[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 10163]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            SENATOR KENNEDY

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, the television news folks spent much of 
yesterday looking at brain scans and pretty much counting out our 
friend Ted Kennedy. But I will tell you today, I think the TV crowd is 
missing a much bigger story; that is, Ted is the most determined person 
I have met, and anybody who counts Ted Kennedy out needs to have their 
head examined.
  Now, earlier today, Senator Kennedy's son, Ted junior, gave me a 
call. Ted junior is a wonderful guy. We talked about all of the 
instances where his family has tackled illness, defeated cancer. Ted 
junior told me earlier today that his dad is mobilizing, he is building 
a battle plan against cancer, he is talking to the experts, he is 
digging out the facts the way we know Ted Kennedy does unlike anybody 
else here in the Senate. And certainly Senator Kennedy is not 
sugarcoating anything.
  But I think it is also important to note that he sure is looking 
ahead. Senator Kennedy is especially looking forward to the passion of 
his life in public service, fixing health care and universal health 
coverage, coverage for all of our people.
  Ted has always been America's go-to guy on health care. He has always 
been our conscience, our leader on the premier domestic issue of our 
time. Ted is always telling me--he is telling a lot of the Senators--
that this time Democrats and Republicans here in the Senate can get it 
done, that after 60 years of bickering and quarreling partisanship, at 
this time, it can get done. Ted says there is no reason the richest and 
strongest country on Earth cannot figure this out and cannot figure out 
a way to get good health care to all of our people. I especially like 
the way Ted points out that we have thousands and thousands of 
wonderful doctors and hospitals and health care providers. They are 
ready and waiting for the political leadership to step up and tackle 
this issue.
  Now, nobody has stepped up on health care the way Ted Kennedy has. 
Nobody has put the effort into looking ahead and what is it going to 
take to fix the system, to build the coalitions--business, labor, 
seniors, doctors, health care providers--all the people who are going 
to be necessary to fix health care.
  We should be very grateful that Ted Kennedy has always stepped up on 
fixing American health care, particularly the challenge of our time, 
universal coverage. And I for one am very glad this afternoon that 
Senator Kennedy is looking forward to being back at his post, as we go 
forward, Democrats and Republicans, and tackle this issue, this issue 
so important to our people and our families. That is what Senator 
Kennedy and his public service is all about. I want to report this 
afternoon, he is sure looking ahead to the big challenges we face. And 
we want him back here with us as soon as he can.
  I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ALLARD. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, my understanding is we are in morning 
business, talking about the budget.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct. Senators are allowed 
to speak for up to 10 minutes.

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