[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17714-17715]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING SENATOR TED STEVENS

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of a 
friend and former colleague, former Senator Ted Stevens, who passed 
away this August in a plane crash. I know that I speak for all of my 
colleagues when I say how difficult it was to receive news of Ted's 
passing this summer, and I would like to take this moment to convey my 
heartfelt condolences to everyone who knew, worked with, and enjoyed 
Ted during his life.
  I believe that Ted will long be remembered as a man of the Senate. 
First appointed to his seat more than four decades ago, Ted Stevens 
became the longest-serving Republican in the history of this body in 
2007. Throughout his tenure in Washington, Ted served in a number of 
key leadership positions, including as chairman of the Senate 
Appropriations Committee and as President pro tempore.
  Over the years, I had the pleasure of being able to collaborate with 
Ted on a number of critically important issues, including, perhaps most 
recently, legislation that I introduced during the 110th Congress to 
provide paid leave to workers under the auspices of the Family and 
Medical Leave Act. And while Ted and I did not substantively agree on 
much, he didn't shy away from reaching out across the partisan divide 
to get things done. In fact, it was his willingness to work with 
Democrats--to seek out common ground and compromise on areas of 
contention when necessary--that made him such a prolific, effective, 
and well-respected member of this body.
  The incredibly strong bonds Ted forged with his colleagues over the 
years were in full display at his memorial service in Alaska over the 
summer. I made the trip up north to attend his funeral, and I found it 
incredibly moving to hear the words of Ted's longtime friend, my 
colleague Senator Inouye, who delivered Ted's eulogy, and our Vice 
President Joe Biden, who also made some remarks during the service. 
Clearly, this was a person who left not only an indelible mark on the 
Senate as a body, but on many of the individual Senators who had the 
opportunity to serve with him over the years.
  That was certainly the case for me. Years ago, Ted Stevens and I 
participated in the U.S.-Canadian interparliamentary meeting together. 
It was one of the most enjoyable 4 days I spent in my 30 years in the 
Senate for one simple reason--in addition to all his substantive 
talents, Ted Stevens was great fun--he loved his family, Alaska, his 
country and his friends.
  And on that last point, while it is true that Ted was a creature of 
the Senate, I believe Ted Stevens will be remembered far into the 
future first and foremost as a man of Alaska. Ted truly loved his home 
State, and over the years, he cultivated a strong reputation as one of 
its greatest champions.
  Indeed, Ted's own life was inextricably linked to many of the major 
events and advancements that occurred in Alaska's history over the past 
half century. Having served with distinction in World War II as a pilot 
for the U.S. Army Air Corps in Asia, Ted graduated from Harvard Law 
School in 1950 and moved to Fairbanks to practice law. Several years 
later, Ted was brought on to work for the Interior Department under 
President Eisenhower. In that capacity, Ted advocated very persistently 
for Alaskan statehood, finally helping make that goal a reality in 
1959. Later on, as a Senator, Ted once again worked hard on behalf of 
his State, its people and interests, fighting to direct federal 
resources to that vast, sparsely populated, and incredibly beautiful 
corner of our country.
  Ted viewed himself as Alaska's chief advocate here in Washington, and 
throughout his four decades in the Senate, he never deviated from that 
mission. Known by many of the Alaskans he helped over the years simply 
as ``Uncle Ted,'' Ted Stevens was singularly devoted to serving his 
constituents and ensuring their needs and concerns were given a voice 
on Capitol Hill. And it is that level of dedication to the people who 
sent him here to represent their interests that will ultimately be Ted 
Stevens' greatest legacy.
  Once again, I would like to express my sincere condolences to Ted's 
wife Catherine; his children Susan, Elizabeth, Walter, Theodore, Ben, 
and Lily; and his 11 grandchildren. And I would also like to take this 
opportunity to thank Ted for his years of tireless and selfless service 
on behalf of his State and country.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, this past summer the people of Alaska lost 
one of its favorite sons, and many of us in the U.S. Senate lost one of 
our mentors and friends. His name was Senator Ted Stevens.
  By the time I took my seat in this Chamber, Senator Stevens had 
already held his for more than three decades. He chaired numerous 
committees, served as President pro tempore, and was widely regarded as 
one of the most gifted parliamentarians on our side of the aisle. His 
forty years of service is the longest tenure of any Republican in the 
history of the United States Senate.
  Senator Stevens championed landmark legislation that has transformed 
Alaska, America, and the world. He helped settle land claims of Native 
Americans, guard fisheries and protect natural wonders of his home 
State. He helped guide the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Act into law, which 
has dramatically improved our Nation's energy security. He helped 
strengthen our Armed Forces to defend America's interests and values. 
He helped reform the United States Olympic Committee, and has given 
generations of American athletes the chance to succeed at the highest 
levels of international competition.

[[Page 17715]]

  Ted Stevens' devotion to his adopted home State extended well beyond 
his service in Washington. After earning a Distinguished Flying Cross 
in World War II and graduating from Harvard Law School, he served as 
U.S. attorney in Fairbanks. In 1958, as legislative counsel for the 
Department of the Interior here in Washington, he helped shepherd 
Alaska's Statehood Act into law. In 1999, his State's legislature named 
him the ``Alaskan of the Century.'' As one of his family members put 
it, the legacy of Ted Stevens is the 49th star on the American flag.
  Four other individuals perished in the plane crash that claimed the 
life of Senator Ted Stevens on August 9, and we pray for all those who 
lost loved ones on that night. Sandy and I especially keep in our 
hearts those whom Ted Stevens loved most: his wife Catherine, his 6 
children, his 11 grandchildren, and the nearly 700,000 Alaskans who 
cherish the memory of ``Uncle Ted.''

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