[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 24005-24008]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  WYOMING AND MY VISION FOR THE FUTURE

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to address this body and 
our Nation in my first official speech as Wyoming's newest Senator. 
Today I share

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with you how I got here, who I am, what I believe, my vision for the 
future, and what I hope to accomplish.
  All of us in this body and everyone in the State of Wyoming lost a 
great friend when we lost Senator Craig Thomas. I have heard it in this 
Chamber on both sides of the aisle and throughout this building, and I 
have heard it all around Wyoming: We have lost a great friend. Susan 
Thomas and the memory of Craig Thomas have been recognized all across 
Wyoming this summer at rodeos, county fairs, the State fair, parades, 
and at special events. The new visitors center at the Grand Teton 
National Park has appropriately been named in his honor.
  Craig was a forceful and courageous voice for his constituents. He 
always did what he saw as right for Wyoming and right for America. He 
was a cowboy and a marine. The Marines say ``Semper fidelis.'' Craig 
Thomas was always faithful. God, country, and Wyoming--that was Craig 
Thomas. He has left huge boots to fill. No one can truly do it. I am 
very honored to be the person to succeed Senator Thomas. I am humbled 
to be given the opportunity and the responsibility to represent the 
people of Wyoming in the U.S. Senate.
  Wyoming is the Equality State. It is a State of high altitude and low 
multitude and a State of great natural beauty blessed with remarkable 
mineral resources.
  The law in Wyoming says a Senate vacancy must be filled by the 
Governor from a list of three names. The three names are supplied by 
the central committee of the political party where the vacancy 
occurred.
  Thirty-one Republicans in Wyoming applied for this Senate seat. The 
number was then reduced to 10, and then 5, and then 3 by a series of 
speeches and forums. The Governor then made his selection from the 
three finalists. I am very grateful to Gov. Dave Freudenthal for the 
confidence he and the people of Wyoming have placed in me.
  During the selection process, I made a simple pledge to the people of 
Wyoming: I told them they could count on me to show up, to stand up, to 
speak up, and then to shut up. I would show up early for work and be 
here for votes. I would show up at home in Wyoming on weekends to 
listen to people and to host a town meeting in every county by Labor 
Day and to show up when people from Wyoming visit the Capitol. As Craig 
Thomas did, I will only work in Washington but continue to live in 
Wyoming.
  I will stand up--stand up for Wyoming people and Wyoming values, 
stand up against big government and Washington's one-size-fits-all 
approach, stand up against those who try to take away the rights of 
Wyoming people. And I will speak up--speak up for limited government, 
lower taxes, and fewer regulations, speak up for a strong defense and 
secure borders, and speak up to make Wyoming values the values for all 
of America. And then I will shut up. That is because words are no 
substitute for action, and the most important thing a Senator can do is 
listen to Wyoming people, their hopes, their dreams, their concerns for 
themselves, their children, their families, their communities, and for 
all of Wyoming, and because the best things about Wyoming and America 
don't need long speeches but are expressed in single words: freedom, 
justice, honor, duty, compassion, hope, opportunity, life, and liberty.
  I have kept my pledge to visit every county in Wyoming before Labor 
Day and listen to people. I have held 30 town meetings and heard from 
thousands of people. Many brought their children. I have heard about 
their hopes for their families, their communities, Wyoming, and our 
Nation. And I have heard about their dreams for our future.
  Parents in Wyoming want what all parents want for their children: the 
opportunity for a better life. It is what all of our parents wanted for 
us.
  My dad had to quit school in ninth grade because of the Depression. 
He fought in World War II. He was in the Battle of the Bulge. As a 
cement finisher, he did backbreaking work to put food on the table for 
the family. That is where I really learned about hard work, by pushing 
wheelbarrows of heavy, wet cement every summer in high school and 
college.
  Every day growing up, my dad would say: You should thank God every 
day you live in America. You don't know how fortunate you are. It is 
the same lesson I try to pass on to my children Peter and Emma, because 
in America, through hard work, even the son of a cement finisher can 
have the opportunity to serve in the U.S. Senate.
  My dad would have been 90 when I was sworn in. We lost him 2 years 
ago. I had his dog tags from World War II in my pocket when I took the 
oath of office.
  Now, my mom's lesson was different. Since the day I started 
kindergarten, my mom would always say: This year, this one right now, 
is the most important year of your life. What she was saying is that 
whatever you are doing, focus on it, do it right because the future 
depends on what you are doing today. In the Senate, I want to spend 
this next year, this most important year, working for a better future 
for our families--the families of Wyoming and the families of America.
  In Wyoming, many people refer to me as Wyoming's doctor. For over two 
decades, folks have invited me into their homes with statewide 
television and radio health reports. I give people information on how 
to stay healthy and how to keep down the cost of their medical care. I 
end each report by saying: ``Here in Wyoming, I am Dr. John Barrasso, 
helping you care for yourself.'' That is also my philosophy for 
Government--helping people help themselves.
  I believe there is a role for Government, but that role must be 
limited. Government should not do for people what they can and should 
do for themselves. Nor should Government put obstacles in the way of 
people pursuing their American dream. Limited Government means limited 
in size, limited in scope, and limited in spending--limited but 
effective. That means a government that gives us value for our tax 
dollars.
  Speaking of values, to me that means families, schools, communities, 
and charities. I believe, as Ronald Reagan believed, we should rely 
more on ourselves and less on our Government. That is why I will 
champion legislation to cut wasteful spending and to make sure 
taxpayers get value for their money.
  Now, some may wonder why and how an orthopedic surgeon became 
interested in serving his community in elective office. As a high 
school senior, I attended a program right here on Capitol Hill. The 
program is called A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans. It is 
the Nation's premier program in civic education. Both of my children 
have attended. This past year, 50 Wyoming students attended on 
scholarships. I would enthusiastically recommend A Presidential 
Classroom for Young Americans to any high school student.
  I have been privileged to serve in the Wyoming State legislature. It 
is a true citizen's legislature. Through the years, it has been a great 
training ground for the folks Wyoming sends to Washington. During my 
two terms in the Wyoming State Senate, I built a reputation for getting 
the job done by working with members of both parties. That includes 
being a strong advocate for our veterans and members of the National 
Guard, working to keep our roads safer for young drivers, and reducing 
the tax burden on all the people of Wyoming by eliminating the sales 
tax from groceries.
  I was one of the original sponsors of the Hathaway scholarship 
program. The Hathaway scholarship is designed to give opportunity for 
all Wyoming high school students to further their education at the 
University of Wyoming or one of our community colleges. It is a way we 
used our State's mineral wealth to invest in our people and in our 
future. The original bill was introduced by four State senators, two 
Republicans and two Democrats. Members of the senate and members of the 
house improved the bill considerably. The bill was signed by Governor 
Freudenthal, a Democrat, and named for former Governor Hathaway, a 
Republican. It is a great example of members of both parties working 
together

