[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 207 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7270-S7273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF FORMER UNITED STATES SENATOR PAUL 
                            SPYROS SARBANES

  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I take this time, along with my 
colleague from Maryland, Senator Chris Van Hollen--and I am also 
pleased that we are joined by Senator Stabenow and Senator Reed. We 
take this time, on a very sad note, to announce the death of Paul 
Spyros Sarbanes, our former colleague in the U.S. Senate, who passed 
away on December 6, 2020, at the age of 87.
  I first got to know Senator Sarbanes when he first ran for public 
office in 1966. We both were elected to the Maryland General Assembly 
that year, and we became good friends. Delegate Sarbanes at that point 
made a name for himself on the House Judiciary Committee in the 
Maryland General Assembly and was a rising star from his first day in 
the Maryland General Assembly.
  He shortly thereafter ran for the House of Representatives. He served 
three terms in the House of Representatives with a very distinguished 
career. During that time, it was the time of the Watergate issues, and 
Congressman Sarbanes was on the Judiciary Committee and was given the 
responsibility of the first Article of Impeachment against President 
Nixon. That article dealt with obstruction of justice. It was the key 
engagement against President Nixon on impeachment, and it is very 
telling that that responsibility was given to a young Member of the 
House of Representatives, Congressman Paul Sarbanes. It was because of 
his work ethic, his commitment to scholarship, and his understanding of 
issues that he was entrusted with that responsibility.
  He then served five terms in the U.S. Senate, the longest term for 
any Senator in Maryland. Paul Sarbanes was known as a Senator's Senator 
for his integrity, for his public commitment to public service, and his 
strong commitment to principles. He was a Rhodes scholar who chose to 
serve the public rather than using his skills in the private sector for 
his own personal gain. His entire life was devoted to public service. 
What a legacy he has left us by his incredible public service.

  In 2002, the Enron scandal hit America, and Chairman Sarbanes, the 
chairman of the Banking Committee here, teamed up with Chairman Oxley 
in the House to pass the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation. George W. Bush--
President Bush--said it was ``the most far-reaching reforms of American 
business practices since the time of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.'' The 
leadership of Senator Sarbanes was deeply needed at that time, and he 
delivered on behalf of the American people.
  Senator Van Hollen and I know firsthand what Senator Sarbanes did in 
helping to create the Federal partnership in the Chesapeake Bay 
Program. It was during the time that he was the junior Senator from 
Maryland, along with Senator Mathias, that the two of them partnered in 
order to develop the Federal program for the Chesapeake Bay, and then 
Senator Sarbanes carried the burden of that partnership. For many 
years, it was through his efforts in the U.S. Senate that we were able 
to continue and expand the Federal partnership for the bay.
  Now, those of us who live in the bay region--and I know that Senator 
Stabenow has heard me talk about this many times when we talk about the 
great water bodies. We know that the Chesapeake is the largest estuary 
in our hemisphere. It is the most diverse estuary, and it is a 
challenge because of the way that the water flows and it cleanses 
itself. So we started this Federal partnership--Senator Sarbanes did--
and it has provided incredible dividends for the people of Maryland and 
the people of our Nation--indeed, the global community.
  He was an expert on foreign policy. He served on the Senate Foreign 
Relations Committee. He was involved in the leadership of passing 
ratification of the Panama Canal Treaty, and there are so many other 
areas in which Senator Sarbanes excelled.
  We all receive honors; I know that. I am just going to mention three 
because they were really reflective of what Senator Sarbanes 
accomplished during his career. He got the Paul H. Douglas Ethics in 
Government Award for his incredible standard of integrity and ethics; 
the Roth Award for extraordinary impact on policy, on economic 
business, and finance--his lasting legacy on the financial institutions 
here in America; and the Cox, Richardson, Coleman Award for 
distinguished public service. He was a Senator's Senator. He devoted 
his life to public service.
  In a way, Paul Sarbanes represents the American success story. He was 
a son of Greek immigrants, grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 
Salisbury, and rose to serve in the U.S. Senate.
  His lifetime partner was Christine. All of us remember Paul and 
Christine together. What a couple they made. What a love story it was.
  There are three children. John, whom we all know very well because he 
serves in the House of Representatives, holds the seat in the Third 
Congressional District. It is the same seat that Barbara Mikulski held, 
the same seat that I held; the same seat that Paul Sarbanes held is now 
being held by Paul's son John, and what a great job he is doing. It is 
interesting that he was the leading sponsor of H.R. 1 in this Congress, 
which was basically the good governance legislation that passed 
overwhelmingly in the House, and so many other things that follow in 
his father's tradition.
  Paul's other son Michael has had a distinguished career, and Janet, 
his daughter, has also had a distinguished career.
  Paul had seven grandchildren. Christine predeceased Paul.
  I want to just talk a moment about the partnership between Senator 
Sarbanes and Senator Mikulski. They had different styles. I think most 
people would acknowledge that from the beginning, Paul was very much 
stately and represented the traditional, I guess, demeanor that you 
would expect of a U.S. Senator. And I love Barbara Mikulski, but no one 
would ever accuse her of having that type of demeanor. But the two of 
them had an incredible relationship together. They were called the 
``Diner Democrats'' because Paul's father's family ran a diner, and 
Barbara Mikulski's family ran Mikulski's Bakery, as we all know. They 
worked together in true partnership over so many years. It was a 
friendship that was really one of total trust and respect.
  I had a chance to communicate with Senator Mikulski, and she, because 
of COVID, could not join us tonight.
  Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that her statement be 
printed in the Record of these proceedings

