[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[SEN]
[Pages 401-403]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING SENATORIAL SERVICE

 Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, it is an honor indeed to pay tribute 
to a number of fine individuals who I am fortunate to call not just my 
colleagues, but also dear friends: Senators Bill Frist, George Allen, 
Conrad Burns, Lincoln Chafee, Mike DeWine, Rick Santorum and Jim 
Talent.


                               Bill Frist

  One of the greatest losses to the Senate is the departure of our 
majority leader, Dr. Bill Frist. I first became acquainted with Bill 
when he called me during my time as president of the American Red Cross 
to say that he would travel to Africa with us to volunteer as a 
surgeon.
  Back then, I immediately recognized Bill's intelligence, integrity 
and compassion for others. I saw how dedicated he was about sound 
policy--especially health care policy--and how dedicated he was to 
helping those most in need, whether they be in America, in Africa, or 
anywhere in the world. And I saw how his colleagues quickly came to 
respect him, to rely on his judgment, and to value his counsel.
  In the fall of 2001, when terrorism hit home in the United States 
Capitol, we saw how Bill's colleagues immediately turned to him for his 
guidance and expertise, and Bill responded to the challenge. For 
example, he quickly transformed his Senate website into the best source 
of information for Senate staff on the issues surrounding possible 
anthrax exposure. And he was willing to speak with each and every 
Member of the Senate community to allay concerns with accurate medical 
information. Bill utilized his expertise to write legislation to help 
protect the entire Nation from the scourge of bioterrorism.
  For the past 2 years, I was honored to serve as a member of Bill's 
leadership team. As our leader, Bill displayed extraordinary integrity, 
care and thoughtfulness in dealing with every Senator, and he worked 
tirelessly to bring together his colleagues for the betterment of our 
Nation.
  Bill's record of achievement as our majority leader is exemplary. As 
a result of his steady leadership, we succeeded in securing historic 
tax relief that has helped put more money in the pockets of hard-
working Americans while paving the way for today's stunning economic 
recovery. His leadership improved life for our seniors by lowering the 
cost of prescription drugs. He helped spearhead important reforms of 
our tort system and bankruptcy code. Under Bill's leadership, we passed 
a comprehensive energy bill that reduces our reliance on foreign oil. 
And to help keep our Nation's fiscal house in order, Bill led the fight 
to pass a landmark deficit reduction plan that put some brakes on 
mandatory Federal spending. Perhaps most importantly, Bill's leadership 
was indispensable in helping place men and women on our Federal courts, 
including the United States Supreme Court, who will strictly interpret 
the law rather than try to legislate from the bench.
  During Bill's 12 years in the Senate, our Nation faced many 
challenges and many changes. But Bill retained his strong sense of 
direction, his dedication to reaching out to those most in need, and 
his devotion to his family--Karyn, Harrison, Jonathan, and Bryan. As he 
has done in medicine and in public service, I know that in future 
endeavors Bill will continue to serve and help his fellow man.


                              George Allen

  It has also been a privilege to serve alongside my good friend and 
colleague, Senator George Allen. In the Senate, George built on an 
already remarkable record of service to the people of Virginia, where 
he served as a Member of the House of Delegates, a Member of the U.S. 
House of Representatives and as one of the most respected and 
successful Governors in the history of the Commonwealth.
  As a Senator, George continued his common sense, ``Jeffersonian'' 
style of conservative leadership. He proved time and again that he is a 
tremendous ally of Virginia's defense communities and military 
families. In 2005, George was a strong proponent of helping families of 
fallen soldiers by raising the death gratuity for next-of-kin from 
$12,000 to $100,000. And as a member of the Commerce Committee, George 
Allen was the Senate leader in working to maintain America's 
competitive advantage in technology and innovation. George founded the 
Senate Competitiveness Caucus to promote an agenda that ensures that 
the United States continues to create high paying jobs and produce the 
very best engineers and scientists in the world.
  One of George's best attributes as a Senator was that he did more 
than just talk the talk--George delivered real results. He advocated 
for increased funding for math and science education, in particular at 
historically black colleges and other minority institutions. He has 
been a leader in the Senate on improving health savings accounts by 
increasing the amount individuals can contribute each year to their 
HSAs, thus allowing them to save more money for current and future 
health care needs. George also secured more than $3.5 million in 
Federal funding for cutting-edge nanotechnology research and 
development. And he led the fight to ban Internet access taxes and make 
the internet tax moratorium permanent, as he understands that saddling 
consumers with high taxes will stifle innovation and expand the digital 
divide.
  Throughout his career, George Allen has served the people of Virginia 
with courage and distinction, and he has provided a wonderful example 
for public servants who follow in his footsteps.

