[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 22807-22814]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DEPARTING SENATORS

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, the Senate, for all of the notice it gets 
in the national press, is nonetheless still a family of sorts. We are 
100 men and women who come to this fashion of public service from 
different points on the compass, from all across the country, and from 
different backgrounds--Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and 
liberals. We work together a great part of the year in this Chamber, 
and we spend a lot of time in our respective States. We have become 
friends. Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, 
nonetheless, are close personal friends in many cases.
  We are going to be saying good-bye to a number of Senators this year. 
I wish to, before we complete our work this week, say a word about a 
number of those who will be leaving. I actually threatened last week, I 
say to the Senator from Texas, Mr. Gramm, for example, to say a word 
about him. I will do that today in a moment.
  I will start with Senator Jean Carnahan, if I may. I went to Missouri 
to campaign with Jean Carnahan. She was here a relatively short time 
because she filled a seat that was then filled by a special election in 
the State of Missouri. But I believe the first moment I met Jean was at 
the organizing session. She had suffered a great tragedy. The State of 
Missouri had suffered a great tragedy. The incumbent Governor of the 
State of Missouri had died in a plane crash. The Governor, his son, and 
others perished in that crash relatively close to the election. His 
name remained on the ballot. The folks from the State of Missouri, 
nonetheless, voted for his name on the ballot, and the Governor 
appointed Jean Carnahan, his widow, to come to the Senate.
  Jean stood up at the organizing session--and I am sure she would not 
mind if I indicated this publicly because she did it in an organizing 
session--and she said to members of our caucus and to the new Members 
coming into the Senate:

       You come here because of your win. I have arrived here 
     because of my loss.

  She, of course, was speaking about the tragedy that had occurred in 
the State of Missouri, her having lost a husband, then a candidate for 
the Senate, and her son in that plane crash.
  I watched Jean Carnahan as she worked in the Senate. She did a 
remarkable job. She is someone with great courage. She is someone who 
has the capability to stand up in a very significant way and explain 
quickly what it is she has a passion about in public policy.
  I deeply admire Jean Carnahan, not only for aspiring to carry out 
that mission of public service that was begun by her husband, the 
Governor of Missouri, but also because she played a significant role 
and contributed in a significant way in the Senate.
  We all will miss Jean Carnahan as she moves on to other challenges 
and other opportunities.

[[Page 22808]]

  My colleague, Max Cleland from Georgia, will not be with us in the 
next session. He will be leaving at the end of this session as well. 
Max Cleland is one of those heroes of mine. Max Cleland is a brave, 
remarkable American. He left three of his limbs on a battlefield 
fighting for this country. He is a person of great personal courage.
  I say to anyone who has not yet done so, read his book, ``Going to 
the Max.'' It is a story of great inspiration. Max Cleland has been a 
terrific legislator, a great representative of the State of Georgia in 
the Senate. More than that, he has been an inspiration to virtually all 
America.
  Our country owes him a great debt of gratitude for his service. Our 
colleagues owe him a great debt of gratitude for his companionship and 
service in the Senate.
  We also will not be joined next year by Senator Torricelli who 
indicated his decision not to seek reelection. Let me say about Bob 
Torricelli, I served with him in the U.S. House of Representatives. He 
is a passionate fighter, articulate, strong, assertive for the issues 
in which he believes and for the issues he feels are important to his 
home State of New Jersey and for our country.
  On the Republican side, I came here not knowing Jesse Helms. I only 
knew of him by reputation. His reputation was he was a hard-edged, 
tough guy who asked no quarter, gave no quarter, and never stopped 
fighting for the issues about which he cared. He planted himself 
sometimes far off the political spectrum and said: Here is where I 
stand. That was my impression of him as I came to the Senate.
  What I discovered in the Senate is he is quite a remarkable 
gentleman, and I use the term ``gentleman'' in every respect. He is one 
of the most courteous, kind people with whom I have had the opportunity 
to serve. I have on occasion gone over and sat with him in the Chamber 
of the Senate and talked about the house he will retire to and the 
front porch on which he will spend some time.
  While we might disagree on some issues very strongly, he is a 
legislator who contributed substantially to the public debate in this 
country and often with great courage on his part. I certainly thank him 
for his service to our country.
  Senator Strom Thurmond will be leaving the Senate. If you know his 
personal story, you just are almost out of breath when you understand 
what he has done over his lifetime. He not only has served with great 
distinction in public service in many venues--as a judge in his home 
State, in the Senate, running for President, and so many other 
positions--he also volunteered for service during wartime at age 42 and 
volunteered to climb into a glider to crash land at night behind enemy 
lines.
  This is a man of great personal courage and a man who served this 
country with great distinction in many ways. I have had the opportunity 
over the years I have been in the Senate to serve with him as well and 
visit with him about his public service. I deeply admire what Senator 
Strom Thurmond has given to this country, and we wish him well.
  Senator Murkowski is someone with whom I have worked on the Energy 
Committee, both as a chairman of the Energy Committee and ranking 
member. He is now off to become Governor of the State of Alaska. He is 
someone with great passion for his State. Almost every amendment coming 
from Senator Murkowski has something to do with Alaska.
  I have enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Senator Murkowski. He 
is a man of good humor, but also someone who feels very strongly and 
passionately about issues.
  Senator Hutchinson I have not known quite as well, but Senator 
Hutchinson and his brother Asa, who served in the House of 
Representatives while Tim served in the Senate--their family, 
obviously, has a great passion for public service. I have enjoyed the 
opportunity to know him, although not quite as well as others.
  Senator Smith from New Hampshire is one with whom I had the 
opportunity to serve on the Ethics Committee. I have grown very fond of 
Bob Smith. He is a big, tall man with a great passion to serve his 
State and country. One of the qualities I discovered about him on 
issues that are very important, such as the issues we confronted on the 
Ethics Committee, is there was not a partisan bone in his body. But Bob 
Smith was about fairness and doing things the right way.
  I have become a friend of Bob Smith's. I like him a great deal. I 
wish him very well as he moves on from the Senate.
  Finally, Senator Gramm from Texas. I mentioned the other day he is 
someone who, if you are going to be in a big fight--a really big 
fight--you want with you. He not only is smart and shrewd, but he does 
not ever quit, no matter what the time is on the clock.
  While we have had our differences from time to time with regard to 
public policy, I have never had a difference with him on personal 
issues. He is someone I deeply admire. His service to our country 
through the Senate and the House is substantial. In fact, early on in 
our career, I sat next to him on the Veterans Affairs Committee in the 
U.S. House. That is when he was a Democrat, as a matter of fact. That 
is eons ago.
  Senator Gramm is one of those people who makes a significant 
contribution in this Chamber because he is determined to make that 
contribution and he knows the rules, he is shrewd, and he is tough. If 
you are in a fight, you want someone like Senator Gramm with you in a 
fight.
  Mr. President, having said all that about those who are leaving, let 
me say again the reason I came today to speak is because I care very 
deeply about this institution. I still pinch myself every day after 10 
years serving in the Senate. When I drive to this Capitol Building, I 
pinch myself that a man from a town of 400 people and a high school 
class of 9 had the opportunity to be elected to the Senate.
  This is an extraordinary honor. This body of 100 men and women who 
come with different passions and different visions for our country 
offer America the patchwork quilt of what America is about in its 
deliberations and the development of ideas and the approaches by which 
we try to move America forward.
  I know from time to time, as do all of my colleagues, I leave this 
Chamber perhaps despondent about what happened that day, despondent 
that we did not get something done which I thought we should have done, 
or despondent that we did something I thought we should not have done. 
But over a long time, I remain enormously proud of the opportunities to 
serve in the Senate.
  It is a remarkable, unusual, distinct privilege to serve in the 
Senate. This institution is still the greatest deliberative body in the 
world, and my colleague, Senator Byrd, the Presiding Officer, the 
President pro tempore, reminds us always of the place in history this 
Senate occupies.
  I wish to say to all of those who are leaving this institution: It 
has been a great privilege to serve with each and every single one of 
them. Their presence has contributed to this institution in a very 
significant way.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.


