[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 24187-24190]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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                          TRIBUTE TO SENATORS


                             Elizabeth Dole

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I commend Senator Elizabeth Dole 
for her dedicated work on behalf of North Carolina in the Senate and 
her decades of service to our Nation. In the Senate she has worked hard 
to ensure our veterans and servicemembers receive the benefits they 
have more than earned. I was pleased to have her cosponsorship and 
support for my measure allowing servicemembers to terminate cell phone 
contracts free of penalties.
  Senator Dole has also demonstrated a commitment to solving the most 
difficult crises in Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe and Darfur. We 
both joined with Senator Clinton and Senator Lugar on legislation to 
assist Zimbabweans in their efforts to promote democracy and human 
rights in their country. I also welcomed Senator Dole's support on a 
resolution condemning the recent flawed elections in Zimbabwe. Her 
voice in the Senate on these issues will be missed. I thank her for her 
service to the Senate and the people of North Carolina, and wish her 
all the best for the future.


                              Gordon Smith

  Mr. President, today I want to thank Senator Gordon Smith for his 
service to the people of Oregon. During my time on the Senate Foreign 
Relations African Affairs Subcommittee I have watched Senator Smith 
fight ardently for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief that 
has saved countless lives around the globe. His leadership on 
legislation to fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases has been vital to our 
efforts to bring help to many African nations.
  I also applaud his work to pass the Employment Non Discrimination 
Act, which I was also pleased to cosponsor. His efforts to end 
employment discrimination based on sexual orientation represent an 
important step toward ensuring equal rights for all Americans.
  Finally, I want to recognize Senator Smith's work on legislation to 
require health insurers to include mental health benefits in their 
health insurance coverage. This excellent example of bipartisan 
cooperation, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity 
and Addiction Equity Act, was made possible in part by the commitment 
of Senator Smith to ensuring those suffering from mental illness have 
access to medical treatments that will improve their quality of life.
  Once again, I thank Gordon Smith for his dedication to the people of 
Oregon and the country while in the Senate, and I wish him all the best 
in the future.


                              John Sununu

  Mr. President, today I want to take a moment to recognize the service 
of Senator John Sununu during his time here in the Senate. It has been 
a pleasure to work with him on a wide range of issues, from protecting 
the rights of law-abiding Americans to strengthening our foreign policy 
toward Africa.
  Senator Sununu has made many important contributions during his time 
in this body, but his work to protect the constitutional rights of 
innocent Americans is certainly among the most important. He recognizes 
that our government can wage an effective fight against terrorism that 
still respects our basic freedoms. Senator Sununu has been a crucial 
voice on civil liberties issues like reforming the PATRIOT Act and 
keeping tabs on government data mining efforts. I am proud that we 
worked together on a number of bills. Most recently, we introduced 
legislation addressing the serious misuse of the FBI's national 
security letter authorities to obtain information about innocent people 
without judicial review. We also successfully passed legislation last 
year requiring Federal agencies to inform Congress about the use and 
development of the kind of government data mining technologies that 
raise the most serious privacy and efficacy concerns. I will miss his 
voice on these issues here in the Senate.
  Finally, I want to recognize Senator Sununu's work on the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee's Africa Subcommittee. I had the privilege 
of working side by side with him when he was ranking member of that 
subcommittee, and I saw firsthand his commitment to ending devastating 
conflicts in Africa. I deeply appreciate his commitment to his work on 
Africa, and to so many other issues during his service in the Senate. I 
wish him all the best in the future.


