[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 23984-23985]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS


                              Tom Daschle

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, that is not why I came to the floor, 
although it relates to why I came to the floor this afternoon because I 
came here to pay tribute to a dear friend, our Democratic leader, Tom 
Daschle of South Dakota. This sadness is only tempered by the belief 
that Tom Daschle will continue to play a vital role in our Nation's 
public life in the future.
  Tom Daschle has had a distinguished career as a legislator on behalf 
of the interests of the people of South Dakota and all of the people of 
our Nation. He has fought for a fair share for the farmers of his State 
and for farmers around the country. He has been in the forefront of 
rural health, veterans' health, a fair tax system, and a very broad 
range of other issues.
  He has been as a leader of the Democrats in the Senate, both as 
majority leader and minority leader, through one of the most difficult 
periods of the Senate's history where Tom Daschle has made his mark. He 
has been a remarkable leader. As a principled and tireless advocate for 
the issues he believes in, he has led by example. On countless 
difficult and contentious issues, he has led by carefully listening to 
all sides. Time and time again, on complex and challenging legislation, 
he has led by tireless negotiation and by building consensus. And, 
where appropriate, he has been able to organize Democrats to insist on 
our rights as a minority in the Senate.

[[Page 23985]]

  It is, indeed, a bitter irony of the most recent election that Tom 
Daschle, who is a legislator to the core, and a man of compromise and 
soft-spoken wisdom, a seeker of dialogue, solutions, and consensus, was 
caricatured as an obstructionist. In the time-honored tradition of 
Senate leaders of both parties, he stood tall when principle required 
it. In reality, though, it was Tom Daschle's style to reach across the 
aisle, time and time again, in an effort to legislate in the Nation's 
best interest. Often he worked closely with the Republican leader in 
some of the Senate's finest and most difficult hours.
  In the face of a very difficult impeachment trial that tested this 
Senate, in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks, and when he 
himself was targeted in the anthrax attack, as in countless other 
instances, Tom Daschle demonstrated his talent for calm, inclusive, and 
wise leadership.
  As this session of Congress ends in the next few days, the people of 
South Dakota will be losing a vigorous, effective, and committed 
Senator. Democrats in this body, indeed, all Senators, will be losing a 
great leader. And all Americans will be losing a voice of reason, 
judgment, and wisdom. I will be losing a friend and a confidante. Tom 
Daschle is a beautiful human being and a nonpareil leader. His good 
nature will enable him to overcome this momentary defeat so that the 
contributions he makes to public life will soon flower in a different 
place.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri is recognized.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Shelby 
be recognized for 10 minutes following me, and that Senator Breaux be 
recognized for 15 minutes thereafter.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                              John Breaux

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, it has been a pleasure to work with the 
Senator from Louisiana. We have appreciated his leadership on many 
issues not only important to Louisiana but to our energy future and 
important to navigation in the heartland, which is something that is 
vitally important for all of us.

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