[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 25141]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         SENATOR ROBERT KERREY

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to bid farewell to Senator 
Robert Kerrey, a distinguished friend and colleague who will be leaving 
the Senate at the close of this Congress.
  Bob Kerrey is a true American hero, a man of great physical and 
political courage. We all know about his heroism on the battlefield, 
though he rarely mentions it and does nothing to solicit the admiration 
showered upon him. A man of peace and goodwill, he speaks with 
unparalleled authority on the need to maintain a strong national 
defense while working for reconciliation with America's former 
adversaries.
  Bob Kerrey's political courage is evidenced by his independence, 
candor, and willingness to tackle the toughest issues. He took on 
entitlement reform when few others dared look it in the face. He took 
the first brave steps toward a bipartisan reform of Medicare in order 
to guarantee the program's long-term stability. And he has continued to 
press for universal health care coverage for all Americans.
  In an era when even the finest legislators hesitate to speak before 
consulting the polls, Bob Kerrey says what he means and means what he 
says. He never hesitates to follow his personal moral compass, even 
when this means working with the other political party or criticizing 
his own.
  Mr. President, as Senator Kerrey leaves the halls of Congress for the 
groves of academe, I know that he will bring the same courage and rigor 
to his new career that he has displayed here in the Senate. I join my 
colleagues from both sides of the aisle in sending him off with our 
best wishes and profound gratitude.

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