[Senate Document 113-27]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
TRIBUTES TO HON. SAXBY CHAMBLISS
Saxby Chambliss
U.S. SENATOR FROM GEORGIA
TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Saxby Chambliss
Courtesy U.S. Senate Historical Office
Tributes
Delivered in Congress
Saxby Chambliss
United States Congressman
1995-2003
United States Senator
2003-2015
a
Compiled under the direction
of the
Joint Committee on Printing
CONTENTS
Biography.............................................
v
Farewell Address......................................
vii
Proceedings in the Senate:
Tributes by Senators:
Ayotte, Kelly, of New Hampshire................
17
Bennet, Michael F., of Colorado................
22
Boxer, Barbara, of California..................
28
Burr, Richard, of North Carolina...............
12
Coats, Daniel, of Indiana......................
13
Coburn, Tom, of Oklahoma.......................
14
Collins, Susan M., of Maine....................
25
Coons, Christopher A., of Delaware.............
8
Cornyn, John, of Texas.........................
3
Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois................
8
Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
21
Feinstein, Dianne, of California...............
9
Graham, Lindsey, of South Carolina.............
24
Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
24, 27
Hoeven, John, of North Dakota..................
18
Isakson, Johnny, of Georgia....................
10
Johanns, Mike, of Nebraska.....................
14
Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont..................
27
Manchin, Joe, III, of West Virginia............
11
McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
5
Murphy, Christopher, of Connecticut............
20
Portman, Rob, of Ohio..........................
16
Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
5
Sessions, Jeff, of Alabama.....................
23
Warner, Mark R., of Virginia...................
8
BIOGRAPHY
Saxby Chambliss served five terms in the House of
Representatives before serving his State of Georgia in the
Senate for two terms. Georgia Trend magazine, which
consistently named him one of its Most Influential
Georgians, called him ``a highly visible and well-
respected presence in Washington,'' and said he ``has a
reputation as an affable but straight-talking lawmaker.''
In January 2009, Georgia Trend named Senator Chambliss its
Georgian of the Year.
Saxby Chambliss was a member of the Senate Armed
Services Committee; the Senate Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry; the Senate Rules Committee; the
Senate Special Committee on Aging; and served as the vice
chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
Senator Chambliss' leadership and experience on homeland
security and intelligence matters during his tenure in the
House of Representatives earned him an appointment to the
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where he
steadfastly advocated for dramatically improved
information sharing and human-intelligence-gathering
capabilities. Chambliss' previous role as chairman of the
House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland
Security made him one of the leading congressional experts
on those issues.
During the 109th Congress, Saxby Chambliss served as
chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and was the
only Senator since 1947 to have chaired a full standing
Senate committee after serving in the Chamber for just 2
years. He served as ranking member of the Agriculture
Committee during the 110th and 111th Congresses.
Long before his election to Congress, Saxby Chambliss
specialized in representing farmers' legal interests in
South Georgia. During his four terms in the House, he was
instrumental in drafting two farm bills and reforming the
Federal Crop Insurance Program.
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee,
Saxby Chambliss continued Georgia's long-standing
tradition of leadership and advocacy for the State's
military installations. Following in the footsteps of
former Senators Richard B. Russell, Jr., and Sam Nunn,
Senator Chambliss was a strong voice for Georgia's defense
industry and the military community. Throughout the 2005
base realignment and closure round, he remained steadfast
in defense of Georgia's bases targeted for closure. He was
also a tireless advocate for improving the quality of life
for troops and their families.
In 2008, he was the recipient of the National Guard
Association's Harry S. Truman Award, the organization's
highest honor bestowed on civilian and military leaders
who demonstrate continued contributions to national
defense and security.
Saxby Chambliss was first elected to Congress to
represent Georgia's Eighth District in 1994. Throughout
his legislative career, he was recognized numerous times
by the public and private sectors for his work on
agriculture, defense, budget, and national security
issues. In January 2008, he was presented with the
National Legislative Advocacy Award by the Naval Reserve
Association for leading the effort to reduce the age at
which members of the National Guard and Reserve can
receive retirement pay. He is a past recipient of the Air
Force Association's W. Stuart Symington Award, the group's
top civilian honor for outstanding contributions in the
field of national security, and was awarded the Reserve
Officers Association's Minuteman of the Year Award in
2005.
Senator Chambliss was the cochairman of the Senate
Aerospace Caucus and the Senate Reserve Caucus, and was a
member of the Senate Rural Health Caucus; the Juvenile
Diabetes Caucus; the Caucus on Military Depots, Arsenals,
and Ammunition Plants; the Congressional Sportsmen's
Foundation; and the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.
Saxby Chambliss earned his bachelor's degree in business
administration from the University of Georgia in 1966, and
his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of
Law in 1968. Senator Chambliss and his wife, Julianne,
have been married since 1966 and reside in Moultrie, GA.
They have two children and six grandchildren.
Farewell to the Senate
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, as my service in the
Senate comes to an end, I rise today to say thank you to
some of the wonderful people who have been part of a great
ride for over 20 years.
We as Americans are fortunate to live in the greatest
country in the world; a country where the American dream
is still alive and well; a country where, in spite of all
of our problems, we are the envy of the free world; a
country where a preacher's kid from rural southern Georgia
can rise to be elected to the House of Representatives and
then to the Senate.
We as Members of the Senate are fortunate to have the
opportunity to serve. We are blessed to be able to work in
such a historic venue as we are in this afternoon. As we
come into our offices and into this building every day,
there are some things we take for granted. So to the
entire Capitol Hill workforce, from those who clean our
offices, to those who change the lightbulbs, provide our
food, maintain our subways, keep us safe and secure, and
to all of those in between, I say thank you. You are very
professional in what you do, and you always do it with a
smile.
To the floor staff and the Cloakroom staff for both the
majority and the minority, thanks for putting in the long
hours, listening to often boring speeches, reminding us
when we have not voted, scheduling floor time, reminding
us of the rules, and making sure our mistakes are at a
minimum.
I am fortunate to have been surrounded by great staff
during all of my 20 years in the House and Senate, mostly
young people from varied backgrounds who are the brightest
minds my State and my country have to offer. They are
committed patriots and loyal to the core. To those current
and former members of my staff, thank you for your service
to me and to the State of Georgia.
I have been served by four chiefs of staff: Rob Leebern,
Krister Holladay, Charlie Harman, and Camila Knowles.
Every office plan that each one of them put together
starts with providing better constituent service than any
other Member of the House or the Senate. I am extremely
proud that our record shows we achieve the goal of doing
just that. I have even had government agency personnel
call my office asking for guidance on cases from other
offices.
I have often said that my greatest satisfaction from
this job comes not from negotiating major pieces of
legislation but from being able to help Georgians with
difficulties they are experiencing and having a positive
impact on their lives.
I am particularly blessed to have three members of my
staff who have been with me for all 20 years. My deputy
chief Teresa Ervin, Debbie Cannon, and Bill Stembridge
have walked every mile with me and have been so valuable.
Thanks, guys.
My greatest support comes from my family. My wife
Julianne, my daughter Lia and her husband Joe, my son Bo
and his wife Bess, along with our grandchildren--John,
Parker, Jay, Kimbrough, Anderson, and Ellie--have all been
somehow involved on the campaign trail.
