[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 24319-24324]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO SENATORS


                              Gordon Smith

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President. I thank you for the opportunity today to 
pay tribute to a very special man, caring husband and father, and great 
Senator Gordon Smith.
  Sadly, he will be leaving this august body soon and returning to 
private life. The United States Senate will be losing a great leader, a 
man of high integrity, and a true statesman.
  Gordon joined the United States Senate in January 1997, after winning 
an election as a rural conservative in a State defined by a more 
liberal landscape. After his election, Senator Smith quickly made his 
mark as someone both sides of the aisle could work with for the good of 
his State and our Nation. He displayed the characteristics of what I 
believe makes a truly great Senator--someone who is willing to roll up 
his sleeves and battle for what he believes is right.
  His commitment to Oregon was exemplary. He focused on issues that 
were critical to the citizens of his State including education, health 
care, natural resources, and bridging the rural-urban divide. Along the 
way he displayed a true independent streak, bucking his party when he 
believed he needed to go a different direction for the good of those he 
represented.
  Senator Smith's leadership and abilities were greatly appreciated by 
the committee members he served with, and the positions he was asked to 
assume. As chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging he 
presided over critical issues facing our Nation's aging population. In 
addition, he made tremendous contributions to four additional 
committees: Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Energy and Natural 
Resources; Indian Affairs; and the Finance Committee.
  He was also selected four times by the leadership of our party to 
become the Deputy Whip, an important position we could all look to for 
guidance and support.
  I had the distinct pleasure of traveling with Senator Smith on two 
occasions to Iraq to assess the situation first-hand, visit with the 
troops, and become more intimately familiar with the challenges facing 
our country overseas. We shared a genuine interest and concern in the 
events taking place in that country, and I will forever be grateful to 
Senator Smith for taking that journey with me.
  Before joining the Senate, Gordon made his mark in the business 
world--assuming the helm of his family's frozen vegetable processing 
company. His strength and commitment steered this company to new 
success, and established himself as a business leader with qualities to 
emulate.
  You can't talk about Gordon Smith without talking about the love he 
has for people, especially his wonderful family. Gordon and his wife 
Sharon have raised three wonderful children: Brittany, Garrett, and 
Morgan. Even while meeting the demands of his job, you always knew his 
thoughts and actions centered on home.
  During his second term in office, Gordon and Sharon had to face a 
tragedy almost impossible to bear. Their son, Garrett, lost his battle 
with depression and grief. As I watched this deeply grieving father, I 
was so powerfully reminded that life isn't always about what happens in 
the walls of the United States Capitol but it is about our families, 
our friends, and the love we share with those closest to our souls.
  Senator Smith didn't just let his grief consume him--he took action. 
Perhaps his proudest accomplishment in Senate service would be the 
passing of a suicide prevention law, named after his son. This law 
passed unanimously and has made a real difference in programs across 
the country that are designed to help those in critical emotional need.
  I am truly grateful that I have had the opportunity to serve with 
this great man for 12 years. In a town where true friendships can be 
rare, I have been blessed to find a true friend in Gordon Smith. 
Although we didn't always agree, our deepest fundamental beliefs were 
shaped in the same bedrock of less government, opportunities for all, 
and integrity in public service.
  I always knew that whether in times of trouble or success, I had 
found a true comrade in service, someone I could trust to do what is 
right and hold fast to the notion of public service for the people.
  Robert Louis Stevenson stated, ``We are all travelers in the 
wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an 
honest friend.'' Gordon has been just that friend to me.
  I will miss working alongside this great Senator, and true American. 
However, I know that throughout his life he will continue to work for 
the good of others in whatever endeavors he chooses to follow. I want 
to wish Gordon and his wife Sharon and their children many years of 
continued success, happiness and peace as they travel life's path 
together. Thank you for the opportunity to honor this extraordinary 
man.


