[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 11544-11545]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        FAREWELL TO SENATE PAGES

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I would like to again say farewell this 
morning to a wonderful group of young men and women who have served as 
Senate pages over the last 5 months and thank them for their 
contributions to the day-to-day operations of the Senate. This 
particular group of pages has served with distinction, and they have 
done a marvelous job of balancing their responsibilities to their 
studies and to this body. Today is their final day as Senate pages.
  I want to say thank you to Andrew Blais of Rhode Island; Katherine 
Buck of New Hampshire; Sam Cannon of Utah; Erin Chase of South Dakota; 
Eric Coykendall of Arizona; Julie Cyr of Vermont; Joe Galli of Maine; 
Watson Hemrick of Tennessee; Jennifer Hirsch of Arkansas; Garrett 
Jackson of Mississippi; Kara Johnson of Illinois; Ben Kappelman of 
Montana; Andrew Knox of Vermont; Adam Lathan of Alabama; Betsy Lefholz 
of South Dakota; Brittney Moraski of Michigan; Alex Ogden of North 
Carolina; Jaclyn Pfaehler of Montana; Aaron Porter of Tennessee; Ingrid 
Price of Utah; Laura Pritchard of Virginia; Laura Refsland of 
Wisconsin; Ryan Smith of Kentucky; Kyra Waitley of Idaho; Nathanael 
Whipple of California; and Elizabeth Wright of Montana.
  I suspect few people understand how hard Senate pages work. On a 
typical day, pages are in school by 6:15 a.m. After several hours of 
classes each morning, pages then report to the Capitol to prepare the 
Senate Chamber for the day's session.
  Throughout the day, and sometimes into the night, pages are called 
upon to perform a wide array of tasks, from obtaining copies of 
documents and reports for Senators to use during debate, to running 
errands between the Capitol and the Senate office buildings, to lending 
a hand at our weekly conference luncheons. Once we finish our business 
here for the day, no matter what time, the pages return to the dorm and 
prepare for the next day's classes and Senate session and, we hope, get 
some much-needed sleep.
  Despite this rigorous schedule, these young people continually 
discharge their tasks efficiently and cheerfully. In fact, as one page 
said, ``We like working hard. When things get hectic, that's when we 
like it best.''
  This page class had the good fortune to witness some historic 
moments. They saw President Bush present the Congressional Gold Medal 
to Dorothy Height, one of the giants of the modern civil rights 
movement in America. They were present for important debates in this 
chamber over such critical issues as the budget and the wars in Iraq 
and Afghanistan. They have seen, and had their photos taken with, 
celebrities, including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Two days ago, 
they saw another famous visitor, the actor Mike Myers, better known to 
some as ``Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery.''
  I hope the close-up view that these exceptional young people have had 
of the Senate at work these last few

[[Page 11545]]

months has made this institution a little bit less of a mystery. Our 
Government ``of the people, by the people, and for the people'' 
requires the active involvement of informed citizens to work.
  I understand that many, if not most, of this semester's pages have 
decided to volunteer on political campaigns, both Republican and 
Democratic, when they return home. I am told the campaigns run the 
gamut from local school board candidates to Senate candidates.
  I am sure I speak for all Senators when I say, we applaud your 
continued involvement in the democratic process. And we wish you well 
in all that you choose to do in your future. We hope we will see some 
of you back here some day, as staffers, or as Senators. We are grateful 
for the excellent work you have already given the Senate these past 5 
months.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Alabama.
  Mr. SESSIONS. I thank the distinguished Democratic leader for his 
excellent remarks. They are timely, and I would join in them. The pages 
have added so much to the Senate's ability to function. We appreciate 
them. I know Adam Lathan from Alabama has been a big help to me, and 
each Senator has had pages who have helped tremendously. I think it 
appropriate we express our appreciation at this time for their superb 
service.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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