[[Page S7271]]

  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

     Mikulski Statement on the Passing of Senator Paul S. Sarbanes

       Baltimore.--Retired U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) 
     today issues the following statement remembering Senator Paul 
     Sarbanes:
       ``We join Maryland and all of America in mourning the loss 
     of Senator Paul Sarbanes. We extend our condolences and 
     sympathies to his family and loved ones during this time.
       America has lost a great statesman, the state of Maryland 
     has lost a champion, and I, along with so many others, have 
     lost a friend.
       The Maryland Delegation calls itself Team Maryland, and we 
     became a team because of Senator Sarbanes's work in reaching 
     hands across the aisle to Senator Mac Mathias. Senator 
     Sarbanes knew that each of us could make a difference but 
     working together was how we would make change. His legacy of 
     bringing Marylanders together to make change lives on in the 
     Delegation today.
       Senator Sarbanes never forgot his family's strong immigrant 
     roots or their belief in the American Dream. He knew the 
     transformational power of education and championed an 
     opportunity ladder and increased access to higher education. 
     An unabashed believer in America's promise, he became a voice 
     for civil rights and voting rights. And in his advocacy on 
     housing, he worked to eliminate barriers of discrimination. 
     He championed the stabilization of the Social Security and 
     Medicare trust funds and worked tirelessly to protect and 
     preserve the Chesapeake Bay for tomorrow while advocating for 
     jobs on the Port of Baltimore today.
       Senator Sarbanes believed that discussion and debate should 
     always be based on civility, intellectual rigor, and respect 
     for others. He was a workhorse, not a show horse, who cared 
     more about the getting job done and getting it done right, 
     than in taking credit.
       We served together in Congress for 30 years, 20 of them 
     together in the Senate. And just as he was Maryland's 
     champion, he was my champion, too. As well as my ally and 
     friend. We joked that we were ``diner democrats,'' not 
     ``dynasty democrats.'' He was the son of a diner owner, and I 
     was the daughter of a grocer. We were both raised to ask how 
     we could help those around us every day. Senator Sarbanes 
     took that lesson to heart; it was his commitment to helping 
     not only the people of Maryland, but every American that 
     drove him. And each of us is better off for having been 
     helped by him.
       He was always there when you needed him. He will be 
     missed.''