                              John Warner

  Mr. President, I wish to speak today in honor of my good friend, the 
senior Senator from Virginia. As you know, Senator Warner is retiring 
at the conclusion of this the 110th Congress, and I wanted to take a 
moment to express my appreciation for his friendship and his years of 
public service.
  Senator Warner's retirement marks the end of a career in the service 
of the United States that has spanned more than 6 decades. John, having 
been born in 1927 and raised right here in Washington, DC, enlisted in 
the Navy during World War II in January 1945. After the conclusion of 
the war, he left the military to pursue a legal education at the 
University of Virginia, only to rejoin the Navy, this time with the 
Marines, to serve in the Korean War.
  In 1953, he finished his legal studies while still serving in the 
Marine Corps Reserves and spent the next 7 years as a government 
attorney, first as a clerk for a U.S. appeals court judge, then as an 
assistant U.S. attorney. Senator Warner left the public sector in 1960 
to pursue a career in private legal practice, though it would not be 
long until he was called into service again.
  In 1969, he was appointed by President Richard Nixon to serve as the 
Under Secretary of the Navy. Just over 3 years later, he succeeded John 
H. Chafee as the Secretary of the Navy. This, of course, was a unique 
era in the history of U.S. diplomacy and, as Naval Secretary, John was 
involved in a number of diplomatic efforts involving the Soviet Union, 
most notably the Sea Executive Agreement.
  John's political career began in 1978 when he was elected to 
represent the State of Virginia in the Senate. He is the second longest 
serving Senator in Virginia's history and, by a margin of many years, 
the longest serving Republican from the State. Of course, John and I 
have crossed paths many times during our years in the Senate. We served 
together on the HELP Committee and the Select Committee on 
Intelligence. But, for me, one of the most memorable times I shared 
with John took place outside the Halls of the Senate.
  During the August recess of 1985, my son Jess and I were joined by 
John and his son on a fishing and boating trip in Utah. During one day 
of the trip, after returning from a hike, I was surprised to see a 
ghostly-looking creature sitting in our campsite. As it turned out, 
John and some of the others had formed a mud hole down near the river, 
and he had been diving in and out of it. By the time I had returned to 
the campsite, John was covered head to toe in pumice mud. Apparently, 
the mud was good for the skin, but at the time I was unaware of this 
fact.
  On the last day of the trip, John and I were fishing on Lake Powell 
and I was lucky enough to catch an 8 pound 60 striped bass. He was 
impressed with my catch and he asked if he could keep it, apparently he 
wanted it as a trophy. That evening, we flew up north to an event in 
Deer Valley, UT, but because we didn't have time to change after the 
flight, we showed up in our fishing clothes. John strode into the fancy 
ski lodge to meet the shirt-and-tied crowd sporting his jeans and 
carrying my fish around with him! Though I can't be certain, it sure 
seemed like he was proud of it.

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  But, seriously, Mr. President, Senator Warner will always be 
remembered for his even-tempered nature and for his work on behalf of 
our men and women in the military. He has never been one to follow the 
crowd for partisanship's sake, always choosing to follow his own 
conscience. I must admit that, over the years, John and I have found 
ourselves in disagreement over issues that I believed to be of vital 
importance. But he was always one to respect the views of his 
colleagues in either party, even if he went a different way in the end.
  I wish John and his wife Jeanne the best of luck in all their future 
endeavors. I think I speak for all my Senate colleagues when I say that 
the Senate will be a lesser place without John in it.


                             Elizabeth Dole

  Mr. President, I wish to speak today regarding Senator Elizabeth 
Dole, who will be departing from the United States Senate. I have known 
Senator Dole well and I am sure I am joined by many of my colleagues in 
saying that she will be missed.
  Senator Dole has shown her enthusiasm and commitment firsthand 
through her vast contributions over the last 6 years. Her true courage 
is the powerful force behind her remarkable public service career. Most 
important, Senator Dole can conceive and articulate goals that lift 
people and unite them in the pursuit of objectives worthy of their best 
efforts.
  As we look back on the challenges of our economy, Senator Dole has 
become a robust leader in helping our country focus on creating jobs, 
strengthening national security, improving education, and making 
quality health care more affordable and accessible. Her initial 
determination was demonstrated as she graduated from Duke University 
and Harvard Law School, then entering her public career by serving 
under multiple U.S. Presidents, including Ronald Regan and George H.W. 
Bush. Throughout her career, she served as Secretary of Transportation, 
Secretary of Labor, and head of the American Red Cross. She continued 
her public service by bringing her zeal to the Senate as the first 
female U.S. Senator from North Carolina.
  As a fellow Senator, Elizabeth displays qualities of a true southern 
belle. She is a powerful role model. Her efforts to make North Carolina 
and America safer, stronger, and healthier have not gone unnoticed. 
Most importantly, she has played a key role in serving on the Senate 
Armed Services, Banking, Small Business and Aging Committees.
  Mr. President, I extend my deepest gratitude to Senator Dole. I can 
say, without reservation, that she is a dedicated public servant and 
friend.


