[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17203-17206]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         FAREWELL TO THE SENATE

  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I have to begin today by saying one thing, 
that is, to God be the glory. I will finish with that too. But first 
let me say a few words.
  Since election night I have had many Arkansans come up to me and 
thank me for my service. I appreciate that. But I need to thank them 
for allowing me to do this for the last 12 years. It sounds like a 
cliche, but it is not. Serving in the Senate has been the greatest 
honor of my life. It truly has been. I have loved it. I have always 
done it with a cheerful heart. When I go back to my beloved Arkansas, I 
have to thank the people of Arkansas for allowing me to work for you. 
But I must confess I will miss waking up every morning and thinking, 
how can I make a difference for Arkansas and for America today? Those 
years were momentous in so many ways, for our country and for our 
world. I had a front-row seat to making history, and I hope I made a 
little bit of it myself.
  On a personal level, those years were filled with family and friends, 
a remarkable staff, my Senate colleagues, and a whole series of rich, 
once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
  The Lord has given me two wonderful children who are now in college. 
I know many of you all saw them for the first time when they were in 
elementary school. I am very proud, and their mother is very proud, of 
Adams and Porter Pryor. I am very excited about their future.
  God has also brought an old sweetheart back into my life, Joi. She 
and I attended the sixth and seventh grades together. So when I say God 
has brought joy in my life, I mean it, literally.
  Many of you know my parents. Of course, I would be nothing without 
them. Dave and Barbara Pryor have touched so many lives. They continue 
to do so.
  For the last 8 years, I have lived with my brother David and Judith 
and Hampton Pryor in Washington, when I am here in Washington. I will 
always be grateful for their love and hospitality.
  Scott and Diane and Devin Pryor in New York have been a great 
inspiration to me as well.
  My staff is simply awesome. I love them all and they are all part of 
my family too. There are too many to mention, but words such as talent, 
commitment, public service, effectiveness, all come to mind whenever 
their names come up. I have said this many times about my staff, and 
they keep telling me not to say it, but I am going to say it one last 
time: They do 99 percent of the work and I get 99 percent of the 
credit. So I want to acknowledge them for a job well done. They should 
all hold their heads high for the difference they have made. I ask 
unanimous consent that a list of their names be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Lisa Ackerman, Adrianna Alley, Ronnie Anderson, Suzanne 
     Bartolomei, Tim Bass,

[[Page 17204]]

     Frank Bateman, Jason Bockenstedt, Patrice Bolling, Cathy 
     Bozynski, Zac Bradley, Becca Bradley, Ruth Bradley, Rachel 
     Brown, Sonya Bryant, LaRonda Bryles, Tamara Buchholz, Britton 
     Burnett, Margery Buzbee, Macio Cameron, Lauren Carter, Rachel 
     Colson, Kim Cooper, Paul Cox, Laura Culver, Emily Culver, 
     Olivia Dedner, Shiloh Dillon, Martine Downs, Wes Duncan, 
     Michael Fangue, William Feland, Greg Feldman, Jeff Fitch, 
     Sherry Flippo, Bradford Foley, Derrick Freeman, Conor 
     Frickel, Bess Ginty, Terri Glaze, Andrew Grobmyer.
       Russell Hall, Beth Hallmark, Julie Hamilton, Megan 
     Hargraves, Ruth Hargraves, Jacob Hargraves, Justin Harper, 
     Ehren Hartz, Tonya Hass, Mary Grace Hathaway, Whitney Haynes, 
     Brigit Helgen, Larry Henderson, Lauren Henry-Cowles, Hannah 
     Herdlinger, Carrie Hern, Tate Heuer, Gene Higginbotham, 
     Brandon Hirsch, Emily Hoard, Sarah Holland, Greg Holyfield, 
     Vincent Insalaco, Susie James, Mark Johnston, Louis Keller, 
     Hank Kilgore, Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi, Shannon Lane, 
     Stephen Lehrman, Autumn Lewis, Sam Losow, Shannon Lovejoy, 
     Stan Luker, Scott Macconomy, Amanda Manatt-Story, Elizabeth 
     Manney, Randy Massanelli, Eric May, Madra McAdoo, Nathan 
     McCarroll, Lauren McClain.