Come the 28th day of this month, Julianne and I will
have been married for 48 years, having met at the
University of Georgia a couple of years before that. For
tolerating a husband who had a 24/7 job for 20 years, for
being a single mom part of that time, and for
understanding why I could not get home until Christmas Eve
some years, I say thank you, sweetheart.
I am privileged today to represent almost 10 million
Georgians who are the most wonderful people God ever put
on this Earth. I lost my first primary election and went
on to win each of my next seven races. I won every one of
those seven races because I shared the values of my
constituents, I outworked each of my opponents, and I had
better ideas and the best advisers and staff. Thanks, Tom
and Paige.
Thanks to Senators Nunn and Miller for their regular
advice and counsel. Thanks to my three leaders, Senator
Lott, Senator Frist, and Senator McConnell, each of whom
provided me with strong leadership and always listened to
me even when I had ideas that might have been different
from their ideas.
I am often asked what I will miss most about the Senate.
The answer is very easy. I will miss my friends and the
relationships we have developed over the years. Senator
Isakson and I entered the University of Georgia 52 years
ago in September and became friends immediately. We have
been the dearest of friends ever since. He is without
question the most trusted friend and adviser I have. I
will miss our daily conversations.
My three best buddies from my House days, Speaker John
Boehner, Congressman Tom Latham, and Senator Richard Burr,
along with Senator Tom Coburn, have been the legislative
collaborators, dinner partners, golfing buddies,
confidants, and numerous other things that should not be
mentioned on the floor of the Senate.
Senator Lindsey Graham is like a member of my family. We
have traveled the world together many times, hearing a
lot. I have no plans to write a book, but if I did,
Lindsey Graham's anecdotes would fill a chapter.
Senator Feinstein has been a great chairman and partner
on the Intelligence Committee. I will miss her leadership,
her wisdom, her friendship, and those late afternoon
glasses of California wine.
My most productive time in the Senate has been spent
with my dear friend Senator Mark Warner. Our work with the
Gang of Six, which included Senators Durbin, Conrad,
Coburn, Crapo, and then later Senators Johanns and Bennet,
represents the very best of everything about the Senate.
We spent, literally, hundreds of hours together debating
ideas and trying to solve major problems, and we came very
close. Senator Warner's insight, his wanting to solve
problems, and his political inspiration are lessons that I
will carry with me forever.
As the Senate now goes forward under new leadership, I
have two comments. First, the Senate should return to
regular order. Senator McConnell has indicated that will
be the case, and it should be.
The rule change by the current majority changed the
institution of the Senate in a negative way. I hope the
rule is changed back to require 60 votes on all issues,
including judges and nominees. Some of those most vocal
favoring the rules change lost their elections, and while
the rules change did not cost them their election, it is
very clear that the American people wanted a change in the
leadership that changed the rule. Regular order will help
in restoring trust and confidence to the world's most
deliberative body.
Second, it is imperative that the issue of the debt of
this country be addressed. Just last week our total debt
surpassed $18 trillion. We cannot leave the astronomical
debt our policies have generated for our children and
grandchildren to fix. It is not rocket science; it is what
must be done.
Cutting spending alone--for example, sequestration--is
not the solution. Raising taxes is not the solution. As
Simpson-Bowles, Domenici-Rivlin and the Gang of Six all
agreed, it will take a combination of spending reduction,
entitlement reform, and tax reform to stimulate more
revenue. Hard and tough votes will have to be taken, but
that is why we get elected to the Senate. The world is
waiting for America to lead on this issue. If we do, the
U.S. economy will respond in a very robust way. The Gang
of Six laid the foundation for this problem to be solved,
and it is my hope that we do not leave the solution for
the next generation.
I close with what I have enjoyed most about Congress,
and that is the opportunity that I have had to spend with
the men and women in uniform and those in the intelligence
world, all of whom are willing to put their lives in
harm's way for the sake of our freedom.
Whether it was Robins Air Force Base, Kabul, Ramadi,
Jalalabad, Khowst or Dubai, I always get emotional telling
the men and women how proud I am of them and how blessed
we as Americans are to have them protecting us. They are
special people who sacrificed much for the sake of all 300
million Americans.
Let us also remember and be thankful for the families of
those military and civilian personnel who likewise make a
commitment to America. As we head into another Christmas
season, many of those families will not have at home their
spouse, their parent, their son, or their daughter.
May God bless them. May God bless this great
institution, and may God continue to bless our great
country.
I yield the floor.
(Applause, Senators rising.)
TRIBUTES
TO
SAXBY CHAMBLISS
Proceedings in the Senate
Monday, December 8, 2014
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, in the waning days of the
113th Congress it is a bittersweet moment as many of us
are saying goodbye--although not on a permanent basis but
at least in terms of our official relationships working
together as Senators--to so many of our good friends and
valued colleagues. Every other December we find ourselves
bidding farewell to some of the most admired and respected
Members of this Chamber. Today I want to say a few words
about three of these esteemed Members, starting with my
good friend, the senior Senator from Georgia.
Saxby Chambliss and I arrived in the Senate at the same
time following the 2002 elections. At the time, the war on
terrorism, as we all know, was barely a year old, and it
was by far and away the biggest issue on the minds of
Americans across the country and in the Halls of Congress.
Senator Saxby Chambliss immediately established himself as
one of the Senate's most important leaders on national
security issues, which came as no surprise to anyone who
watched his career in the House of Representatives.
Indeed, in his capacity as chairman of the House
Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland
Security, he oversaw the first official investigation of
the 9/11 attacks. It is hard to believe it has now been
more than 13 years since that fateful day, but Senator
Chambliss has never lost sight of the continuing threat
posed by radical Islamic terrorists, and he has never
stopped working to uphold bipartisan support for strong
national security policies. He has been a consistent
leader on important pieces of legislation such as the
PATRIOT Act and on the detention facilities at Guantanamo
Bay. He has also been a leader on the Armed Services
Committee on the annual defense authorization bill which
we will be taking up later this week and on controversial
but important topics such as the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act. Most recently on the campaign to destroy
the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Senator Chambliss
again has been one of the leading voices helping us find
our way to the right strategy and the right policy. In
short, name any high profile national security issue and
there is a good chance Saxby Chambliss has been driving
the debate and working to move the United States in the
right direction. I know he is also especially proud of his
efforts to improve current retirement policies for members
of the National Guard and military Reserves.
Senator Saxby Chambliss comes from a State where
agriculture is the single largest industry, and he spent 6
years as chairman or ranking member of the Senate
Agriculture Committee. He was one of the first Members of
our class in 2002 to serve as a chairman of any standing
committee, something we were all a little bit envious of,
early on in his first term of office. But he has worked on
several tough farm bills during the time he has been in
Congress, and he has been our go-to Member on all related
issues.
In fact, Senator Chambliss understands these issues
almost better than anyone on both sides of the aisle,
which is another way of saying he understands the
challenges facing American farmers better than almost
anyone here. That understanding allowed him to play a key
role in reforming Federal crop insurance.
Folks down in Georgia have been justly appreciative of
Senator Chambliss' work on agriculture policy, and they
also appreciate his efforts to accelerate the Savannah
Harbor Expansion Project through a Federal-State
partnership, which was officially signed back in October.
