[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9454]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING GEORGE VOINOVICH

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, George Voinovich served in this body as 
the Senator from Ohio from 1999 until 2010. Senator Voinovich was a 
friend of mine, and I think our colleagues would agree with me that he 
was among the most respected members of this body. He was respected for 
his thoughtfulness, for his humility, for his self-effacing nature.
  It is sometimes said that the Senate is composed of 100 prospective 
Presidents of the United States, each of whom is just waiting for the 
American people to recognize their unappreciated talents. That concept 
did not apply to George Voinovich. It is not that he was not well 
prepared to assume the highest office in the land; George Voinovich 
simply chose to make his contribution in a different way.
  George Voinovich was one of the most prepared people ever to serve in 
the Senate. He was responsible for the turnaround of the city of 
Cleveland; elected as a Republican mayor in a Democratic town. He 
served as Lieutenant Governor and Governor the State of Ohio. He was 
elected by his peers first to the role of president of the National 
League of Cities and subsequently to chair the National Governors 
Association.
  In the Senate, he contributed significantly to the work of the 
Foreign Relations Committee, the Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, and the 
Appropriations Committee.
  This was a ``workhorse'' not a ``show horse.'' For a politician, he 
was deliberately the ``unpolitician.'' An individual who built a 
reputation on his efforts and accomplishments and not on his press 
releases. Approachable and grassroots as they come, which is especially 
an admirable quality in one who represents a large State. It bears 
repeating: ``a self-effacing and humble man.''
  George Voinovich was one of the most principled people ever to serve 
in this body. He was profoundly independent in his thinking. He was 
frugal in both his policy and in his personal lives. He was a family 
man--in fact, an individual prone to public displays of affection. 
Completely devoted to his wife, Janet, his children, and his 
grandchildren. He was a pillar of the Cleveland community, proud of his 
ethnic heritage and a role model for immigrants. George Voinovich was 
the children of immigrants, and his career demonstrates how far one can 
go in this great Nation through hard work and character. He was a 
profoundly ethical individual, chosen by his Senate colleagues to lead 
the Senate Ethics Committee. He epitomized the way the Senate should 
be.
  Senator Voinovich's loss is not only a loss for Ohio, but a loss to 
the Nation. For even in retirement, Senator Voinovich had much to 
contribute to the public discourse. Days before his death, he was out 
making speeches. He never slowed down. He was expected to serve as a 
delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention in his beloved 
Cleveland.
  So let me take this opportunity on behalf of the people of Alaska to 
thank Janet for sharing George with the Nation. I express condolences 
to the entire Voinovich family.
  The Voinovich family also includes Senator Voinovich's former staff 
members, some of whom are still part of our Senate family. I would like 
to personally express condolences to Tara Shaw, who served Senator 
Voinovich on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. 
After Senator Voinovich's retirement, Tara came to my office in the 
role of legislative director and currently serves as legislative 
director to the Senator from Wyoming, Mr. Enzi. Great Senators groom 
great staff members. And George Voinovich was one great Senator.




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