                               PHIL GRAMM

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my good 
friend and distinguished colleague, the senior Senator from Texas, 
Senator Phil Gramm. Senator Gramm was first elected to public office in 
1978. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat for 
4 years. After becoming disenchanted with the Democratic party, he 
resigned his seat in January of 1983 and ran again in a special 
election as a Republican. He won back his seat and earned a new found 
respect for the honorable way in which he changed parties. In 1984, 
Senator Gramm was elected to the United States Senate.
  An economist by training, Senator Gramm has spent his entire public 
career fighting for the principles of freedom, particularly economic 
freedom, individual choice and limited government. We all know well of 
his ``Dickey Flatt'' test. Dickey Flatt is a small businessman in Texas 
who has served

[[Page 22809]]

as Senator Gramm's bell-weather on the Federal Government's tax and 
regulatory policies. It is for the Dickey Flatts of this country that 
Senator Gramm has fought to cut Federal tax rates, repeal the death tax 
and reduce the government's regulatory burden on small businesses. We 
also have heard often of Senator Gramm's ``momma.'' It is for her and 
the other senior citizens of our country that Senator Gramm has worked 
hard to strengthen and modernize the Medicare and Social Security 
programs. Perhaps Senator Gramm's most important legislative 
accomplishments are the 1981 ``Gramm-Latta'' tax cut, the Gramm-Rudman-
Hollings balanced budget bill and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial 
Services Act.
  Equally as important as the legislation he has supported is the 
legislation that Senator Gramm has chosen to fight over the years. If a 
bill did not pass the Dickey Flatt test, you could be assured that 
Senator Gramm would oppose it. He is probably most famous for 
successfully leading the opposition in 1994 to then-President Clinton's 
proposal for a Federal takeover of the Nation's health care system.
  I have had the privilege of serving with the Senator from Texas on 
the Senate Finance Committee for the past 4 years. I have learned much 
from him and enjoyed listening to him debate the important issues 
before the Committee. Senator Gramm has a plain-spoken, common sense 
way of explaining issues that will be sorely missed in this body.
  Senator Gramm has served his State of Texas and this country with 
great distinction. He is a skilled debater and legislator, who has held 
true to his conservative principles over the years. I feel privileged 
to have had the opportunity to work with him during my tenure in the 
Senate, and to call him my friend. I wish him and his lovely wife Wendy 
the best in their future endeavors.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to my friend and 
colleague Phil Gramm, who retires from the Senate, but will not soon 
fade from the memories of all those who worked with him in this body. 
Very simply, Senator Gramm is a straight shooter, a man who has a 
strong grasp of the issues, and who never fails to speak his mind. 
While we disagreed a good deal on the issues, I have always had the 
utmost respect for Senator Gramm's opinion, and for the way that he has 
conducted himself throughout his service in the Senate.
  There have also been many times when we have seen eye to eye, and 
when we have it has been a pleasure to work with the Senator from 
Texas. Together we have fought to reform our budget process and cut 
wasteful spending. Now as my colleagues know, cutting spending or 
reforming the way that the government spends Federal tax dollars is 
never easy. But Senator Gramm and I share the belief that only by 
reforming our budget process will we ensure the kind of fiscal 
discipline in Congress that the American people deserve.
  While we were never able to bring our budget process reform bill to 
introduction, we stood shoulder-to-shoulder on many votes to cut pork-
barrel spending and apply fiscal discipline. I thank Senator Gramm for 
his tremendous leadership on these critical issues, and I wish him all 
the best as he ends his distinguished career in the U.S. Senate.