It is an impressive list of accomplishments, and I know I
speak for all of our Members on both sides of the aisle
and staffers alike, when I say that Saxby Chambliss will
be missed as much for his warmth and friendship as for his
policy work.
As a diehard Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs fan, he
is equally at ease discussing baseball, football, quail
hunting or national security. He is unfailingly kind,
thoughtful, and considerate to everyone with whom he works
in this Chamber--whether Senator, staffer, or casual
visitor.
Saxby is now preparing for his life's next great
chapter, which he will spend with his wife Julianne, to
whom he has been married for nearly half a century, their
two children, and six grandchildren, which I know bring
them a lot of joy.
I wish my good friend all the best in his retirement,
and I wish the entire Chambliss family a never-ending
supply of health and happiness.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Mr. REED. Mr. President, I would like to take a few
minutes to salute my colleagues who are departing the
Senate at the end of this year with the conclusion of the
113th Congress: Mark Begich of Alaska, Saxby Chambliss of
Georgia, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Kay Hagan of North
Carolina, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Mike Johanns of Nebraska,
Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana,
Carl Levin of Michigan, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Jay
Rockefeller of West Virginia, Mark Udall of Colorado, and
John Walsh of Montana.
They have all worked hard, ceaselessly giving their
energy and considerable time and service to their
constituents, to their home States and to our country. I
want to thank them for their service and for their
kindness to me over many years in so many cases. In
particular, I want to say a few words about these
colleagues. ...
I have served with Saxby Chambliss on the Armed Services
Committee and joined him in his efforts to support the
National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. Saxby has
been a strong supporter of our men and women in uniform.
He has also been a leader on homeland security and
intelligence matters. I wish him well. ...
Along with all of my other colleagues who are leaving us
at the conclusion of the 113th Congress, let me thank them
for their service, their dedication to improving the lives
of Americans, and on a very personal level for their
friendship. I wish them all well.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I wish to say a few words
about my friend and colleague, Senator Saxby Chambliss.
Saxby, as we all know, is the ultimate Southern
gentleman. He is a man of his word. He is blessed with the
charm and the drawl only a Georgian could possess, and he
is far too modest. He shouldn't be. He has a lot to be
proud of as he looks back at a storied career here in
Congress.
We are talking about one of our Nation's top experts on
intelligence and national security. We are talking about a
standout champion for the men and women of our military.
We are also talking about a Senator who became chair of
the Agriculture Committee just 2 years into his first
term. That is really quite an accomplishment. But once you
get to know Saxby, it isn't all that surprising.
Before he came to Congress, Saxby was a smalltown ag
lawyer. He still lives in a rural area--a peanut and
cotton farming region far removed from the bright lights
of Atlanta. Saxby has a feel for the issues that could
only be acquired from actual on-the-ground experience. He
understands the real-world impact of what we discuss here
in Washington, and he cares.
On top of that, he has the disciplined work ethic of a
minister's son--which makes sense, because he is one.
Saxby is usually the first guy to raise his hand when
there is an assignment no one else wants. That is what we
saw for him on the Gang of Six, a politically difficult
and work-intensive committee if there ever was one.
But Saxby came here to get things done--not to posture.
He takes on projects with the kind of drive and courage we
don't often see.
How courageous is Saxby? Well, he accepted an invitation
to go quail hunting with Vice President Cheney, and he
lived to tell the tale. The senior Senator from South
Carolina [Mr. Graham] remembers the trip very well. He had
to be persuaded by Saxby to come. He still suspects that
Saxby's real motive was to give Cheney a second target.
It wasn't the only time Saxby cheated death with the
Vice President. Lindsey recalls a meeting in Baghdad with
Saxby, Joe Biden, and the Iraqi Prime Minister. Afterward,
they boarded a plane and came under fire. Here is what
Saxby said: ``I guess the meeting didn't go that well.''
So Saxby is a comedian. But he is also courageous. He is
persuasive. He is really good at getting his way. It is
kind of what we would expect from a former door-to-door
fruitcake salesman. After hawking loaves of spiced dough,
there is not much Saxby can't sell at this point.
We know he was persuasive enough to convince Julianne to
marry him. Saxby and Julianne met at the University of
Georgia. She was Sigma Chi's pledge-class sweetheart--and
she soon became Saxby's sweetheart. The Chamblisses have
been inseparable ever since.
Now, just in case Saxby ever becomes his own category on
Jeopardy, here is an interesting piece of trivia. The
president of the same pledge class became Saxby's Democrat
challenger in 2008. The two fraternity brothers are still
friendly. Here is how this gentleman remembered Saxby from
college. He said he ``looked old.''
Well, Julianne fell for him anyway, and it is a good
thing she did. This former schoolteacher is better than
anyone at keeping him centered, and she has even taught
students who would go on to serve on Saxby's staff. So it
is really quite a partnership. Saxby says that the most
significant moment of his life was when he met Julianne.
That is really something when we consider how much he
loves golf. Last year, Saxby sank a hole in one squaring
off against the leader of the free world--that is, the
President of the United States. He has a signed flag to
prove it.
But golf is more than just a hobby for Saxby. It is a
way to get things done. More than most people around here,
he understands the value of relationships. He is good at
whipping votes and picking up intel from both ends of the
Capitol. He works across the aisle, and he is unafraid to
stand up when something needs to be said.
That is the thing about Saxby. He doesn't say a lot, but
when he does, you know it is significant. You know there
is a lot of careful thought behind it.
Saxby is a serious legislator who approaches his role as
vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee in that frame.
Saxby learns things on that committee that would keep
anyone up at night. It is a grave responsibility. But
Saxby is perfectly suited to it. He has always stood
proudly in defense of our Nation.
We are going to miss his sharp wit, his integrity, and
his judgment.
I know Saxby's staff is going to miss him, too. Some of
them have been with him since his days in the House. Well,
the Senate's loss is the Chambliss family's gain.
I know Saxby is looking forward to spending more time
with Julianne. I know he can't wait to trade the title of
Senator for a new one--Big Daddy. It is what his grandkids
call him. He can't wait to see more of them. They are the
reason he works so hard here--to build a better future for
them, for the next generation.
Saxby will have plenty of stories to share when he
leaves, such as when he hit that hole in one, when he
threw out the first pitch for the Braves, and when he made
the cover of Peanut Patriot Magazine.
So Saxby has obviously had a long and interesting
career. He deserves some time to focus on his family. We
thank him for his dedication to this body and to the
people he represents, and we send him every wish for a
retirement filled with joy and happiness.
Mr. DURBIN. I have some tributes here for my colleagues
who are retiring, leaving the Senate. It is a lengthy list
of tributes. ...
I want to say a word about three others on the other
side of the aisle who are retiring: Saxby Chambliss of
Georgia, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and Mike Johanns of
Nebraska. I got to know them when I gathered with one of
these gangs, as they call them around here, to talk about
deficit reduction. We spent more time together trying to
explore the Federal budget in ways to reduce our deficit
in a thoughtful manner so that we really got to know one
another and respect one another.
There is a world of difference in our political values
and philosophies, but each of them in their own way made a
positive contribution toward making this a stronger
nation.