                             Pete Domenici

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I wish to honor our distinguished 
colleague, Pete Domenici, who will be ending his historic Senate career 
at the end of this Congress. For the past 32 years it has been my 
privilege to serve with Pete Domenici in the Senate. During that time, 
he has epitomized devotion to public service and to his State of New 
Mexico. He will leave the Senate having cast more votes than all but 
six other Senators in the history of this body. He is the longest 
serving Senator in New Mexico's history, and he rightly occupies an 
iconic status in his home State.
  Pete Domenici experienced a modest upbringing as the only son of 
first generation Italian immigrants. He secured his first job after 
college as a pitcher for the Albuquerque Dukes, then a farm team for 
the Brooklyn Dodgers. Following a stint as a teacher, Pete won a seat 
on the Albuquerque City Commission in 1966. The next year, we both 
became mayors of our respective cities: Pete served Albuquerque as I 
served Indianapolis. After 6 years in the Albuquerque City Hall, he 
became the first Republican to win a Senate seat from New Mexico in 38 
years.
  I entered the Senate in 1977, 4 years after Pete. By that time, he 
already was recognized as a leading Republican authority on the budget 
process. I looked to Pete as a mentor on the intricacies of the Federal 
budget, and he graciously tutored me on both substance and process. 
Year after year, as the lead Republican on the Budget Committee, Pete 
was indispensible as floor manager of the budget resolution. 
Frequently, when the Senate lost its way during a difficult budget 
debate, Senator Domenici functioned as a touchstone to bring the debate 
back to sober reflection and verifiable statistics. I doubt the Senate 
will ever experience a leader who has a more detailed command of the 
budget process and who could explain it with greater clarity.
  It is telling that even though Pete derived much annual power from 
his roles as Budget chairman and Appropriations subcommittee chairman, 
this status did not dissuade him from proposing a reform idea that 
implicitly would reduce his opportunities to exercise this authority--
namely a 2-year

[[Page 24188]]

budget cycle. I have always been impressed by his embrace of this idea, 
and his endorsement influenced my own support for a 2-year budget 
process. Senator Domenici's advocacy went against standard expectations 
that Members of Congress will protect their own prerogatives even if 
their best judgment tells them that reforms are necessary. But Pete's 
service in the Senate was never based upon accruing personal authority 
or maximizing his notoriety.
  I was extremely pleased that Senator Domenici's assiduous efforts 
over many years were recently brought to fruition with the passage and 
signature into law of the Mental Health Parity Act. Pete joined the 
late Senator Paul Wellstone in promoting this bipartisan legislation 
that will ensure that health plans make mental health treatment 
available for those in need. It will provide parity between health 
insurance coverage of mental health benefits and benefits for medical 
and surgical services and help avert the development of future physical 
problems that could arise from untreated and increasingly debilitating 
psychological illness.
  I am especially sad to see Pete leave because he has been an 
outstanding partner in work to prevent nuclear proliferation and to 
improve response to attacks involving weapons of mass destruction. In 
concert with the efforts of Senator Sam Nunn and myself to establish 
the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program at the Department 
of Defense--which is aimed at securing and destroying weapons of mass 
destruction in the former Soviet Union--Senator Domenici spearheaded 
the expansion of the Energy Department's involvement in safeguarding 
nuclear material. He also was an effective advocate for the role of our 
National Laboratories in nonproliferation work. Scientists from the 
National Laboratories have been on the frontlines of our engagement 
with the brain trust of the Soviet nuclear program. Pete understood the 
unique skill set possessed by our laboratories, and he made sure that 
they were well funded and authorized to implement numerous 
nonproliferation projects. Senator Domenici also joined with Senator 
Nunn and me to pass the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Act of 1997. Long before 
September 11, 2001, this legislation was working to improve the 
capabilities of local and State first responders, especially with 
regard to weapons of mass destruction attacks. The experience, 
awareness, and structure established by this program have been valuable 
to our Nation's post-9/11 homeland security efforts.
  The Senate will miss deeply Senator Domenici's experience displayed 
over 36 years. He will be remembered as a workhorse able to shoulder 
the daily burdens of a thousand details, but also as a thoughtful 
observer who saw beyond the politics of the moment to provide 
perspective on the direction of our country. I wish my good friend the 
best as he leaves the Senate to experience new adventures with his 
family.


