[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 182 (Thursday, November 14, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Remembering Kay Hagan

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, last month, we lost Kay Hagan after a 
long illness.
  Kay was always a fighter, starting with her days in the North 
Carolina State Legislature and continuing to when she answered the call 
of serving the Senate during the perilous days of the great recession. 
Kay was the right person to fight for North Carolina when she was 
needed the most.
  She came from a family who knows service and sacrifice. Her uncle was 
Lawton Chiles, a Korean war veteran and former Representative, Senator, 
and Governor of Florida. Her father and brother served in the Navy. Her 
father-in-law was a major general in the Marine Corps. Her husband is a 
Vietnam veteran who used his GI bill to pay for law school. When Kay 
talked about veterans' issues, she spoke from the heart.
  Kay was born into politics. As a young girl, she was putting bumper 
stickers on cars for her uncle. Her father won an election to become 
mayor of Lakeland, FL. While interning for her uncle, Kay learned about 
the ups and downs of Congress, literally. She operated the Senators-
only elevator in this building.
  North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt first encouraged Kay to run for 
office when she served as his Guilford County campaign chairman. In 
1998, she unseated a Republican incumbent and won a seat in the North 
Carolina State Senate. For 10 years, Kay Hagan earned a reputation as a 
commonsense hard worker, interested in results, not partisan fighting. 
As cochair of the State budget committee, she increased the State's 
rainy day fund and balanced five straight budgets. She helped make 
record investments in education, raised the pay for teachers, and 
increased the minimum wage.
  She was one of the most versatile women in her State. She juggled 
Girl Scout events, winning reelection four times, raising her growing 
family, and serving as a Sunday school teacher and a Presbyterian 
Church elder.
  In 2008, Kay ran for and won a U.S. Senate seat, becoming the 
Senate's first female Democratic Senator. With her family's military 
background, it surprised no one that Kay fought hard in the Senate for 
military families and veterans. When she heard about 9-year-old Janey 
Ensminger--daughter of a retired marine--passing away from leukemia 
because of contaminated water on the base of Camp Lejeune, she worked 
to pass the Janey Ensminger Act to help those affected receive 
healthcare.
  Kay also introduced a bill that was close to my heart. It would ban 
for-profit colleges from using the phrase ``GI bill'' in their 
aggressive marketing efforts aimed at separating veterans and 
servicemembers from their hard-earned education benefits.
  Kay was fearless with her voting. She made the toughest votes count, 
knowing the consequences to her own career. As long as it helped people 
of North Carolina and the United States, she was always a crucial 
partner. The Affordable Care Act and the 2009 economic stimulus package 
were politically difficult for many, but Kay stepped up and supported 
them. She was brave to the highest degree. Historians will remember 
that bravery. She stepped up when America needed her. Today, because of 
it, America is stronger and better.
  We will all remember Kay Hagan for her friendship and that we had the 
privilege to call her a friend and colleague.
  She is survived by her husband Chip, her three children--Jeanette 
Hagan, Tilden Hagan, Carrie Hagan Stewart--her father Joe P. Ruthven, 
two brothers, and five grandchildren.
  It was my honor to serve with Kay Hagan and to memorialize her 
service to North Carolina and the United States in this statement 
today.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority whip.