefits they have earned and are
treated with respect is another area where Kay has been a strong
leader. She has worked to make sure veterans are able to transition to
civilian life and prepare for college and career. Whether that means
protecting veterans from scams or making sure colleges are serving
veterans effectively, Kay has their back.
Kay also is a strong advocate for children and families. She has
worked on reauthorizing newborn screening legislation to make sure
illnesses are detected and treated early. Just last week she got her
bipartisan newborn screening bill across the finish line, and it will
soon head to President Obama's desk.
On education, Kay has worked on financial literacy in middle school
and high school and turning around the highest-need K-12 schools. She
has fought for minority-serving institutions and making sure job-
training and college help adults earn an associate's degree or industry
credential as soon as possible.
As I was running for the Senate, I got a chance to get to know Kay,
and upon my election, she was very helpful in showing me the ropes as a
new Senator. The 20 Senate women have regular bipartisan dinners where
we leave politics at the door, get to know each other, and relax. Kay
is well known for her tireless work on behalf of her constituents, her
graciousness as a host of Super Bowl parties, and her indefatigable
positive attitude that rubs off on the rest of us.
I and the Senate sisterhood will miss Kay. However, I expect that she
will continue the spirited advocacy on behalf of the people of North
Carolina whatever she next undertakes.
Aloha Kay and a hui hou, ``until we meet again.''
Mark Begich
Mr. President, I recognize the accomplishments of Senator Mark
Begich, our colleague from the State of Alaska. These last 2 years, I
have had the privilege to work with Senator Begich on a range of
issues--from Native Adult Education and Health Care to fishing rights--
and I consider him a good friend. Senator Begich is not only someone
who is easy to work with as a reasonable, open-minded legislator, but
is also someone who truly cares about the people of his State and
embodies the values of the Senate.
In his farewell remarks last week, Senator Begich commented on the
relative size of his State, which, at 660,000 square miles, is more
than twice and three times as large as other large States such as Texas
and California geographically.
That is 164 times larger than my home State of Hawaii. It also gets a
lot colder. Despite the differences between our States, as the two non-
contiguous U.S. States, Hawaii and Alaska have always had a special
bond.
That bond was forged by Senators Inouye and Stevens--two of the
Senate's giants. Those two men, who were from different parties and
very different States, looked out for one another. They did a lot of
good for our States, and all who come after them have sought to emulate
their example of working together and looking out for each other.
Mark did that for me even before I was sworn in to the U.S. Senate.
As many of my colleagues may know, Senator Inouye passed away just
weeks before I was to be sworn in. At the time I would been assigned to
the Energy, Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs Committees. However, with
Senator Inouye's passing--and I have to thank our leadership here as
well--I asked for a seat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, an
appointment critical to Hawaii, where military activity is a vital part
of our economy.
Mark Begich gave his seat up on the committee to open a slot for me.
Not to shortchange Alaska, Mark got a seat on Appropriations. But I
will never forget that he recognized how important the military was to
Hawaii and how he agreed to help me out.
Not only was Mark reinforcing the long-lasting Hawaii-Alaska bond,
but it was also characteristic of Mark's desire to help-something that
his constituents know all too well.
As Senator Begich mentioned in his farewell remarks, ``Alaska is a
very small place in many ways. People make personal connections with
their elected officials.''
Whether it is answering constituent letters, or helping people
navigate the Federal bureaucracy, Senator Begich has been there for
Alaskans. He has also taken their concerns and made sure that everyone
in Washington knows about them--whether it is the situation in the
Arctic, fishing, energy development, or the challenges of Alaska
Natives. There is not a Member of this body who has not heard Senator
Begich talk about Alaska's unique challenges.
As he also mentioned, most people in his State pretty much know each
other.
In a State like Alaska--much like Hawaii--you can't ``go
Washington.'' You have got to stay grounded in the day-to-day concerns
of the unique local communities back home. Sometimes this can be tough,
but Mark has always
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kept Alaskans first and foremost in all of his work in the Senate.
I have had the privilege of serving with Mark on the Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committee, and have seen firsthand how hard he has worked on
behalf of Alaska's veterans. He has been tenacious in working to see
that Alaska's veterans and Natives have access to health care--and
creatively, worked to see that veterans can access the tribal health
care delivery system. As he has put it, if the clinics are there for
some, why not have them be available to all?
This is the kind of commonsense solution that is a hallmark of his
time in the Senate.
I will miss his good humor and his hard work. It is been a pleasure
serving with Mark and I wish him and his family all the best in their
next chapter.
Aloha Mark and a hui hou, ``until we meet again.''
John Walsh
Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to our colleague, Senator John
Walsh of Montana. While his Senate career is shorter than any of us
would have hoped, the institution is better for his service and he will
be missed.
His road to this body is different than most anyone else. He grew up
in Butte, MT, close enough to a copper mine that his house would shake
when the dynamite went off. His dreams were modest--get an education,
find a job, and do some fishing.
But life often takes unexpected turns. He enrolled in the Montana
National Guard in order to pursue those modest dreams, and found a home
in the Guard. He rose to serve as Adjutant General of the Montana
National Guard. In this capacity he commanded troops in Iraq in 2004
and 2005. He earned the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit Award, and Combat
Infantry Badge for his efforts leading over 700 young men and women.
This military experience is one that he carries with him in ways that
most of us will never know.
After retiring from the National Guard in 2012 he served as Montana's
Lieutenant Governor, and currently, as a Senator. He is the first Iraq
war combat veteran to serve in the Senate.
His experience growing up in a working-class family, serving in the
military, and as a public servant in elected office have made him a
valuable Member of this body.
His advocacy for Montana, and for our servicemembers and veterans,
and his perspective on national security matters--particularly reigning
in the National Security Agency--have been valuable to our caucus. I
know that he will carry these priorities forward in whatever endeavor
he pursues next.
I am proud to have to served as his colleague in the Senate. Aloha
John, and a hui hou, ``until we meet again,'' to you, your wife Janet,
and your family.
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to celebrate and thank the
13 outgoing Senators who have worked tirelessly to represent their home
States in the Senate: Senator Mark Begich, Senator Saxby Chambliss,
Senator Tom Coburn, Senator Kay Hagan, Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Mike
Johanns, Senator Tim Johnson, Senator Mary Landrieu, Senator Carl
Levin, Senator Mark Pryor, Senator Jay Rockefeller, Senator Mark Udall,
and Senator John Walsh.
I have worked side by side with these men and women for years--some
for decades--and witnessed firsthand their extraordinary commitment to
public service and the people they so proudly represent.
Even when we didn't see eye to eye on every issue, I always deeply
respected and admired their service to our Nation and their dedication
to fight for what they believe in.
It has been a privilege to serve alongside each and every one of
these extraordinary colleagues. I will miss their leadership and their
friendship, and I wish them all the best as they embark on the next
chapter.
____________________