[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18631-18632]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        THANKING SENATOR CONRAD

  Mr. SESSIONS. I am so pleased to see that Senator Conrad is here, 
that I could follow him. I had another subject I wanted to speak about, 
an important subject. But it is very important for all Americans to 
know how well he has served.
  Senator Conrad is one of the very small group of people in this 
country

[[Page 18632]]

who understands the debt challenges we face. He has been on the debt 
commission. He has been the budget chairman. He staked his first 
election on dealing with these issues, as he has explained to us. I 
truly believe if he had a little more support, maybe, from his caucus 
and others, his vision could have been a real part of the solution we 
would make to this debt crisis. We are not that far apart when you 
consider the true challenges this Nation faces financially.
  I remember a little over 2 years ago now, when the Senator called the 
debt commission cochairman, Erskine Bowles before the budget committee. 
He gave a speech and written testimony, which said this Nation has 
never faced a more predictable financial crisis. I remember the Senator 
asked the cochairman when we might have this financial crisis if we 
don't change our ways. He replied, it could be 2 years, as close as 2 
years. That was 2 years ago, over 2 years ago now.
  I think, Senator Conrad, we have maybe gotten a little overconfident. 
People were telling us we were on an unsustainable course, we were 
facing a potential crisis, the Rogoff and Reinhart book came out and 
said that our debt reaches 90 percent of GDP, and all that was 
discussed and we had a lot of excitement about it, and we did not act. 
We did not act in a significant way.
  In times gone by, maybe people thought the crisis is never going to 
happen, but I think the Senator agrees the potential for it to happen 
is just as real, if not more so, than it was 2 years ago.
  I want to say this. We did not always agree. The Senator didn't 
always agree with my views and I understand that. But the Senator 
allowed the minority on the committee to have its voice heard, to ask 
our questions, and the Senator called some great hearings. We had some 
of the best minds in the country provide testimony before the budget 
committee. The Senator allowed and called the administration witnesses 
and we were able to examine them about how they were managing the 
country's money. The Senator allowed that to happen in the great 
tradition of the Senate where we have open debate and honest 
questioning. The Senator was always a perfect gentleman, and always 
able, as I think the Presiding Officer would acknowledge, to give a 
little levity to a tense situation. The Senator has a great sense of 
humor that really endeared him to me.
  So I will say to Senator Conrad, thank you for your service. I 
believe every member of the budget committee, Republican and Democrat, 
appreciated the Senator's leadership. I know they did. I know the staff 
also respected the Senator's leadership. We had a great time working 
with the Senator's professional team. The Senator served his country 
exceedingly well dealing with the greatest issue we face today, our 
financial debt situation. I hope and I am confident the Senator will 
remain active, that he will not be silent, that he will provide 
continual input and advice to the Members of Congress as we wrestle 
with these tough issues.
  Mr. CONRAD. I wish to say thanks to my colleague, Senator Sessions. 
He will still be on the Budget Committee. These challenges remain. I 
will lend my voice in whatever way I can to the responsible efforts 
that are needed to get us back on track. It is truly my fondest wish 
that we find a way to come together to do what must be done. It would 
be so good for the country. It would be great for the Congress. It 
would be good for the people. I am confident this is a challenge we can 
meet.
  I thank the Senator.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I will repeat my admiration and 
affection for the Senator from North Dakota and appreciation for his 
leadership.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.

                          ____________________