I remember well the day Senator Chambliss announced that
he would not let Grover Norquist and Grover's ``no tax
increases ever'' demand dictate the terms of a deficit-
reduction plan. That needed to be said, and it took
political courage. Although Senator Chambliss will not be
with us when the Senate convenes in January, I hope his
example will be with us. And I wish him the best in his
future endeavors. ...
None of them is running for reelection so I can't hurt
them politically by saying that I regard each of these
Senators as friends. They showed political courage when
partisanship would have been easier.
I wish them the best in all their future endeavors.
Mr. COONS. ... As I close, I would also like to thank
those of our colleagues who will be leaving the Senate
after the New Year.
It is an incredible privilege to work in this Chamber
and to represent the people. Every day I am awed by the
dedication and talent of many of my colleagues, public
servants who come to work to fight for their States and
their government.
To those who are ending their service in the Senate,
know that I value your friendship and partnership. It has
been an honor to work with you, and I thank you for all
you have done for our Nation.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I wanted to rise very briefly
because I know Senator Chambliss is about to give his
farewell speech. I commend my dear good friend the Senator
from Georgia for his service. I am going to stay through
his speech, but I know there will be others who will
probably rise afterward to give accolades, and I wanted to
be first in line to salute him for his service, his
friendship to so many of us in this body, and my personal
good wishes for his future. I know there will be others
later; I thought for a change I would get a word in first.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Senator Chambliss, my remarks are
personal. We worked together for the past 8 years on the
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. For 4 years we
have worked as chair and cochair. We have exchanged views,
we have negotiated bills, and we have shared information.
We have been there through very tough times and some very
pleasant times. It is very hard for me to see you go.
I have learned to trust you. I respect you. We have
worked together. The committee put together a Benghazi
report. We worked very hard. We found areas of agreement.
Senator Collins of the committee is here, and Senator
Warner is here. Am I missing anyone else from the
committee? There is Senator Burr, who will be the new
chairman, and Senator Coats, Senator Coburn. We were able
to come together and put together a report unanimously,
and it was really because of your leadership.
As I watched, what became very apparent is that maybe
your side isn't as fractious as my side is. You were able
to say yes, we can do this or no, we can't do that, and
you reflected your Members. That made it very easy for me,
and I am very grateful.
Yesterday we disagreed. You have never taken a cheap
shot. We worked together at the same time to move our
intelligence authorization bill. There was one last glitch
which you worked out, and that bill passed unanimously
last night.
Together we have worked to put together an information-
sharing bill for what is probably our No. 1 defensive
issue, which is cyber and the attacks that have taken 97
percent of our businesses into difficulties.
You have compromised, and I have compromised.
Unfortunately, on our side, we have some unsolved issues.
So, hopefully, I will be able to pick up with Senator Burr
where we left off, and we will be able to get that job
done next year.
What I want you to know--and I said this to you in
another way--that it was such a wonderful experience for
me to work with you. This is the hard part. We are only
here for an instant in eternity, and the only thing that
matters is what we do with that instant.
What I want you to know is you have really done yeoman's
work in that instant, and I am very grateful to have the
pleasure of working with you. I have learned from you, and
I wish you all good things.
Thank you very much, Senator Chambliss.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia is
recognized.
Mr. ISAKSON. I rise to pay tribute to my friend, Saxby
Chambliss.
I will admit to you this is a speech I never wanted to
make. I never wanted to make it because we have had a
wonderful relationship in this body for the past 10 years.
We have done everything together.
He has had my back, and I have had his back. He is a
great friend, and I will miss him. But I am not a selfish
guy. He married one of the finest women I have ever known,
Julianne Chambliss, who is one of the best friends my wife
has.
Although he is leaving us and I will miss the crutch I
have used for so long, Julianne is getting her Saxby back.
For Julianne, her family, and those grandkids he loves so
much, that is exactly what Saxby wants to do.
Georgia has had some great Senators: Richard Russell,
who was really the master of the Senate; Zell Miller, a
former Governor of Georgia, a great friend of mine and a
great mentor of our State; and Sam Nunn, one of the finest
in national defense and foreign policy our State ever
offered. Saxby will be the fourth on the Mount Rushmore of
Georgia Senators who have served Georgia with distinction
and with class.
I want to tell Saxby this in person. For 10 years we
have done joint conferences. We have messed up twice. When
I messed up he covered my back and when he messed up I
covered his.
In 2008 when he almost lost a race and got into a runoff
in December in Georgia, I rode a bus for 21 straight days
introducing him three times a day and eating barbecue
every single day for dinner and for lunch. That is a price
to pay that only friendship will bring out.
He is a dear friend, a trusted person. I love him very
much and I love his family very much.
I could talk all day, but I wanted to open and close by
saying, Saxby, I love you. The State is going to love
having you back. This country is going to miss you, but my
grandchildren are safer, my State is better, and our
relationship has never been stronger.
May God bless you and your family in every endeavor you
undertake, and may God bless the United States of America.
(Applause, Senators rising.)
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia is
recognized.
Mr. MANCHIN. First, I would say I have only been in the
Senate for 4 years. When I came, let's just say it was not
what I expected. For that, you look for a little bit of
respite, if you will.
I looked at my colleagues and my friends on the
Republican side. I didn't come to the Senate looking at
what side you were on. I looked at basically the person I
was dealing with.
There was a person who befriended me almost from my
first day, knowing that the transition was a challenge. He
stepped up to the plate with a few of my other friends
over there--I see Senator Coburn behind him--and basically
took me under his wing and said, ``Listen, we can all work
together and get along. What we do here is bigger and for
the greater good than what we do for ourself.''
Saxby not only showed me, but basically I was able to
follow and watch what he did. This Chamber should be
filled right now--it really should be from all sides--but
the bottom line is the Senator is loved by everybody. I
never heard an ill word said about Saxby Chambliss, the
distinction he carries as far as the Senate and as a human
being.
I say to the Senator, your family and your priorities
are correct. Your moral compass is working and working
well. I can only tell you thank you. As someone from the
other side of the aisle and as a fellow colleague and a
fellow American, you are an inspiration to us all.
Saxby, there will not be another Saxby, but I am glad
they gave you to me for this short period of time of 4
years. Some of you--I look at Johnny, and I envy Johnny.
For 52 years he has been your close friend.
There is your partner in crime back there, Senator Burr.
We hope he doesn't tell it all when he gets up.
But with that being said, there are so many people who
have a relationship that is unmatched and that is because
of you.
I say, my dear friend, my hat is off to you. Thank you,
and God bless you for what you have done for the United
States of America, for Georgia, but most important for all
of us. Thank you.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from North
Carolina is recognized.
Mr. BURR. Mr. President, this moment is bittersweet for
me.
I spent more time with Saxby than I have with my own
wife for the past 20 years. We have done everything
together. Those vacation spots he mentioned--Kabul,
Baghdad--I was right beside him.
We traveled to areas of the world that others wouldn't
venture to, and there was a reason he was there. He was
concerned about America's future, he was concerned about
his children's future, and he was in a position to have an
impact on it to make it better for them in the future.
That is why he served. It is obvious to all of our
colleagues that he is a lot older than I am, but he has
worked just as hard as the youngest Member of this
institution.
Even though we have seen each other's children grow up,
and now we have seen them all married off, he deserves the
time to go home and spend some time with his grandchildren
and, more important, to get to know his wife again.