                     TRIBUTE TO SENATOR JESSE HELMS

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, with the end of the 107th Congress, we 
wish the best to Senator Jesse Helms, who retires after serving five 
terms here in the U.S. Senate. Senator Helms will be long remembered, 
by his colleagues and by history, for his legendary service to the 
people of North Carolina.
  From the day I arrived in the Senate, and throughout our service 
together on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Helms has 
been unfailingly cordial to me, and that is something I have always 
greatly appreciated. While Senator Helms and I more often than not 
disagreed on the issues of the day, I appreciated the chance to work 
with him on issues where we were able to find common ground. Together 
we fought against unnecessary fast-track procedures that bind 
Congress's hands on trade legislation. I also joined with Senator Helms 
to try to ensure that the export laws took national security 
sufficiently into account, rather than merely bend to the largest 
business interests. Finally, I have been proud to work with Senator 
Helms to call attention to human rights abuses in China.
  So as he leaves the Senate, I thank Senator Helms for the chance to 
work together on these important issues. I join my colleagues in paying 
tribute to him, and in wishing him all the best for his retirement.


                    TRIBUTE TO SENATOR FRED THOMPSON

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I would like to pay tribute to 
Fred Thompson, a colleague and friend who has left a lasting legacy 
here in the Senate. Senator Thompson has served the people of Tennessee 
well, standing on principle time and time again. He has been a champion 
of campaign finance reform since he first came to the Senate in 1994. 
He was among the original co-sponsors of the first McCain-Feingold 
legislation, and he has been an invaluable ally ever since.
  I am deeply grateful to him for his longstanding and steadfast 
support for reform. Fred Thompson was a central part of our effort, 
from the first days, when gaining the support of such a fair-minded and 
well-respected member gave a tremendous boost to our efforts, through 
to some of our most critical moments, as when he skillfully negotiated 
an agreement on hard money limits that the vast majority of this body 
could support. Without that agreement, we simply could not have moved 
the McCain-Feingold bill through the Senate. I also want to pay special 
tribute to Senator Thompson for the work he did investigating the 1996 
campaign finance scandals. Senator Thompson cut his political teeth on 
another great scandal in our Nation's history, but his work in 1997 
showed the Nation that the campaign finance is truly a bipartisan 
problem with a bipartisan solution. I will greatly miss his leadership 
on these issues.
  I also joined with Senator Thompson to try to ensure that the export 
laws took national security sufficiently into account, rather than 
merely bend to the largest business interests. And finally, I want to 
thank Fred Thompson for his leadership on States' rights. Senator 
Thompson has consistently spoken out against Federal mandates that 
hinder, rather than help, States and localities as they work to serve 
America's communities.
  These are just a few of the many reasons that Fred Thompson's 
presence in this body will be missed. He has been a true champion on 
many important issues, and a champion for the people of his state. I 
thank him for his leadership and his friendship, and I wish him all the 
best as he ends this chapter of his career.


                             tim hutchinson

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, the election campaign in Arkansas this 
year which involved Tim Hutchinson and Mark Pryor put me in an awkward 
position. Former Senator David Pryor was one of my best friends when he 
was in the Senate.
  Tim Hutchinson has been a hard working, successful Senator who 
deserved to be reelected. The voters of Arkansas made their decision 
and Tim Hutchinson was not reelected.
  During his 6 years in the Senate, Tim was a forceful, articulate, and 
effective spokesman for the interests of his State. I observed him at 
close range, as a fellow member of the Agriculture Committee, speak out 
for the farmers of his State. He made sure the best programs possible 
were included in the farm bill last year for the rice, cotton, and 
soybean producers of his State.
  He gave particular attention to the interests of the aquaculture 
industry and the unfair efforts of the Vietnamese basa fish exporters 
to undermine years of catfish promotion efforts and market development 
success.
  In every instance when Tim Hutchinson argued for the interest of the 
citizens of his State, he did so with conviction and a seriousness of 
purpose that was very impressive to me.
  Another example which I recall that made me sit up and take notice 
was in

[[Page 22810]]

a nationally televised debate of the William Buckley show which was 
broadcast from the law school at the University of Mississippi. The 
subject was the United States-China relationship. The panel included 
Henry Kissinger, Jim Barksdale, my colleague Trent Lott, and the new 
Senator from Arkansas, Tim Hutchinson.
  I was surprised that the young Arkansas Senator not only held his own 
during this program, but he was the star. He made compelling arguments 
for his points of view; he knew the facts; and he expressed them in an 
articulate and persuasive manner.
  Tim Hutchinson has been a very fine Senator for the State of 
Arkansas. He has upheld the finest traditions of this body, and we will 
miss him.
  I wish him much success in the years ahead.