  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, let me conclude by just quoting from 
Senator Sarbanes himself on the final speech that he gave when he left 
the Senate. He said:

       Throughout my years in public service, I have worked to the 
     limits of my ability to provide the people of Maryland and 
     the Nation dedicated, informed, and independent 
     representation based on the fundamental principles of 
     integrity and intelligence. I have been guided in this effort 
     by the vision of a decent and just America, based on a strong 
     sense of community and offering fairness and opportunity to 
     all its people.
       Service in this body has reinforced, many times over, my 
     understanding and commitment to the institutions upon which 
     our system of Democratic governance critically depends.
       So long as [that] vision of America's promise continues to 
     shine brightly in this body, I have every confidence that our 
     Nation will prevail in the face of great challenges and that 
     its future will be assured.

  It is our responsibility to heed those words of Senator Sarbanes and 
strive to carry out his legacy.
  Before I yield to Senator Van Hollen, the two of us, on behalf of all 
of the Members of the U.S. Senate, have filed a resolution to honor 
Paul Sarbanes. This has been cleared.
  I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration 
of S. Res. 797, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 797) honoring the life and 
     achievements of former United States Senator Paul Spyros 
     Sarbanes and expressing condolences to the family of Paul 
     Spyros Sarbanes on his passing.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CARDIN. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to; 
that the preamble be agreed to; and that the motions to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or 
debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 797) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions''.)
  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I now yield the floor in anticipation 
that my colleague from Maryland--the two of us have joined together to 
pay tribute to Senator Sarbanes--be recognized.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam President, I want to start by thanking my 
friend and colleague, the senior Senator from Maryland, Senator Ben 
Cardin, for his remembrance of Paul Sarbanes. I am honored to join him 
and others in offering a resolution in memory of Senator Paul Sarbanes.
  I should say that Senator Sarbanes was very pleased that Ben Cardin 
succeeded him in his seat here in the U.S. Senate. So I am honored to 
join with him, Senator Stabenow, Senator Reed, Senator Durbin, and 
others in remembering somebody who was a friend, who was a mentor, and 
who was the excellent role model for every elected official--Senator 
Paul Sarbanes.
  He was a thoughtful and brilliant Senator, a kind man, and a 
dedicated public servant. As we have heard, he was born on Maryland's 
Eastern Shore to parents who emigrated from Greece. He graduated from 
the local public high school, Wicomico High School, and was recruited 
to attend Princeton on a full scholarship. He excelled in his studies 
as he would in his career, becoming a Rhodes scholar and graduating 
from Oxford before attending Harvard Law School.
  He went on to a very distinguished career in public service that 
ended here in the U.S. Senate, but he never ever forgot his humble 
roots in Salisbury, where his parents owned a small restaurant they 
called the Mayflower.
  In his farewell speech in the Senate, Senator Paul Sarbanes said:

       My parents came to this country as immigrants from Greece, 
     both my mother and [my] father, and it was from them that I 
     first learned about the meaning of a democratic society and 
     the potential it offers to move up the ladder of opportunity 
     on the basis of ability, hard work, and conviction. Their 
     memory is still a very powerful influence in my life.

  As we heard from Senator Cardin, Senator Barbara Mikulski, who served 
here so well, was his friend and partner, and for years she always 
joked that they were the ``Diner Democrats,'' a nod to the Mayflower 
restaurant, owned by Paul Sarbanes's father, her roots in the Polish-
American community in Baltimore, and their mutual commitment to 
fighting for working people, for the dignity of work, for the reality 
of the struggles so many Americans face, and the need to give every 
American a fair shot.
  Paul Sarbanes carried the values he learned from his parents on 
Maryland's Eastern Shore, first to the Maryland House of Delegates, 
then to the House of Representatives, and later here to the U.S. 
Senate.
  From the very start, he developed a reputation for thoughtfulness and 
honor. He could make simple and confident arguments, based on evidence, 
to win others to his cause--Members from both parties.
  He was in his first term in the House of Representatives during the 
Watergate hearings, and he approached the proceedings on the Judiciary 
Committee with his signature seriousness of purpose. He considered the 
evidence, he listened to President Nixon's counsel's statements, and 
methodically addressed and responded to their arguments. Because of his 
own unimpeachable conduct, the chairman of the House Judiciary 
Committee called upon him, a new member, and asked him to introduce the 
first article of impeachment against President Nixon--the charge of 
obstruction of justice. Paul Sarbanes had the legal acumen to take on 
that responsibility, but he also had the integrity to be a moral voice 
in the Congress at that moment for the country.
  Writing about his dignified work during the Watergate proceedings, 
journalist Elizabeth Drew commented: ``Paul Sarbanes would not have 
looked at all bad at the Constitutional Convention; he might have 
[even] been one of the great ones.''
  After three terms in the House, Paul Sarbanes ran for the Senate. I 
first met Senator Sarbanes in the 1980s, when I was serving as a staff 
member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
  I know everybody who served with Paul Sarbanes will understand what a 
master class it was to watch him during a hearing. On cross-
examination,