                              John Sununu

  Mr. President, I rise to speak today regarding the departure of my 
esteemed colleague from New Hampshire, Senator John Sununu. I have 
known Senator Sununu and his family for many years now, and I have 
worked closely with Senator Sununu since he first joined Congress in 
1996 in the House of Representatives and then in the Senate since 2002. 
Today, I am sure that I am joined by many of my colleagues in saying 
that his service, his thoughtfulness, and his friendship in this 
institution will be missed.
  Often referred to as one of the smartest people in Congress, Senator 
Sununu earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in 
mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
(MIT). Setting the bar even higher, he also went on to earn a Master of 
Business Administration from Harvard University. Armed with that kind 
of education, it would have been easy for Senator Sununu to spend the 
rest of his days on a career track that would have compensated him and 
his family in ways that most of us only dream about. Instead, after 
only a few short years in the private sector, Senator Sununu chose to 
put his mind to work in Congress at solving some of the most pressing 
problems and issues of our day. It is for that dedication of service to 
his country to which I pay tribute today.
  In addition to being one of the smartest people in Congress, Senator 
Sununu also holds the well-known title of being the youngest Senator 
currently serving in our legislative body. While that feat alone is 
impressive in its own right, I also like to think of Senator Sununu as 
one of the most thoughtful Senators currently serving in the Senate. 
Specifically, Mr. President, I mention Senator Sununu's act of 
friendship and solidarity in 2005 when he shaved his own hair and stood 
alongside our mutual friend, Senator Arlen Specter, as he underwent 
chemotherapy treatment. A simple act, indeed, but it is one that has 
not gone unnoticed and it is one that illustrates the thoughtfulness of 
a man and a Senator who stood by his colleague in a time of great need. 
It is that compassionate thoughtfulness of which we will all miss.
  From his thoughtful work on energy and climate change legislation to 
his valued friendship while working together on the Finance Committee, 
Senator Sununu has done a tremendous job for the people of New 
Hampshire and our nation. As a colleague, I appreciate his instrumental 
support of the Flag Desecration Amendment in 2006. As a friend, I 
convey my highest admiration and respect for what he has been able to 
accomplish while here in the Senate. It is that spirit of friendship of 
which all of us could always gain a little something from.
  I wish Senator Sununu and his lovely family the best and thank them 
for the years of service Senator Sununu has been able to provide to 
this body as a result of their sacrifice. Senator Sununu's journey in 
the U.S. Senate would not be complete without their support, and I am 
sure that they will all be happy to have their loving husband and 
father around the house a little more often. Without hesitation, Mr. 
President, I can say that our loss is their gain. To Senator Sununu and 
his family, I extend my deepest gratitude for the countless hours of 
service, the simple acts of thoughtfulness, and the years of friendship 
they have extended to me, my colleagues, and the people of the United 
States. Given Senator Sununu's track record, I am certain that we will 
be hearing more about him for many years to come.


                              WAYNE ALLARD

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, when the final gavel brings an end to the 
current session of Congress, my good friend Wayne Allard has chosen to 
retire from the U.S. Senate. I know we will all miss him and the strong 
and powerful voice he has been for Colorado and the West. His eye for 
detail and focus on the issues that are of such great importance to his 
constituents and mine will be very difficult to replace.
  Wayne is quite a remarkable guy. He knew at a very young age that he 
wanted to be a veterinarian and so he directed all his efforts to 
pursuing that calling. He graduated from Colorado State University with 
a degree in veterinary medicine and opened a veterinary practice in 
Loveland, CO, with his wife Joan.
  As he worked at the profession he loved he got to know the people of 
the area and the problems they faced every day. He wanted to do more 
than just take care of their animals and livestock, so he started to 
branch out to a career in politics. He knew he could find the time for 
both his practice and for politics and the challenge of learning 
something new interested him.
  Wayne had one great advantage as he began--his family's deep Colorado 
roots. Wayne's great-great-grandfather was a trapper and an explorer 
and he was one of the first permanent settlers of northern Colorado. 
His family was among the first to move into the area and establish a 
home there.
  Wayne grew up on the family ranch. He learned at an early age the 
importance of a hard day's work and of always doing your best. His days 
were spent baling hay and helping out with whatever needed to be done 
around the ranch from dawn to dusk. Life on the ranch taught him a lot 
and instilled in him the values and principles that have served him 
well throughout his life and his political career.
  Wayne is a strong believer in the idea of a citizen-politician. He 
believes that the more experience we have in the workforce, the better 
we are able to find legislative solutions to address