       Marietta McClure, Audrey McFarland, Valerie McNeese, Rodell 
     Mollineau, Melissa Moody, Reed Moody, Brook Mumford, Callie 
     Neel, Eric Nelson, Wayne Palmer, Allison Pearson, Mia 
     Petrini, Brad Phelan, Jim Pitcock, Marisa Pryor, Walter 
     Pryor, Hayne Rainey, Candace Randle, Kris Raper, Robbie Reed, 
     Mary Renick, Erin Ridgeway, Jenny Robertson, Kirk Robertson, 
     Bob Russell, Paul Sanders, Amy Schlesing, Kymara Seals, 
     Kristin Sharp, Ashley Shelton, Ashely Simmons, Jason Smedley, 
     Haley Smoot, Kate Melcher, Lucy Speed, Brandon Spicher, 
     Jeffrey Stein, Arthur Stokenbury, Michelle Strikowsky, Kelvin 
     Stroud, Kelsey Stroud, Richard Swan, Frances Tate, Michael 
     Teague, Jennifer Thompson, Courtney Van Buren, Joan Vehik, 
     Crystal Waitekus, Brad Watt, David West, Preston Weyland, 
     Libby Whitbeck, Deke Whitbeck, Marco White, Amanda White, 
     Quinten Whiteside, Elizabeth Wilson, Andy York, Mary Claire 
     York, Julie Zelnick.

  Mr. PRYOR. My colleagues. What can I say about my colleagues that has 
not been said before? Or maybe I could say, what can I say about my 
colleagues that they have not said about themselves before?
  You know, politics is about people; not just the people out there, 
but the people in here, the people the people elect. I have served with 
some greats and some giants. Robert C. Byrd, Ted Kennedy, Daniel 
Inouye, Ted Stevens are at the top of the list. But the truth is that 
every single Senator I have served with is a giant.
  I have served with about 175 other Senators, so there are too many to 
single out. But I have made lifelong friendships here. We have done a 
lot of good things together. This is what I will remember: all the 
personalities, all the times when we came together to do the right 
thing, and all the successes we had together.
  While in the Senate, I had more than 70 initiatives signed into law. 
Almost all of those have been bipartisan. I ask unanimous consent to 
have that list printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                  Highlights of Senate Accomplishments

       Opened a New Opportunity for the Forestry Industry. Allowed 
     domestic forestry products to be recognized by USDA as 
     biobased, leveling the playing field with imports and 
     ensuring such products can be procured by the federal 
     government and sold as a greener alternative to consumers, 
     P.L. 113-179
       Funded Critical Agriculture Needs as Chairman of the 
     Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. Crafted and 
     passed $20 billion annual spending measure that allocates 
     funds for agriculture programs, P.L. 113-76
       Ensured Veterans Could Collect Retirement Benefits without 
     Gimmicks. Restored the full retirement pay promised to 
     disabled veterans and their survivors, P.L. 113-76
       Honored Former Senator Dale Bumpers for his Conservation 
     Efforts. Renamed the White River National Wildlife Refuge to 
     the Senator Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife 
     Refuge, P.L. 113-76
       Ensured Patients Have Access to Lifesaving Medical 
     Treatment. Allowed the FDA to access industry-paid user fees 
     that had been blocked by sequestration, P.L. 113-76
       Ensured Disabled Veterans are Treated with Dignity During 
     Airport Security. Ensured the dignity of wounded and severely 
     disabled service members and veterans during airport security 
     screenings, P.L. 113-27
       Protected Food Safety Inspections from Sequestration. 
     Ensured USDA food inspectors were not furloughed, protecting 
     500,000 industry jobs at meat, poultry, and egg production 
     facilities, P.L. 113-6
       Sought Greater Employment Opportunities for Veterans. 
