[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Page 28717]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         THANKING SENATOR LEAHY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, on this Saturday, the Senate, in one of its 
unusual sessions, it is very good to see one of the more senior Members 
of the Senate presiding over the Senate. A lot of presiding is left to 
the more junior Members. It is indicative of the teamwork of the 
Senator from Vermont, one of the most senior Members of the Senate, 
chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and someone who is always there 
when there is a need for something to be done, as it is today to open 
the Senate.
  I have such fond memories of my friend from Vermont. I can remember 
the first time we met. We were in Florida. I was running for the 
Senate. It was 1986 and the Senator from Vermont was running for 
reelection, even then a senior Member of the Senate.
  Even though the two of us are almost twins as far as our age goes, 
the Senator from Vermont has a significant amount of seniority, 
although he never uses that in any way other than to work for the 
betterment of the people of Vermont--and I say that seriously. We had a 
conversation in the cloakroom today, and we were not talking about ball 
games last night, we were talking about problems of the people of 
Vermont, things the distinguished presider today indicated he thought 
could help a little for the State of Vermont. I am very grateful the 
Senator is here today.

                          ____________________