[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 23616-23618]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO SENATORS


                             pete domenici

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity to pay 
tribute to Pete Domenici, one of the finest Senators I have known and 
one who represents the Senate at its best. Senator Domenici is someone 
whom I respect greatly and whose counsel I have very much appreciated 
over the years. I will miss him very much when he retires at the end of 
this session.
  Senator Domenici and I share many interests, but one above all is our 
deep and abiding interest in the fiscal affairs of our Nation. In the 
world of budgeting, Senator Domenici is a giant. He is, of course, one 
of the pioneers on the Budget Committee. He joined the committee in 
1975, literally a few months after it was created in July 1974. So he 
was there at the beginning, helping to shape and guide this new 
committee.
  He rose to become chairman in 1981, and he served in that capacity 
through 1987 and then again between 1995 and 2001. In 2001, we faced 
the unique circumstance in a closely divided Senate, as he and I traded 
off being chairman and ranking member in that year. In total, Senator 
Domenici has served 34 years on the committee, 12 years as chairman and 
10 years as ranking member--the most distinguished record of any 
Member.
  His impact on the Federal budget and the budget process has been 
unprecedented. He authored many of the Senate's budget rules that we 
use today to protect taxpayers. He also helped author major deficit-
reduction plans during the 1980s and 1990s, as well as the Federal 
Credit Reform Act of 1990 and the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.
  But Senator Domenici will be remembered for more than his service on 
the Budget Committee. He has been a strong and important voice on the 
need to diversify our Nation's energy sources. As chairman of the 
Energy and Natural Resources Committee, he helped enact the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005. He has been a passionate advocate on the issue of 
mental health and has been a leader in pushing for mental health parity 
legislation. Senator Domenici was also one of the architects of the 
Human Genome Project, which I believe people will look back on as one 
of the greatest accomplishments of all time.
  And, of course, Senator Domenici has been a tireless advocate on 
behalf of the citizens of the beautiful State of New Mexico. Born in 
Albuquerque, he is that State's longest serving Senator. As a young 
man, Pete Domenici had many options. At one time, he pitched for the 
Albuquerque Dukes, a farm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and may have 
had aspirations of going to the major leagues. But I am sure that the 
citizens of New Mexico--and, indeed, all of us--are happy that he chose 
the path of public service.
  Let me conclude by saying, and I know that I speak for all of my 
colleagues, how much we respect, admire, and appreciate his service. 
For me personally, it has been an absolute honor to serve along with 
him on the Budget Committee. He has made an extraordinary contribution 
to the work of the Budget Committee, to the Congress, and to the 
country. We will miss him greatly.


                              JOHN WARNER

  Mr. President, it is with real sadness that I bid farewell to one of 
the most distinguished public servants I have known. Over the 22 years 
I have spent in the Senate, I have respected and admired the work of 
the senior Senator from Virginia, John Warner.
  As a veteran of two wars and an unfailingly gracious man, he 
understands the needs of our men and women in uniform and has worked 
diligently to meet them. During his 6 years as the chairman of the 
Armed Services committee, he was always helpful in my efforts to 
improve the quality of life for those serving at military installations 
in my State of North Dakota. I thank him for that.
  In the five decades since Arthur Vandenberg reminded us that partisan 
politics should stop at the water's edge, it has not always been 
possible to live up to that ideal. In a day when there are huge 
disagreements about the best course for our Nation, we cannot always 
present a unified face to the rest of the world. But perhaps more than 
anyone else in the Senate today, John Warner has epitomized that ideal. 
His partnership with the Senator from Michigan, Carl Levin, in their 
leadership of the Armed Services Committee has been an example to all 
of us.
  John has been a tremendous leader in the Senate on military affairs, 
but I have also been proud to work with him on a number of bipartisan 
initiatives. On big issues, Senator Warner always

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puts country before party or ideology. Most recently, he has been a 
valued member of our gang of 20 working on a bipartisan, new era energy 
bill. I regret that we will not be able to finish it before he leaves 
the Senate, but we are proud to count him as part of our current group.
  After 30 years in the Senate, 2 years as Secretary of the Navy, and 
honorable wartime service in both the Navy and Marine Corps, our Nation 
owes a big debt of gratitude to John Warner. He has my great respect 
and my thanks.