[[Page S7272]]

he asked thoughtful, probing questions, and before a reluctant witness 
realized what was happening, he had them cornered with no way out but 
to concede to the point that he wanted to make or look deliberately 
evasive. Woe be it to any witness who came before Senator Sarbanes 
unprepared.
  He was a Senate workhorse in the truest and best sense. Former 
Majority Leader George Mitchell once said: ``Paul was effective because 
he didn't seek credit, which endeared him to his colleagues.''
  He wasn't afraid to take his time to get to the bottom of an issue, 
build his case, and convince his colleagues. In the wake of the Enron 
scandal, he held 10 hearings to ensure that the congressional response 
would be thorough and effective and rallied the entire Senate to 
support the ensuing Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the law that is credited with 
restoring greater investor confidence in the market and providing 
transparency and oversight for corporate governance.
  He loved the State of Maryland, and especially the Chesapeake Bay. As 
Senator Cardin indicated, he took on the mantle of forging and 
strengthening the Federal partnership to clean up his beloved 
Chesapeake Bay.
  He wanted everybody to have a fair deal and worked to improve access 
to affordable housing and to protect consumers from his seat on the 
Banking Committee. He believed in the United States as a force for good 
in the world and supported foreign assistance, the treaties to return 
control of the Panama Canal to Panama, and strongly supported 
legislation to impose sanctions under the then-apartheid regime of 
South Africa. He opposed senseless and unnecessary wars.
  I came to the House of Representatives in 2003, along with my friend 
and colleague from Baltimore, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. Senator 
Sarbanes was then the leader of our delegation. He welcomed us kindly, 
but as captain of Team Maryland, he characteristically was eager to 
allow all Members, however new they were to the delegation, to play an 
important role.
  Not surprisingly, Senator Sarbanes was a favored son of the Greek-
American community. He was a member of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of 
the Annunciation in Baltimore and held the highest lay office in the 
church. We shared strong bonds in the Greek-American community because, 
like Paul's parents, my wife Katherine's mother's family immigrated 
from Greece.
  As a strong believer in promoting democratic values at home and 
abroad, Senator Sarbanes was proud of those Greek roots and spoke often 
of democracy's roots with the ancient Greeks. He used to speak to 
students about the importance of public service, telling them that in 
ancient Athens, people who lived only a private life, without view of 
the public good, were failing to live fully.
  Indeed, the power of democracy and its promise of opportunity was the 
driving force behind his governing philosophy--to open the door to 
others, to keep your promises, and to achieve based on your merit, not 
on your connections, money, or power.
  As extraordinary a public servant as he was, Paul Sarbanes was, above 
all, a family man. He was devoted to his wife Christine, whom he met at 
Oxford. Recalling their first encounter, Paul said:

       She came to a meeting of the American Association I headed. 
     I forgot what was on the agenda. All I remember of that 
     meeting was that was where I met Christine.