I want to say, Senator Feinstein, I like red wine just
as much as Saxby does. I probably can't be bought as
cheaply as he could, but I do look forward to continuing
to work with you and, more important, to continue to do
the work on the Intelligence Committee that really does
build on what Saxby started in the year 2000 as we went on
the House Intelligence Committee together.
There is only one way to sum up Saxby Chambliss. He is a
true Southern gentleman. He is absolutely a statesman, but
what everybody who meets Saxby understands is this. He is
a great American, he loves this country, he loves this
institution, and some piece of him will remain here when
he leaves at the end of this year. He will have an impact
on what happens even though his presence may not be here.
We wish him Godspeed in life after.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from Indiana.
Mr. COATS. Mr. President, I am a bit out of order here.
I was waiting for some of my colleagues who have spent a
bit more time here than I to speak, but I wanted to take
this opportunity to add my sincere thanks to Saxby
Chambliss for the kind of person he is and the kind of
leadership he has provided and the kind of example he has
set during his time in Congress and in the Senate.
I was privileged to be able to come back to the Senate
and join the group of people who shared the same deep
concerns I had shared. The reason I did come back was due
to the threats to our country from abroad and the fiscal
plunge into debt that is going to affect our country
dramatically in the future if we don't deal with it. But
having the opportunity to be with the people who have set
such an example has been a great privilege for me.
If I were a producer and director of a movie I was going
to have come out about the Senate, I would want Saxby to
be the leading man. First of all, he looks like a Senator,
and he has that Southern calm presence that most of us
envy and he just seems to fit the profile. The next choice
would have to be for the leading lady, and you couldn't
find a more gracious, beautiful, supportive leading lady
than Julianne Chambliss. Together, they just make a
stunning couple.
I have had the privilege of traveling with them and
seeing them in different places and in different
situations, and what a tremendous gift it is to be with
the both of them. So the Senate and many of us here will
dearly miss Saxby Chambliss. He comes from a line of
distinguished Senators representing the State of Georgia,
and as Senator Burr said, he fits right into that long
list of people whose tenure here has been remembered for
decades and will continue to be remembered for decades.
His commitment to our men and women in uniform, his
service to the agriculture community but particularly, in
my experience, his leadership of the Intelligence
Committee has been leadership this country has needed in a
time of dire circumstances. His work with Chairman
Feinstein in dealing with the daily pressures and weight
of responsibility that falls on the leadership--and all of
us who serve on the committee but particularly the
leadership of the Intelligence Committee--has probably
been as great in the last several years as any time in our
history. Very difficult decisions have had to be made.
I know I sometimes stagger out of that committee
thinking, this is more than I can get my mind around. This
is more than I can get my arms around in terms of how do
we deal with some of these threats and some of these
challenges that have popped up all over the world in
various manifestations. Yet the solid leadership on the
Republican side with Saxby Chambliss has united us in a
way that has forged a real bond and a desire to work in a
nonpartisan basis to live up to our responsibility to
provide oversight for the intelligence community and to be
a part of helping make those decisions that are so
important and so formative in terms of how we deal with
these particular issues.
So I thank Saxby for the person he has been, the person
he is, and the person he will continue to be, for the
example he has set, for his friendship, and for his
extraordinary leadership. I know the refrigerator will be
stocked with Coca Cola, there will be Georgia peanuts in
his pocket, maybe a little bit of bourbon in a drawer
somewhere, and he will have a tee time at Augusta just
about any time he wants. I wish him the very best as he
and Julianne go forward with their life. He has left his
mark here and certainly he has left his mark on me.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.
Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, a lot has been said about
Saxby already, but I have an observation I have noticed
over the last 10 years since I have been here, and it is
about leadership. We see elected leadership on both sides,
but then we see real leadership. We see the person people
go to for advice. We see the person people go to for
counsel. We see the person whom people go to for wisdom
and judgment. That is what I have noticed the last 10
years.
More than anybody in this body, whether it is from the
other side of the aisle or this side of the aisle, the
person whose counsel is most sought is that of Saxby
Chambliss. That is real leadership that is earned, and it
needs to be recognized and honored for what it is. Because
what it says is his leadership comes without judgment on
the person asking the question, without condemnation of a
position that may be different than his. It is giving of
himself for the benefit of the rest of us.
Hear, hear, my friend from Georgia.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.
Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, it is an honor for me to
stand and pay tribute to Saxby Chambliss. I think the
first time I got to work around Saxby was when I was
nominated as the Secretary of Agriculture, and I think the
first hearing Saxby chaired as chairman of the Senate
Agriculture Committee might have been that hearing.
I arrived in Washington, and I was scared to death. I
had no idea what to expect. But I met with Saxby, and I
knew immediately that when I was in that hearing I was
going to be treated with dignity and with respect because
he wouldn't have it any other way. That is the way he did
business.
Fortunately, I was confirmed, and that started our
working relationship. In those years, I would not try to
argue that we agreed on every nuance of farm policy. I am
positive there were times when Saxby was convinced I
didn't understand a thing about Southern agriculture. But
he was patient and he was determined to represent all of
agriculture, whether it was the South, the Midwest or the
West. His goal was to be a chairman of the Agriculture
Committee for all of agriculture. It was during that time
the farm bill was written, and he was a tough negotiator.
He had a mind in terms of where he was headed and he was
going to stand up for his people and I came to respect him
so much.
It was in the Senate though where I truly began to
understand his talent. I can't tell you how many times we
have been in a caucus meeting and somebody would ask the
most intricate, difficult question relating to
intelligence and national security, and invariably we
would turn to Saxby. Saxby would stand and, in that quiet
but forceful way he has, he would walk us through the
intricacies of the issues. On whatever the topic was, he
would explain it in a way that literally everybody in the
room understood. They got it. Watch out. You had better be
prepared to be Senators with the information he had given
us.
What has impressed me so much, and I know I speak for my
colleagues when I say this, is he could do the same thing
with the most intricate issues relative to farm policy or
ag policy or finance or the Federal budget. The breadth of
his knowledge is absolutely unbelievable.
I thank you, Saxby, for the many times you probably
disagreed with me immensely but treated me thoughtfully
and respectfully and listened to my opinion. I saw you do
that with other Members in this body. I thank you for your
service. As one of the retiring Members, I will look
forward to the opportunity to spend more time with you. I
hope our paths cross many times in the future because I
know I will be the better for it.
God bless you, my friend, and best wishes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.
Mr. PORTMAN. The junior Senator from Ohio.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Your words.
Mr. PORTMAN. Look. I am so proud to be here to say a
couple of words about my friend Saxby. As you have heard
from my colleagues, he is beloved. By the way, two of
those who spoke are Senators who are also choosing to
leave us. Tom Coburn talked about leadership. I will tell
you, they are leaving a huge void.
I got to know Saxby when he came to the House of
Representatives. I was there in the early 1990s, and we
became friends. Although I am from Ohio and he is a son of
the South, he and Julianne embraced me and Jane, and I got
to know his son Bo--such a great family.
But I didn't truly get to know him until I was the U.S.
Trade Representative and my job was to try to open markets
for U.S. agricultural products around the world. That
required looking at something called subsidies--
agriculture subsidies. This is a dangerous area in terms
of politics, and Mike Johanns is very well aware of this
as an ex-Secretary of Agriculture, having been at my side
during some of these negotiations.
