[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Pages 25191-25193]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS


                        Ben Nighthorse Campbell

  Mr. ALLARD. Madam President, I take a moment to talk about 4 
colleagues whom I have had an opportunity to serve with in the Senate.
  First of all, I want to talk about my colleague from the State of 
Colorado, who is not going to be with us as we go into the waning days 
of the 108th Congress.
  I had an opportunity to get to know Ben Campbell in the Colorado 
General Assembly. In 1982, he was elected to the State house and I was 
elected to the State senate. It was not long before the buzz in the 
Capitol was all about this great Native American whom we had serving in 
the State house who brought to the Capitol some common sense from 
western Colorado, an individual who in his own right had already gained 
some national notoriety.
  Senator Campbell came from a family that was somewhat dysfunctional. 
It was a poor family. He joined the Air Force. While he was serving in 
the Air Force, he had an opportunity to get his GED. He served in 
Korea. While serving in the Air Force, he also spent some time in Japan 
where he received some judo training. He became a member of the first 
Olympic judo team representing the United States. He had the 
distinction of carrying the flag representing the whole United States 
entourage that was there participating in the Olympics.
  This individual brought a considerable amount of national notoriety 
to the Colorado General Assembly. But he became even more respected 
because of his firm conviction, his hard work, and his commitment to 
small business, and to water issues of the western slope in the State 
house district he represented. In fact, having finished his first term, 
he was recognized as one of the 10 best legislators in the Colorado 
General Assembly. He had an opportunity to serve for about three terms 
and took on an incumbent congressman. He won that particular race and 
ended up in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986; then got elected 
to the U.S. Senate in 1992, and reelected in 1998.
  During this period of time, I had an opportunity to be able to 
establish a personal relationship with Senator Campbell in the State 
legislature. I respect a lot of the values he brought to the 
legislature. I had an opportunity to work with him for a short period 
of time in the U.S. House of Representatives. He certainly was a team 
player and somebody whom I felt I could work with. I looked forward to 
the opportunity when I could serve with him in the Senate. While 
serving here in the Senate, we became known as a team representing the 
interests of Colorado, which has been pretty effective. A lot of the 
issues that are important to the State of Colorado we were able to 
accomplish. A lot of it was because he was willing to take on the 
responsibilities of the Appropriations Committee. Representatives from 
Colorado ordinarily didn't seek out these committees, but he made a big 
difference.
  I consider it a great pleasure to be able to serve with him. I 
consider him family. Not only are we close friends, but my niece 
married his son. I have the greatest respect for the Campbell family. 
They are great Americans and I am pleased to be considered part of his 
family.


                              Don Nickles

  Mr. ALLARD. Madam President, I also want to take a moment to talk 
about another colleague, Don Nickles, who has had a long and 
distinguished career as we move into the waning days of the 108th 
Congress.
  He brought to this Congress a perspective from the private sector. I 
am a small businessman. I grew up in the private sector. In my view, 
too few of us have had to meet the challenges and meet a payroll. I 
think it affects how you view rules and regulations and taxes.
  Senator Nickles from Oklahoma became a strong advocate of small 
business issues and worked hard to hold down the tax burden and 
regulatory burden.
  I had an opportunity to serve with him when he was chairman of the 
Budget Committee, and I very much appreciated his leadership on that 
committee.
  I also appreciated the opportunity to be able to work with him in 
holding down and actually eliminating the death tax which has such 
devastating effects on small business.
  During his many years here in the Congress, he has been an individual 
who maintained integrity in the process.


                            Peter Fitzgerald

  Mr. ALLARD. Madam President, I want to express my appreciation for 
the hard work of Peter Fitzgerald. I am disappointed he is only serving 
one term in the Senate. It is a voluntary decision that he made to step 
down after one term.
  His family has business interests in Colorado. I have enjoyed working 
with him, particularly when we served on the Agriculture Committee, and 
I began to respect his values as well as his work ethic.


                              Zell Miller

  Mr. ALLARD. Madam President, I wish to take a moment to recognize 
Zell Miller, who replaced Paul Coverdell. He is someone I have grown to 
admire during my service here in the Senate. He is a principled 
individual and truly represents his great State of Georgia.
  With each day of this session, I continue to admire his strength and 
tenacity and ability to stand up for what he believes is right.

[[Page 25192]]

  I view these four individuals as four individuals who have 
distinguished themselves in my mind and four individuals whom I have 
appreciated having the opportunity to serve with in the Senate and whom 
I hold in great esteem. I wish them the very best as they pursue life's 
journey, having served in a distinguished way in the Senate. I wish 
them the very best and Godspeed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, I rise to say goodbye to several of 
my colleagues, dear friends and colleagues with whom I have had the 
pleasure to work in the Senate.