                              Max Cleland

  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my dear 
friend and departing colleague Senator Max Cleland.
  Thomas Jefferson once said that ``a nation that rests on the will of 
the people must also depend on individuals to support its institutions 
if it is to flourish. Persons qualified for public office should feel 
an obligation to make that contribution.''
  Max Cleland heard that centuries old call to duty and answered with a 
lifetime of service.
  Senator Cleland's dedication to his country stretches from the 
battlefields of Vietnam to the floor of this Senate. And the families 
of Georgia, and our entire Nation, are better for his leadership.
  Senator Cleland nearly lost his life serving his country in Vietnam. 
He returned home with injuries so grave that he spent a year and a half 
in various Veterans Administration Hospitals recovering.
  But Senator Cleland then battled and beat a depression so deep that 
it would have broken the spirit of many others and embarked on a 
remarkable 30-year career of public service.
  He began by speaking out for better treatment for veterans, a cause 
he would champion throughout his career.
  Then at the age of 28, he was elected to become Georgia's youngest 
State Senator.
  In 1977, Senator Cleland was appointed head of the Veterans 
Administration by President Carter, making him the youngest 
Administrator in the agency's history.
  In 1982, Georgia voters elected him Secretary of State, again, the 
youngest ever.
  And in 1996, Senator Cleland was elected to the United States Senate 
where he became a champion on issues like veteran affairs, health care 
and protecting our Nation's parks and natural treasures.
  I think Jefferson would be proud to see that our Nation still 
produces such leaders as Senator Cleland whose entire life embodies the 
spirit of patriotism, civic duty and self-sacrifice that has shaped our 
Nation since its very founding.
  I hope Senator Cleland will continue to speak out on the issues he 
cares about so deeply because his voice is still needed.


                             jean carnahan

  Mr. President, I rise to express my admiration and respect for my 
departing colleague, Senator Jean Carnahan.
  Senator Carnahan and I entered the Senate in the same freshman class 
and we served together on the Special Committee on Aging.
  I quickly came to appreciate Senator Carnahan's hard work on behalf 
of the people of Missouri and our Nation.
  Senator Carnahan was a leader in the fight to make prescription drugs 
more affordable.
  Senator Carnahan authored the ``Classroom Quality'' provision of the 
``Leave No Child Behind Act'', which will give our local schools the 
ability to offer qualified teaching specialists to all students who 
need them.
  Senator Carnahan worked to save thousands of airline jobs in Missouri 
and across the Nation also provide relief for those workers who lost 
their jobs in the wake of the travel slowdown after 9-11.
  Senator Carnahan was one of the first legislators to go to 
Afghanistan to see for herself that our troops had all they needed in 
the fight against terrorism.
  And Senator Carnahan fought tirelessly to make sure Social Security 
and Medicare remain strong for our present seniors and the generations 
to come.
  While her tenure was brief, her legacy will be long.
  But, beyond admiring her skills as a legislator, I came to appreciate 
Senator Carnahan's sincere warmth, quiet humor and inner strength.
  We are all too keenly aware that Senator Carnahan came to the Senate 
in the wake of the tragic plane crash that killed her husband, Governor 
Mel Carnahan, and her oldest son Randy.
  But Senator Carnahan turned the grief over her family's loss into a 
legacy of gains for families in Missouri and our Nation.
  Senator Carnahan was truly a fitting heir to the Senate seat once 
held by Harry Truman and I hope she will continue to speak out on the 
issues she cared about so deeply.
  Her voice will still be needed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut is recognized.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise for the purpose of paying tribute to 
our colleagues who are leaving the Senate. There are some 10 of our 
colleagues who are leaving under various circumstances. I would like to 
speak about them and to express my deep appreciation for their 
friendship, for the years we have worked together, or opposed each 
other, as the case may be, on various matters that have come before 
this body.
  Mr. President, of course, we all have great affection for Senator 
Thurmond, who has served here for 54 years and is on the brink of 
celebrating his 100th birthday--a remarkable achievement in and of 
itself. As someone once said, if they had known they would have lived 
that long, they would have taken better care of themselves. And Strom 
Thurmond took very good care of himself over the years.
  Senator Max Cleland, a remarkable person, has served here for only 6 
years, representing the State of Georgia. He has done a remarkable job 
during his years here. But he has had a distinguished record, of 
course, that has accumulated prior to his arrival in the Senate.
  Senator Jesse Helms, with whom I have served on the Foreign Relations 
Committee for my entire service, my 22 years in the Senate. He has 
served for 30 years here. We have been the best of colleagues serving 
together.
  Senator Bob Torricelli of New Jersey; Senator Phil Gramm of Texas, 
with whom I have served on the Banking Committee; Senator Jean 
Carnahan, who has had a brief service here but has done a wonderful job 
representing the State of Missouri; Senator Frank Murkowski, with whom 
I was elected to the Senate 22 years ago; Senator Fred Thompson from 
the State of Tennessee; Senator Bob Smith; Senator Tim Hutchinson--
these are the 10 Members who are leaving.