                              CHUCK HAGEL

  Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity before the 110th 
Congress adjourns to honor our distinguished colleague and my good 
friend, Chuck Hagel, who will be leaving the Senate after 12 years of 
achievement.
  Senator Hagel has applied his estimable talents to many of the most 
critical areas of public policy. Throughout his time in the Senate he 
was a stalwart member of the Foreign Relations Committee, where he 
became one of the Senate's experts on international affairs.
  Upon Chuck Hagel's arrival in the Senate in 1996, he had already 
distinguished himself in service to his country. He was decorated for 
his service as an infantryman in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war; 
He went on to careers as a congressional staffer, a deputy 
administrator of the Veterans Administration, and a successful 
businessman.
  When Chuck came to the Senate, it was clear that his unique 
background would be an asset to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 
I encouraged him to join the committee and was pleased that he did so. 
In the Senate, Chuck embraced responsibility for U.S. national security 
as few Senators have in recent decades.
  Senator Hagel's years in the Senate will be remembered for his 
willingness to challenge conventional wisdom and his ability to see 
issues from multiple perspectives. He has been a determined advocate 
for an independent point of view, but also a good listener who has 
often forged compromises that benefited our Nation.
  For the last 9 years, Chuck has sat next to me through hundreds of 
Foreign Relations Committee hearings and meetings. I greatly enjoyed 
the opportunity to exchange ideas with him, to compare perspectives on 
our witnesses, and to develop common approaches to problems. He was 
always candid and thoughtful in both his public statements and his 
private advice.
  He understands that the world's problems are our problems; that our 
economic health is tied to the prosperity of the rest of the 
industrialized world; that the cleanliness of our environment is deeply 
affected by the environments of those even beyond our continent; and 
that our access to global natural resources and energy supplies depends 
on maintaining stable conditions in some of the most volatile regions 
on Earth. In a ``Memo to the Candidates'' written last summer, he 
underscored the interconnected nature of our world, saying:

     America's long-term security interests are directly connected 
     to alliances, coalitions, international institutions, and our 
     standing in the world. The next President will have to 
     reintroduce America to the world in order to regain its trust 
     in our purpose as well as our power.

  Chuck contributed greatly in recent years to the committee's efforts 
to improve our Government's stabilization and reconstruction capacity, 
to elevate the priority of energy diplomacy, to facilitate NATO 
expansion, to reauthorize the PEPFAR program, to prevent the 
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and to safeguard the 
international environment.
  I have greatly appreciated his personal friendship and thoughtful 
remembrances of events in my public and private life. My entire office 
benefited from his personal generosity in 2001 when the Senate endured 
the anthrax attack. My staff and I were displaced from our office for 
more than 3 months. Senator Hagel stepped forward and offered us a 
large room in his suite in the Russell Senate Office Building, which 
became the nerve center of my Senate office while we were displaced. 
Senator Hagel's thoughtfulness allowed us to continue operations during 
this difficult period.
  I will greatly miss Chuck's presence in the seat next to me at 
committee hearings, and I know that the Senate as a whole will miss his 
wisdom and well-deserved reputation for humor. But I have no doubts 
that he will encounter other opportunities to serve the United States. 
His counsel on foreign and defense policy will be sought out by Members 
of Congress and Presidential administrations for many years to come. I 
look forward to many insightful conversations with my friend and to 
witnessing all that he will achieve in the future.


                              JOHN WARNER

  Mr. President, I am pleased to join with other Senators in honoring 
our distinguished colleague, John Warner, who will be retiring at the 
end of the 110th Congress. When he steps down, Senator Warner will have 
the distinction of being the second longest serving Senator in 
Virginia's history. He stands as an example of the type of temperament, 
foresight, and dedication that the Founders envisioned when they 
created the Senate. For the past 30 years it has been my privilege to 
serve with John Warner. During that time, we have shared a common 
commitment to the national security of the United States. We have 
worked together on innumerable issues, and I have witnessed with 
admiration his strong character, his intellectual independence, and his 
unfailing devotion to public service.
  Even before John was elected to the United States Senate, he had 
distinguished himself in service to our country. He joined the U.S. 
Navy before his 18th birthday and went on to serve honorably in World 
War II. After college