                              Don Nickles

  I start with Senator Don Nickles. We say goodbye to Don Nickles of 
Oklahoma who leaves after spending 24 years in the Senate, but not 
spending much else. As chairman of the Budget Committee, his philosophy 
of smaller government and fiscal prudence often reminded this Chamber 
of our duty to be good stewards of the taxpayer dollars. Don did not 
back down but always held his ground, demonstrating his perseverance 
and conviction.
  He was first chosen by his colleagues for a leadership position in 
1988 as the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. 
He was next elected to the first of three terms as chairman of the 
Republican Policy Committee, and in 1996, 1998, and 2000, he was 
elected unanimously to be assistant Republican leader.
  He was the principal sponsor of the 2003 economic growth package 
which cut the tax on dividends, reduced the capital gains rate, raised 
the child tax credit to $1,000 per child, and reduced the marriage 
penalty. My friend also led efforts to reform the Internal Revenue 
Service. He helped enact the Nation's first balanced budget in three 
decades and passed laws to make Members of Congress accountable to the 
same laws as everyone else.
  On a personal note, he worked with me on the marriage penalty. I 
could not have passed my bill to reduce the marriage penalty on married 
couples in our country without Don Nickles' strong backing and 
leadership.
  I will never forget the first time I met Don. It was at the 
Republican National Convention in Dallas, TX. Don was a young man and 
he had just been elected to the Senate, and everyone was referring to 
him as Senator. I assumed, because he was so young, that he must be a 
State senator. As I left, I said to him, you must have a long and great 
career ahead of you. I am sure you will run for higher office some day, 
thinking he was a State senator. But, in fact, he was a U.S. Senator 
already and was the youngest Member at the time.
  He is the gold standard for principled conservatives who stand tall 
for their beliefs and work hard for their constituents.
  As a Texan I may say there are times I am not fond of certain 
Oklahoma college football teams, I have always been proud of Oklahoma's 
Don Nickles and honored to call him a neighbor.


                        Ben Nighthorse Campbell

  Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell is one of the best friends I have in 
the Senate. I am particularly going to miss him. He commands more 
attention than a Harley Davidson with straight pipes.
  He brought a wealth of experience and perspective to the Senate that 
enriched all of our deliberations. Let me list, in no particular order, 
some of these experiences. He was a fruit picker, a deputy sheriff, the 
captain of the U.S. judo team in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He is a horse 
trainer, a rancher, a fabulous jewelry artist, and chief of the 
Northern Cheyenne tribe.
  He also has served the people of Colorado as their Senator, both as a 
Democrat and a Republican. He is a renaissance man in every sense of 
the word. He can ride a Harley Davidson like a genuine biker because he 
is the real thing. On his motorcycle or on the Senate floor in his pony 
tail and sunglasses or in his business suit, he has unabashedly 
defended the values and interests of Americans of all incomes and 
backgrounds. This stems from his pride in our great country.
  I remember when he decided it was time for the Capitol Police to buy 
American and trade in their Japanese-made motorcycles for Harleys. He 
said in his typical upfront style that the Japanese bikes made the 
police look like ``pizza delivery boys'' and they are not fast enough 
to catch crooks. Needless to say, the Capitol Hill motorcycle police 
are now equipped with Harleys.
  One of Ben's most prominent contributions is now visible on our mall, 
the National Museum of the American Indian. He initiated the 
legislation to found this museum within the Smithsonian, and the 
beautiful building housing priceless collections of American Indian 
artifacts and art work is a tremendous legacy of Ben Nighthorse 
Campbell: my friend, my colleague, and biker buddy.


                            Peter Fitzgerald

  It is often an uphill battle for a freshman Senator to make an 
impact, but Senator Peter Fitzgerald, a former commercial banking 
attorney, has chaired or led investigations of corporate accounting 
fraud, mutual fund industry abuses, chronic underfunding of employee 
pensions and waste, fraud and mismanagement in Federal agencies.
  In 2004, he proposed comprehensive, bipartisan mutual fund reform 
legislation to protect the household, college, and retirement savings 
of 95 million Americans. This bill, endorsed by consumer groups and 
reform-minded industry leaders, points the way for future legislation 
on this subject.
  The Senator also focused on consumer safety issues. In 2000 he led a 
successful drive to modernize outdated Federal testing and safety 
standards for child car seats. In 2002, he drafted and President Bush 
signed into law a followup measure known as Anton's Law, to upgrade 
Federal testing and standards for child booster seats and to require 
automakers to improve car safety features.
  I wish him well in his future endeavors.


                              Tom Daschle

  I wish Senator Tom Daschle well as he moves on to new challenges. As 
his party's leader in the Senate he was smart and determined. Tom is an 
exemplar of the American story. He grew up as the eldest of four 
brothers and became the first in his family to graduate from college, 
with a political science degree from South Dakota State University.
  He then served 3 years as an intelligence officer for the U.S. Air 
Force Strategic Air Command.
  He secured a job as an aide to South Dakota Senator James Abourezk. 
From there, he rose to the highest job in the Senate, Senate majority 
leader.
  Tom Daschle married Linda Hall and they are the parents of three 
children. He is proof that hard-working Americans can make a 
difference.


