[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Pages 30574-30575]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES FOR THE HON. TED STEVENS

  Mr. BYRD. Madam President, I want to call attention to the fact that 
today, November 18, 1999, is the birthday of the very distinguished 
chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, my friend. I would 
like to say lifelong friend; I just haven't had the pleasure of knowing 
him all of my life. The day after tomorrow, I will be 82 years old, if 
the Lord lets me live. So I can't say he is my lifelong friend, but he 
has been my friend over all the years he has served in the Senate.
  I wish him a happy, happy birthday. He is a Senator who doesn't look 
up to the rich. He doesn't look down on the poor. He is a good man on 
the inside and on the outside. And he is a man who sticks by his 
principles.
  He is a Republican. I am a Democrat. But neither he nor I puts 
political party above everything else. We know that political party is 
important, but there are other things in this life that are even more 
important. He recognizes that. His handclasp is like the handclasp of 
our ancestors. His word is his bond, as was the word of our ancestors.
  I could say much more. I will simply say he is a Christian gentleman, 
a gentleman first, last, and always. My wife Erma and I extend to him 
our very best wishes on his birthday and our prayers and hopes that he 
will enjoy many, many more happy birthdays.
  He is rendering a tremendous service to his country and to his State. 
I hope the people of Alaska realize what a treasure this man is. He 
works for Alaska every day in the Senate. We know that. He is 
effective. He is forceful. He is genuine.
  Erma and I join in wishing him a happy birthday and expressing our 
good wishes also to his lovely wife, Catherine, and to his children.
  I yield to the distinguished majority leader.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized.
  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I thank Senator Byrd for yielding me the 
time. I join in wishing a very happy birthday to our friend from 
Alaska. He makes the Senate a better place. He keeps us lively. He 
works hard. He makes sure we get our job done, and he does it with a 
lot of alacrity sometimes. He will get right up in your face and make 
sure

[[Page 30575]]

you understand. That helps to clear the subject up in many instances.
  He is a great guy. I am honored to be able to serve in this 
institution with the great Senator from Alaska who does so much for our 
country and certainly for his State of Alaska. I will not tell his 
wife, the lovely, charming wife to whom he is married, what his age is 
today because I assume she doesn't know what his actual age is. We will 
keep that a secret. But happy birthday to our great friend.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Will the majority leader yield because I think this is 
the most appropriate time to add my wishes as well.
  Mr. LOTT. I am happy to yield.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I wish to identify with the warm and generous remarks 
made by the distinguished senior Senator from West Virginia. I agree 
entirely with his comments and with the views he has expressed. I think 
he and I speak for our caucuses in our admiration collectively for the 
Senator from Alaska. We may not always agree, but there isn't anyone 
who cares more deeply about this institution, about his State, and 
represents himself more effectively on the Senate floor and with his 
colleagues than the Senator from Alaska.
  It is an honor for me to be one of those who have had the good 
fortune of working with him. I respect him immensely, and I, too, join 
in wishing him the happiest of birthdays. I wouldn't be surprised at 
all if Catherine knows exactly how old he is today.

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