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I wish all the best to George, his dear wife Susan, and their three 
children.


                              Conrad Burns

  For the past 18 years, Montanans were extremely fortunate to be 
represented by Conrad Burns. There is no question that Conrad delivered 
time and again for the people of his State.
  As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Conrad secured 
more than $2 billion in Federal funds for Montana. And as chairman of 
the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, he was a tireless 
advocate of programs that benefit all Montanans, such as protecting 
drinking water and defending his State's wilderness and wildlife. 
Conrad also fought hard for Malmstrom Air Force Base and Montana's 
military presence during the base realignment and closure process in 
2005.
  As chairman of the communications subcommittee of the Commerce 
Committee, Conrad fought for deregulation and new Internet and mobile 
phone technologies. And he worked to ensure that rural Montana 
communities have access to the technologies that will keep them 
competitive in today's global marketplace.
  Throughout his time in the Senate, Conrad was a strong proponent of 
government accountability, fiscal responsibility and lower taxes. He 
worked diligently to decrease America's dependence on foreign oil. And 
he was an early backer of the Medicare prescription drug benefit that 
is now helping millions of seniors afford their medicines.
  Conrad's legacy will live on, across Montana, and in the halls of the 
Senate, long after he has shut the door to his office. He leaves behind 
an extraordinary record of service to the people of his State. My 
warmest wishes to my friend Conrad Burns, his wife Phyllis, and their 
family.


                             Lincoln Chafee

  Senator Lincoln Chafee also will be greatly missed in this Chamber. 
Lin served the people of Rhode Island with the utmost honor, integrity 
and compassion.
  I have great respect for Lin Chafee for his commitment to the 
principles of personal freedom, individual responsibility and fiscal 
discipline. Well-known for his reputation as a fierce deficit hawk, he 
has been a vocal advocate for responsible government spending, and a 
strong supporter of abolishing the marriage tax penalty and increasing 
the child tax credit. Linc also took a very active interest in 
promoting the health care of women and children.
  Lincoln Chafee also has been tirelessly dedicated to improving his 
home state. As a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and 
Public Works, he secured more than $1 billion in Federal funding for 
Rhode Island's infrastructure, including the Warwick Station project 
and the development of the East Providence shoreline. And as chairman 
of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Water, he worked 
diligently to protect air and water quality in his State.
  Linc was a principled, independent Member, adamant about doing what 
he believed was right for the families he represented. Throughout his 
Senate career, he demonstrated a willingness to listen to all sides of 
an issue and work with members of both political parties. He is a man 
who speaks his mind, votes his conscience, and treats others with the 
dignity and respect they deserve.
  Linc is a refreshing politician, a diligent public servant, and a 
devoted family man to his wife Stephanie and their three children. It 
goes without saying that my colleagues in the Senate--and the people of 
Rhode Island--will greatly miss Senator Lincoln Chafee.


                              Mike DeWine

  Among the Senate's most effective legislators, Senator Mike DeWine of 
Ohio will use his many talents and expertise to tackle new endeavors. 
Mike's career is truly an American success story. As a boy, he learned 
the values of hard work and perseverance in the fields and the mill of 
his family's small agricultural business in Yellow Springs, OH. It is 
those principles that have guided him throughout a stellar career in 
public service, in which he has served as prosecutor, an Ohio State 
Senator, a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and as 
Lieutenant Governor.
  As a Senator, Mike made his mark in a number of policy areas. He was 
a strong proponent of education and children's health care. In 
particular, he advocated for children's hospitals because he 
understands that these hospitals are important centers for pediatric 
research.
  During more than a decade of service on the Senate Intelligence 
Committee, Mike worked doggedly to investigate intelligence failures 
and revamp our intelligence community. As the chairman of the 
Retirement Security and Aging Subcommittee of the HELP Committee, he 
focused his efforts on modernizing our Nation's pension system. And as 
the first Ohio Senator in six decades to serve on the Appropriations 
Committee, Mike was committed to ensuring that our Nation's first 
responders have the resources they need. On the Judiciary Committee, 
Mike took the lead on a number of antiterror and anticrime initiatives, 
such as the Patriot Act, as well as proposals to curb drunk driving, to 
help keep all Americans safe.
  Perhaps what I admire most about Mike is that this terrific father of 
eight, and grandfather of nine, always puts his family first. As a 
public servant, Mike has used his positions to contribute to the 
greater good, and he has brilliantly served the people of Ohio 
throughout his career. May God bless Mike DeWine, his wife Fran, and 
their family for many, many years to come.