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the problems faced by families across the Nation.
  That philosophy guided Wayne's efforts in the House and helped him 
win his present seat in the Senate in 1997. That was the same year that 
I came to Washington and Wayne was one of the first people I met. Our 
shared commitment to the people of the West made us natural allies.
  It was soon after we were sworn in as freshman Senators that Wayne 
told me about his plans to hold an annual conference to get his 
constituents more involved in the day-to-day operations of the 
Government. His dream took shape as the Allard Capital Conference. This 
annual event gives those who attend an opportunity to learn more about 
how their Government works, and to share their good ideas about how to 
change things. When it is over, it sends all those who attend back home 
to Colorado with a hefty dose of encouragement to continue the dialogue 
they began here. It has been a great success and Wayne has been able to 
attract many of Washington's leaders to participate along with an 
impressive list of Senators from both sides of the aisle.
  History will show that Wayne has been so successful in the Senate 
because he is committed to getting things done--and not in making sure 
he gets the credit. It is another philosophy we share. You can get just 
about anything done if you don't care who gets the credit for it. Wayne 
has been a workhorse more than a showhorse and that has always pleased 
his constituents.
  Over the years, Wayne's commitment to fiscal sanity has been so 
strong and so compelling that it drove him to give up his seats on the 
Armed Services and Environmental and Public Works Committees to join 
the Appropriations Committee. From there he took the reins of the 
Legislative Branch Subcommittee and began the difficult and demanding 
task of overseeing the construction of the Capitol Visitor Center. Up 
till then, the project had been the center of a lot of attention 
because there were so many cost overruns, delays in its construction, 
and questions about how the project was being managed. Wayne brought 
some sanity to the process. He started checking in on the work being 
done on a regular basis and his oversight brought a much needed sense 
of accountability to the project which is now about to open its doors 
to the people who come to visit our Nation's Capitol every year. In the 
years to come, the Capitol Visitor Center will be part of the legacy of 
Wayne's service to the people of our Nation.
  There is another area of achievement that Wayne is probably more 
proud of--and that is his work on the Great Sand Dunes National Park, 
his successful effort to convert Rocky Flats, which was formerly a 
nuclear weapons facility, to a national wildlife refuge, and his 
determination to protect and preserve the area around the Rio Grande 
River. All these projects were important to him because they enabled 
him to make a difference back home in Colorado.
  Now that his Washington years are drawing to a close, Wayne would be 
the first to give a lion's share of the credit for all he has 
accomplished to his wife Joan. She was there from the start, working 
alongside him in his veterinary clinic and she is still by his side, 
the most important part of his work in the Senate. They have long been 
a remarkable team and it can truly be said that he and I both 
overmarried. Joan has been his best friend, his most trusted adviser, 
and his wisest political adviser and counselor.
  Now they will return to Colorado and to the life that they love. I 
don't know what Wayne's plans are for the future, but I hope and expect 
I will continue to hear from him whenever he thinks that we just aren't 
getting it right when it comes to the budget, the environment, or any 
of the other issues that have driven him during his service in the 
Senate. Whatever he decides to do, I know we will continue to hear from 
him and that is something that can only continue to serve us all well. 
Wayne is a special guy who loves Colorado and his country and he has 
dedicated his life to making them better places for us and for future 
generations to live. He can retire secure in the knowledge that he has 
succeeded because he cared enough to serve.
  Thank you, Wayne, for your heartfelt commitment to Colorado and the 
Nation, for your willingness to serve the people in the Senate and most 
of all, thank you for your friendship. Diana joins in sending all the 
best for a continued rich and rewarding life to you and Joan. And 
Wayne, for me, please keep track of and share the good fishing spots. I 
know most of them will be in Wyoming.