                              CHUCK HAGEL

  Mr. President, as this Congress comes to a close we bid a fond 
farewell to our colleague Chuck Hagel. As a Member of this body, Chuck 
is completing 12 years of outstanding service to the people of Nebraska 
and to the country. But I expect that he will find new ways to 
contribute to the mission we all share: making the United States 
stronger, safer, and more prosperous.
  Chuck's first legislative service was as a U.S. Senator. I like to 
think that those of us who were not seasoned legislators when we 
arrived here draw on a diverse set of experiences as we find our way to 
become effective lawmakers. Chuck Hagel's background was probably more 
varied than most--decorated war veteran, businessman, broadcaster, and 
deputy administrator of the Veterans' Administration, just to mention a 
few of the areas in which he has distinguished himself. His successes 
in these many disciplines undoubtedly helped him develop the 
independent voice that we grew accustomed to hearing over his dozen 
years in our midst.
  For several years, we served together on the Budget Committee, a 
legislative environment in which bipartisanship isn't always easy. 
Chuck was always forthright and honest in our sometimes contentious 
deliberations and was never afraid to go where the facts led him--even 
if it meant irritating a colleague on his own side of the aisle.
  We will miss him as a friend and as a fellow Senator, but I expect 
the Nation will hear from Chuck Hagel again. We wish him the best as he 
looks for new challenges.


                              Wayne Allard

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague Senator 
Wayne Allard. Senator Allard is retiring to honor a commitment he made 
to the people of the State of Colorado to serve only two terms. I have 
come to know Senator Allard best as a fellow member of the Budget 
Committee. Even though we often disagreed, I always found him to be a 
true gentleman.
  Born and raised in Colorado, Senator Allard has always been true to 
his roots and has fought to represent the best interests of his State. 
His entry into public service came in 1982 when he was elected to the 
Colorado State senate. While serving in the state legislature, he 
maintained a successful veterinary practice he built with his wife 
Joan.
  Senator Allard's public service has spanned more than two decades. 
After serving in the State legislature, he was elected to the U.S. 
House of Representatives and subsequently the U.S. Senate. During his 
time in the Senate, there are accomplishments that stand out. He 
spearheaded legislation creating the country's 56th national park, the 
Great Sand Dunes National Park. He also took on the extraordinary task 
of overseeing the Capitol Visitors Center as chair of the Legislative 
Branch Appropriations Subcommittee. Finally, he has been a steward of 
the taxpayer and has led by example, returning unspent funds from his 
office account to the U.S. Treasury.
  I wish Senator Allard and his family many happy years ahead and thank 
him for his years of public service.


                              Wayne Allard

  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. Presdient, President Ronald Reagan once said,''Let us 
be sure that those who come after will say of us in our time, that in 
our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race; we 
kept them free; we kept the faith.''
  There can be no question that Senator Wayne Allard's time in public 
office will be remembered by these words both here in this Chamber and 
in his State of Colorado. Wayne will end his career in the U.S. Senate 
because of a self-imposed term limit. He has never once wavered in his 
belief that legislators are citizens first and lawmakers second.
  As one of only two veterinarians in the Senate, I know the void the 
Senate will feel. Leaving a veterinary practice to fight for what is 
right in the U.S. Senate isn't exactly the norm. Wayne and I each made 
this choice and we have stood shoulder to shoulder in legislating for 
the humane treatment of animals. The legislation we put forth against 
animal fighting has become law and has helped law enforcement put away 
individuals who abuse animals. I am sad to see that our small, very 
small, veterinary caucus will leave with Wayne.
  Wayne's commitment to country and freedom is unshakeable, but his 
dedication to fiscal conservatism has made him a hero for taxpayers 
across the country, especially in his State of Colorado. Throughout his 
time here, he has fought to pay down the debt by eliminating programs, 
staying true to the belief that government should steer clear of a 
wasteful spending black hole.
  His efforts on the Appropriations Committee have been committed to 
steering our country toward fiscal responsibility, and his voice will 
be missed.
  I hope this Chamber remembers the role Wayne played in fighting 
against a bloated Federal Government and giving States the rights they 
deserve to manage their own affairs. Let's not let his voice for 
government responsibility fall on deaf ears. The burden of the taxpayer 
rests on our shoulders, and that is even more so now with Wayne's 
departure.
  Wayne has been a voice and a crusader for Colorado, preferring the 
scenery there to that of Washington. He has worked hard to ensure that 
his constituents are as familiar with his face as they are with his 
name. Colorado has greatly benefitted from his leadership, as has this 
country.
  It is with sadness, that I lose my friend here. But I know the impact 
he has had on this body, his State, and our country. I wish him great 
success in his future endeavors. I know he will continue to be an 
advocate for life, liberty, and freedom.
  We will continue to fight for the ideals Wayne came to this body 
hoping to achieve, that ``Government of the people, by the people, for 
the people, shall not perish from the Earth.''