[[Page 24189]]

and before he was able to complete law school, he returned to the 
military as an Active Duty marine during the Korean conflict. After his 
service, John came home to complete law school. Subsequently he worked 
as a Federal prosecutor and private lawyer. President Nixon appointed 
John to be Under Secretary of the Navy, and he went on to be Secretary 
of the Navy from 1972 to 1974. When he was elected to the Senate in 
1978, he was extremely well prepared to take on the role of a Senator 
and to contribute greatly to the national security of our Nation.
  Senator Warner has played a prominent role in almost every major 
Defense policy accomplishment of the last three decades. In the Senate, 
he has been a steadfast supporter of the well-being of the American 
soldier, sailor, and airman. I know that not a day goes by that he does 
not devote thought to how he can contribute to improving our Armed 
Forces and making our country more secure. It was a special pleasure 
for me to have chaired the Foreign Relations Committee during a 4-year 
period from 2003 to 2007 when John was chairing the Armed Services 
Committee. I believe relations between the two committees became 
stronger during this time, as we cooperated closely on arms control 
matters, policies toward Iraq and Afghanistan, arms sales, and many 
other matters.
  My friendship with John has been strengthened by our mutual 
membership in the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, and I was privileged to 
participate in the awarding of Beta's Oxford Cup to Senator Warner in 
April 2008. The award ceremony and dinner took place in the Foreign 
Relations Committee hearing room, and this was a wonderful opportunity 
for us to share experiences with other Beta members.
  It is difficult for me to imagine the Senate without John Warner. He 
loves this institution, and he derives great satisfaction from both its 
collegial nature and the daily opportunities Senators have to improve 
life in the United States.
  Senator Warner leaves the Senate after 30 years, having established a 
legion of friendships and a memorable legacy. We will miss his 
kindness, his steadiness, and his unfailing confidence in the United 
States. Even as we will miss seeing our friend every day, we know that 
John will be blessed by the opportunity to spend more time with his 
family. I am sure that he will continue to serve the public, and I join 
the Senate in wishing him all the best as he moves on to new 
adventures.


                             Pete Domenici

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, the departure of Senator Pete Domenici 
will deprive the Senate of our foremost expert on energy and budget 
legislation, For 36 years, I have enjoyed and learned from Pete's 
frequent presentations in our Republican Senators' caucus meetings.
  His chairmanship of the Budget Committee during the Reagan 
administration led to sensible economies in Federal spending which have 
not since been duplicated. If his comprehensive ideas on energy had 
been followed, the United States would long ago have shed its 
dependence on foreign oil.
  Through it all, Pete has been a most congenial colleague. Always 
smiling, always helping, Pete has constantly been available to offer 
guidance to Members not as well-versed on his areas of specialty. 
Enormously popular in New Mexico, it is understandable why he is called 
``Saint Pete.''
  Senator Domenici came to my rescue when I was called upon to make the 
presentation at the Senate Wednesday prayer breakfast after I had been 
a member for a short period of time. I chose to talk about a new 
edition of the New Testament which had been published by a friend, 
Irwin Borowsky of Philadelphia. The text omitted all references which 
might have been interpreted to be critical of Jewish people in 
connection with the crucifixion.
  I made the point that these references had caused young Jewish boys 
to be beaten up in some communities on Christian religious holidays 
motivated by the anti-Jewish comments in the Bible. My theme was 
sharply, really vehemently, opposed by some Senators at the breakfast. 
Pete Domenici then supported my contention reciting some of the barbs, 
insults and worse which had been inflicted on Italians.
  When Pete told me of his plan to retire because he thought he was 
failing, I urged him to make a full disclosure of his medical condition 
to his constituents but to stay on. I told him of a conversation I had 
with Senator Paul Tsongas in 1984 when Tsongas had announced his intent 
to retire because he had lymphoma, as I recall it. Since the medical 
evidence suggested Paul might well serve out his term, I urged him to 
stay on, leaving the voters to decide after making full disclosure as 
to his medical condition. Paul Tsongas felt otherwise and elected to 
leave. He not only could have served his full term through 1990 but 
then became a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the 
Presidency in 1992. After telling him about the Tsongas situation, Pete 
stuck by his decision. In recent days, Senator Domenici has looked 
stronger than ever but I totally respect his decision, saying only that 
we will miss him very much.