                             Strom Thurmond

  Mr. President, regarding Senator Thurmond, I spoke back a number of 
weeks ago about Senator Thurmond in our wonderful tribute to him. He is 
truly an institution within this institution.
  I have known Senator Thurmond since I was very young. My father and 
he served together here for 12 years. I have served with him for 22 
years. So for 34 years Senator Thurmond has had to serve with a Dodd in 
the U.S. Senate of his 54 years.
  I know of no one who has had as varied and as distinguished a career 
in public service. When you think of his contribution as an educator, 
as a Governor, as a combat war veteran--and not young at the time of D-
Day, I might add, but nonetheless showed great heroism--and serving, as 
I mentioned, as a Governor of his State, and, of course, in the Senate 
for so many years, and as a judge--truly a remarkable individual--and 
elected to the Senate under various banners over the years--as a 
Democrat, as a Dixiecrat, as a Republican, as a write-in candidate--
truly a remarkable achievement.
  I've heard it suggested that they might have to rename the State of

[[Page 22811]]

South Carolina; there have been so many monuments to his public 
service. There are schools, roads, bridges, parks all through the State 
of South Carolina that bear the name of Strom Thurmond. That is 
because, of course, he is held with such incredible affection by the 
people of that State.
  We have had our differences on substantive matters, but he has always 
been a tremendous gentleman and a wonderful friend. He is a good friend 
to my family as well. I wanted to take a couple minutes to say thank 
you to a remarkable individual, a remarkable American. I know that he 
has great affection for this institution and its Members. I wish him 
the very best of health and, I want him to know we will all miss him 
very much.


                              Max Cleland

  I also want to pay tribute to our colleague from Georgia, Max 
Cleland. I know very few people who have as many heroic qualities as 
Max Cleland does. It is not by pure circumstance that I mention Strom 
Thurmond and Max Cleland next to each other. I mentioned the fact that 
Strom Thurmond served his country with great distinction in military 
service during World War II. Max Cleland, of course, served his Nation 
with great distinction during the Vietnam conflict and, of course, paid 
a terrible price for that service. Just a month shy of completing his 
tour of duty, he suffered the terrible loss of both legs and an arm.
  Yet despite those physical injuries, and the obstacles they 
presented, Max Cleland has made a remarkable contribution to this 
institution, to the people of his home state of Georgia. Max Cleland is 
truly an American hero, not just because he wore the uniform of the 
United States and served in combat and suffered a terrible loss. He is 
an American hero because of his willingness and desire to serve the 
people of his country in a continuing fashion beyond that of a military 
uniform. He has done so in the State of Georgia, holding office there 
as well as here in the Senate. I don't know of anyone who is held in 
such a high regard and with such respect by all of us as Max Cleland.
  One of Senator Cleland's favorite poets, William Butler Yeats, once 
wrote: ``Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart.''
  In the case of Max Cleland, his enormous sacrifice to his country 
only emboldened his golden nature, and increased his desire to dedicate 
himself to improving the lives of others.
  I will miss him very much. When the 108th Congress convenes, it just 
won't seem quite right that Max Cleland is not among us--he has a 
wonderful sense of humor, a great sense of history, a great love of his 
country. I deeply regret the people of Georgia didn't see fit to send 
him back to serve with us. I don't know his successor. I am sure he is 
a fine person. I am sure he won't mind if I say I am going to miss Max 
very much, but I know I have a lifelong friend in Max Cleland.
  Just prior to coming back to Washington, it was announced that Max 
and Nancy are going to be wed. My wife Jackie and I wish both of them 
the best in the years ahead.


                              Jesse Helms

  I also want to pay tribute to my friend and colleague from North 
Carolina, Senator Jesse Helms. I don't know of anyone here I probably 
disagreed with more over the past 22 years than Jesse Helms. But I also 
don't know of anyone with whom I have had a better relationship over 
the last 22 years. I know that sounds somewhat of a contradiction to 
people who watch this institution, that people with whom you can have 
profound and significant disagreements can also be people you hold in 
high regard and respect.
  Senator Jesse Helms and I have fought tooth and nail on almost every 
issue I can think of. But I don't know of a finer gentleman, a more 
decent human being than Jesse Helms. And we have disagreed on policy 
matters over and over again--he is a passionate conservative, his 
voting record has scored a 100 percent rating from American 
Conservative Union throughout his 30 years here, and he is deeply proud 
of the fact that during those years he has one of the highest voting 
records of loyalty to the Republican Party, in excess of 95 percent.
  It is that passion which I admire. We don't have enough of it in 
politics today, in my view. And while I wish we had more of it on our 
side, I respect it when I see it in anyone. Jesse Helms certainly 
brings it to his public service. I will miss his service here. I will 
miss working with him. There were many occasions when we actually did 
find common ground, as we do so frequently here, on matters that don't 
achieve the high profile status as matters of disagreement do. He 
served his State of North Carolina well. He served and represented a 
point of view embraced by many.
  I will miss him on a personal level as a kind and thoughtful 
individual. Jackie and I wish he and Dot the very best in the years to 
come.


