[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 15] [Senate] [Pages 23505-23514] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO RETIRING SENATORS Evan Bayh Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, time and time I have come to the floor to give a few remarks about Senators who are retiring and leaving the Senate. They all contributed in their unique way one way or the other to the Senate. Now I find myself with two left about whom I want to comment on their way out of the Senate. In the closing days of the 111th Congress, we are saying goodbye to a number of colleagues, including a veteran Member, much respected on both sides of the aisle. I speak of the Senator from Indiana, Mr. Bayh. I listened with great interest to Senator Bayh's eloquent farewell remarks earlier this month. The Senator was also kind enough to have them typed up and sent to our offices. Looking back on his 12 years in this body, he spoke about times of national crisis, including after the 9/11 attacks and during the financial meltdown of 2008. He talked of a time when Senators acted not as Democrats and Republicans but as patriots concerned of doing one thing: doing what is right for the American people. He said that these times of bipartisan action were with the Senate at its very best. For more than two decades, Senator Bayh has embodied everything that is good about this body: a passion for public service, a sincere desire to reach out across the aisle, a great talent for forging coalitions and bringing people together, and a willingness to work long hours to accomplish important things. As we all know, Evan is what we might call a ``son of the Senate.'' He is enormously proud to have been elected to the same seat his father Senator Birch Bayh held for two terms and who remains a great friend of mine after all these years. He has followed in his father's footsteps in fighting for quality public schools, student loans, retirement security, and giving every American access to quality, affordable health care. In addition, he has been a leader in strengthening our Armed Forces and national security. I know that Senator Bayh takes special pride in leading the charge to provide our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with much improved mine-resistant armored vehicles. As he leaves this body, Senator Bayh is still a young man with many chapters yet to be written in his life and career. For more than a quarter century, he has devoted himself to public service, first as Indiana's secretary of state, then as an enormously successful two-term Governor of Indiana, and, of course, since 1999 as a Senator. I have always been a big admirer of one of his signature accomplishments as Governor, which was passing legislation creating the 21st Century Scholars Program. It is a wonderful program. Thanks to his initiative, every child in Indiana who is eligible for the free lunch program in public schools, who graduates from high school, and signs a pledge not to experiment with illegal drugs is entitled--get this--is entitled to a full tuition scholarship at the Indiana public university of his or her choice. Over the years, many thousands of Hoosiers of modest means have been able to attend college thanks to this remarkable law. That is what I call a great--I hope my friend does not mind me saying this--populist, progressive accomplishment. It speaks volumes about Evan Bayh's priorities and values throughout his 24 years in public service. During his two terms in this body, Senator Bayh has always faithfully served the people of Indiana and the people of the United States. I hope and expect he will pursue new avenues of public service after he leaves the Senate because our country sorely needs public servants of his caliber, intelligence, and accomplishments. I will miss the day-to-day friendships, the counsels, the interchanges we have had together in the Senate. I wish Evan and his wonderful wife Susan and their twin sons, Beau and Nick, the very best in the years ahead. Arlen Specter Mr. President, I also wish to pay a farewell to another long-time legislative partner, and that is Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. I listened with great interest to Senator Specter's farewell remarks yesterday. He decried the decline of bipartisan cooperation in this body. As he put it: In some quarters, compromising has become a dirty word. Politics is no longer the art of the possible when senators are intransigent in their positions. During his remarkable 30 years in the Senate--he is the longest serving U.S. Senator in Pennsylvania's history--Arlen Specter has been admired for his fierce independence and for his willingness to cross party lines in order to accomplish big and important things for this country. Nowhere has this been more vividly on display than in the Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, on which Senator Specter and I are senior members. Before last year, when he returned to his roots as a Democrat, Arlen was the senior Republican and I was the senior Democrat on that subcommittee. Since 1989, as the majority in the Senate has gone back and forth between the two parties, we alternated as either chair or ranking member. But the transitions were seamless as we passed the gavel back and forth because Arlen and I forged an unshakable partnership. That partnership has been grounded in our shared commitment to finding cures for diseases ranging from cancer to heart disease to Alzheimer's and in our determination to maintain the National Institutes of Health as the jewel in the crown of international biomedical research. Our proudest accomplishment was our collaboration in doubling funding for the National Institutes of Health over a 5-year period, between 1998 and 2003. Last year, we again collaborated in securing $10 billion for the National Institutes of Health in the Recovery Act, although I must be honest and give the senior Senator from Pennsylvania the lion's share of credit for that accomplishment. I say without fear of contradiction that there has been no Member of Congress in the Senate or the House who [[Page 23506]] has championed NIH as passionately and relentlessly and successfully as Senator Arlen Specter. Indeed, at times, in my role when I was chair of the Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee, I have had to remind Arlen that there were other programs besides the NIH in our appropriations bill. In fairness, Senator Specter has also fought passionately to increase funding for public schools and to increase access to higher education, but there is no question that his great passion, his living legacy has been the National Institutes of Health and biomedical research. Today, the prowess and excellence of the National Institutes of Health is truly a living legacy to Senator Specter, and we have countless new medical cures and therapies because of Senator Specter's long and determined advocacy. Mr. President, I will miss my good friend and colleague from Pennsylvania, who has been a tremendous ally for many years. As he departs the Senate, he can take enormous pride in 30 years of truly distinguished service