                              John Warner

  Senator John Warner's retirement is a great loss to the Senate. He 
brought to this body in 30 years of service wit, wisdom and gallantry. 
An old-style Southern gentleman, Senator Warner held a unique position 
as the Senate squire. His experience in military matters going back to 
his sailor days in World War II, to Secretary of the Navy in 1972, and 
Chairmanship of the Armed Services Committee, made him a preeminent 
figure in the Department of Defense legislation. When Senator Warner 
made a recommendation on defense matters, his word carried great 
weight.
  Some of my fondest recollections of John Warner come from the squash 
court where we regularly engaged until he said his knees wouldn't take 
the twists or turns any longer although he continued to be an avid 
tennis player. In a squash match more than 20 years ago, I sustained a 
serious gash under my left eye requiring six stitches for closure. At 
that time, I had read about a Washington hockey player who sustained an 
eye injury but came back immediately to play with headgear and a 
plastic cover over the face. I secured one the same day of my injury 
and was back on the squash court the next day.
  John claims responsibility, perhaps, credit for inflicting the wound. 
Memories fade after a couple of decades, but my recollection is that 
Senator Bob Packwood was the malefactor, although I never challenged 
John's recitation because he seemed to enjoy it so much.
  Some of our longest discussions occurred in the Senate gym where we 
would talk while awaiting our turn on the massage table. He would 
always say we came at about the same time although he was precise to 
assert his 2 years' seniority.
  Senator Warner was a help to me even before I became a Senator when 
he and his new bride, Elizabeth Taylor, were the star attractions at a 
fundraiser for me in New York City.
  Senator George Mitchell tells an interesting story about Senator 
Warner. Senator Mitchell recalls a filibuster where cots were set up in 
the Senate Marble Room where Mitchell was feeling sorry for himself 
about giving up a lifetime appointment as a Federal judge then becoming 
a Senator and wasn't too happy about the all-night sessions. As George 
put it, he was stumbling his way through the cots during the 1980 
filibuster all-nighter when he stumbled across newly wed John Warner 
snoring on one of the cots. George commented that John was giving up 
more than he was so it wasn't so bad after all.
  My speculation is that Senator Warner will be called back for more 
public service because he still has a lot of vim, vigor and vitality, 
but we will sorely miss him in the Senate.


                              Larry Craig

  Larry Craig has made significant contributions to the Senate during 
his three terms. He has been a leader on energy, agriculture policy and 
veterans affairs. During the debate on immigration, he was a forceful 
spokesman for a guest farm workers program. When we next take up 
important subjects, his leadership will be missed,

[[Page 24190]]

  I worked with him closely on veterans affairs where he chaired that 
committee after I moved from chairman there to chair the Judiciary 
Committee. His leadership on a Codel to the World War II battlefields 
in France over Memorial Day 2006 was particularly noteworthy. Our 
visits to U.S. cemeteries in France and inspection of the Normandy 
beaches were memorable.
  I was glad to see Larry finish out his full third term after the 
incident at the Minneapolis airport. When I heard the recording of the 
police officer's questioning him, I immediately thought that there was 
insufficient evidence of wrongful conduct. I heard the reports that he 
planned to resign at the end of September 2006 and called him to 
suggest that he modify his public statement to allow for 
reconsideration of that decision. He did so, and as the record shows, 
his legal challenges well within his rights, enabled him to stay 
through the conclusion of the 110th Congress.
  Since that event, he has weathered the storm, conducted himself with 
dignity on his official duties and made a real contribution to the 
Senate. It was definitely in the interests of his Idaho constituents 
and the Senate for him to stay on and complete his term.