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to improve the quality of life for our citizens.
  Now, as a Senator, I will continue to work with all people, 
regardless of party, on issues that are important to the people of 
Wyoming. As one of only two physicians in the Senate, people are 
already coming to me to ask about health issues. Well, health issues go 
way beyond a twisted knee or a painful shoulder. The concerns include 
those of people living longer and needing care; the concerns of access 
to care, of affordable care; the concerns of substance abuse and mental 
health; and the concerns of what to do with a sick child or elderly 
parents when the caregivers are not available because they are working 
full time, and sometimes more. This country deserves a serious 
discussion on our health care needs and our health care system. I will 
be actively engaged in that discussion, along with my Wyoming Senate 
partner, Mike Enzi.
  Craig Thomas knew that rural States such as Wyoming have special 
needs when it comes to health care. He was cochair of the Rural Health 
Caucus for over 10 years. There are obstacles that our hospitals and 
providers must overcome to deliver quality care to families in an 
environment with limited resources. The week he passed away, Senator 
Thomas was set to reintroduce a followup health care bill, along with 
Senators Roberts, Conrad, and Harkin. This bill has been renamed the 
Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act. I will ask to 
cosponsor the legislation and to join the Rural Health Caucus.
  While health care is near and dear to my heart, I am very pleased to 
be serving on three committees that are critical to Wyoming. So much of 
Wyoming's heritage and Wyoming's future is tied to our land, our 
people, and our natural resources. Wyoming has been represented on the 
Energy and Natural Resources Committee for over a century. I am 
grateful that my Republican colleagues recognized that long tradition 
and allowed me to keep Wyoming's voice on the committee.
  The Environment and Public Works Committee also has a major influence 
on daily activities in the Equality State, and the Select Committee on 
Indian Affairs will allow me to continue to serve the needs of our 
Native American citizens, as I have done before as a trauma surgeon.
  Energy, Public Lands, and the National Parks are all vital to our 
State's economy and our Nation's. I will work to make sure that public 
lands remain open to multiple use, while at the same time ensuring our 
environment is protected.
  As an outdoorsman and a conservationist, Craig Thomas worked on two 
bills affecting the western part of Wyoming that were very close to his 
heart. While he is not here to carry on the work, the work needs to 
continue as part of his legacy. One is called the Snake River 
Headwaters Legacy Act of 2007. The bill, S. 1281, designates sections 
of the Snake River and several tributaries as ``wild and scenic.'' This 
will create a lasting legacy for Wyoming people and for future 
generations. The designation of wild and scenic announces to the world 
that this river is the best of the best.
  The legislation he was working on also ensures that access, multiple 
use, and private property rights are not restricted. As a tribute to 
Senator Thomas, and in recognition of his years of leadership in the 
Senate, and specifically the Energy Committee, I will ask that my name 
be attached to S. 1281. I will work hard for passage of the bill that 
achieves Senator Thomas's vision, while balancing the concerns shared 
with me during August by private landowners and the agriculture 
community in Wyoming.
  The second bill affecting the western part of Wyoming deals with a 
very special area named the Wyoming range. The Wyoming range is part of 
the Bridger-Teton National Forest. As a strong supporter of multiple 
use, Senator Thomas still believed there are areas of our State that 
are so sensitive that they must be protected from development. In 2005, 
Senator Thomas said:

