[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 27153-27154]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   RETIREMENT OF SENATOR SLADE GORTON

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, as this session of Congress ends, Senator 
Slade Gorton of Washington will leave the Senate. Senator Gorton has 
long been a leader among the Republicans and a thoughful voice in the 
Senate.
  Senator Gorton, a hard-worker, has served not only on the Senate 
Approriations Committee, where he chairs the Interior Appropriations 
Subcommittee, but on the Budget Committee, the Commerce, Science and 
Transportation Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, 
and the Indian Affairs Committee. He has carried an impressive 
workload.
  In addition, Slade Gorton, a former Attorney General in the State of 
Washington, earned a reputation as a tough proponent of fighting 
violent crime, particularly international terrorism.
  While proud of his conservative credentials, Slade Gorton was often 
willing to reach across party lines to work with Democrats on issues 
like consumer affairs and an increase in the minimum wage .
  I admired Slade Gorton's work along with Senator Joe Lieberman to 
fashion a sensible, balanced and expeditious way to consider the 
impeachment resolution sent to the Senate by the House of 
Representatives in 1998. While the plan was ultimately not adopted by 
the Senate, the careful and judicious effort to put such a plan forward 
reflected Slade's commitment to the dignity of the United States 
Senate.
  As this year winds to an end, I know that I am joined by my 
colleagues in the Senate in wishing Slade Gorton and his wife, Sally, 
their three children and seven grandchildren, the very best in the 
years ahead.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to add my voice to those 
paying tribute to Senator Slade Gorton upon his departure from the 
Senate.
  I have had the privilege of serving with Senator Gorton on the Senate

[[Page 27154]]

Budget Committee for the past eight years. During this time, Senator 
Gorton has fought hard for the principles he believes in: a stable 
economy and a balanced budget. He has made a significant contribution 
to bringing fiscal discipline to our nation. As part of that effort, in 
1996 Senator Gorton and I, as part of the Centrist Coalition, worked 
with many other Senators to forge a compromise budget resolution that 
balanced fiscal responsibility with our nation's discretionary spending 
needs. Senator Gorton can be proud of his contribution to ending the 
deficits of the 1980s and early 1990s.
  Senator Gorton has been a leader in the Senate by focusing on the 
high-tech revolution that has dramatically changed our economy. He has 
fought to ensure that we are teaching the next generation of high-tech 
workers in our schools and has fought to keep our high-tech sector the 
best-trained in the world. He has also been a champion of providing tax 
incentives for companies to conduct the basic research and development 
that has helped fuel the dramatic growth of the high-tech industry in 
recent years.
  Finally, let me recognize the work Senator Gorton has done as 
Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Every year he has 
had a difficult task developing a spending bill for the Interior 
Department and related agencies. He has also helped other Senators to 
meet needs in their own states, and I appreciate all of Senator 
Gorton's help over the years to meet particular needs in North Dakota. 
Even when Senator Gorton could not meet all the requests his colleagues 
presented, he was always fair in his consideration of each Senator's 
needs.
  Senator Gorton's dedication to the long-term health of our economy, 
his work for the high-tech sector, and his leadership on the Interior 
Appropriations Subcommittee are but just a few examples of his work 
that have produced clear results not only in Washington state, but also 
for our entire nation. He will be missed here in the Senate, and I wish 
him all the best in his future endeavors.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a genuine leader 
in the United States Senate, my colleague and friend--Senator Slade 
Gorton.
  We have served together over his entire 18 year career in the Senate. 
Of the 23 men and women who have served the State of Washington in the 
Senate, Slade has earned a ranking commensurate with those classic 
giants Senator Henry ``Scoop'' Jackson and Senator Warren Magnuson.
  Slade has served the State of Washington with distinction, but he has 
also served the nation, exceptionally well. Beginning with his service 
in the United States Army in 1946, Slade has served his state and the 
country for nearly 40 years in a number of elected offices.
  He has fought for balanced budgets, tax relief, and health care 
reforms. We served together on the Armed Services Committee, and I, as 
Ranking Member, was the beneficiary of his wise and steadfast counsel.
  Slade, you are a valued friend. I wish you and your wife Sally well 
in the years ahead.

                          ____________________