                              larry craig

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I appreciate having this opportunity to wish 
Larry Craig all the best as he retires and returns home to his beloved 
Idaho. I have enjoyed having a chance to work with him on issues of 
concern to the people of our States. He has been an important part of 
the work we have done on many of the issues that have come to the floor 
of the Senate and he will be difficult to replace.
  Ever since he first arrived in the Senate, Larry has been a champion 
for the West and a strong and powerful voice on the issues that concern 
the people of Wyoming and Idaho. His dedication to making his home 
State a better place to live and his determination to make a difference 
in the Nation through his service in the Senate has made him a force to 
be reckoned with for many years.
  Larry has long Idaho roots that date back to his family's arrival in 
Idaho more than a century ago. He was born on the family ranch that his 
grandfather had homesteaded back in 1899. The ranch has been the proud 
home of the Craig family ever since.
  Sometime during the days when Larry was a young man growing up in 
Idaho, he was bitten by the political bug. It got him started on the 
path toward what would be a career of public service. Then, in 1974, 
Larry was elected to the Idaho State Senate. It set him on a path that 
would take him to the United States Senate.
  Because of his background as a rancher and a farmer, Larry knows the 
importance of the land and the need for us to be good stewards of all 
the resources under our control. After all, as we have heard so very 
often, when it comes to the land, they aren't making any more of it. 
That is why Larry has always been determined to ensure that Idaho's 
natural treasures were well taken care of. It is not an exaggeration to 
say that Larry has been the guardian at the gate to ensure the Federal 
Government didn't overstep its boundaries and overregulate the land in 
Idaho during his watch.
  His commitment to the land and to the people of Idaho who rely on it 
for their livelihood particularly showed itself during his service on 
the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He took full advantage of 
the opportunity to work against any effort that would adversely affect 
the ability of the people of Idaho to make good use of their State's 
land. Also on his agenda was the Endangered Species Act and the 
problems that had come with its application. It was a fight Larry was 
determined to win and he did more than just express his concern. He 
rolled up his sleeves and got to work. The new law he helped to write 
is not only more effective, but it is also designed to minimize its 
impact on property rights, employment and our State and local 
economies.
  In the years to come I will most remember Larry for his ability to 
present his case with power and emotion whenever he would speak in 
committee or on the floor. Larry's speaking and his debating skills are 
second to none. He has been called one of the most influential of all 
the western Senators and his conservative style has proven to be one of 
his greatest strengths.
  Larry is probably best known for his work on immigration and his 
support for the ability of seasonal workers to come to the United 
States to work on our farms. He knows the importance of developing 
solutions to tough problems like immigration that do not hurt State 
economies or make life harder for our family farms and ranches.
  The habits that he learned on the family ranch have been with him his

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entire life and that is why you will usually find him hard at work in 
his garden. It is his favorite activity when he is away from his office 
and it is one he can share with his grandchildren. As the grandfather 
of three children myself, I can identify with his interest and the time 
he sets aside to be with his eight grandchildren.
  Speaking of his favorite hobby, he once said, ``My wife knows she's 
not a golf widow or a skiing or a hunting widow. She's a gardening 
widow.'' Larry is also a tremendous artist. His ``works'' are widely 
prized and collected.
  Larry, I will be sorry to see you and Suzanne leave, saddlebags 
flapping in the wind as you ride off into the sunset. Now there will be 
time for all the things you have been putting off for some day, for now 
there will be plenty of some days for you to share with Suzanne. Diana 
and I wish you all the best in whatever you choose to do in the coming 
years. As we have found, the end of one great adventure is only the 
beginning of the next. So it will be for you. Good luck and God bless.