       We ought to seek a balance of energy development and 
     conservation. We can have both. Wyoming's economy is thriving 
     because of the positive role of energy in our State. And most 
     folks live in Wyoming because of our outstanding natural 
     resources and quality of life.

  A bill to protect the Wyoming range was in the final stages of 
development when Senator Thomas died. I had talked with him about it. I 
have his draft bills. I have visited the Wyoming range and listened to 
those whom the legislation affects. I am completing that work and will 
soon be introducing a bill in the Senate to protect the undeveloped 
areas of the Wyoming range from any future oil and gas leasing. My 
legislation is intended to achieve that goal while respecting private 
property rights that currently exist in the Wyoming range.
  When I think of the history of our great State, I am reminded of one 
rugged individualist who loved Wyoming--Teddy Roosevelt. We take our 
kids to Mt. Rushmore to see his face chiseled into the mountain, along 
with Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson. He gave a speech at the 
University of Wyoming about 100 years ago. There were 10,000 people in 
the crowd. Now, back then, that was a huge number for a sparsely 
populated State. He said:

       People of Wyoming, I believe in you and in your future. The 
     government can only supplement the work of the individual. 
     The work of the individual depends on the character of the 
     individual.

  Here we are, 100 years later, and the lesson is still the same: The 
Government can only supplement the work of the individual. It is the 
same message Ronald Reagan delivered in Cheyenne, WY, 25 years ago. He 
talked of why he loved the frontier spirit of the West. He said:

       Wyoming is a place where people are still sure that the 
     future is ours to shape.

  Still sure that the future is ours to shape. In Wyoming, we do 
believe the future is ours to shape. To shape the future, you need to 
have a vision for the future. I can see a specific future for Wyoming 
that helps all Americans. Imagine a future where America breaks its 
dependence on foreign energy. Imagine a future of affordable domestic 
sources of energy. Imagine a future where we solve the issue of carbon 
emission. And imagine a future where we can accomplish all of this 
while we protect the environment. That is the future I see for America, 
and that is the future I see for Wyoming.
  Wyoming is blessed with incredible resources--coal, natural gas, oil, 
and alternative sources of energy, with wind leading the list. The 
University of Wyoming's School of Energy Resources is prepared to 
become the leading energy research institute in the world, converting 
coal to liquid, converting coal to gas, pumping carbon dioxide back 
into the earth to enhance our ability to get more oil.
  The world's most powerful computer is being assembled in Wyoming to 
help make this possible. We can and we will do it while preserving the 
natural beauty and the wildlife of our State. That is the future I see 
for Wyoming.
  As a Senator from Wyoming, I am always asking myself: What can I do 
today for Wyoming's future? I will tell you what I heard at 30 town 
meetings since I have been sworn in. What I heard is: Fight for 
Wyoming, fight every day, fight for our future, fight for quality 
education for our children, fight for quality jobs for our families, 
fight for health care, and fight for our core values--the values that 
come from within us, from our families, our communities, and how we 
were raised. That is what I plan to do every day because, like my mom's 
lesson, this is our most important year.
  Mr. President, I conclude by thanking the Members of the Senate who 
have all been so gracious in making me feel so welcome. I also want to 
tell you I feel very blessed. I am blessed with a wonderful team of 
Wyoming folks with whom I serve--Vice President Cheney, Senator Enzi, 
and Representative Cubin. I am blessed with a wonderful staff, who 
served with Senator Thomas. And I am blessed with a wonderful family--
my children Peter and Emma--and the love of my life, Bobbi Brown, and 
her daughter Hadley.
  Bobbi is a breast cancer survivor. She is a remarkable person. At 
last month's Race for the Cure in Wyoming, we announced our engagement. 
I joked

