[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 19457]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS


                            Byron L. Dorgan

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I join my colleagues in honoring the 
service of Senator Byron Dorgan. Over his nearly 30 years in Congress, 
Senator Dorgan has been a strong and dedicated advocate for the people 
of the State of North Dakota.
  Senator Dorgan's long career in public service began in 1969 when he 
was appointed North Dakota State Tax Commissioner. Assuming this 
position at the age of only 26, Senator Dorgan became the youngest 
constitutional officer in North Dakota's history.
  Since 1980, Senator Dorgan has been a voice for the people of North 
Dakota in Washington, DC. After serving six terms in the House of 
Representatives, he was first elected to the Senate in 1992.
  It is clear that Senator Dorgan's upbringing in the small town of 
Regent, ND, has shaped his tenure in Congress. Throughout his years in 
Congress, Senator Dorgan has been a formidable advocate for rural 
America and the family farmers of his state. He led the effort to make 
permanent the disaster aid program, which provides an essential safety-
net for farmers and ranchers affected by severe weather, in the 2008 
farm bill.
  Senator Dorgan also has been a great advocate for North Dakota's 
energy sector. As the country moves toward renewable and domestic 
energy sources, he has worked to put his state at the forefront of the 
industry.
  After so many years of public service for the people of North Dakota, 
Senator Dorgan's time in the Senate is coming to a close. I am proud to 
have served with him, and I thank him for his service in the Senate. I 
wish Senator Dorgan and his family the best in the next chapters in 
their lives.


                           Robert F. Bennett

  Mr. President, I also join my colleagues in recognizing Senator 
Robert Bennett of Utah.
  I have had the privilege of working with Senator Bennett since I 
entered the Senate in 1997, four years after Senator Bennett began his 
Senate service. I have admired his enthusiasm and dedication to serving 
the people of Utah ever since.
  It was clear that public service was in his blood. From his election 
as student body president at the University of Utah, to his time in the 
Utah Army National Guard, Senator Bennett's priority for his entire 
adult life has been serving the people of his home State.
  His first taste of real politics came in the 1960s when he helped his 
father Wallace Bennett win re-election to this very Chamber. And while 
he did not seek office himself until almost 20 years following his 
father's retirement, he worked in the private sector in Utah, deepening 
his ties to the State and his devotion to the people of Utah.
  I have had the privilege of working side-by-side with Senator Bennett 
on the Appropriations Committee for many years. I have seen his passion 
for service, his respect for the Senate, and above all else, his love 
of Utah.
  He has managed to stay true to the fiscal principles that he gained 
as a businessman and CEO, while understanding the need for compromise 
when it was required of him for the sake of his State and the rest of 
America.
  During his tenure here, Utah has become a premiere destination of the 
West--he has worked for quality education for Utah's children, fought 
to preserve its natural landscapes, and paved the way for the 
development of 21st century infrastructure back home.
  Senator Bennett also made America proud in 2002 when he helped the 
Salt Lake City Winter Olympics become one of the most successful and 
safe Olympic games in recent memory.
  Of course, Senator Bennett and I have not always seen eye-to-eye on 
many issues. But my respect for his beliefs has always been deep. And 
in 2008, when America was on the brink of financial collapse, I was 
moved by his eagerness to reach across the aisle to do what was right 
for Utah and Illinois, alike. This has always been his character, and 
the Senate will miss him for it.
  Senator Bennett leaves us this month in the same way that he has 
served here for almost 20 years: with dignity and conviction. I am 
proud to call him a friend, and wish him and his family all the best in 
the future.

                          ____________________