                              Chuck Hagel

  Senator Chuck Hagel's intellectualism and independence will be sorely 
missed in the Senate. Chuck Hagel's service in Vietnam, where he earned 
military decorations and honors including two Purple Hearts, has given 
him special standing on key defense issues. With that background, he 
enjoys a sort of immunity from a charge of being soft on defense and 
his views are more closely followed.
  Senator Hagel will be especially missed by the few Republican 
moderates who were encouraged by his independence.
  My sense is that Chuck Hagel will stay in public life in one form or 
another, but I would have preferred to have seen him stay in the Senate 
to promote the resurgence of moderation within the Republican ranks and 
bipartisanship extending across the aisle for important legislation.


                              Wayne Allard

  The Senate Appropriations Committee, as well as the Senate generally, 
will miss Senator Wayne Allard. Wayne has been a strong voice for 
fiscal responsibility. His background as a veterinarian has provided an 
interesting dimension beyond members who have legal, business, or 
academic backgrounds.
  Senator Allard has led by example, demonstrating his frugality by 
returning more than $4 million in unspent office funds to the U.S. 
Treasury since being elected to Congress. In retiring after two terms, 
he has stuck by his commitment on term limits. My personal preference 
would have been for Wayne to stay on because, building on his 
experience, he would have made additional significant contributions to 
the benefit of his State, Colorado, and the Nation.


                              Gordon Smith

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, when a departing colleague has been a 
strong working partner as well as a friend, saying good-bye is not 
easy. I have had the pleasure of serving on several committees with 
Gordon Smith over the course of his career. We have sat across the dais 
from each other at the Budget Committee, the Indian Affairs Committee, 
and the Finance Committee.
  I am proud of what Senator Smith and I have been able to accomplish 
in promoting savings and capital preservation for people in their 
retirement years. He recognized a long time ago that the sooner workers 
begin saving for retirement--and the longer they sustain that 
commitment--the better off they and their families will be when they 
have to depend on those savings.
  The successes we enjoyed in getting some of our ideas included in the 
Pension Protection Act of 2006 led to more ambitious proposals to 
address the special retirement savings and income needs of women and 
older workers. And Gordon Smith was the first to join the effort to 
promote lifetime income instruments as a response to longevity 
advances, which constitute the greatest threat to the retirement income 
security of the baby boom generation.
  In view of the economic situation the country now faces, the efforts 
that Senator Smith and I began must continue. I sincerely regret that 
he will not be my primary partner on this agenda in the 111th Congress. 
I certainly hope that he will continue to use his influence and 
intelligence to keep the focus on this clear national priority.
  Finally, I want to salute Senator Smith for the character of his 
service to his State, this body, and to the Nation. He is the kind of 
deliberate, open-minded, and thoughtful public servant the Founders 
must have had in mind when they conceived the Senate. We will truly 
miss this distinguished gentleman from Oregon.


                             Elizabeth Dole

  Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge my colleague from North 
Carolina, Senator Elizabeth Dole, who will be leaving this body after 
serving the people of North Carolina for the past 6 years.
  Senator Dole and I have had the opportunity to work together on 
various issues important to the future of our nation. Senator Dole has 
been a strong advocate for the interests of not only her State, but the 
U.S. in general.
  For example, just recently, Senator Dole and I worked together to 
pursue a more sustainable energy policy for our country. One of our 
goals was to transition new vehicles to an alternative source of energy 
by 2020 and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. This commitment to 
improving the nation is what defined Senator Dole's tenure in the 
Senate.
  Senator Dole has also been active on agricultural issues. Because 
both of our States have a strong agricultural sector in our economy, 
this issue is very important to our constituents. From her time on the 
Senate Agricultural Committee early in her Senate career through the 
farm bill recently, Senator Dole has consistently looked out for the 
North Carolina farming community and the farming industry itself.
  Senator Dole has had a long career of public service. She served as 
Secretary of Transportation under President Reagan and Secretary of 
Labor under President George H.W. Bush. This gave her the distinction 
of being the first woman to serve in two different Cabinet positions 
during two different administrations. She also served as the president 
of the American Red Cross, heading one of the largest humanitarian 
organizations in the world. This list of accomplishments underscores 
Senator Dole's commitment to serving the public at large.
  Again, I have appreciated the opportunity to work with Senator Dole 
and wish her well as she leaves the Senate.

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