[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

[[Page S6916]]

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

[[Page S6917]]

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

[[Page S6918]]

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.

                          ____________________