[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12609-12610]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     SENATOR TED STEVENS OF ALASKA

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, on April 13, 2007, my dear friend and 
colleague Senator Ted Stevens became the longest serving Republican 
Senator in the history of this body. Today, I would like to pay tribute 
to my friend and his more than 38 years of service to our Nation and 
the people of Alaska.
  I have known and worked with Ted for over 34 years. We have served 
together on the Appropriations, Budget, and Homeland Security and 
Government Affairs Committees and many others. Ted and I have been in 
the Senate together for so long some of the committees on which we 
served no longer exist. We have collaborated on more pieces of 
legislation than I can remember and worked to resolve many issues. Most 
recently, I was thankful for his hard work in the effort to open the 
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and increase the strategic security of 
the country.
  I am happy to say Ted has made the trip to New Mexico and I to Alaska 
so we could appreciate the needs of each

[[Page 12610]]

other's home States. I have also had the pleasure of taking several 
trips with Ted abroad, some more enjoyable than others. One that stands 
out in my mind is the fact-finding trip we took to North Korea several 
years ago to better understand the threat that nation poses to the 
world. I don't believe many people can say they have traveled there, 
even fewer can say they did it with Ted Stevens. I am very thankful I 
can.
  I think it is safe to say Ted has had a remarkable life and career, 
born in Indianapolis, he has lived in California, Oregon, and Montana--
finally settling in his beloved Alaska. During the Second World War, 
Ted left college to join the Army Air Corps and became a decorated 
pilot. After the war Ted attended Harvard Law School, became a U.S. 
Attorney, worked in the Department of the Interior, started his own law 
firm, and was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives. For most 
individuals these accomplishments, all before he came to the Senate, 
would have marked a full and successful life. However, for Ted it was 
just the beginning and I believe this Nation is lucky it was.
  After serving with Ted for so many years I know of no one who cares 
more about the people of Alaska and this Nation or serves either with 
more dedication and distinction. I would like to personally thank Ted 
for his friendship and hope to have the honor of serving alongside him 
for many years to come.

                          ____________________