     Allowed states to accept military training as fulfilling 
     credentials or certifications for special skills required for 
     certain civilian jobs, P.L. 112-239
       Protected Consumers from International Scams. Extended the 
     FTC's ability to coordinate investigation efforts with 
     foreign counterparts and obtain monetary consumer redress in 
     cases involving Internet fraud and deception, P.L. 112-203
       Expanded the Safety Mission at the National Center for 
     Toxicological Research. Allows the FDA to focus on the health 
     and safety implications of nanomaterials, P.L. 112-144, P.L. 
     112-55
       Kept Fatigued Truck Drivers Off the Road with Electronic 
     Logging Devices. Required truckers to use electronic logging 
     devices to more accurately monitor hours on the job, P.L. 
     112-141
       Prevented Dangerous Drivers from Driving Big Rigs with 
     National Drug Database. Established a national database of 
     drug testing information for commercial drivers to ensure 
     they can't bypass the law, P.L. 112-141
       Stepped Up Vehicle Safety Following Numerous Recalls. 
     Updated safety and compliance standards, and increased 
     resources at DOT to conduct additional research and address 
     emerging technologies, P.L. 112-141
       Reduced Distracted Driving, Established a grant program for 
     states to enact and enforce laws discouraging distracted 
     driving, P.L. 112-141
       Provided Flexibility in Pension Plan Payments. Allows 
     certain companies to invest in growth opportunities instead 
     of setting aside millions to cover certain pension payments, 
     P.L. 112-141
       Protected Homeowners from Buying Unnecessary Flood 
     Insurance. Defeated a mandate that would force families and 
     businesses behind certified levees, dams and other protection 
     to purchase unnecessary flood insurance, P.L. 112-141
       Stabilized Arkansas Funding for Rural Schools Program. 
     Authorized USDA to allocate federal dollars for road projects 
     in the state despite a missed deadline, P.L. 112-141
       Expanded Possibilities at the U.S. Marshals Museum. Enabled 
     the sale of coins to raise $5 million to enhance exhibits at 
     the U.S. Marshals Museum, P.L. 112-104
       Ensured Military Families Receive Death Benefits. Provided 
     death benefits to a family should a Reservist die at home 
     during training, P.L. 112-81
       Facilitated Camp Robinson Land Exchanges to Improve 
     Training and Safety. Twice waived a statute to allow the 
     National Guard to gain land more conducive for training and 
     for an aviation support facility, P.L. 112-81, P.L. 109-13
       Enabled First Responders to Help Neighboring States During 
     a Disaster. Secured $2 million for a program enabling first 
     responders to help their neighbors in times of emergency, 
     P.L. 112-74
       Fixed FEMA'S Errors in Disaster Assistance Repayment 
     Process. Used legislative privileges to stop FEMA from 
     recouping disaster aid from an elderly couple who did nothing 
     wrong, and granted FEMA the clear authority to waive debt in 
     cases of FEMA error, P.L. 112-74
       Leveraged Funds for Economic Development in the Delta. 
     Increased the Delta Regional Authority's budget by nearly $2 
     million, P.L. 112-74
       Expanded Environmentally-Friendly Options for Military 
     Construction Projects. Encouraged DoD to recognize all 
     American National Standards Institute approved building 
     ratings and certification systems, P.L. 112-74
       Provided Community Access to Health Care. Provided HHS with 
     the authority to issue a waiver and preserve funding for 
     Arkansas Health Education Centers, P.L. 112-74, P.L. 112-10
       Promoted Exports Abroad. Required the Commerce Department 
     to develop an outreach plan to strengthen export promotion 
     entities such as the Arkansas World Trade Center, P.L. 112-55
       Expanded Science Parks. Enables the government to make loan 
     guarantees and grants to create or expand science parks, P.L. 