My job was to come to the Senate Agriculture Committee
and talk about what we were up to and try to find out how
much flexibility there was for us to get these markets
open that were so important for our farmers and ranchers
but entailed considerable political risk. I learned a new
Saxby Chambliss was there. That is when I saw the
leadership that was talked about earlier.
Saxby was willing to not just be constructive but to
take that risk and to be totally discreet and confidential
in dealing with very sensitive issues. I came away with a
whole new level of understanding about Saxby and therefore
a new respect for him, his character, and his willingness
to do what was right.
More recently, of course, we have seen his leadership on
other issues: standing up for our men and women in
uniform. My colleagues, to me, he has been the guardian at
the gate, giving us all comfort as ranking member of the
Intelligence Committee. We live in a dangerous, volatile
world, and knowing Saxby was there, clear-eyed,
disciplined, discreet, and able to tell it like it was and
tell it like it is today, I think has given not just us
but our families and all Americans considerable comfort.
So I appreciate his service there.
Finally, I admire his willingness to step up on this
issue of our national debt. This is again not an easy
issue, and he joined with some colleagues to promote some
proposals. Again, my colleagues who are leaving know this,
Tom Coburn, in particular; Mike Johanns, whom I will
always have a great deal of respect for the way he has
handled that issue as well.
Despite everything we have heard about him today though,
perhaps his greatest accomplishment has yet to be
mentioned; that is, the fact that he played golf with the
President of the United States and managed to get a hole
in one. The press report from that day says two things
that are very interesting. First, it says he hit the hole
in one on the south course. The son of the South chose to
use the south course, of course, for his hole in one, but,
second, it says ``he was choking up on a 5-iron.''
Taking nothing away from his hole in one--and it sounds
like it wasn't as long a shot as he explained to me it
might have been--but choking up on a 5-iron makes no sense
to me. There is nobody more poised, more smooth. I have
never seen him choke on anything.
Saxby, we are sad to see you leave but happy to see you
spend more time with Julianne, the kids, and the beloved
Bulldogs. Godspeed, my friend.
I yield back.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire.
Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise to thank my friend
Saxby Chambliss. Senator Coburn spoke about leadership. We
are very much going to miss Senator Coburn, Senator
Johanns, and Senator Chambliss in this body.
But what he said is very true; because as someone who
has only served here for 4 years, one of the people who
has been most welcoming to me and a mentor and role model
and someone from whom I have sought advice is Saxby
Chambliss.
As we look at this body and people whom we can emulate
as role models, Saxby Chambliss is one of those role
models. Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable on the
issues that are so important to this Nation--and I can
say, having served with him on the Armed Services
Committee, he is one of the most knowledgeable people in
this country, not only on what we need to do to keep the
country safe because of his role on the Intelligence
Committee, but also what we need to ensure that our men
and women in uniform have the very best to keep our
country safe. Saxby has a deep understanding and very much
loves our men and women in uniform, and has stood up for
them in ensuring that they have gotten what they need to
keep this country safe.
From my perspective, he is someone who is going to be so
missed in this body, because he has understood that you
can stand on principle, as he has, for the important
challenges facing this Nation--whether it is keeping us
safe, or addressing the national debt that threatens not
only our security but the prosperity of America; but he
has also done it in a way that he has been able to build
relationships within our own conference in the Republican
caucus, where he is a go-to leader, where people like me
seek his advice on how to get things done--but also, as we
can see here, relationships across the aisle.
As we go into the new Congress, I hope as Saxby goes on
to do other important things with his lovely family and
Julianne and his children and grandchildren, that we will
follow the example of Saxby Chambliss of what it means to
work together, of what it means to be respectful of each
other to get things done for this country, and to address
the great challenges that Saxby has done so much important
work on--including keeping our Nation safe and making sure
that America remains strong.
Saxby, I want to thank you for being so welcoming to me,
for being a role model, and for being someone who I think
is an example of what it means to serve this country with
distinction.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from North
Dakota is recognized.
Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, in the new Congress we will
welcome 12 new Republican Senators, and that is wonderful.
They are great people. They are excited. They are
enthusiastic. I think they are going to do wonderful
things. So there are 12 new Republican Members coming into
the new Senate, and we are going to lose 3 of our
Republican colleagues. I am thinking, maybe that is about
the right ratio; it is about 4 to 1.
But these are three individuals who are unbelievable in
what they have been able to do in the relationships they
built, the friendships, and the work they have done on
behalf of the American people. So I am looking at that
statistic and I am thinking: Wow, these are three great
people who have done the work of many, and I think they
have laid the foundation in many ways for us to get to a
majority: Senator Johanns, Senator Coburn, and Senator
Chambliss. I think they have done a lot of that work
required for us to get to majority.
We have heard about the great Senator from Georgia. But
I think the things I am going to talk about for a minute
in regard to Saxby Chambliss apply to the two individuals
sitting here with him. They are cut from the same cloth:
Senator Coburn, Senator Johanns, true public servants.
People who ran for the right reason; people who serve for
the right reason. I think we could ask anybody in this
body on either side of the aisle, and they would tell us
that these three individuals served for the right reasons,
and served to the very best of their ability the American
people--not just the people of their State, but the
American people. They will be remembered long after they
are gone. They will be remembered because of the great,
wonderful people they are, for the relationships they have
built, and for that service. So I echo Senator Ayotte's
comments.
Senator Coburn touched on it, too. One of the first
people I looked to as a mentor when I came here 4 years
ago was Saxby Chambliss. Now, that doesn't seem
intuitively like something I would do--I am from North
Dakota, he is from Georgia. Mike Johanns has been a mentor
of mine since Governor days, so for more than a decade.
But one of the first people I looked to as a mentor was
Saxby Chambliss, and I don't even know why. It was one of
those things that immediately you like the guy. But as you
listened to him a little bit, you respected the guy. You
thought: This guy has something to say. He knows what he
is doing. But then, it is that relationship thing--that
thing where he goes out of his way to work with you, to
help you, to understand what you are trying to do in a
friendly way, with great humor, and he does it naturally.
It is just who he is. It is automatic. I think Senator
Isakson really put his finger on it: It is just the way he
is. You are naturally drawn to him.
I think we could talk to any of our colleagues on the
other side of the aisle and they would tell you the same
thing: integrity, honesty, intelligence; somebody you can
work with, somebody who cares, somebody who always has the
best interests of the American people at heart.
I had the opportunity to work with him on the farm bill,
and I was counting on Senator Coburn to kind of jump in
there and do it with him, but that didn't happen right
away. I am kidding a little bit. But we couldn't have had
a farm bill without Senator Chambliss.
When I think how difficult it is to move legislation
like that, particularly over the course of the past year,
and realize that a farm bill really isn't so much
Republican/Democratic--it really isn't. If you look at how
a farm bill works, that is not the makeup. It comes down
to people who know and understand agriculture, who
understand the importance of a good farm bill for our
farmers and ranchers, but understand also that our farmers
and ranchers across the country create the highest
quality, lowest cost food supply in the world. It is not
perfect, but every American benefits every day from the
highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world.