                             pete domenici

  Mr. President, it is always a bittersweet moment in time for me when 
we come to the close of a session of Congress. As the clock counts down 
the final hours of our legislative activities, it also signals the day 
when several of our colleagues will be retiring and ending their 
service in the United States Senate. When the current session ends, one 
of my good friends and great allies in the Senate will be returning 
home to his beloved New Mexico. He is Senator Pete Domenici and I know 
we will all miss him and his powerful presence in the Senate.
  In the months to come, Pete may no longer be serving with us, but he 
will not be forgotten. He has left his mark on the Senate and on us all 
in too many ways for us not to remember him and how hard he has been 
working for the people of New Mexico, the West, and the Nation over the 
years. Every day he came to the Senate he was focused on what he could 
do today to make our tomorrows better for us all. The leadership he 
provided on so many issues will be very difficult to replace.
  Pete began his career right out of college when he was deemed to be a 
good enough pitcher to be signed by a Brooklyn Dodgers farm team. It 
was a good life, but it wasn't the one for Pete. He decided after the 
season was over that baseball wasn't what he wanted to do and so he 
decided instead to do a different kind of pitching--to the people of 
the city he lived in. That pitch helped launch him on his true life's 
work--serving the people of his State and helping to make New Mexico a 
better place to live.
  When Pete decided to get involved in politics his friends told him he 
was making a big mistake. They warned him that it was a tough way to 
make a living and that it would be a rough life. Politics is a harsh 
affair, they told him, and they warned him that people would attack him 
and his reputation. They wondered why a guy who had such great gifts 
wanted to take on what would be a very difficult challenge.
  We are very fortunate that Pete didn't take their advice. Instead, he 
decided to run for the Senate and to bring his case to the people. To 
no one's surprise they liked what they heard and Pete came to 
Washington after the 1972 elections. They have been sending him back 
here with enthusiasm ever since.
  It is not an easy thing to sum up a career in the Senate that has 
spanned four decades. That is the mark of an individual who has dared 
to try to achieve great things--and succeeded. He came to the Senate 
with a great awareness of what needed to be done and with a combination 
of his own brand of style and substance he has been part of a great 
effort to make those goals a reality.
  Looking over his record in the Senate, it shows that Pete has been a 
key player in our work to achieve energy independence. Together with 
his New Mexico colleague, Jeff Bingaman, Pete worked to bring a 
national energy bill that seemed doomed to be stalled forever to the 
floor for a vote and on to the President's desk for his signature. Pete 
was always willing to work with any Member, no matter their place on 
the political spectrum, if it meant making progress on a key issue. 
That is why I would sum up Pete's career in one word--success. Pete has 
a knack of finding a way to make things happen and we have all 
benefited from his abilities.
  For my part, I also worked with him on the Mental Health Parity bill. 
For too long the provisions of our health care system provided 
unequally for physical health and mental health problems. Pete knew 
that was unfair, and he was determined to do something about it. 
Working together with me and the chairman of the Senate Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Senator Edward Kennedy, Pete was 
able to help bring a bill to the floor that required health insurance 
plans that offer mental health coverage to provide it on an equal level 
with that afforded to physical illnesses. It is a major change in 
health care coverage that will make life better for millions and 
millions of Americans. It is a major accomplishment and it will serve 
as a special part of his legacy of achievements in the Senate.
  In the months to come we will also miss Pete's leadership and his 
wise counsel as we continue to work on the economic problems facing the 
Nation. Pete is an expert on budget issues and he has served as our 
Budget Committee chairman. As I have served alongside him over the 
years, I have appreciated having the opportunity to observe him in 
action and work with him on measures of concern to us both. He has been 
a tireless worker in the effort to bring the Nation's expense account 
to a biennial budget. He has also fought long and hard to try to put a 
rein on runaway Federal spending. He was willing to do whatever was 
necessary to reach an agreement that would balance the budget. He got 
that done by once again working with Members of both sides of the aisle 
and a Democrat administration. That was just like him. If there was a 
way to get something done, Pete usually found it, and the new way he 
helped develop usually got the bill passed and signed into law.
  For me and for most of us, what I will most remember is Pete's 
personality and his great warmth. He is a genuine good guy who is very 
down to Earth. He is a gentle man and a gentleman in every sense of the 
word. He is a man of great faith who believes that public service is 
the rent we pay for the space we occupy on God's green Earth. Simply 
put, he is the kind of person you would want to have for a friend. That 
is why so many of us treasure his friendship. He is loyal and close to 
other Members and to all his staff. He treats his staff like Members of 
his extended family and not like staff. I think that is why they work 
so hard for him. They love him like a father because he treats them, as 
he treats everyone he knows, with kindness and respect.
  I would be remiss if I didn't mention his wife, Nancy. She has been a 
pillar of strength and a source of great support and encouragement to 
him in his life. I like to say that Pete and I both overmarried. She 
has been an essential member of his team since they met and I know he 
would say that whatever success has come to him in his life he owes in 
great degree to her influence. She is his greatest friend, his wisest 
counselor and his closest confidante. Together they have done a 
tremendous job for the people of New Mexico and the influence they have 
had on it can be seen from one corner of the State to the other. She 
has been a partner in the fight for mental health parity.
  The story is told that when Pete was accepted into law school his 
father made him a deal. I will finance your law school education, he 
told him, but only if you agree to my terms. If you do well, I will be 
proud to pay your way. If you bring home an ``F'' I will expect to be 
repaid.
  Well, my friend, as you return home, your father would be very proud 
of the report card you will take with you from the Senate and from the 
people of New Mexico. You have done a great job and everything you have 
done in your life and in your career you have done very well. You take 
with us our great

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praise and an ``A'' from us all for effort, for the work you have done 
and for the results you have achieved. God bless and be with you, Pete 
and Nancy. I know we will all miss you and think of you often. Make 
sure you leave your number with us for I know we will be reaching out 
to you for your advice and thoughtful suggestions in the days to come. 
That is one thing that will never change.