to the people of Pennsylvania and the United States. I wish Arlen and his wonderful wife Joan the very best in the years ahead. With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor and wish the occupant of the chair the best of the holiday season and a happy New Year. We will see you when we come back to the next Congress. I yield the floor. Russ Feingold Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague and friend, Senator Russ Feingold. I have had the privilege of serving with Senator Feingold since he and I were both elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992. Over the past 18 years, Senator Feingold has been an independent, passionate advocate for his State and his Nation. He was consistently a voice of conscience in the Senate, never afraid to ask the tough questions or to speak out against policies he believed were flawed. Over the years, Senator Feingold has distinguished himself as a leading expert on foreign and domestic policy who is willing to work across party lines to get the job done, whether it was reforming our Nation's campaign finance laws or working to end the atrocities committed by Ugandan rebels in the Lord's Resistance Army. I have had the privilege of sitting next to Senator Feingold in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I have been proud to witness how, as the chair of the Subcommittee on African Affairs, he has led the Senate in recognizing and addressing many of Africa's unique issues and challenges. He was one of the first to speak out about the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. He has advocated for an end to the illicit mining of conflict minerals that support armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. And he has placed a spotlight on drug trafficking in West Africa, the threat of terrorism in Somalia, and the affects of global diseases such as malaria on African populations. Senator Feingold is a great reformer, taking the lead on campaign finance reform and on the Army Corps of Engineers. Senator Feingold has been such an incredible champion for human rights, and I am personally grateful for his work on women's rights, particularly his commitment to combating violence against women and girls worldwide. His passion, expertise, and dedication to these issues are unmatched and will be greatly missed. Byron Dorgan Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague and friend, Senator Byron Dorgan. It has been an honor to serve with Senator Dorgan since he and I were both elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992. Nobody can get to the heart of a matter like Byron Dorgan. He has an unbelievable ability to lay out both challenges and solutions with clarity. He is a populist in the best sense of the word, and our country is better for his service in this Chamber. Senator Dorgan has always been a champion for the people of North Dakota, for our workers, and for rural Americans. For the last 18 years, he has devoted himself to supporting family farms and promoting economic development across our country. Senator Dorgan has been a leader in the Senate in fighting to preserve jobs here in America and end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. No one has fought harder for the middle class. He used his position as chairman of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee to advance important projects and create jobs, and I will always be thankful for his support in our efforts to protect California communities from flooding. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senator Dorgan has worked tirelessly to improve health care and economic opportunities for Indians. He has helped streamline the bureaucracy of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He developed the landmark Tribal Law and Order Act, which helped give tribal justice officials the tools they need to protect their communities. I was so proud to cosponsor that bill and so pleased that President Obama signed it into law this year. He leaves a distinguished legacy and will be greatly missed by all of us. Arlen Specter Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to our friend and colleague, Senator Arlen Specter. Senator Specter has spent five terms serving the people of Pennsylvania here in Congress--longer than any other Pennsylvania Senator. All of us can take a lesson from his dedication and passion for fighting for the people of his State. A member of the Judiciary Committee since he joined Congress, Senator Specter built on his background as an attorney and eventually assumed the chairmanship of the committee. His expertise on constitutional issues has long been admired by his colleagues. Senator Specter was always a leader on issues relating to our National Institutes of Health, championing investment in scientific research to find lifesaving treatments and cures for a range of diseases. He understood firsthand how crucial such funding could be, having fought his own battle with cancer. When we passed the Recovery Act, it was Senator Specter who ensured that it would include significant investments in NIH. His efforts to help double NIH's budget have contributed to advances in treatments for Parkinson's, cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to work closely with Senator Specter on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. He has been a thoughtful and constructive member committed to addressing climate change and fighting for clean energy jobs. Senator Specter loves this institution, and he will be missed. He has left his mark, and I thank him for his decades of dedicated public service. Chris Dodd Mr. President, I would like to ask my colleagues to join me today in recognize the extraordinary leadership and service of our friend, Senator Chris Dodd. Senator Dodd has served the Senate with grace, intelligence, and compassion for three decades. The son of a U.S. Senator, he loves this institution and has done everything he could to preserve its best traditions. Senator Dodd has always encouraged all of us to keep our disputes and differences from becoming personal. He leaves behind an incredible legacy of accomplishments that have touched the lives of virtually all Americans. I will never forget the leadership role he played in helping to pass health care reform last spring--a fitting tribute to his close friend Ted Kennedy, whose vision finally became a reality. As chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Senator Dodd led the effort to pass Wall Street reform legislation. He was a forceful advocate for holding banks accountable for their actions, and we could not have enacted this landmark accomplishment without his leadership. Senator Dodd has devoted his career in public service to making life better [[Page 23507]] for our families and our children. I saw this firsthand as we worked together to ensure that our children have safe places to go after school. As chairman of the Senate Afterschool Caucus and the founder of the Senate's first Children's Caucus, Senator Dodd worked hard to expand the Head Start program, to reform the No Child Left Behind Act, and to make college more affordable