So when I think of my State of North Dakota, or Senator
Coburn's great State of Oklahoma, or Senator Johanns'
State of Nebraska--we all produce all of these different
ag products. We raise all these crops, we raise all these
animals. And there are so many people out there, so many
farmers and ranchers--they don't know Saxby Chambliss. But
I will tell you what: They owe him a great big thank you.
They really do, because without him we wouldn't have a
good farm plan for this country.
The reality is it is not just the farmers and ranchers.
It is true for so many people across this country: They
may not know Saxby Chambliss, but they owe him a lot. He
is somebody who epitomizes the very best of this
institution.
I know his wife Julianne is here. I have to admit, when
I first met her I thought she was his daughter because she
is so young and beautiful. I am teasing him a little. But
she is fantastic. And the same thing--she was immediately
a friend and a mentor to my wife Mikey.
When we talk about Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Mike
Johanns, it doesn't get any better than that. We will miss
them a lot.
I wish all three of them Godspeed, and may God bless you
in your next career.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut is
recognized.
Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I add my congratulations to
Senator Chambliss. It is strange, coming here in the last
2 years and getting to serve only 2 years with giants in
the Senate like Saxby, like Tom Harkin, and like Senator
Rockefeller, whose legacies will live on. ...
Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, as the current session of
Congress comes to a close it is our custom to take a
moment to express our appreciation for the service of our
colleagues who are retiring and will not be with us when
the next session begins in January. We will miss them all.
Over the years their experience and insights on a number
of issues have been a very valuable part of our debates
and deliberations.
I know I will especially miss Saxby Chambliss. His work
here on the floor and his committee assignments have
played an important role in our consideration of a number
of issues over the years. Simply put, he has been a great
champion for conservative causes during his service in the
House and Senate and he has made a difference for his
constituents in many ways. He is a man of principle, and
he has a great gift for expressing his viewpoint in a
thoughtful, clear, and interesting manner. He is so
persuasive, in fact, that even if you disagree with him he
makes you take a moment to reconsider your position just
to be sure you have not missed something.
Before he began his years of public service to the
people of Georgia, Saxby proved to be the kind of
individual who would have been a success at just about
anything he decided to pursue. Fortunately, the path he
chose to follow in his life brought him to the Nation's
Capital to represent Georgia--first in the House of
Representatives and later in the Senate.
Saxby served four terms in the House. It was a challenge
that he enjoyed because it gave him a chance to sit on the
committees that were taking a closer look at our
intelligence organizations to be certain they would be
ready to face any future threats to our national security.
Georgia was proud to see that they had elected someone to
Congress who was hard not to notice. He did such a good
job, in fact, he was encouraged to run for the Senate.
When he arrived in this Chamber, he had already
established himself as one of our leading conservative
voices. That did not surprise any of us. He has a calm,
even way of expressing himself and articulating how his
principles play out for whatever issue we have before us.
One great attribute that Saxby brought with him to his
work in the Congress was his willingness to work with
people who did not always agree with him. He knew there
would come a time when they would agree with him on
something no matter how many times they had disagreed in
the past. When the situation presented itself that was
what he would focus on.
Simply put, Saxby believes very strongly in making
progress and getting results. He is not all that concerned
about who gets credit for it. As the old adage reminds us,
for Saxby, it is all about leaving things a little better
at the end of the day today than they were yesterday.
Over the years Saxby has always found a way to make
progress no matter how rough the road seemed to be. It has
been one of the guiding principles behind Saxby's 20 years
of service. His commitment to moving forward has enabled
him to leave his mark in Georgia and throughout much of
the United States.
Now that this chapter of Saxby's life has come to a
close, I am not sure what he has planned for his next
great adventure. He just does not strike me as someone who
will be content to sit on the sidelines. I am sure we will
be hearing from him from time to time with some words of
encouragement and support--and a suggestion or two. In
fact, I am looking forward to it.
Saxby, thank you for your service in the House and the
Senate. In your 20 years of service in the House and the
Senate you have not only been a witness to the history of
your home State of Georgia and our Nation, you have helped
to write it. Because of you the Nation is stronger, safer,
and more secure. Yours is a record of leadership of which
you should be very proud.
Diana joins in sending our best wishes to you. From one
Sigma Chi brother to another, you have made a difference
because you have always led the best way--by example. What
others are content to talk about you have stepped up to do
the work needed to get the job done and because of that
you have been able to make a difference--an important and
long-lasting one.
ORDER FOR PRINTING OF SENATE DOCUMENT
Mr. BENNET. I ask unanimous consent that the tributes to
retiring Senators be printed as a Senate document and that
Senators be permitted to submit tributes until December
23, 2014.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Thusday, December 11, 2014
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I wish to share a few
thoughts about the service in the Senate of our good
friend and colleague Saxby Chambliss.
Saxby is one of the best liked and most respected
Senators in this body. Every Member knows him. Every
Member likes him. Every Member respects him. I truly share
that view. And on matters particularly related to national
security, intelligence issues, and terrorism, I
consistently want to know what Saxby has to say about it.
He has done a whole lot of things in this Senate. He has
been a participant and a contributor on many issues. He
worked really hard to try to create a bipartisan solution
to our debt crisis. That didn't quite develop, but it was
a positive part of the discussion this Senate went
through.
What I really want to say is that as chairman or vice
chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and having
been a longtime Member of the House Intelligence
Committee, and here in the Senate, he has become the go-to
person with regard to the sensitive issues relating to the
security of our country. I consistently have looked to him
because I trust his judgment, trust his integrity, and
trust his wisdom to help sort through all the political
news articles and debates and hot issues, and to distill
down to the bottom of what is important, what we should be
focused on, and what the right thing is for America.
Truly, he has been a remarkable Senator. We are going to
miss Saxby. I am going to miss Saxby, as so many of us
will. He is the son of an Episcopalian minister. He is a
man of faith.
He has a delightful wife, Julianne. My wife is a good
judge of character and she thinks Julianne hung the Moon,
and that is so true. They are a great family and great
partners.
Saxby has given so much to the Senate. Georgia has
produced some great Senators, particularly Senators known
for their commitment to national security and the defense
of America: Richard Russell, for whom the Russell Senate
Office Building is named; Sam Nunn, who was so long a
leader in the Congress with regard to national defense.
Saxby Chambliss is in that category. That is the kind of
Senator he has been--from defending America to helping his
colleagues sift through difficult issues and make good,
wise decisions. It has been a great pleasure for me to
serve with him. I wish him every success in his future
endeavors and look forward to seeing him back in this area
many times.
I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a
quorum.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I will now speak very briefly
about my retiring colleagues and then turn it over to the
Senator from Florida. I promise I will be brief.
Everybody will face retirement, voluntarily or
involuntarily. There will be a last vote to cast and a
last speech to make. Only God knows when that day comes
because we are all just one car wreck away from ending our
careers.
To the retiring Members, I have had the pleasure of
serving with you, and I know you all. You did what you
thought was best for our country and your State, and what
more could anyone ask? My good friend Mark Pryor, who
tried to find common ground at a time when it is hard to
find. Mary Landrieu, who would drill under the Capitol if
she thought it would help American energy independence. We
have good friends on the other side, and I will miss you,
and I wish you well. But I would like very briefly to
speak about four.
