[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17731-17732]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO KAY HAGAN

  Ms. HEITKAMP. Madam President, I rise today to honor my colleague 
from North Carolina, Senator Kay Hagan, who is departing from the 
Senate at the end of this year. Senator Hagan has been a strong voice 
for North Carolina's families, first during her decade in the North 
Carolina State Senate and during her service here in the United States 
Senate. Over the last two years, I have been consistently impressed 
with Senator Hagan's compassion for and advocacy on behalf of her 
constituents and her willingness to forge the tough, bipartisan 
compromises that our country needs.
  Kay actually first came to the Senate in the 1970s as an intern in 
the Capitol, where she operated the elevator that continues to carry 
Senators to and from the Chamber. After finishing her college education 
and pursuing her law degree, Kay became an attorney for North Carolina 
National Bank and eventually became a vice president in the estates and 
trust division.
  Senator Hagan's business and banking experience has been a tremendous 
asset during her time as a member of the banking committee, where we 
serve together. Senator Hagan's understanding of the housing finance 
system and commitment to affordable housing was invaluable as she and I 
worked together with a bipartisan group of committee members to draft 
and advance legislation reforming the system to make sure the American 
taxpayer is protected and made whole. During the debate Senator Hagan 
used her expert knowledge of the industry to craft a commonsense, 
bipartisan solution. Our proposal makes sure taxpayers are never left 
holding the bill again, while preserving the 30-year mortgage and 
supporting affordable housing--a huge accomplishment.
  Senator Hagan comes from a family and a State with a rich military 
history. Her father and brother both served in the Navy, and her 
husband, Chip, is a Navy Vietnam veteran. She has diligently supported 
and honored servicemembers and veterans as a member of the Armed 
Services Committee. She visited North Carolina troops in the Middle 
East to better understand their mission and needs, and she helped found 
the Military Family Caucus to raise awareness of the difficulties faced 
by those with loved ones abroad. In conjunction with her work on the 
small business committee, she introduced legislation to reduce veteran 
unemployment by providing employers a work opportunity tax credit for 
hiring a member of the National Guard.
  As a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee 
and Chair of the Subcommittee on Children and Families, Senator Hagan 
has consistently fought to make sure America's children have the 
education, tools, and resources to build a better tomorrow. In fact, 
Senator Hagan's first bill was on a subject very dear to me--financial 
literacy. Far too many young Americans fall victim to financial scams 
or take out too many loans

[[Page 17732]]

because they haven't been given an adequate education on personal 
finances. Senator Hagan's legislation--which she has pressed every 
Congress--would have helped States integrate financial literacy into 
middle-and high school curriculums. That is the kind of commonsense 
legislation Senator Hagan is known for and Congress should be passing.
  Senator Hagan has been an outstanding public servant for the people 
of North Carolina. Although I am saddened to see such a well-respected 
female colleague depart from the Senate, I know Kay will continue to be 
a champion for North Carolina's families in the years ahead, and I wish 
her all the best.

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