for students and their families. In the face of Presidential vetoes, Senator Dodd dedicated 8 years to enacting the Family and Medical Leave Act, which has helped ensure that 50 million Americans can care for their loved ones during difficult times without fearing for their jobs. Senator Dodd is a fluent Spanish speaker and has been the Senate's leading expert on Latin America. I have been proud to work closely with him to reform our Nation's drug certification laws. His own years of service in the U.S. Peace Corps inspired Senator Dodd to support and promote President Kennedy's call to service in this Chamber. In the Senate, he has helped expand and modernize the Peace Corps and worked to provide loan forgiveness to Peace Corps volunteers, teachers, and others who devote themselves to public service. All of us in the Senate will greatly miss Senator Dodd. Blanche Lincoln Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague and friend, Senator Blanche Lincoln. Senator Lincoln has spent her entire career serving the people of Arkansas, and she has been a passionate and effective leader for her State. She has been an inspiration to so many women. Senator Lincoln made history as the first woman to chair the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and I will never forget how Senator Lincoln led by example, showing us you could be a young mom in the Senate, dedicated to your children, while also being a strong advocate for your State. She has been a leader in the Senate on child nutrition and has worked tirelessly to pass important legislation, including the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that was just signed into law by President Obama. The measure will help combat the nationwide epidemic of obesity by making sure our schoolchildren have access to healthy, nutritious meals. As a cofounder of the Senate Hunger Caucus, Senator Lincoln has played a crucial role in shedding light on a problem that affects so many, both at home and abroad. Senator Lincoln was never afraid to stand up for what she believed in. She showed her tenacity in fighting for greater transparency and accountability in derivatives markets during the debate over Wall Street reform. She has been a fighter for her State and her legislative accomplishments will have a profound impact on the lives of so many children and communities across our country. I want to thank her for her years of friendship and for her dedicated service here in the Senate. We will all miss her. christopher dodd Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in paying tribute to Senator Christopher Dodd, a longtime public servant and fellow New Englander whose dedication to advancing the common good with common sense, independence, and a genuine desire to solve problems has served both his constituents of Connecticut as well as his country for 36 years. With trust, comity, and a love for the institution of the Senate, Senator Dodd has for more than three decades contributed to creating a legislative environment where at crucial moments in the life of the greatest deliberative body in human history, the upper Chamber was able to work its will to the lasting benefit of the American people, and we could not be more grateful. Indisputably, and as countless colleagues have noted, public service has always been at the center of Senator Dodd's life--literally, as he is the first son of Connecticut to follow his father into the U.S. Senate, and remarkably, for the past 30 years, Senator Dodd has had the privilege of sitting at the same desk used by his father, Senator Thomas Dodd, during his 12 years in the Senate. Chris Dodd's longstanding devotion to the public arena has spanned from his three terms in the U.S. House--the last of which I was privileged to serve with him--to his five terms in the U.S. Senate. And Senator Dodd earned the lasting gratitude of his constituents and admiration of his colleagues with his stalwart leadership in foreign policy, his vigorous and unwavering battle to enact the Family and Medical Leave Act, and his longstanding stewardship of our Nation's most precious resource-- our children. And on this last point, like many in this Chamber, I cannot begin to justly measure the depth and breadth of the legacy Senator Dodd has forged in safeguarding the most vulnerable in our society. Consider for example the issue of child care. Time and again, Senator Dodd has battled to ensure both the quality of child care in America as well as the funding for it, and as he keenly and presciently understood, in this matter, our Nation could not have one without the other. An undeniable focus of Senator Dodd's, child care has unquestionably become one of his crowning achievements and legislative hallmarks--and nowhere was his imprint on the issue greater than during the landmark welfare reform debate in 1995 and 1996. I well recall working with Senator Dodd as we made the case that there was indeed a pivotal link between viable welfare reform and child care--that for families struggling to reduce their dependency on welfare--especially single parents--unaffordable, unavailable, or unreliable childcare was the chief barrier to steady employment, and one that could and should be lessened, if not eliminated. That is why I was pleased to join with Senator Dodd on our amendment to add $6 billion in child care funding to welfare reform legislation, especially at a time when that funding was very much imperiled. Arriving at a consensus required leaders from both parties to jettison their competing and hardened ideologies in favor not just of making dependable childcare more accessible, but in support of welfare reform that would effectively move more Americans from welfare to work. Senator Dodd, as colleague after colleague can attest, heeded his own beliefs that ``you don't begin the debate with bipartisanship--you arrive there. And you can do so only when determined partisans create consensus.'' Because he never lost sight of the primacy of working across the aisle, we were victorious in including the funding we sought in the Senate-passed bill. That bipartisan effort to garner concrete results designed to make a difference in the daily lives of the American people was not an isolated instance. Senator Dodd and I collaborated on legislation to support campus-based child care for low income mothers trying to further their education, and we authored legislation to help states improve training in early childhood development to make improved child care more available to more people. With innate New England pragmatism and a desire for solutions, Senator Dodd saw impediments to success that were impinging upon a segment of our society that if only reduced or removed would aid not only families striving to improve their lives, but a Nation seeking to help stem the tide of dependency. Ultimately, what occupied Senator Dodd's agenda was the active pursuit of an even better America. We didn't always agree on what that path should be, but where we did find common ground, as in child care, we cultivated it. That dynamic was at work recently as Senator Dodd and I, as the former chair and current ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, collaborated to help the economic engines and catalysts of our economy--America's small businesses, the very enterprises that will lead us out of recession and into recovery. During the consideration of what would become The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, I truly appreciated Senator [[Page 23508]] Dodd's perseverance in including a provision I authored allowing small businesses to raise concerns over burdensome regulations through small business review panels within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Senator Dodd and I also worked to reduce the regulatory compliance burden for small banks by striking a provision of the bill which would have required these lending institutions to report their transactions to the Federal Government down to each individual ATM. This kind of rapport was emblematic of how Senator Dodd viewed good governance. In his valedictory address on the floor of the Senate, he observed that ``in my three decades here, I cannot recall a single Senate colleague with whom I could not work.'' Indeed, Senator Dodd always saw adversaries as potential allies--and foes as unwon friends. From the days of his youth, Senator Dodd grew up steeped in the tradition of and respect for the Senate--and an abiding admiration for this venerable institution that runs at its own pace and by its own rules. Instead of exhibiting rancor and a burning desire to win at all costs, Senator Dodd sought instead to build relationships and by doing so, strengthened his capacity for legislating and contributed mightily to the advancement of this esteemed Chamber. Legendary American poet and son of Maine, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, once wrote that ``if you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it.'' Chris Dodd has always aimed high--and met his target--leaving a legacy of enormous accomplishment to his constituents in Connecticut and to the American people. In closing, let me just extend my personal appreciation to his wife Jackie and their daughters Grace and Christina for sharing Christopher Dodd with us judd gregg Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in paying a well- earned tribute to Senator Judd Gregg, a fellow New Englander and one of New Hampshire's much-admired icons of public service over the last three decades. Senator Gregg has been immersed in public service his entire life, beginning with his father's election as Governor of New Hampshire in 1952 when Judd was only 5 years old. And through the years, he has amassed a record of leadership at every level of government that is truly remarkable. It comes as no surprise that Judd is the first public servant from the Granite State ever to realize the political trifecta of being elected to the three offices of Congressman, Governor, and Senator. Serving others goes to the very core of Judd Gregg's persona and DNA. It always has and always will. And let me just say, at every step along the way, it has been a privilege for me to witness Senator Gregg's impressive trajectory in public life firsthand. In fact, it was during Judd's years in the U.S. House of Representatives, where my husband, Jock McKernan, and I first got to know him as well as his wonderful wife Kathy. And that friendship grew further during Judd's time as Governor as both he and Jock were chief executives of their respective States during the same period. And having served with Judd for nearly his entire tenure in the Senate, I have been proud to work side by side with an individual whose organizing principle behind public service has always been driven by common sense, pragmatism, and the imperative to forge solutions across the aisle. Time and again, Judd has sought to bridge the political divide to garner results, whether by tackling our Nation's fiscal challenges, promoting land conservation, or most notably, co-authoring the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 with the late Senator Edward Kennedy. Indeed, Senator Gregg's rigorous intellect, financial acumen, and budgetary expertise have earned him the respect and admiration of his Senate colleagues from both parties and made him one of the Nation's most well-regarded, leading champions of fiscal discipline and accountability, and one of the most knowledgeable voices and authorities in addressing our Nation's deficits and debt. In fact, the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, created by President Obama, is modeled after legislation first introduced by Senator Gregg, the former chair and current ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, and the current Chair, Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota--both of whom are commissioners. What a fitting coda for one of this generation's stalwart guardians of our Nation's budget. And Senator Gregg's service could not be more emblematic of his overall approach to public service which has always hewed to principle with a genuine desire to forge solutions across the aisle. No wonder that earlier this month, Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus wrote that in ``both parties, there are too few Greggs, and too many of them . . . are leaving public office.'' I couldn't agree more! Just as Senator Gregg has rightly earned national acclaim as a fiscal steward and sentinel on behalf of the American taxpayer, the heart of his leadership has always remained with his beloved Granite State as well as our region of New England. I well recall the ironclad solidarity our two delegations have shared, particularly in defending against efforts to close the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Through each of the five Base Realignment and Closure, BRAC, rounds from 1988 through 2005, we have left no stone unturned to champion the cause of the U.S. Navy's oldest and best shipyard--and to ensure that the BRAC Commission recognized the legendary work-ethic and world-class craftsmanship of a workforce that is second to none. Former Senate majority and minority leader, Senator Robert Dole, with whom Senator Gregg and I both served, once observed ``as long as there are only 3 to 4 people on the floor, the country is in good hands. It's only when you have 50 to 60 in the Senate that you want to be concerned.'' When Judd Gregg was on the floor the people of New Hampshire and, indeed, the Nation knew that our country was in tremendously capable and conscientious hands, and we could not be more grateful! In thanking Senator Gregg for his immeasurable contributions to this storied chamber, I know I join all of my colleagues in wishing him and his beloved wife Kathy, Godspeed, as they embark on the well-earned, next chapter of their lives. GEORGE VOINOVICH Mr. President, I rise today to join in paying tribute to my longtime good friend and colleague, Senator George Voinovich of Ohio. In the U.S. Constitution, our Founding Fathers made it clear that there is no one clear path, background, or station in life that leads to serving in the U.S. Senate. There is an age requirement and a residency stipulation and no more. That said, if ever there were a job description for