Saxby Chambliss and Julianne and the Chambliss family
have become my family. If you are lucky in politics, you
will make a few friends. I have been very lucky, and I
have made lifelong friends with the Chambliss family, not
just Saxby.
Saxby represents the best in being a Senator. He looks
the part, and he acts the part. I would say to the people
of Georgia that he worked very hard on your behalf. He
protected our country against terrorism. He helped the
farmer. He did everything he knew how to do to serve the
people of Georgia, and I will miss my friend. ...
To all of you, Godspeed. I wish you nothing but the
best.
I am fortunate enough to go into my third term. To my
colleagues, as we go into the next Congress, let's try to
do better. I know we can. And if we do, all boats will
rise.
Mr. HATCH. Madam President, I rise today to honor my
good friend Senator Saxby Chambliss on the occasion of his
retirement. For 20 years he has served his fellow
Georgians in Congress with honor and distinction. He will
be sorely missed.
A preacher's son, Saxby was born in Warrenton, NC. He
graduated from the University of Georgia and the
University of Tennessee College of Law. As a lawyer in
south Georgia, he built a successful law practice
representing the farmers that are the lifeblood of his
State.
He put his expertise on farm issues to good use here in
Congress and became a key player in negotiations for each
of the farm bills considered during his tenure. Just 2
years after he was elected to the Senate, he assumed the
chairmanship of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Committee, the fastest any new Senator has risen to chair
a standing committee since 1947.
Saxby and I served together for many years on the Select
Committee on Intelligence, where I came to appreciate his
wisdom, his sound judgment, and his unyielding commitment
to keeping this Nation safe. He has been an enormously
effective vice chairman over the past 4 years. Even as his
tenure here draws to a close, he has once again
demonstrated his superb leadership in setting the record
straight on the Intelligence Committee's investigation of
the CIA's detention and interrogation program.
Above all else, Saxby is a proud husband, father of two,
and grandfather of six. I know that his lovely wife
Julianne and the rest of his family are eager to spend
more time together in the coming years.
Mr. President, Saxby and the entire Chambliss family
should know that his colleagues, his fellow Georgians, and
his fellow Americans are truly grateful for his service
and his family's sacrifices. I wish them all the best.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, it is a great pleasure but
a bittersweet moment for me to rise on the Senate floor to
pay tribute to a dear friend and an esteemed colleague,
Senator Saxby Chambliss.
After 20 years in Congress--8 in the House and 12 here
in the Senate--Senator Chambliss retires from this phase
of service to Georgia and to our Nation with a well-
deserved reputation as a true statesman.
At a time when the coarsening political discourse across
our Nation and here in Congress is a growing concern,
Senator Chambliss is a shining example of expertise and
ability combined with civility and respect. He leaves
Congress not only with many friends on both sides of the
aisle, but also with many accomplishments to his credit.
His leadership in national security and intelligence in
both Chambers has been a great asset to our Nation. From
agriculture to armed services, Senator Chambliss has been
an informed and effective advocate for his constituents
and for the American people.
The golfers here might consider the hole in one he
famously scored in a foursome with President Obama last
year to be worthy of mention. Personally, as the founder
and cochair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, I would
consider his dedication to the cause of juvenile diabetes
to be a true highlight.
I have also had the great pleasure of serving with
Senator Chambliss both on the Intelligence Committee,
where he is the vice chairman, and previously on the
Senate Armed Services Committee. I saw first hand his
extraordinary grasp of complicated issues that are so
critical to the security of our Nation. I also witnessed
how he would listen carefully to the views of others,
whether on the Republican side of the aisle or from the
Democratic Members on both committees.
But if there is one shining moment that stands out for
me, it would be Senator Chambliss' leadership in the Gang
of Six during the 2011 debt ceiling crisis. At a time when
it was far easier to stand back, point fingers, and fix
blame, Senator Chambliss, along with Senator Mark Warner,
led the way in producing a framework to provide a
bipartisan, comprehensive, and balanced way to put our
Nation on a stable fiscal path. The fact that our national
debt has grown from $16 trillion to $18 trillion since
then makes it all the more imperative that we continue the
effort, with the leadership that was shown by Senator
Chambliss and that he so courageously helped to start.
The fact that this dedicated and wise leader cited
Washington gridlock and partisan posturing as the driving
force in his decision to retire from the Senate should
give us all cause to reflect.
Senator Saxby Chambliss has always been a voice of
reason. No matter how bitter the debate, he has always
engaged in thoughtful discussions that result in
solutions. As he returns to private life, his advice will
continue to be sought after and I hope heeded. His
knowledge and insight will still be valued, and the
example of decency and civility he has set should guide us
all. I know his beloved wife, his children, and his
grandchildren will be happy to have more of Senator
Chambliss' time, but for those of us who have been
privileged to serve with him in the Senate, his decision
to retire is a great loss.
The people of Georgia, the people of America, and those
of us who have been privileged to serve as Saxby
Chambliss' colleagues are grateful for his service. I wish
him all the best in the years to come, both on and off the
golf course.
Thank you, Madam President.
Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, in Senator Saxby Chambliss,
Georgians have had a diligent voice in Congress for nearly
20 years. We may not always agree, but I have appreciated
his willingness to cross the aisle on such important
issues as budget priorities and agriculture policy.
Senator Chambliss is the former chairman and ranking
member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. In his time in
Congress, Senator Chambliss has participated in enactment
of four bipartisan omnibus agriculture bills, the most
recent of which is the 2014 farm bill. He played an
important role in reforming the Crop Insurance Program and
has been an advocate for supporting the Nation's
agricultural sector. I have particularly appreciated his
support for critical conservation and forestry programs.
Senator Chambliss was recognized as a key legislator in
the 2011 discussions surrounding deficit reduction. He has
been an active member of the Senate Armed Services
Committee and a strong supporter of the National Guard.
Through his tenure, he has been a steadfast representative
for the people of Georgia, and one prominent publication
in the State gave him the title ``Georgian of the Year''
in 2009.
Senator Chambliss will retire at the end of this
Congress, and I wish him, his wife Julianne, their
children, and grandchildren all the very best.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, as we wind down the final days
of the 113th Congress, it is a good time both to reflect
on the past and to look toward the future. I have been
very moved as I listened to the farewell speeches of our
departing Senators, and I wish I had time to pay tribute
to each one of them. They have all been wonderful
colleagues, and I enjoyed working with and getting to know
every one of them. I wish them all the very best in all
their future endeavors. They will most certainly be
missed. ...
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to celebrate and thank
the 13 outgoing Senators who have worked tirelessly to
represent their home States in the Senate: Senator Mark
Begich, Senator Saxby Chambliss, Senator Tom Coburn,
Senator Kay Hagan, Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Mike
Johanns, Senator Tim Johnson, Senator Mary Landrieu,
Senator Carl Levin, Senator Mark Pryor, Senator Jay
Rockefeller, Senator Mark Udall, and Senator John Walsh.
I have worked side by side with these men and women for
years--some for decades--and witnessed first hand their
extraordinary commitment to public service and to the
people they so proudly represent.
Even when we didn't see eye to eye on every issue, I
always deeply respected and admired their service to our
Nation and their dedication to fight for what they believe
in.
It has been a privilege to serve alongside each and
every one of these extraordinary colleagues. I will miss
their leadership and their friendship, and I wish them all
the best as they embark on the next chapter.