[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 27156]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 27156]]

                   RETIREMENT OF SENATOR CONNIE MACK

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I want to pay tribute today to a colleague 
and good friend who will be leaving the Senate when the 106th Congress 
adjourns sine die, Connie Mack, the junior senator from Florida.
  I have served with Connie Mack on the Senate Select Committee on 
Intelligence where, on the important issues of national security it 
considers, he can be counted upon to set partisanship aside, roll up 
his sleeves and get to work.
  In the United States Senate we are called upon to work with 
colleagues of many differing points of view. While Connie Mack has 
served as a key member of the Republican leadership as Republican 
Conference Chairman, and he and I often disagree on the issues before 
the Senate, it has always been a pleasure to deal with him. Always an 
able advocate for his point of view, he is a willing listener, open to 
compromise and when an opponent, always gracious, reasonable and fair.
  Connie Mack has made a name for himself in the Senate on public 
housing and health care issues, particularly his efforts to make FDA-
approved drugs available for other uses, especially in the fight 
against cancer. He and his wife, Priscilla, both cancer survivors, have 
been inspirational in their dedication to delivering the message to all 
Americans that early detection of cancer is a life-saver.
  Connie Mack and I have shared a special bond, one of those inside 
jokes which create strong personal ties. Whenever I hear of someone 
making a great speech, I shall smile inwardly, think of Connie and miss 
his warm smile and the kind word he has for all of his Senate 
colleagues. I hope that in the years ahead, Connie and Priscilla will 
visit often.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I want to pay a tribute to my friend and 
colleague from the State of Florida who has decided to leave the Senate 
after a distinguished 12-year career here. It has been my pleasure to 
work with Senator Mack during that time on a number of important 
issues.
  He has always been willing to reach across the aisle when bipartisan 
cooperation can make the difference. As colleagues on the Finance 
Committee, we have cosponsored each other's bills on such varied 
subjects as benefits for retired coal miners, fairer treatment for real 
estate under the Internal Revenue Code, and keeping gray market 
cigarettes out of the U.S. market. Senator Mack has been a generous, 
thoughtful, and constructive member of our committee, and we will miss 
his presence there every much.
  Year in and year out, I am constantly impressed with the energy, 
intelligence, and commitment that Connie Mack brings to the challenging 
job of representing such a large and diverse State Floridians have been 
privileged to have the benefit of his effective advocacy for their 
concerns.
  I am confident that a man with public policy interests over as wide a 
range as Connie has shown during his tenure in the body is still going 
to be checking in with his old friends in the Senate to let us know 
what he's thinking. I hope we will see him often in the coming years.
  I am happy to join my colleagues in wishing only the best for Connie 
and Priscilla as they move on to the next chapter in their lives.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Senator 
Connie Mack of Florida. There are many ways to discern the character of 
a Senator. Connie Mack has made his mark with strong leadership coupled 
with an unusual quality of gentleness. A true gentleman of the Senate. 
Senatorial courtesy was his hallmark. He loved this institution; it 
loved him.
  One unique, but subtle mannerism reveals the inner security of this 
great man--how he handled the gavel. The gavel is that symbol of 
authority so coveted by all Senators. As we all know, a gavel consists 
of two parts: the relatively small handle to hold, and the large 
hammer-like head to strike the blow. Senate Chairmen love the sharp 
``bang'' connoting authority and decision.
  Senator Mack is the only Senator, the only Chairman, whom I have 
observed in my 22 years of service who simply used the hammer head for 
the grip and conveyed his authority by gently tapping the end of the 
handle.
  ``May we have order, please.'' Immediately following was always quiet 
acceptance.
  This symbolized to me how this elegant man commanded the great 
respect of all in the Senate. As with the gavel, his voice was always 
firm, and always with the soft tone of confidence.
  We wish him well, together with his wife and family, as they accept 
life's next challenge.

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