     112-55
       Protected Taxpayer Dollars from Prisoner Fraud. Required 
     federal and state prison systems to share information on 
     inmates with the IRS. This step allows the IRS to cross 
     reference tax returns with the list of inmates to determine 
     if a legitimate return is filed, before tax refunds are paid, 
     P.L. 112-41
       Expanded Environmentally-Friendly Options for Military 
     Construction Projects. Encouraged DoD to recognize all 
     American National Standards Institute approved building 
     ratings and certification systems, S. Rept. 112-29
       Modified Product Safety Law to Reflect Lead Limit 
     Capabilities. Allows flexibility for certain manufacturers 
     and charities in complying with new lead limits, P.L. 112-28
       Weeded Out Border Corruption. Required applicants for law 
     enforcement positions within U.S. Customs and Border 
     Protection to receive a polygraph exam before they are hired, 
     P.L. 111-376
       Spurred Innovation in Technology through Monetary Prizes. 
     Enables federal agencies to hold competitions with monetary 
     prizes in order to encourage innovation in research and 
     technology, P.L. 111-358
       Improved Investments to Advance U.S. Manufacturing. 
     Required the National

[[Page 17205]]

     Science and Technology Council to identify priorities for R&D 
     programs and address challenges in those programs, P.L. 111-
     358
       Incorporated Entrepreneurship into STEM Activities. 
     Requires lessons in innovation and entrepreneurship be taught 
     as part of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) 
     education activities, P.L. 111-358
       Improved Technology Access for Blind and Deaf. Ensures all 
     Americans are able to fully utilize online devices, 
     regardless of disability, P.L. 111-260
       Prevented Excessive Financial Regulation of Non-Banks. 
     Ensured banks and financial companies receive a higher 
     threshold of review by the Federal Reserve, but that 
     companies who were not part of the fiscal crisis, like Home 
     Depot, do not have to undergo additional supervision, P.L. 
     111-203
       Empowered Consumers to Make Informed Choices When Selecting 
     Health Plans. Ensured consumers have an easy-to-use Internet 
     tool to select the best plan on the health care exchange, 
     P.L. 111-148
       Retired Certain C-130Es. Retired outdated C-130Es and saved 
     taxpayers millions of dollars in maintenance and storage 
     costs, P.L. 111-84
       Streamlined DoD Research Requirements. Eliminated a 
     duplicative report to Congress on DoD development programs to 
     allow the Pentagon to spend more time on research and less 
     time on paperwork, P.L. 111-84
       Blocked Unreasonable Regulation to End Pocketknife Sales. 
     Prevented Customs and Border Patrol from banning certain 
     pocket knives, bringing relief to consumers and the 20,000 
     employees that could have been impacted, P.L. 111-83
       Preserved President Clinton's Birthplace for Future 
     Generations. Designated the former president's home as a 
     National Historic Site and unit of the National Park System, 
     P.L. 111-11
       Helped Parents Protect Children from Inappropriate Content 
     on the Internet. Required the FCC to fulfill its obligation 
     to continuously review and implement blocking technology as 
     it is developed, P.L. 110-452
       Fixed Housing Contract Problems for Military Families. 
     Requires DoD to investigate and prevent base housing 
     problems, P.L. 110-417
       Fought for Fairness for Military Pilots. Directed the Air 
     Force and Navy to review pilot assignments to non-flying 
     duties, and the effect of these assignments have on these 
     officers' eligibility for flight pay, P.L. 110-417
       Ensured Farmers Access to Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer. 
     Required DHS to ensure that any person who produces or sells 
     ammonium nitrate (AN) registers their facility and maintains 
     records of sales. Buyers are checked against a terrorist 
     screening database, which keeps AN out of the wrong hands 
     without placing an undue burden on farmers, P.L. 110-329
       Protected Consumers from Toxic Toys and Other Dangerous 
     Products. Overhauled the Consumer Product Safety Commission 
     and established strong product safety safeguards that cut 
     fatalities in half and dramatically reduced toy-related 
     recalls, P.L. 110-314
       Fought for Fairness in the Tax Code for Military Families. 
     Enabled men and women in uniform to collect combat pay and 
     other tax benefits, such as the Child Tax Credit and the 
     Earned Income Tax Credit, P.L. 110-245, P.L. 108-311
       Provided Relief to Military Families Affected by Landlord 
     Foreclosures. Allowed the military to move household goods 
     for members of the Armed Forces who are forced to relocate 
     when the housing they are renting goes into foreclosure, P.L. 