being a Senator, it occurs to me that a model example we should consider is that of Senator George Voinovich. Senator Voinovich's depth and breadth of wisdom, knowledge, and experience about making government work at all levels which he has harnessed throughout his sterling, four decade trajectory in public life recall what James Madison wrote in The Federalist, No. 62 in advocating for a higher age requirement for Senators than members of the House. Madison postulated that the deliberative disposition of the Senate required a ``greater extent of information and stability of character.'' I don't think it's too far of a stretch to say that James Madison must have had a Senator like George Voinovich in mind when making this case. Before Senator Voinovich even stepped onto the floor of the U.S. Senate he had already been Governor of Ohio, mayor of Cleveland, Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, county commissioner, auditor, and a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. With a wealth of insights to draw upon through many years of public service, George has always been a force with whom to be reckoned, someone whose viewpoint and counsel are sought, and whose example is worthy of being emulated many, many times over. My husband Jock, former Governor of Maine, and I first got to know Senator Voinovich and his wonderful wife [[Page 23509]] of nearly 50 years, Janet, in the 1990s when Jock and George were both serving as Governor of their respective States and active in the National Governors Association. In Ohio's State capital of Columbus, George was building on his enormous success as Mayor of Cleveland where he inherited a stagnant economy, rejuvenated it through fiscal discipline and acumen and public-private partnerships, and forged a three-time All-America City winner in the 1980s. George made similar, remarkable strides as Governor, where, under his watch, unemployment hit a 25-year low and 600,000 new jobs were created. Many accolades were bestowed upon George for his accomplishments at the State level, and they were all well- earned to say the least. In fact, he is still the only individual to serve as both chairman of the National Governors Association and president of the National League of Cities. There are many laudatory characterizations of Senator Voinovich that have already been expressed by my colleagues, and there are certainly some that come to mind, especially as a highly regarded U.S. Senator-- thoughtful, independent, principled, rigorous, courageous, and pragmatic. With George, you always knew where he stood on an issue and frankly where you stood with him. In an institution whose very foundation is built upon trust and forging relationships, George was someone you could count on time and time again. And to say that Senator Voinovich was a workhorse in this Chamber from day one is an understatement to be sure. His word is as good as gold--and as they say, you can take it to the bank. If he shook your hand on a deal, that was all that was required. The fact is, they don't make enough legislators or public servants like Senator Voinovich anymore. Like the Ohio State flag, the only one in the U.S. not shaped like a rectangle, George has been and will always be . . . one of a kind. I can tell this Chamber from firsthand experience, there was no one you would rather be in the trenches with in the Senate, especially when the stakes were high, than George. I will never forget--and I know George won't either--how we stood side by side as stewards of fiscal accountability during the tax cut debate in 2003. We were certain that reducing taxes and hewing to our budget concerns did not have to be mutually exclusive--that we could champion billions in tax cuts without jeopardizing our Nation's fiscal future by proposing offsets. The fact is, once Senator Voinovich determined to chart a particular course, he was not easily dissuaded--and rightfully earned a reputation for being tireless and relentless in his pursuits. His moral fiber, character, and integrity can be traced back to being the grandson of Serbian and Slovenian immigrants who crossed the Atlantic from Croatia at the turn of the century. As a proud Greek-American whose parents emigrated from Greece, I see in George the same stalwart work ethic so prevalent in my own roots and culture growing up in Maine. Senator Voinovich once said that ``doing a good job at running your government is the best politics,'' and that ``people just want you to get the job done.'' But for him, these weren't platitudes worthy of a government class, they have been truly organizing tenets that have shaped a distinguished 40-year tenure of serving the common good for Ohioans and the Nation. In the Senate, when others refused to reach across the aisle, Senator Voinovich understood that doing so made the system work, especially for those who elected us in the first place--the American people. When political scorekeeping and posturing have ruled the day, Senator Voinovich has managed to transcend the short-term efforts to jockey for position in favor of immersing himself in the substance of the policy with the intention of championing it or opposing it based on the facts, not political sway or the temper of the times. The legacy of George's clear voice of reason and brave vision in this body will extend into the next Congress and for Congresses to come. My only regret is that the Senate could use more George Voinovichs, not fewer. For all of his dedicated public service to his Buckeye State and this great land, undoubtedly, George will tell you that his greatest achievement is his marriage of 39 years to his beloved wife Janet, their three children, and eight grandchildren. I wish them all the best. BLANCHE LINCOLN Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in paying tribute to Senator Blanche Lincoln, one of the finest public servants I have had the pleasure not only to know, but to work with during our one term in the U.S. House together and her distinguished 11-year tenure in the Senate. A seventh-generation Arkansan, Senator Lincoln has always been firmly rooted in the values and the people of her great State. Their concerns have been her battles--their hopes have been her cause. Her State's bedrock values of family and faith have always been at the center of Blanche's life as a daughter, wife, mother, church member, and Congresswoman. She has always been as authentic as they come, warm as she is determined, gracious as she is resolute, and Arkansans wouldn't have it any other way. Blanche understood the inherent human element and dimensions of public service as well as anyone--that you pursued elective office not for personal gain, but in order to make a difference on behalf of others, especially for rural America. For Senator Lincoln, the phrase ``The People Rule'' was more than her great State's cherished motto, it was an organizing principle and a clarion call which inspired her to serve. The youngest woman ever elected to the Senate and the first woman to serve as chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee in its 184 years of existence, Senator Lincoln was making her