[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16701]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTES TO DEPARTING SENATORS


                             Joe Lieberman

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I want to talk this morning about Joe 
Lieberman.
  The very modest apartment, with no hot water, where Joseph Lieberman 
was raised has long since been demolished, but the values he learned in 
that little apartment--in the flat above his grandparents' house--are 
still there. They are the same values of devotion and public service 
that have driven him not only to overcome humble beginnings but to 
serve the country for 24 years here in the U.S. Senate.
  Two years ago, on the day he announced his retirement from the 
Senate, Joe Lieberman described his rise from cold-water flat to 
Congress as follows:

       My four grandparents . . . came to America seeking freedom 
     and they found it. They came to America hoping for 
     opportunities and they got them. But even they could not have 
     dreamed that their grandson would end up a U.S. Senator.

  Joe was always a natural-born leader. He was president of his high 
school graduating class. He got undergraduate and law degrees from 
Yale--one of the most prestigious universities in the world--where he 
was chairman of the Yale Daily News.
  He was a civil rights activist early on as a young man. He was 
inspired, as many of us were, by the words of John Kennedy. Joe 
defeated an incumbent to win a seat in the Connecticut State Senate, 
where he served for 10 years, including 6 as the majority leader of the 
Connecticut State Legislature.
  After returning to private practice for 2 years, he served as the 
first full-time Connecticut attorney general. It was during his years 
as attorney general that he met the love of his life, Hadassah. Today, 
they have 4 children and 12 grandchildren.
  In 1988, he again took on one of the giants of politics in the State 
of Connecticut in a race no one thought he could win, but he did. He 
defeated an incumbent U.S. Senator, and for the last 24 years he has 
served the people of Connecticut and this country with honor and 
distinction.
  I was pleased to have had an opportunity to support Senator 
Lieberman's historic candidacy for Vice President in 2000. Joe was the 
first Jewish major party candidate for Vice President.
  Senator Lieberman is a devout and observant Jew. He has even written 
a book about the importance of keeping the Sabbath as a day of rest. I 
read the book. I was so impressed with that book. Our Sabbaths may be 
on different days, but the solemnity of the Sabbath is important to 
both of us. I was so impressed by that book I bought 20 of them and 
sent them to my friends and my family, who I thought would gain a great 
deal by learning from this book that Joe had written.
  Joe Lieberman says his faith is the basis for his strong desire to 
serve the State of Connecticut and our country. During his four terms 
representing Connecticut in the Senate, Joe Lieberman played a key role 
in drafting and passing many different pieces of legislation, including 
the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, which have literally saved lives by 
eliminating harmful smog, acid rain, and other toxins in our air and 
water. He has been chairman of the very important Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs Committee. He is a powerful voice on security 
issues, and he has been exemplary in working on a bipartisan basis with 
Senator Susan Collins, who has been the ranking member of that 
committee.
  Joe led the charge to create the 9/11 commission and to implement its 
recommendations. He was a leading voice for the creation of that 
department, Homeland Security, which we now look to for keeping this 
country safe.
  As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Lieberman 
was a strong advocate for repeal of the discriminatory don't ask, don't 
tell policy that unjustly forced gay and lesbian servicemembers into 
the closet. He fought to ensure our military is the best prepared and 
best equipped fighting force in the world. We have much in common. We 
don't always agree on policy issues, but we do 90 percent of the time. 
Regardless of the few differences we have, I have never, ever doubted 
Joe Lieberman's principles or his patriotism, and I respect his 
independent streak as it stems from strong convictions. Joe said it 
best himself:

       I have not always fit comfortably into conventional 
     political boxes. Maybe you've noticed that. Democrat, 
     Republican, liberal, conservative. Because I've always 
     thought my first responsibility is not to serve a political 
     party, but to serve my constituents, my state and my country. 
     . . . Whatever the partisan or policy differences that divide 
     us, they are much less important than the shared values and 
     dreams that unite us.

  I have watched up close. He has been a wonderful Member of the 
Democratic caucus. I so admire and respect him. I agree with Senator 
Lieberman's values. He has been an asset to the Democratic caucus and 
our country. I am pleased to have shared the dream of serving in the 
Senate with such an extraordinary man and exceptional Senator. I 
congratulate Joe and Hadassah on their years of dedicated service 
because they have worked together. I wish them both happiness.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Republican leader.

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