                             Bob Torricelli

  Mr. President, Robert Torricelli is leaving the Senate. He made the 
decision this fall not to seek reelection in the midst of his election. 
A lot of attention has been focused on that decision, but for those us 
of who have known Bob Torricelli over his 20 years of public service--
14 years in the House, 6 years in the Senate--Bob Torricelli is a lot 
more than an individual who decided to pull out of a race in New Jersey 
this year. He is a passionate fighter for things he believes and he has 
compiled a wonderful record of public service.
  I want the Record to reflect that Bob Torricelli was a fine Senator, 
a fine Member of Congress. He fought very hard on behalf of his 
constituents, fought very hard on the issues he cared deeply about. We 
had our disagreements over Cuban policy frequently. I always used to 
say, when Bob Torricelli came to the floor to take the other side, he 
was a formidable opponent.
  He was an excellent debater, one who embraced his views with a great 
deal of knowledge and a great deal of passion and feeling. He became 
active in Democratic Party politics at an early age. His passion for 
politics is something all of us came to appreciate in the Senate during 
his years. He was elected to the House at age 31 in 1982. He did a 
tremendous job there, serving on the House International Relations 
Committee, and rose to prominence as a House member, as a leading voice 
for advancing and expanding democracy and human rights worldwide.
  In 1996, he came to the Senate. His efforts on behalf of tax, 
employment, environmental, education, and health issues are things we 
are all well aware of. He has wonderful legislative skills and was a 
great battler on behalf of the Democratic Party.
  He led the Senate Democratic campaign committee during his first term 
in a cycle during which he raised a lot of money to support Democratic 
candidates across the country. It is a thankless job. But for those of 
us who stand for election or reelection, you have to have someone who 
will head up these committees and do so with a great deal of energy. 
Bob Torricelli certainly did that for a lot of people whose careers 
might have been terminated more briefly had it not been for his 
dedication to seeing to it that Democratic candidates would have a good 
chance to be heard.
  I would not want this session to end without expressing my gratitude 
to Bob Torricelli for his service in this body and his service to the 
people of New Jersey.


                               Phil Gramm

  Mr. President, Phil Gramm is also leaving the Senate, going to work 
for UBS Warburg. Their offices are in Connecticut, so I will be looking 
forward, very carefully, at what Phil Gramm does as a new part-time 
constituent of mine. I say that somewhat facetiously of course.
  Phil Gramm has had a very distinguished career in public life. We 
have served together on the Banking Committee during his entire time in 
the Senate. We have worked together very closely on matters affecting 
the securities industry. We coauthored a number of bills together 
during our joint service. We were elected to the House together. Phil 
was a Democrat in those days, then became a Republican, was elected to 
the Senate as a Republican.

[[Page 22812]]

He has authored major pieces of legislation during his career.
  In fact, the Brookings Institution listed three of the bills that 
Phil Gramm authored or coauthored as among a handful of the most 
significant pieces of legislation in the 20th century, including the 
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings balanced budget proposal which attracted a wide 
degree of attention during the 1980s. He made a mark here as a 
tenacious fighter for what he believes in. One of the most difficult 
opponents you could have on an issue is Phil Gramm. He doesn't take 
many prisoners, and he fights very hard for the matters in which he 
believes. I thank him for his service and wish him well in the years 
ahead.


                             Jean Carnahan

  Mr. President, I want to mention Jean Carnahan, who had a short 
service in this body. All of us have a deep appreciation for the 
circumstances under which she arrived--one of the most tragic set of 
circumstances any of us can imagine. She did a remarkable job, coming 
in under difficult circumstances, and we owe her a debt of gratitude 
for the courageous and selfless service that she provided to the people 
of Missouri, the American public, and the sense of silent grace with 
which she handled those personal difficulties.
  She didn't just simply show up in the Senate--she thrived here. All 
of our colleagues would agree when I say that learning to navigate the 
ways of the Senate can be difficult for anybody, but for somebody who 
never served in public office, having, of course, been the first lady 
of her State of Missouri for 8 years, Jean Carnahan did a remarkable 
job during her time here. She made a difference on numerous pieces of 
legislation in which she helped to forge compromises. While her tenure 
may have been brief, she left a mark worthy of those with much longer 
service. All of us express nothing but our very best wishes to Jean 
Carnahan and to her family in the coming years. She has become a good 
friend to us here. I thank her for her service, and I am sure she will 
find other ways to contribute and provide services for the people of 
this country.


                            Frank Murkowski

  Frank Murkowski and I were elected to the Senate together in 1980. He 
has now been elected Governor to the State of Alaska. He is moving on 
to other areas of public service. He has done a very fine job here and 
has made a significant contribution representing the people of Alaska. 
He had a successful career as a businessman in Alaska before coming to 
the Senate. He was President of the Alaska National Bank from 1970 to 
1980.
  Since his arrival here, he has kept Alaska first and foremost in his 
mind. He has been an extraordinary defender of Alaska's interests. But 
he made many contributions, as well, to the national agenda.
  In fact, many of his biggest fights have greatly benefitted our 
Nation as a whole. In 1996, for example, Frank Murkowski led the 
congressional effort to pass the omnibus parks bill, which created or 
improved more than 100 national parks, forests, preserves and historic 
sites nationwide, including two in Alaska.
  And, for more than 25 years, Frank and his wife, Nancy, have been 
leaders in the fight against breast cancer in rural Alaska, and other 
areas where access to early testing is severely lacking. He also led a 
national effort against breast cancer here in Washington, and has been 
an integral part of securing increased Federal funding for breast 
cancer research and treatment nationwide.
  He has been a passionate advocate of oil and gas exploration in 
Alaska--one of the major debates in this body. I disagreed with Frank 
Murkowski about allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife 
Refuge, but he certainly fought very hard on behalf of his beliefs, 
showing up with charts and graphs and pictures of wildlife and the 
like, day after day during that debate.
  The people of Alaska have now elected him as their Governor. I know 
all of us wish he and his wife Nancy well as they assume new 
responsibilities in Juneau, Alaska.