mark from the first time she entered the august Chamber of the U.S. Senate. From the beginning, she stood upon the mightiest of shoulders, Arkansas's legendary Hattie Caraway, the first woman to win a statewide U.S. Senate race in Arkansas and the first woman to chair a U.S. Senate committee. How fitting it is that Senator Lincoln paid homage to her predecessor by using the same desk on the Senate floor that Senator Caraway used 60 years ago. I was privileged to work with Senator Lincoln for her entire time and mine as well on the venerable Senate Finance Committee where we were kindred spirits and compatriots from day one. In fact, our very first year on the committee we forged an historic, bipartisan alliance to make the childcare tax credit refundable for the first time ever, and the bond we formed during that undertaking only increased as we shepherded other dependent care issues through the years to help give families the resources to be stronger and find empowerment through work. Senator Lincoln and I, as the former chair and current ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, also joined forces on the Small Business Health Options Program, or the so- called SHOP Act, to increase the number of insurers available to small businesses, so that these engines of our economy could benefit from greater competition. On issue after issue, I valued our collaborations, our mutual respect, and our common desire to achieve results and jettison the partisan bickering that impedes not only progress, but our obligation to do the will of the American people. Central to that collegiality has been our great tradition as women in the Senate of getting together once a month for dinner, and there is no question that Senator Lincoln's absence will be keenly felt. Appropriately, we described one of our dinners in the prologue to the book we labored on together in the 1990s, entitled ``Nine and Counting,'' to demonstrate the progress women had made in the upper Chamber. In it, Blanche is described as ``ebullient, energetic, and unpretentious--she is the picture of representative government.'' That is the Blanche Lincoln I know and the Blanche Lincoln I will miss. Like all of the women I have had the honor of serving with on both sides of [[Page 23510]] the aisle, Blanche has been a bulwark against the all-too-prevalent dynamic confronting the American political system--the ongoing erosion of bipartisanship, cooperation, and civility. She has helped bridge the partisan divide as much as anyone, and has acted time and again as a catalyst for cultivating common ground in order to advance the common good. The Arkansas State flag contains diamond shapes in its center as Arkansas is the only State where diamonds have been discovered. It has been the pinnacle of generosity for Arkansans to share one of their gems here in our Nation's Capital in the form of Senator Blanche Lincoln. We also thank her husband Dr. Steve Lincoln and their twin boys, Reece and Bennett, for doing the same. evan bayh Mr. President, today I wish to join in paying a well-deserved tribute to my good friend and colleague, Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana. When it comes to reflecting on his tremendous experience and influence in this esteemed Chamber for the past 12 years, the simple truth is that our Nation and our government would be exponentially improved by having more like Evan Bayh serving in the United States Senate. A proud native of the Hoosier State--as well as a son of the legendary former Senator Birch Bayh--Senator Evan Bayh is a man of unwavering principle and conviction, who has been a stalwart legislator and unparalleled guardian of the first branch of government over his two terms serving the people of Indiana. Born in Shirkieville, educated at Indiana University, and a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School, Senator Bayh went on to clerk for a Federal court judge, eventually being elected as Indiana's secretary of state in 1986. Yet even before Senator Bayh stepped onto the floor of the United States Senate he had already served two terms as Governor of Indiana, beginning in 1988. In fact, that is where I first got to know him as both he and my husband, John McKernan, were chief executives of their respective States during much of that same period. The depth and breadth of Evan's insight and experience that was forged during his years as Governor would become truly indispensable as a United States Senator. Having served side-by-side with Evan for his entire tenure--including this Congress as fellow members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, where I serve as ranking member--I can attest firsthand to his intellect, independence, and integrity that will truly leave an indelible mark on this institution and this Nation. Evan has also been a next-door neighbor in my hallway in the Russell Senate Building. So I will profoundly miss seeing him not only in the Senate, but also simply walking down the hall outside my office. Throughout his storied career, Senator Bayh has reached across the aisle to find consensus on legislation to advance both Indiana and the Nation. From focusing on job growth and fighting for America's small businesses to national security and trade, Evan has been a leader whose achievements truly leave an indelible mark. Indeed, I was pleased to work with Senator Bayh on legislation in 2007 that linked the troop surge in Iraq to meaningful consequences and telegraphed to the Iraqi Government that they had to meet the benchmarks they themselves had set. And just this year, Senator Bayh and I worked with a number of our colleagues in the Senate to crack down on unfair currency manipulations in China--ensuring our government is equipped with the tools to adequately address inequities and provide consequences for countries that violate our global trade rules by holding down the value of their currency. Earlier, in 2001, Senator Bayh and I introduced a bipartisan resolution in the Senate, as well as a subsequent amendment on the Senate floor, to ensure that decisions on the use of the budget surpluses that were projected at the time--whether for tax cuts or for spending--should be linked to the surpluses actually realized. Simply put, the idea, based on a proposal first outlined by then-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, was that long-term tax and spending plans should include a kind of ``trigger'' mechanism that limits the surplus-reducing impact of those proposals if budget targets weren't achieved, such as specific levels of debt reduction. We believed such a trigger would provide a strong incentive for Congress to act responsibly in the future allocation of any surpluses, while also serving as a ``backstop'' should estimates prove too optimistic. As I said at the time, we should have been utilizing those surpluses as a window of opportunity to address our most pressing domestic issues, such as strengthening Social Security and Medicare. And frankly, how prescient that trigger mechanism proved to be--just imagine where we might be today if it had passed nearly 10 years ago. In multiple facets, Senator