  She was brilliant and kind, an educator in Latin, Greek, French, and 
the classics, who matched Senator Sarbanes's intelligence and shared 
his love of service. They used to knock on doors together during his 
political campaigns, and she was a sounding board throughout his 
career. They raised three children, including our friend,   John 
Sarbanes, who now serves Maryland so well in the House of 
Representatives. He was enormously proud of them and his seven 
grandchildren.
  I also extend my condolences today to Senator Sarbanes's former 
staff. His legacy goes well beyond the laws he wrote to the way he 
worked. He shared with them: Do your homework, understand the details, 
act with integrity, and hold firm to your values. It is an example for 
all of us to follow.
  Senator Sarbanes was not a flashy presence. In fact, political 
opponents once tried to belittle him with the name ``the stealth 
Senator.'' But as he joked, stealth ``is one of the most important 
weapons in our military arsenal. . . . if you let somebody else take 
the credit, you can get the result.''
  That was Paul Sarbanes--enormous accomplishments, never taking the 
credit. His quiet confidence left an impression on all who served with 
him.
  We have lost a great Senator. America has lost a great Senator, and 
many of us have lost a very good friend. But we should be comforted in 
the knowledge that he achieved what we would all wish for ourselves: He 
served well, he made the world better for others, he treated all he 
knew with respect and earned their respect in return, and he leaves us 
with fond memories.
  May God grant those who loved him the strength to bear his loss, and 
may his memory be eternal.
  Thank you.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romney). The Senator from Michigan
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise this evening with my colleagues 
from Maryland and with Senator Reed from Rhode Island to pay tribute to 
someone whom I was lucky enough to have as a mentor when I first 
entered the Senate. And I want to associate myself with all of the 
wonderful words of my friends from Maryland.
  With any new job, there is a learning curve. There are certainly 
things that you don't know and that you don't even know enough to know 
you don't know. That certainly is true in the Senate.
  In 2001, I was a former Member of the House who had just been elected 
to the Senate. It was an exciting time--a lot of new people to meet, 
rules to learn, and procedures to follow. One of my new assignments was 
the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, where Senator 
Sarbanes served as the chairman.
  By that time, Senator Sarbanes was already an institution. As my 
colleagues have mentioned, he introduced the first article of 
impeachment against President Richard Nixon, as a junior Congressman. 
And as a freshman Senator in 1978, he was a forceful advocate for 
treaties that gave control, among other things, of the Panama Canal to 
Panama. So it felt a little surreal to find myself at the table with a 
brilliant leader like Senator Paul Sarbanes.
  But he could not have been more gracious and more generous with his 
time for me as a freshman Member. He was always willing to answer my 
questions. He was a wonderful mentor. We, of course, worked on banking 
issues together, including the crafting of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 
where I was able, up close, to watch his legislative mastery.
  We also worked on public transit provisions in our transportation 
bill, which was very important for us in Michigan.
  We shared a passion for protecting our water. My colleagues have 
talked about the Chesapeake Bay. For me, it was the Great Lakes, and we 
often talked about the beauty of the lakes, as well as the bay.
  Senator Sarbanes gave his final speech on the Senate floor on this 
very day, 14 years ago. He was a humble man, and his remarks were quite 
brief. He closed, in part, with this: ``I want my colleagues to know 
how deeply I appreciate their friendship and [their] counsel and how 
highly I value the privilege of having been their colleague.''
  Today, I can say exactly the same words about Senator Paul Sarbanes. 
He was a statesman, and I was lucky enough to call him my friend. I 
value the privilege of having been his colleague.
  I want to offer his family, including Congressman John Sarbanes, all 
of Paul's friends, and the entire State of Maryland my deepest 
condolences. We have lost an incredible leader and public servant.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, it is an honor to join my colleagues from 
Maryland, Senator Cardin and Senator Van Hollen, and my colleague from 
Michigan, Senator Stabenow, to take a moment to recognize and remember 
my esteemed former colleague and dear friend, Senator Paul Sarbanes, 
who passed away last Sunday.

