[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15121-15122]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            THE DEATH OF SENATOR PAUL COVERDELL, OF GEORGIA

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I have one of the most difficult things to 
do now that I have had to do since I have served as majority leader of 
the Senate, and that is to announce that our beloved colleague from 
Georgia, Paul Coverdell, passed away today at approximately 6:10 p.m. 
in the Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Paul has been a close friend 
and confidant, an outstanding Member of this body, and we will miss him 
greatly.
  At the appropriate time, I will join the rest of my colleagues in 
trying to make appropriate remarks to pay tribute to Paul, but for now 
I can't do any more than just make this announcement. I do want to say 
to Nancy Coverdell and the family that we extend our sympathy and our 
love. Our hearts are breaking also.
  Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk and ask for its 
immediate consideration; further, that the resolution be read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The resolution will be stated by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 338),
       Whereas the Honorable Paul Coverdell served Georgia in the 
     United States Senate with devotion and distinction;
       Whereas the Honorable Paul Coverdell served all the people 
     of the United States as Director of the Peace Corps;
       Whereas his efforts on behalf of Georgians and all 
     Americans earned him the esteem and high regard of his 
     colleagues; and
       Whereas his tragic and untimely death has deprived his 
     State and Nation of an outstanding lawmaker and public 
     servant: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow 
     and deep regret the announcement of the death of the 
     Honorable Paul Coverdell a Senator from the State of Georgia.
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate 
     these resolutions to the House of Representatives and 
     transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the 
     deceased.
       Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand 
     adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the 
     deceased Senator.

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all Members of 
the Senate be made cosponsors of this resolution, and further that the 
resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 338) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we will announce for the Senate and all 
those who knew and loved Paul, the details of the services for him when 
they are available. We don't have that information at this time. I 
presume sometime tomorrow we will know that. And also I want colleagues 
to know that they are encouraged to make statements of sympathy during 
the proceedings tomorrow when we are in session, if they feel so 
inclined. But, as is the tradition, we will designate a specific time 
at a later date so that all Senators will

[[Page 15122]]

have time to appropriately express their feelings for this fine 
Senator.
  I ask the assistant majority leader conclude our proceedings this 
afternoon.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New York.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, might I join with our distinguished 
majority leader in expressing the grief we all feel for a man of peace 
who did so much in his life, and brilliantly, as Director of the Peace 
Corps under President Bush. We know him so well and miss him so much 
and can only share in the thought that he rests in peace.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.]
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, the announcement the majority leader just 
made that our friend and colleague, Paul Coverdell, passed away at 6:10 
p.m. today is a very sad statement. Paul Coverdell was an outstanding 
Senator from the State of Georgia. This is Georgia's loss, but it is 
also a loss for all of our country.
  I join with my colleagues in expressing our sympathy to Nancy 
Coverdell, to the Coverdell family, to all the friends and associates 
of Paul Coverdell, for he was truly an outstanding Senator. He served 
this body with great distinction, with great humor and leadership. 
Frankly, he was a leader in everything he did, certainly in the Peace 
Corps and his service in the Senate. He will truly be missed, not just 
by Georgians but, frankly, by all Americans.

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