Bayh has been an esteemed colleague and friend in our mutual cause to revitalize and advance the political center--in our concerted effort to answer the challenges facing our Nation by producing results, not rancor, and accord instead of acrimony. His departure not only diminishes the Senate, but is also a loss for the country--because we require more voices seeking to craft compromise and consensus to forge solutions, not fewer. I have long argued that the legislative stalemate and political quagmire that has gripped much of this Congress has been to the detriment of our country--especially at a time when our Nation faces a number of challenges, not the least of which is a struggling economy that has caused far too many Americans to lose their jobs and their paychecks. In February, Senator Bayh wrote an op-ed for the New York Times in which he said, ``The most ideologically devoted elements in both parties must accept that not every compromise is a sign of betrayal or an indication of moral lassitude. When too many of our citizens take an all-or-nothing approach, we should not be surprised when nothing is the result.'' I could not agree more--and Senator Bayh's advocacy of moderation and reason in this body will truly be missed. President Theodore Roosevelt once said that ``far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.'' Well, if ever there were a Senator who epitomizes that sentiment, it is Senator Bayh as he has given his very best to make an already great Nation greater still. I wish Evan, his wife, Susan, and their two sons, Beau and Nick, all the best for the future. judd gregg Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it has been a great pleasure and honor to serve in this body with Judd Gregg. He and his wife Kathy have enriched our lives with their friendship and their contributions to the work and responsibilities of the U.S. Senate. Judd's leadership on the Budget and Appropriations Committees have been especially important and worthy of high praise. His sense of humor has helped make our service in the Senate an enjoyable experience. I wish for him and his family all the best in the years ahead. SAM BROWNBACK Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the service of my friend and colleague Sam Brownback. Sam was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 during the Republican Revolution and was subsequently elected to the Senate 2 years later when former majority leader Bob Dole made his bid for the White House. It has been both a privilege and a pleasure serving alongside Sam during these past 16 years. All of us who seek public service want to make a difference, and most certainly, Sam Brownback has done that. In these endeavors I have enjoyed working with Sam in achieving some note worthy accomplishments for our State of Kansas. As I reflect upon our mutual efforts, it is hard to figure out who was driving the stage and who was riding shotgun. [[Page 23511]] Simply put, it has been a team effort, and I have been both humbled and proud to work with my colleague who has provided unique and respected leadership. Sam's record speaks for itself: bringing the Big Red One back home to Fort Riley, KS, where it started and now belongs; bringing the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, NBAF, to Manhattan, KS; ensuring fair treatment of the general aviation industry in FAA bills; and working together to rebuild Greensburg, KS, after 95 percent of the community was literally blown away by an EF5 tornado. But beyond our work together on State specific issues, it is Sam's Federal legislative initiatives that I think will have the longest impact on the Senate and the lives of so many people, pot only within Kansas and our Nation but, indeed, around the world. Since the late 1970s, the term ``compassionate conservative'' has been tossed around quite a bit to describe a philosophy--a philosophy that states by applying conservative ideals, our government can best improve the welfare of our society. I think many of my colleagues would agree that if anyone in public service over the past 30 years embodies this philosophy, it would be Sam Brownback. What is unique about Sam and his approach to politics these past 16 years is that his ideas went beyond words and rhetoric. The Sam Brownback approach was simple but effective. He applied his beliefs to action, reflected by the many legislative accomplishments he championed during his tenure in the Senate. Sam is a big believer in forgiveness and second chances. How to put that belief into action? Sam introduced a bill that really shows his heart for those in society who many times are not given an opportunity to make amends: the Second Chance Act. Signed into law during the Bush administration, this act created a grant program for State and local governments to fund job training and family mentoring programs to help reintegrate past offenders as they are granted release back into society. But Sam's legislative victories did not focus solely on domestic issues. Sam has a great love for the continent of Africa. Serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he traveled to Africa on multiple occasions to gain a better understanding of how he could help provide relief to those most vulnerable. His experiences led him to champion the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006. Enacted that same year, this law created sanctions against individuals and groups responsible for the terrible crime of genocide in Darfur, while establishing measures to protect civilians and humanitarian efforts within the borders of Sudan. The more Sam did, the more he felt called to do, and no one did more for the protection of victims of human trafficking than Sam. In 2000, he helped enact the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This law created criminal punishments for individuals caught in the United States operating as traffickers. It established an annual reporting mechanism to help track individuals engaged in sex trafficking and created a new immigration status for victims of sex trafficking. Lastly, I believe Sam's prominence during his time in the Senate had a great deal to do with his willingness to work across party lines on issues where he could seek and find common passion and ground. The legislative item I think will leave the largest impact on many of us in the Senate is the bill upon which he worked tirelessly with the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Signed into law by President Bush, the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Act provides those families with children diagnosed with Down Syndrome the support services and networks they need to help them deal with the unique challenges they face. Put another way, what better legislation to help protect the lives of those in our Nation uniquely challenged but who deserve every right to the same opportunities we all enjoy everyday. I could easily and proudly recount many more of Sam's achievements during his time in the Senate, but I would do so in danger of Sam saying ``enough'' and giving me ``the hook.'' I have often said that the high road of humility is not