     110-289
       Advanced Investment in Cellulosic Biofuel. Required USDA to 
     conduct a nationwide analysis of where the greatest potential 
     for development of cellulosic biofuel exists, P.L. 110-234
       Updated Regulations for Private-Public Partnerships 
     Following Disrupted Rice Exports. Improves quality control 
     standards for university and private sector research, P.L. 
     110-234
       Ensured Soldiers Receive Fair Time for Rest and 
     Recuperation. Offered additional leave for troops serving 
     extended tours, P.L. 110-181
       Kept the Do Not Call List Free. Permanently kept the Do Not 
     Call program free, simple and effective, P.L. 110-188
       Improved Medical Care for Wounded Warriors. Increased 
     personnel and resources available to treat wounded warriors, 
     with an emphasis on training health care workers on 
     identifying and treating PTSD and TBI, P.L. 110-181
       Made Swimming Pools Safer for Children. Requires drain 
     covers to meet anti-entrapment safety standards, P.L. 110-140
       Improved Fuel Economy Standards. Negotiated an agreement 
     that overcame 30 years of deadlock on fuel economy standards, 
     P.L. 110-140
       Maintained Training for First Responders. Secured funding 
     for the Domestic Preparedness Equipment Technical Assistance 
     Program, a nationwide training program for first responders, 
     P.L. 110-53, P.L. 109-295
       Tapped an Arkansas Center to Head Rural Transportation 
     Security Research. Designated the Mack-Blackwell Rural 
     Transportation Center at the University of Arkansas as a 
     ``National Center of Excellence for Transportation 
     Security,'' P.L. 110-53
       Expanded Online Education Opportunities for Minorities. 
     Established a pilot program for Historically Black Colleges 
     and Universities to develop online courses, P.L. 110-16
       Improved Energy Efficiency in Military Housing. Directed 
     DoD to consider products that meet Energy Star specifications 
     in order to reduce the military's energy bill, P.L. 109-364
       Cracked Down on Foreign Truck Drivers Entering the U.S. 
     Illegally. Directed DOT and DHS to comply with measures that 
     eliminate fraud in the Commercial Drivers License process and 
     verify citizenship, P.L. 109-347
       Put the FEMA Mobile Homes to Good Use. Ensured that mobile 
     homes purchased by FEMA in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina 
     went to serve the public good, P.L. 109-295
       Removed Unnecessary Obstacles for a Local Manufacturing 
     Company. Eliminated a 4.5 percent tariff on Crotonaldehyde 
     for Eastman Chemical Corporation, P.L. 109-280
       Kept Local Manufacturer Globally Competitive. Eliminated a 
     4.5% tariff on LCD display panels in order to reduce 
     production costs for Sanyo, P.L. 109-280
       Funded the Completion of the Little Rock Central High 
     School Museum and Visitors Center. Secured more than $5 
     million to complete the Center, P.L. 109-146, P.L. 109-54
       Identified Gasoline Price Gouging. Requires the FTC to 
     determine if and where gasoline price gouging occurs in the 
     supply chain, P.L. 109-108
       Prioritized Cleburne County for Water Infrastructure 
     Assistance. Encouraged the Agriculture Secretary to 
     prioritize Cleburne County, Arkansas for Rural Utilities 
     Service water and waste water loans and grants, P.L. 109-97
       Improved Medical Care to Soldiers. Increased funding for 
     mobile medical shelter prototypes, and later urged FEMA to 
     use up to $10 million to acquire a mobile medical system for 
     evaluation, P.L. 109-90, P.L. 108-287
       Prevented Moving Companies from Holding Goods Hostage. 
     Requires movers to release goods if a customer pays the 
     estimate, P.L. 109-59
       Promoted the Commercialization of Biodiesel and Hythane. 