                             Rick Santorum

  It goes without saying that it pulls at my heartstrings to bid 
farewell to Senator Rick Santorum. On issue after issue--tax relief, 
education, affordable health care, national security Rick has stood 
tall for Pennsylvanians and all Americans.
  Rick is a man of conviction, deep faith, and integrity--qualities 
instilled in him growing up in Pennsylvania as the son of an Italian 
immigrant. He doesn't beat around the bush, and you never have to 
wonder where he stands. His word is his bond, and he expresses his 
views with great passion and expertise.
  Since his early days in the Senate, Rick was an inspirational leader. 
One of the qualities I admired most about him as a legislator was that 
he never was one to dodge the tough issues; in fact, he readily took 
the lead on those issues and set out to find solutions to very serious 
challenges. For example, he spearheaded the passage of welfare reform 
in 1996, which to date has helped more than 1 million Americans go from 
receiving welfare checks to paychecks. Rick fought hard for No Child 
Left Behind, and as a result, today math and reading scores in 
Pennsylvania schools are on the rise. He also fought hard to ensure 
that all Pennsylvanians have access to high quality, affordable health 
care. He is a strong supporter of Federal cancer research, including 
increased funding for breast cancer research. And he led the charge to 
reform our medical malpractice laws to curb lawsuit abuse and ensure 
that patients continue to receive the critical care they need. Rick 
also recognizes that hard-earned dollars belong to families and small 
businesses, not Uncle Sam.
  In addition, Rick was one of Congress's most dedicated and 
knowledgeable Members when it came to developing antipoverty 
initiatives. He was the driving force behind legislation that would 
provide a tremendous boost to charitable-giving through a series of 
targeted tax incentives aimed at helping the homeless, the drug 
addicted, and the less fortunate in our society. And he committed 
himself to working to eradicate the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. In short, 
Rick Santorum is the embodiment of what it means to be a compassionate 
conservative.
  Rick was so attentive to the needs of those he represented and always 
put Pennsylvania first. For example, he helped secure $100 million to 
build America's first ever coal to ultra-clean fuel plant in 
Pennsylvania, which not only creates jobs but also provides more 
affordable energy and benefits the environment. I often joked with Rick 
that he should hold another title, the ``Mayor of Pennsylvania.'' It's 
no surprise that he made it a point each

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year to visit all of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. On so many issues, 
Rick has been a principled advocate for his constituents.
  While Rick works incredibly hard, there is no question that he is 
first and foremost a dedicated family man to his wife Karen and their 
six children. It has been a privilege indeed to work closely with 
Rick--sometimes literally, as our offices were on the same hall. He is 
an all-around class act, and with his numerous accomplishments and 
exemplary record of service to his constituents, he will certainly be a 
tough act to follow.


                               Jim Talent

  Senator Jim Talent has been an outstanding representative of the 
people of Missouri. A dedicated public servant, he served for 8 years 
in the State House of Representatives, as well as 8 years in the U.S. 
House. Jim was the lead author in the House of the landmark 1996 
welfare reform bill that has moved more than a million Americans off 
welfare and into work and self-sufficiency.
  Jim is man of impeccable character and a natural leader, and in the 
Senate he held a number of leadership posts in his freshman term--as 
the chairman of the Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, as the 
chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Marketing, Inspection, and 
Product Promotion, and as a deputy whip. He also demonstrated a 
remarkable ability to make things happen legislatively, with many of 
his bills passed by Congress and signed into law. Jim's amazing 
legislative record reflects not just his abilities but also the respect 
he earned from his colleagues.
  Jim delivered on his promises to Missourians to help create jobs, 
grow the economy and strengthen our national defense. He also worked to 
improve health care, and he advocated on behalf of those who suffer 
from sickle cell disease and breast cancer.
  It has been my pleasure to serve with Jim on the Senate Armed 
Services Committee. I have seen him in action and know that there is no 
one more committed to ensuring that our country's defenses remain 
strong. I was proud to work closely with him to enact legislation to 
prevent predatory lenders from targeting our brave men and women in 
uniform and their families. There is no question that he is a steadfast 
supporter of our service members, their families, and their livelihood.
  This Chamber needs more members like Jim, who understand that the 
only way to really make a difference is to put partisan concerns aside 
and work across the aisle. Throughout his public service career, Jim 
Talent has certainly made a positive difference, and he will surely be 
missed in the U.S. Senate.
  As these men--Bill Frist, George Allen, Conrad Burns, Lincoln Chafee, 
Mike DeWine, Rick Santorum and Jim Talent--conclude their service in 
the U.S. Senate, let me say that I am so proud to have worked with 
individuals of such character, strength, and intellect. Our Nation is 
grateful for their many contributions. And as they each will 
undoubtedly continue to contribute to our country's greatness, their 
leadership and vision will be missed here in the U.S. Senate.

                          ____________________