                             Fred Thompson

  Mr. President, I pay tribute to and express my gratitude to Senator 
Fred Thompson of Tennessee, as well, for his service here. He has made 
a significant contribution to public life during his years here in the 
Senate, as well as prior to arriving here. Fred's career in politics 
has truly been one of life imitating art imitating life.
  How else can you describe a man who can be seen on the Senate floor 
debating, only to see him later that evening playing a district 
attorney on the television show ``Law and Order''? On just about any 
given Sunday, you can catch Fred Thompson on cable in a rerun of ``Die 
Hard II,'' or ``The Hunt for Red October.'' So he has had a 
distinguished career in film and television, also.
  But to suggest that was the sum total of Fred Thompson's life would 
be a tragic mistake. There is a lot more to it. He has made significant 
contributions in real life for over 30 years. He did serve as an 
assistant U.S. attorney at one point in his life. He has been a 
prominent public figure during some of the most critical moments in our 
Nation's history--not only as chairman of the Governmental Relations 
Committee, but also during the Watergate crisis in the early 1970s.
  Fred Thompson was just a few years out of Vanderbilt Law School when 
he was named minority counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee in 
1973. He has been commended on many occasions for his role in the 
public disclosure of the Oval Office audio tapes, and that deserves 
mention here again today.
  Fred Thompson's early impact on the American political scene 
foreshadowed his later career and success in the Senate, and his ever-
growing popularity in Tennessee. In 1994, he was elected by the people 
of that State to fill the seat left vacant by the election of Senator 
Al Gore as Vice-President. When he was voted in for a full Senate term 
in 1996, he received the highest number of votes cast for any candidate 
for any office in Tennessee history.
  Fred Thompson has compiled a distinguished career over the years, as 
I mentioned earlier, as an assistant U.S. attorney, as Watergate 
counsel and, of course, during his years in the Senate. We are going to 
miss him here. He and his wife Geri, I am sure, are going to have a 
bright future, and I have a feeling we will be hearing more about Fred 
Thompson in the years to come.


                              Robert Smith

  Mr. President, Bob Smith from New Hampshire is also leaving the 
Senate. While, again, we have been on not only different sides of the 
aisle but on the different sides of many, if not most, issues that come 
before the Senate, I thank Bob Smith for his service to his State of 
New Hampshire and to the causes which he embraced very firmly.
  Bob Smith is a very conservative Member of this body. He has also 
become a leading advocate, during his latter years of service, on 
environmental questions affecting not only the State of New Hampshire, 
but also environmental issues across the country, including his work on 
helping to clean up and restore the Florida Everglades. He opposed 
drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge despite strong support 
from the Bush administration and Senator Frank Murkowski.
  So Bob Smith was more diverse in his views than some might have 
otherwise believed. Again, I thank him for his service. We didn't agree 
on many substantive issues that came before this body, but he was a 
passionate fighter for views he held. My wife Jackie and I wish him and 
his wife Jo Ann all the best in the future.


                             tim hutchinson

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend and 
colleague, Senator Tim Hutchinson, who will be leaving the United 
States Senate at the conclusion of the 107th Congress.
  Although Senator Hutchinson and I have not agreed on every issue that 
has come before us, I have always considered him a friend, and I have 
always respected his convictions. He has certainly served as a capable 
and loyal advocate for the people of his home state of Arkansas.
  Mr. President, I had the good fortune of getting to know Tim 
Hutchinson

[[Page 22813]]

very well during his six years in the Senate. We served together on the 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. And, in 2000, Senator 
Hutchinson and I co-founded the Senate Biotechnology Caucus, which has 
played an important role in educating Members of Congress and the 
public about recent developments in medical and genetic research.
  Throughout his 10 years in Washington--4 years in the House of 
Representatives and 6 here in the Senate--Tim Hutchinson has shown a 
deep commitment to improving the education of America's children, 
strengthening our national security, increasing access to healthcare, 
and safeguarding the often overlooked interests of rural America.
  Given his background, these priorities are not surprising. Tim 
Hutchinson himself was born on a small farm in rural Gravette, 
Arkansas. And he was educated as a minister at Bob Jones University in 
South Carolina.
  After graduating from college, he returned to Gravette, where he 
opened a Christian day school and taught history at nearby John Brown 
University. I have always believed that his background as an educator 
made Senator Hutchinson one of the most thoughtful and well-spoken 
members of this body.
  Tim Hutchinson's election to the Senate in 1996 was the culmination 
of a 10-year political evolution, which began with his election to the 
Arkansas Statehouse in 1985. While there, he gained a state-wide 
reputation as a tireless advocate of law enforcement.
  Tim Hutchinson was elected to the United States House of 
Representatives in 1993, and in 1996 he became the first Republican in 
Arkansas history to win a popular election to the Senate.
  As a Senator Tim Hutchinson remained a committed advocate for 
conservative causes--consistently scoring over 90 percent for his 
voting record by the American Conservative Union.
  However, there were also several instances when Senator Hutchinson 
took the lead on important issues that crossed party lines. For 
example, he has always had an interest in improving public education in 
America, and was an integral part of the effort to create tax free 
education savings accounts.
  And, during the 107th Congress, Senator Hutchinson introduced the 
Nurse Employment and Education Development Act--a landmark piece of bi-
partisan legislation to address the critical nursing shortage affecting 
rural Arkansas and the country as a whole.
  This year, the NEED Act was incorporated into the Nurse Reinvestment 
Act, which President Bush recently signed into law. This legislation 
stands as a fitting coda to Tim Hutchinson's tenure in the U.S. 
Senate--its positive impact will be felt across America for years to 
come.
  Mr. President, I will miss having Tim Hutchinson as a colleague. My 
wife Jackie and I wish him and his wife Randy, all the best in future 
year.
  I thank all 10 of these Members for their friendship. I look forward 
to seeing them in the years ahead, and I wish them and their families 
the very best in the years that come down the road.