     Requires DOE, in conjunction with universities throughout the 
     country, to prepare reports that would evaluate how to best 
     deploy biodiesel and hythane and create an infrastructure to 
     support their potential, P.L. 109-58
       Protected Soybean Industry. Directed the USDA to initiate a 
     stronger response to combat Asian Soybean Rust, which 
     resulted in a $1.2 million for the effort, P.L. 109-13
       Established Tracking System for Wounded Service Members. 
     Ensures families receive timely information when loved ones 
     are wounded, P.L. 108-375

  Mr. PRYOR. I do not do very many press conferences, as you all know, 
and I have always been first in line to work with any and all of my 
colleagues to try to get things done. The Senate is a special place. On 
a personal level, we talk about the Senate family. It is a family. When 
people mention the Senate to me, I think of other Senators, of course, 
and I think of legislation, but usually the first thing that comes to 
mind is the people who work here: the Parliamentarians, the clerks, the 
doormen, the Capitol Police. I am appreciative of the other Senators' 
staffs and the committee staffs, and even to my House colleagues--most 
of them, anyway. No, even to my House colleagues.
  But I have always been mindful of the people who really make this 
place run: the janitorial staff, the folks in the restaurants, the 
maintenance guys, the painters, the carpenters, the tech people. The 
list goes on and on. All of them contribute to make the Senate what it 
is. We work here together. We go through life and budget cuts and 
changing political winds together. There is a bond we all feel because 
we all have been in the Senate together.
  Please give me just a few moments of your time to make this next 
point. As great an institution as the Senate is, the Senate is broken. 
The American people know it. In fact, this is an area where the 
American people are way ahead of Washington. The people around our 
Nation look at Washington and they shake their heads. We sometimes 
cannot see the forest for the trees because we get bogged down in 
personalities or perceived wrongs or whatever the case may be.
  This is not a Barack Obama problem, this is not a George Bush 
problem. In fact, all recent Presidents have gone through periods of 
deep unpopularity. This is an ``all of us'' problem. The political 
environment today grinds the trust and confidence out of our system. 
Let me tell you, that is not good for anybody.
  The Republicans have a great opportunity in 2015 and 2016. They 
convinced

[[Page 17206]]

the voters they are the party that can govern. Now it is time for them 
to turn off the rhetoric and turn on the governing. In the Senate, if 
the new Republican majority will run the Senate the way they have said 
it should be run, then this is a very good start. If we can replay the 
tape over the last 2 years, we will hear Republican Senators time and 
again clamor for an open amendment process and for regular order. They 
were caustic when the Democratic majority changed the rules--a change, 
by the way which I did not support. So let's change the rules back to 
what they were. Let's govern the way we know we ought to.
  Democrats--this is an important message--Democrats should help the 
Republicans govern. The rules are not the problem around here. We are 
the problem, all 100 of us. Hyperpartisanship has gotten the best of 
us. When things get too partisan, good judgment and common sense go out 
the window. The biggest and most serious problem facing our Nation 
today is the dysfunction in our political system within Washington. 
America has incredible potential, but we cannot reach it unless 
Washington starts to work again for all of us. If we are to continue to 
be the greatest Nation on Earth, we must work together. That is, after 
all, the American way. That is our history. This country was created, 
this country was forged. The great melting pot is just that, a melting 
pot. E pluribus unum actually means something: Out of many, one. We 
have many differing viewpoints, many philosophies, many backgrounds, 
many priorities. So we have the pluribus part down pat. That is not the 
problem. No, the challenge comes with the unum.
  From my perspective, I see the ultimate question as a question of 
loyalty. Who are we loyal to? I just mentioned that we have many 
different viewpoints, philosophies, and agendas. But if we have 
different loyalties, then we are a divided nation. That will only lead 
to bad things. When each of us takes our oath of office, we swear 
allegiance to the Constitution, not a party, nor a President, nor an 
interest group. We do not swear allegiance to those who pay for our 
campaigns or to a certain agenda. We need to hash out our differences 
in the Senate in committee and on the floor, then hash them out with 
the House, but at the end of the day, produce legislation. That is the 
essence of the legislative branch. We also must exert our authority as 
article I, the first branch of government.