                              John Warner

  Mr. President, I appreciate having this opportunity to join with my 
colleagues in wishing John Warner all the best as he retires from the 
United States Senate after 30 years of service to the people of 
Virginia. John has had a long and distinguished career and he will be 
greatly missed.
  Like so many of us, John's early years had a great influence on his 
life and helped to shape his character and mold his destiny. John's 
father was a surgeon and he saw to it that John's education began at an 
early age and included samples of just about everything there was to 
learn. John was soon picking up on a course of study that included 
math, music, science, Latin and much, much more.
  During those early years, John felt the call to serve his country, so 
he joined the Navy when he was 17 years old so he could be part of our 
Nation's heroic effort in World War II. He then joined the Marines in 
1950 to be part of our forces fighting the Korean war.
  John's service in our Armed Forces and his tenure as our Secretary of 
the Navy has made him one of the Senate's strongest and most 
knowledgeable voices on the use of our Nation's military. He has been 
one of the Congress' most respected and most sought after experts on 
our actions in Iraq, the war against terrorism, and our efforts in Iraq 
and Afghanistan. His experience has also made him a leader in the 
Senate's oversight on defense spending.
  Through the years, John has been an important part of the debate on 
global warming. His concern about the issue and the future of our 
Nation led him to ask us for our good ideas and common sense proposals, 
regardless of our party affiliation, in an effort to reach a consensus 
on the issue that would ultimately lead us to a workable solution.
  There are two important reasons why John has been such a tireless 
worker on this and other similar issues. John shares my love of the 
great outdoors and all that it has to offer. He enjoys taking time from 
his busy schedule to hunt and fish with his grandchildren. He remembers 
the days he spent with his father taking part in those great activities 
and he wants to give his grandchildren the same gift. So do I. I think 
that shows John Warner has a streak of Wyoming in him and has fished 
there.
  In the years that I have served with John I have always been 
impressed with his unique style and his ability to present his 
positions on the issues with great power and force. John has always 
been one to reach out to members on both sides of the aisle, and his 
ability to bring us together on the issues has helped us to develop 
answers to problems that seemed to elude us. I don't think anyone has a 
better grasp of the importance of finding a third way to do things than 
John. He knows that there are always three ways of beginning our work 
on the issues. The first two lead to gridlock as they are the extreme 
positions on the issue. The third way is closer to the middle and has 
elements in it that everyone can agree on. That is usually what gets 
things done.
  That has always been John's measure of success. He has never been one 
who was concerned about making points, he has always been interested in 
making progress.
  John will always be remembered for the leadership he brought to the 
Senate on a number of issues that concerned him. As he worked on them 
all he showed his independence and his willingness to consider all 
viewpoints to find the one that he thought stood the best chance of 
succeeding, on the floor and in the field. John would be an excellent 
diplomat because he knows how to disagree without being disagreeable. 
He has forged good working relationships with us all and that is why he 
has so many friends in the Senate.
  John has been a great public servant and his career shows the results 
he has been able to achieve in every area of his life. I am proud of 
his service in the Senate on behalf of the people of Virginia, his 
service in our Armed Forces, and especially, I am proud to call him my 
friend.
  It is always difficult at the end of the session to say goodbye to 
our colleagues who are retiring. We have worked together for so many 
years that we will miss their thoughtful suggestions, their well chosen 
words and their commitment to the issues we have worked on together.
  For John, the good part of goodbye is the knowledge that we will meet 
again and, I am sure, we will work together again, laugh again, and 
continue to enjoy all that life has to offer again. This is not a time 
to say goodbye, just a reminder to be well until we see each other 
again.
  Diana joins in sending our best wishes to you, John and to Jeanne. 
You deserve nothing but the best life has to offer and you shall have 
it. I look forward to the days ahead and a time when we can get out our 
fishing poles and explore some of Virginia's best rivers and streams. 
Good luck and God bless.