                             FRED THOMPSON

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise to recognize my friend the Senior 
Senator from Tennessee. Fred Thompson will retire this year after eight 
distinguished years in the Senate. He has packed a great deal in those 
eight years. He has been a forceful leader who has made significant 
contributions to our country in a short amount time.
  Senator Thompson was born and raised in Lawrenceburg, TN, a little 
town sited by the great frontiersman and Congressman Davy Crockett. 
Like Crockett, Senator Thompson charted a path in life that has allowed 
him to use his character and great abilities for interests larger than 
himself. He received his undergraduate degree from Memphis State 
University and completed his law degree at Vanderbilt University in 
1967. In 1973 and '74, Senator Thompson served as minority counsel to 
the vice chairman of the Senate Watergate Committee, his mentor, 
Senator, now Ambassador, Howard Baker. He served as Special Counsel to 
both the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate 
Committee on Foreign Relations. Senator Thompson is among the most 
junior Senators in the history of the Senate to have ever served as 
Chairman of a Standing Senate Committee.
  But Senator Thompson's skills and talents go far beyond his 
contributions to the Senate. He is also a very fine actor, not 
withstanding Senator McCain's critiques of his performances. He has an 
expansive list of movie and television roles that highlight his 
commanding presence and impressive style. We will continue to enjoy 
seeing him shine in his renewed acting career. He's had excellent real 
life practice in the Senate.
  We will miss Fred Thompson. We will miss his common sense, sharp wit 
and decency. All of his friends in the Senate wish Fred and his new 
bride, Jeri, all the best in their new lives together. I am proud to 
have served with him.


                               PHIL GRAMM

  Mr. President, I rise to recognize the Senior Senator from Texas. 
Senator Phil Gramm will retire this year after 24 distinguished years 
in the U.S. Congress, three terms in the House and three terms in the 
Senate. He will be missed.
  Thirty-five years ago Senator Gramm received his Ph.D in Economics 
from the University of Georgia. After his time in Georgia, Senator 
Gramm began his college teaching career at Texas A &M University as an 
Assistant Professor of Economics in 1967. By 1973, he became the 
youngest Full Professor in the history of the Texas A&M Economics 
Department. His grasp and understanding of economics have been 
important factors in our Congressional debate and government policy 
over the last twenty-four years.
  I have had the privilege to serve with Senator Gramm on both the 
Senate Banking and Budget Committees. I have seen first hand the power 
of his intellect and grasp of the issues that have advanced free trade 
and strengthened our economy and the foundation of our democracy. His 
contributions to our country are many. He authored numerous major 
pieces of legislation during his career--and none more important than 
the Gramm/Rudman/Hollings Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control 
Act and the Gramm/Leach/Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act.
  All of his friends in the Senate wish Wendy and Phil much success as 
he takes on new responsibilities. He will now have more time to help 
R.C. Slocum coach the A&M Aggies. The Congress and America are stronger 
today for Senator Gramm having served in Congress. I am proud to have 
served with him.


                              MAX CLELAND

  Mr. President, I rise to recognize my longtime friend the Senior 
Senator from Georgia. Max Cleland and I arrived in the Senate together 
in 1997. He quickly became a respected U.S. Senator. Max Cleland has 
been a role model for many people over the years. And, his years of 
selfless public service have made America a better and stronger nation.
  Senator Cleland joined the Army ROTC program at Stetson University in 
Florida and went on to earn a Masters Degree in American History from 
Emory University as a commissioned Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. 
In 1967 he volunteered for service in Vietnam. The next year he was 
promoted to the rank of Captain and soon after he was seriously wounded 
losing both his legs and his right arm. Senator Cleland's determination 
and spirit turned his experience in Vietnam into a continuing passion 
for interests greater than his own. His service in Vietnam further 
motivated him to continue to help shape America.
  At the age of 28, he won a seat in the Georgia State Senate making 
him the youngest member and the only Vietnam veteran in that 
legislative body at that time. Seven years later, President Jimmy 
Carter appointed him Administrator of the U.S. Veterans' 
Administration. He was the youngest VA Administrator ever and the first 
veteran of Vietnam in that post. In 1982, he became the youngest 
Georgia Secretary of State and held that position for three terms until 
he began his campaign for the United States Senate in 1995.

[[Page 22814]]

  Senator Cleland is an inspiration to all of us. We will miss his 
honesty, integrity, spirit and leadership in this body. We wish him 
well and thank him for his service and contributions to our country. I 
am privileged and proud to have served in the Senate with my friend and 
colleague Max Cleland. I salute you, Captain. You will be missed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Jeffords). Who seeks recognition? The 
Senator from Missouri, Mrs. Carnahan.
  Mrs. CARNAHAN. Mr. President, I thank my colleague for his kind and 
generous remarks.

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