                             Fritz Hollings

  From the day I first arrived in the Senate, until today, Senator 
Hollings has been a force in the Senate. His institutional memory, his 
command of the issues, and his speaking style are recognized from both 
sides of the aisle.
  He has been a tireless advocate of his State and his political 
beliefs, earning him a role as one of the Senate's elder statesmen.
  Senator Hollings fought in World War II, won his first election at 
age 26, served as the youngest Governor of his State, and was elected 
to seven terms in the Senate. Incredibly, Fritz Hollings was in public 
service since 1948 and somehow managed to be his State's junior Senator 
until 2 years ago. It must be something in the water in South Carolina.
  During his career, Senator Hollings has had an impact on a wide range 
of legislation, including measures to protect the environment, balance 
the budget, and update telecommunications law.
  I am very appreciative of his initiation of a nationwide effort to 
combat breast and cervical cancer by utilizing his seat on the 
Appropriations Committee to secure funding for a pilot screening 
program. This will be one of the many lasting legacies of Fritz 
Hollings.


                               Bob Graham

  Senator Bob Graham, a former two-term Governor of the sunshine State,

[[Page 25193]]

has compiled a record of achievement in the Senate which included 
portions of the PATRIOT Act. When it comes to environmental, tax, 
energy, and education issues, he has been a strong voice in Congress.
  One of the greatest legacies of Senator Graham is the Florida 
Everglades. The rich flora and fauna of the Everglades were threatened 
by development, but then-Governor Graham pushed through legislation to 
protect it. Future generations of Americans who visit the Everglades 
should remember his contribution to saving this national heritage.


                              John Breaux

  Madam President, Senator John Breaux is a voice of moderation and 
bipartisanship. He helped pass landmark welfare reform under a previous 
administration, and has consistently been able to work with Members of 
the other side of the aisle whether his party has been in the majority 
or minority.
  His commonsense approach to energy legislation and many other issues 
will certainly be missed. He helped defeat the Btu tax which was so 
injurious to the energy industry in both my State of Texas and his 
State of Louisiana.
  Senator Breaux was the youngest Member of the House of 
Representatives when he was elected, at age 28, in 1972. He served in 
the House for 14 years before being elected to fill the legendary 
Senator Russell Long seat in 1986. You would think Washington would 
change someone after all that time, but John is still a Cajun through 
and through and sees the world with a sense of humor that keeps 
everything in perspective.
  I will miss John Breaux. He was often an ally on transportation, 
energy, and telecommunications issues. Even when we were on opposite 
sides in a debate, he brought wisdom, experience, and a willingness to 
work in a bipartisan fashion to the Senate.
  And no, John, Louisiana cannot annex Texas.


                              John Edwards

  Madam President, we must also say farewell to a freshman Senator who 
is now a household name in the United States. No one who has met John 
Edwards can fail to like him and respect him.
  Senator Edwards rose from humble beginnings to come close to being 
elected Vice President of the United States. The first member of his 
family to gain a college education, he went on to earn a law degree 
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He built a hugely 
successful law practice before he entered public service.
  Senator Edwards was a chief sponsor of the bipartisan Patient 
Protection Act, strong and far-reaching patient protection legislation 
that passed the Senate in 2001. He has a long career ahead of him and 
will do well on whatever path he takes.
  Finally, I want to let Senator Edwards know that he and his wife 
Elizabeth are in my prayers every day.


                              Zell Miller

  Madam President, it is hard to say how much I appreciate Zell Miller, 
a proud Democrat and a great American. Senator Miller's early life was 
not easy. He grew up in the hills of Georgia where people may not have 
had much but they worked hard and had strong families and solid values. 
He pulled a stint in the U.S. Marines, which he said put him on the 
right path in life. His colorful career in Georgia politics included 
two terms as Governor. When U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell, my great 
friend, died unexpectedly, Zell Miller was appointed until a special 
election could be held, which he won handily.
  After he arrived in Washington, Senator Miller was one of the few who 
not only talked the talk of bipartisanship but walked the walk. During 
the war on terror, he advised bipartisan action on the Homeland 
Security bill. He called for bipartisan support for traditional 
American values, a lower tax burden, and a strong American defense.
  I think the verdict on Senator Miller's stand for old-time Democratic 
values has been vindicated, first in the 2002 elections and lastly in 
the 2004 elections. Someone who is being friendly tells you things you 
want to hear, but a true friend is one who tells you things he thinks 
you should hear. Zell Miller is that kind of friend to both Democrats 
and Republicans. He will be missed in this August body, as one of those 
who told it like it is, straight from the heart.
  Madam President, I will miss all of my colleagues. As we take the 
opportunity to go forward in a new Congress, we will make new friends, 
but we will never forget the old ones.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri.

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