                              JOHN WARNER

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to speak today about my 
good friend and colleague, John Warner, who it has been an honor to 
serve with in the Senate for almost 25 years.
  At age 17, John enlisted in the Navy to serve our country during 
World War II. After that, he attended Washington and Lee University on 
the GI bill and went on to study law at the University of Virginia. In 
1950, he interrupted his legal education to deploy to Korea as a 
marine, eventually attaining the rank of captain before receiving his 
law degree in 1953. Sixteen years later, John was appointed Under 
Secretary of the Navy, and in 1972 rose to become Secretary of the 
Navy. In 1978, the people of Virginia elected him their Senator, and he 
has represented them and the rest of our country with courage and 
dedication for over 30 years.
  In particular, John has fought relentlessly for our men and women in 
uniform in his leadership role as chairman and ranking member of the 
Armed Services Committee. He has always had a special place in his 
heart for our country's veterans. His background as a sailor, marine, 
and Navy Secretary gave him the experience and insight needed to 
address extraordinarily complicated and wide-ranging issues of vital 
importance to our country's defense. Today he is recognized by all as 
one of our country's foremost experts on national security matters, and 
someone whose record of bipartisanship is simply unmatched.
  That is a legend's biography, and through it courses the public 
virtues of service, patriotism, grace and high-mindedness in a way few 
have seen, but I know many will read about.
  On a personal note, one of my fondest memories of John was of a 
debate between us that occurred on the Senate

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floor. It was late one night in June 2006, and I had proposed a 
resolution setting a deadline on our combat presence in Iraq that 
wasn't a popular position at that time. I was clearly outnumbered, and 
the debate became heated and personal. In fact, my plan received only 
13 votes, and Senator Warner wasn't one of them.
  But even in times of disagreement, John had no trouble rising above 
partisan bickering in service of a higher purpose. In the best 
traditions and practices of the Senate, he rose to speak and engaged me 
in a respectful and substantive dialogue on a controversial issue that 
calmed the Senate chamber and I hope informed the American public.
  I want to close by saying that I, the people of Virginia and this 
country are grateful for John's distinguished service and will miss him 
dearly. I wish him and his family my very best and look forward to 
continuing to receive his wise counsel in the years ahead.


                              Chuck Hagel

  Mr. President, for the past 12 years, I have had the privilege of 
serving in the Senate with my friend Chuck Hagel. Upon his retirement 
from the Senate, I wanted to take a moment to tell him how much he will 
be dearly missed. Chuck Hagel will be missed not just by his colleagues 
in the Senate, but also by those Americans for whom he is dedicated his 
career to fight while serving in Washington, DC.
  Although we sit on opposite sides of the aisle, I have found myself 
standing with Senator Hagel on numerous occasions. Just in the past 
couple of years, we have fought for increased pay for our troops, 
establishing a center dedicated to the rehabilitation, treatment, and 
research of servicemembers blinded in combat, and advocating for 
additional mental health care resources for servicemembers returning 
from combat.
  Because of Senator Hagel's dedication to stand up for those who have 
fought for our country, we have a modernized GI bill. We have a GI bill 
that more accurately reflects the sacrifices that our men and women in 
uniform are making. A modernized benefits package that will cover the 
majority of tuition costs for our returning servicemembers, and I was 
proud to stand with him in that effort as well.
  His service to our country has been truly admirable. Senator Hagel 
has had a truly remarkable career representing the State of Nebraska. I 
thank him for his service to our country. I wish him the best in his 
future endeavors.


                              John Warner

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, my friend John Warner, the very 
distinguished gentleman from Virginia, has decided to retire from the 
Senate after 30 years of exemplary service.
  John and I were sworn in as Senators on the same day. While our paths 
had crossed a few times before becoming Members of this body, we became 
good friends and neighbors as well as competitors on the tennis courts.
  Before John was elected to the Senate, he had achieved national 
prominence as the Administrator of the American Revolution Bicentennial 
Administration. He also had served as Secretary of the Navy.
  As a Senator, John has served prominently as chairman of the Armed 
Services Committee where he worked effectively on shipbuilding issues 
that were important to both of our States.
  John Warner has served with great distinction in the Senate. He has 
earned the respect of all Senators because of his stewardship and his 
sense of responsibility for our national security interests, which he 
has done so much to protect.
  The Senate, the State of Virginia, and the Nation will greatly miss 
having the benefit of John Warner's steady hand at the helm.


                              Wayne Allard

  Mr. President, it has been a genuine pleasure to serve in this body 
with the distinguished Senator from Colorado, Wayne Allard. He has made 
significant contributions through his thoughtful and effective 
leadership for the betterment of our country.
  He has brought to the challenge of public service a seriousness of 
purpose and sense of responsibility to do this job well, not for 
personal aggrandizement but for the improvement of our national 
security and our Nation's economy.
  In the process, he has reflected credit on his State of Colorado and 
his family. His personal qualities of humility and trustworthiness have 
aided him as he has worked to contribute to the quality of this 
legislation we have enacted.
  Wayne Allard is one of the most respected Members of this body. He is 
also one of the best like Senators. We are certainly going to miss 
having the benefit of his leadership.
  We wish him well in the years ahead.

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