                              Chuck Hagel

  Mr. President, soon the last remaining items of business on the 
legislative calendar will be taken up and the current session of 
Congress will draw to a close. When it does, several of our colleagues 
will be returning home and leaving public service. We will miss them, 
their good ideas and the touch of creativity they brought to our work 
in the Senate during their years of service to the people of their home 
States.
  When I am asked about the members with whom I have had the privilege 
to serve during my Senate career, Chuck Hagel will certainly come to 
mind. I don't think anyone has a more interesting life story to tell 
than Chuck and certainly few have achieved the level of success he has 
been able to attain in his public life and in the business world.
  Chuck grew up in a small Nebraska town where he learned the value of 
a day's work at an earlier than usual age. Chuck found his first job 
when he was only nine and he's been hard at work ever since. When he 
lost his father at the age of 16 it fell to him, as the oldest child, 
to help raise the younger ones of his family.
  That was also about the time that Chuck made his first run for 
office. When he was in high school he decided to run for Student 
Council President. He knew he would have to do something different in 
his campaign to separate himself from the others who were running, so 
he tied a chicken to the hood of his car and drove around the school 
announcing the reasons why he was in the race. No one had ever seen 
anything quite like that before and he won quite easily I am sure.
  After his high school years, Chuck heard the call to serve his 
country and he and his brother joined the Army and served in Vietnam. 
He was seriously wounded twice and received two Purple Hearts during 
his military service. During one of his missions, he and his brother 
were trapped in their armored personnel carrier when an enemy mine 
exploded beneath them. Chuck pulled his unconscious brother to safety 
and probably saved his life. It took 10 years for him to fully heal 
from the effects of the injuries he suffered that day.
  When he graduated from the University of Nebraska he began his 
political career in earnest. He joined the staff of a Republican 
congressman from Nebraska and impressed him and his staff so much that 
he steadily rose in responsibility to be his top aide.
  Equally impressive has been Chuck's success as a businessman. He sold 
almost all he had to begin a cellular phone company with two partners. 
His hard work and determination to succeed paid off and his investment 
was multiplied many times over.
  That kind of success would have been enough for most people, but not 
for Chuck. Chuck felt the call to bigger things and he set his sights 
on going to Washington to make life a little better for the people back 
home in Nebraska.
  That was his platform when Chuck ran for the Senate in 1996. The 
experts

[[Page 24324]]

thought he was a long shot and a lot of people said he didn't stand a 
chance. Once again, Chuck defied the odds and relied on the judgment of 
the people of Nebraska instead of the predictions of the experts. The 
people of Nebraska knew a good thing when they saw it and Chuck was 
sent to the Senate to represent them.
  Chuck and I were part of the same freshman class and when we arrived 
we both looked forward to being named to the committees on which we 
would serve so we could make a difference for our States and the 
Nation. Chuck was very pleased and proud when Senator Lugar offered him 
an invitation to join the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
  Chuck took full advantage of the opportunity and made it the focus of 
his efforts in the Senate. He made a point of visiting other countries 
and meeting with foreign leaders to increase his expertise on foreign 
policy. Working closely with Senator Lugar and Senator Biden, he has 
been a voice on the committee that is sought after for his perspective 
on the issues that involve our relations with other countries.
  Over the years I have enjoyed serving with Chuck and working with him 
on two of his top priorities, cutting Federal spending and making our 
tax system more workable and more responsive to the needs of our 
national economy. He can be very proud of all he has achieved, 
especially his support of fast track authority so the President could 
negotiate trade deals that cannot be changed by the Congress. His work 
in the area of international trade has made a great difference 
throughout the United States and helped improve our relationship with 
our trading partners.
  Now Chuck's Washington years are coming to a close and he will be 
moving on together with Lilibet to something new and different in their 
lives. Diana and I have always found that when one great adventure ends 
another one takes its place. That is our wish for you. Whatever the 
future holds for you and Lilibet we wish you all the best. The only 
good part about saying goodbye is the knowledge that you will keep in 
touch with us and continue to offer your good advice and the unique 
brand of common sense that you learned from your service in Washington, 
your success in your business, and your years growing up in Nebraska, 
Wyoming's neighbor to the East.

                          ____________________