  We have checks and balances. We cannot provide the check or the 
balance if we are not functioning. Making this place function is part 
of our oath of office. One thing we should all remember: The Senate is 
bigger than we are. We do not have to look farther than our own desks 
to see that. Look inside your desk and you see the names written in the 
drawer. In my desk I see Senator Gronna, elected in 1911 from North 
Dakota. Names such as Everett Dirksen and George Mitchell, David Pryor, 
Joe Lieberman and Carl Levin--these men molded history. These are 
Senators who shaped world events. These Senators were good stewards of 
what our Founding Fathers created for us. We should be too, each and 
every one of us.
  The Father of our Country had a lot to say about partisanship. In his 
Farewell Address, he warns us of the ``continual mischiefs'' and ``ill-
founded jealousies'' caused by parties. We should take heed. It is the 
greatest mistake of our time to allow these prophesied mischiefs and 
jealousies to divide us and damage the American political character.
  Abraham Lincoln once famously said, ``A house divided against itself 
cannot stand.'' That is so true. His voice is echoing down through the 
halls of history to us. If we are divided, we cannot stand. We will not 
stand a chance in the future. Let Lincoln's words be a clarion call to 
all Members of Congress. That includes all Senators.
  Look at what is happening to us. The Congress is getting more liberal 
and more conservative. Look at the wild swings in regulations that have 
occurred from President Clinton to President Bush to President Obama. 
No wonder we are seeing a sluggish economic recovery.
  Washington is creating uncertainty and instability. The private 
sector cannot make investments or take risks with confidence. It should 
be the opposite. The Federal Government should be fostering economic 
growth. This country needs Washington to function. That starts in this 
Chamber.
  One thing I like to say in meetings is this: ``Don't just bring me 
the problem, bring me the solution.'' So I have identified a big 
problem here this afternoon. It is fair for you to ask about the 
solution. Regardless of your political philosophy, bipartisanship is 
the answer. Let's take off the red jersey and take off the blue jersey 
and let us all put on the red, white, and blue jersey. Our Nation's 
challenges, large and small, require us to get on the same team; that 
is team USA.
  Remember, I mentioned Abraham Lincoln saying that, ``A house divided 
against itself cannot stand.'' Well, he was actually quoting an 
itinerant Jewish rabbi who said that about 2,000 years ago. Jesus was 
right then and He is right now. A house divided against itself cannot 
stand. Good government is good politics. Although there are short-term 
gains to be had by political division, the long-term consequences are 
bad for the country. It is time for the giants of the Senate to emerge. 
Jesus has offered us some advice. Probably the best practical advice of 
wisdom He left us here in the Congress is called the Golden Rule: Do 
unto others as you would have them do unto you. If we applied that 
around here, about three-quarters of our problems would vanish. Poof.
  Is that impossible? Not at all. Most of us claim to have a Judeo-
Christian faith, so why not apply what we know to be true? The first 
step in this process is another one of Jesus's admonitions--forgive one 
another.
  I know each Senator, from time to time, feels betrayed, let down, 
slighted, or somehow wronged. We need to forgive one another and let 
the healing begin.
  I am not trying to combine religion and politics, but I think most 
everyone in the world agrees that Jesus is one of the greatest moral 
teachers of all time. He has a lot to say about how we should treat one 
another.
  There are and there will be 100 Senators. Healing the Senate and 
getting it to function as it did for two centuries is up to each 
individual Senator. That means doing the right thing but also 
persuading others to do the right thing. It is not about us, it is 
about our country, our children, and our grandchildren. It is about 
being good stewards.
  In closing, let me say I loved my time with you. I will always 
remember you with fondness and I will always be cheering for you. I 
expect great things from you because I know you are capable of doing 
great things. God bless the Senate and the work we do, and God bless 
the United States of America.
  I yield the floor.
  (Applause, Senators rising.)
  Mr. NELSON. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. COLLINS. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, are we in morning business?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are.
  Ms. COLLINS. I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to proceed 
for not longer than 5 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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