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with the crowd that I believed if I ever made anything out of myself I 
would ask Bobbi to marry me. The newspaper headline told the story: 
``Barrasso proposes--Brown says yes.'' And I am very grateful.
  There is a passage in the Bible, a letter from Paul to Timothy, which 
says:

       In the end, he fought the good fight, he finished the race, 
     he kept the faith.

  As I enter the Senate, it is my goal to fight the good fight, to 
finish the race, and to keep the faith--faith in God, faith in my 
family, faith in Wyoming, and faith in America.
  With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The minority leader.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I am hard pressed to remember a time 
when I complimented a Democratic Governor for a great appointment, but 
I think I will have to say once again that the Governor of Wyoming made 
an outstanding selection in picking our new friend John Barrasso to 
replace our late and beloved colleague Craig Thomas.
  I have heard a few maiden speeches. Actually, some people on the 
floor right now have made their initial Senate speeches in the last few 
years, but I believe we just heard one of the best. So I want to add, 
on behalf of all the Republican conference, our congratulations to 
Senator Barrasso on an outstanding opening address.
  He pointed out that one of his specialties, which is greatly needed 
around here, is the fact he is a physician. That is extremely 
important. So your skill set, in addition to your leadership abilities, 
is certainly welcomed here in the Senate.
  Mr. President, I congratulate our colleague from Wyoming on a great 
maiden speech and welcome him once again to the Senate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from Wyoming.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I, too, congratulate my colleague on his 
official first speech, so I will officially give my first welcome. He 
and I and the people of Wyoming know this is not his first speech, and 
definitely not his first effort. He has been helping people in Wyoming. 
He gave up a great orthopedic practice that he founded, which is a 
disappointment to a lot of people in Wyoming who were actually still 
hoping they would have an operation from him. But because of the 
quickness of the appointment, he was back here, ready to work, and at 
work. He has done a phenomenal job since he has been here.
  I am glad to have the help explaining Wyoming, as he did so aptly in 
this speech. There is a lot of work to be done here, teaching the East 
about the West so they understand better that one size fits all does 
not work.
  I have been across Wyoming and talking with my colleagues here 
explaining what a hard worker and a fast learner the new Senator is. He 
has certainly proven that on his own. He did mention the 30 town 
meetings he held prior to September 1. That leaves out a lot. Besides 
30 town meetings, he had meetings with officials, he had meetings with 
special groups, he went to a lot of events. He was even in a bocce ball 
tournament in Cheyenne, where he narrowly lost to the reporter who 
wrote a wonderful three-page article after that.
  When we talk about 30 town meetings in Wyoming, we are talking about 
one of the bigger States in the United States. We are a small 
population, but we are a big State. To get to those people you have to 
travel a lot of miles and talk to a lot of small groups. He does that 
willingly. He shows up at everything. I am pretty sure, by my count, he 
was in Jackson six times during August. Jackson is on the far side of 
the State where the Grand Tetons are. We hope everybody in America 
visits there and visits there frequently. It is just on the south of 
the Yellowstone, which is even a little better known, but it is on the 
far side of the State. It is very difficult to get to from anywhere in 
Wyoming. It is pretty easy to get to from Houston or Atlanta or 
Minneapolis, but it is very difficult to get to from Wyoming. He was 
there six times. That means traveling probably 250 miles a trip, each 
way, to get there, and then to get back on schedule, meeting with the 
constituents with whom he promised to meet. That is the kind of 
dedication he has. He did a marvelous job of answering questions, 
gathering information. He is a good listener, but he is also a good 
doer.
  He served in the State senate. That has been a training ground for 
people who have served here for years. That legislative experience 
makes a difference in how fast you can adjust to the way things operate 
here compared to the way things operate in the State legislature--
compared to not knowing about either one of them. He had some marvelous 
achievements while he was in the State. He has mentioned some things he 
wants to get done here. Watch out for him. He will get those done. Help 
him out. They are worth doing.
  He is a tremendous asset to the Senate, and I am very proud to 
welcome him as my colleague and part of the delegation.
  I yield the floor.

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