[[Page S7273]]

  Paul Sarbanes spent 30 years in this Chamber doing what he knew was 
right. In that time, he built a legacy most could not achieve in two 
lifetimes.
  Paul's work on banking, the economy, housing, transportation, and so 
many other issues had a profound and significant impact on our country. 
But, more importantly, his work had a direct impact on so many families 
whose lives were made better because of his unsung efforts over three 
decades.
  I had the distinct honor of serving with Senator Sarbanes and working 
directly with him on the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee 
and the Joint Economic Committee.
  Senator Sarbanes was a constant and steady champion of commonsense 
fiscal policies to help create jobs, expand our economy, and increase 
consumer and investor protections. Indeed, he used his power and 
influence to help those with the least power and influence in our 
society, which is a hallmark of our finest public servants. And Paul 
still remains one of our finest public servants--indeed, one of the 
finest of the finest.
  Many would agree that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 stands among his 
best work. Responding to a number of major corporate accounting 
scandals, Senator Sarbanes' legislation began the process of trying to 
restore investor confidence in corporate America and our securities 
markets. Eighteen years later, this law continues to be a critical 
pillar of our financial system.
  During his tenure as chair of the Joint Economic Committee in the 
late eighties and early nineties, Paul framed many of the important 
economic issues and debates that the country was experiencing at the 
time. He held timely hearings on income inequality, trade deficit, and 
unemployment during a time at which the country was only beginning to 
come to grips with the notion that there needed to be a different 
direction in our economy.
  Unfortunately, our Nation is now battling a pandemic that is 
furthering economic inequalities, and both the Senate and the country 
could use and greatly misses Senator Sarbanes' thoughtfulness, 
incisiveness, and compassion during these difficult times.
  Senator Sarbanes was also one of our Nation's greatest champions for 
affordable housing. He fought his entire career for our Nation's 
working families, trying to make it possible for more families in our 
country to have decent, safe, and affordable housing.
  Most notably, Paul was one of the original authors of the Home 
Investment Partnerships Program, known as the HOME Program. This 
program has provided critical funding to our Nation's States and 
localities, helping them maintain or expand their supply of affordable 
housing for many Americans.
  Paul also fought aggressively for funding of the section 8 voucher 
program and was one of the chief supporters of improvements to our 
Nation's public housing programs during his Senate tenure.
  Senator Sarbanes also recognized the essential role that public 
transportation plays in bringing communities together, fostering 
economic development, and promoting a cleaner environment. As ranking 
member of the Banking Committee, he led the effort to reauthorize the 
Nation's transit programs and the fight to ensure that transit received 
its fair share of funding.
  Time after time, Paul Sarbanes did the right things for the right 
reasons. He could not care less whether he got the credit, the press, 
or the fanfare. His primary motivation was simply knowing that he made 
a meaningful difference in the lives of his constituents and the 
American people, and, in this regard, there are few who are as 
accomplished as Paul Sarbanes.
  His keen intellect, his extensive knowledge of the issues, and his 
concern for Americans across this great country all contributed to his 
impressive body of legislative accomplishments.
  Now, I had the occasion to speak with   John Sarbanes, Congressman 
from Maryland, who is carrying on the proud tradition of the Sarbanes 
family, and he said his dad was best described as a workhorse, not a 
show horse, and that is right. Paul Sarbanes did the work of the 
people. He did not try to garner the praise and the acclaim; he just 
wanted to make sure the work was done and done well. And he did 
throughout his entire career.
  My best wishes go to Paul's family, including his sons Michael 
Sarbanes and Representative   John Sarbanes; his daughter Janet 
Sarbanes; and his grandchildren. They have lost a father and a 
grandfather. The country has lost one of its greatest champions. And I 
have lost a dear and precious friend.
  May he rest in peace.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Van Hollen and 
myself, I want to thank our colleagues for their tribute to Senator 
Paul Sarbanes--Senator Stabenow and Senator Reed. I know that Senator 
Schumer and Senator Durbin have spoken on the floor. Many of us have 
and many have expressed their condolences through our office to the 
family. We just want to express our appreciation.
  As Senator Van Hollen said, I had the honor--or the challenge--to 
follow Senator Sarbanes in this body. I have his seat in the Senate. 
When I was sworn in almost 14 years ago, Senator Sarbanes escorted me 
to take the oath of office. As I mentioned earlier, he is an 
inspiration to all of us.
  I want to thank our colleagues for the tribute they have paid to an 
outstanding Marylander, an outstanding American, and he will be missed 
by all
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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