often bothered by heavy traffic in Washington, but in Sam Brownback, we have indeed enjoyed the friendship of a humble man. In closing, I leave my colleagues with one of Senator Brownback's favorite quotes that I think sums up the man that Sam is and the love he has for all people, regardless of their nationality or place in society. Sam likes to say: `` I am pro-life and whole-life. Applying this belief to the child in the womb and to the child in Darfur. It includes the man in prison and the woman in poverty. It does not fail to cherish the child with Down syndrome or stand for the inherent dignity of the immigrant.'' Sam, I remember the first campaign rally we attended together. The featured guest speaker, Senator Phil Gramm of Texas, introduced me as one who made significant changes in the House of Representatives and then introduced Sam as: ``One who not only wants to change things, but to make the right changes.'' Sam, you have done just that and it has been an honor to serve with you over these past 16 years. I thank you for your courtesy, cooperation, leadership, example and your friendship and support. As you head west, my friend, to lead our beloved State of Kansas, I look forward to continued cooperation and success. The people of Kansas are in good hands. God bless. arlen specter Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, when I came to the Senate in 2007 as a Senator-elect, one of the first things I did was to go see Senator Specter. He asked me at the time to go to lunch, and from the moment that I arrived in the Senate, he made it very clear to me, not only did the people of Pennsylvania expect, but he expected as well that we work together. From the beginning of his service here in the United States Senate, way back when he was elected in 1980, all the way up to the present moment, he has been a Senator who has focused on building bipartisan relationships and, of course, focusing on Pennsylvania priorities. I have been honored to have worked with him on so many Pennsylvania priorities, whether it was veterans or workers, whether it was dairy farmers or the economy of Pennsylvania, or whether it was our soldiers, or our children, or our families. He has been a champion for our state, and he has shown younger Senators the way to work together in the interest of our state and our country. That bipartisanship wasn't just a sentiment. He is a legislator who sought compromise that led to results in a Senate often divided by partisanship. His record is long, so I will only highlight a few areas. He helped to lead the effort to dramatically increase funding for the National Institutes of Health, that great generator of discoveries that cure diseases and create jobs and hope for people often without hope because of a disease or a malady of one kind or another. His experience working on a farm as a boy, Kansas not in Pennsylvania, helped him to understand and work on problems affecting Pennsylvania agriculture and farm families. He stood up for Pennsylvania industry and workers against subsidized or dumped products that hurt Pennsylvania's steel industry. He fought to bring Federal funding back to Pennsylvania to create jobs, build infrastructure and invest in local communities. No Senator in the history of the Commonwealth has served longer than Senator Specter. In fact, the Senator that he outdistanced in a sense, in terms of service, was only elected by the people twice after several terms elected by the state legislature. Senator Specter was elected by the people of Pennsylvania five times, but it is the life in those Senate years, the contribution to our Commonwealth and our country in those 30 years that really matter. His impact will be felt for generations, not just decades, but for generations. There was a history book of our State that came out in the year 2002. It [[Page 23512]] was a series of stories, essays and chapters on the history of Pennsylvania, and it is a fascinating review of the State's history. The foreword of that publication, that book, was written by Brent D. Glass, at the time the executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission. He wrote this in March 2002. It is a long foreword which I won't read, but he wrote in the early part of this foreword the following, ``One way to understand the meaning of Pennsylvania's past is to examine certain places around the state that are recognized for their significance to the entire nation.'' Then he lists and describes in detail significant places in Pennsylvania that have a connection to our history, whether it's the Liberty Bell or the battlefield at Gettysburg, whether it's the farms in our Amish communities or whether it's some other place of historic significance. I have no doubt whatsoever that if the same history were recounted about the people of Pennsylvania, the people who moved Pennsylvania forward, the people who in addition to moving our State forward had an impact on the Nation; if we had to make a list of Pennsylvanians who made such contributions; whether it would be William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, you can fill in the blanks from there, I have no doubt that that list would include Senator Arlen Specter, a son of Kansas who made Pennsylvania his home, a son of Kansas who fought every day for the people of Pennsylvania. So it is the work and the achievements and the passion and the results in those years in the Senate that will put him on a very short list of those who contributed so much to our Commonwealth that we love and to our country that we cherish. So for all that and for so many other reasons, I, as a resident of Pennsylvania and a citizen of the United States, but as a Senator, want to express my gratitude to Senator Arlen Specter for his 30 years of service, but especially for what those 30 years meant to the people of Pennsylvania. Thank you, Senator Specter. Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes to pay tribute to the 16 Senators who will be departing this body at the end of the year. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve alongside each of these Senators as colleagues and as friends. All served their States with distinction and gave their constituents strong voices in the world's greatest deliberative body. Senators Evan Bayh, Robert Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Roland Burris, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Russ Feingold, Carte Goodwin, Judd Gregg, Ted Kaufman, George LeMieux, Blanche Lincoln, Arlen Specter, and George Voinovich each left an indelible mark on the Senate, and I wish them well as they take on new challenges and opportunities into the future. I would like to speak briefly about a few of the Senators I knew best and served with in committees to recognize their contributions and accomplishments and share my fond memories of them and the legacies they will leave behind. Bob Bennett For nearly two decades, Senator Bob Bennett has honorably served the people of Utah. His career in the U.S. Senate has been marked by his commonsense solutions to many of the most pressing issues facing our country. Before serving in the Senate, Bob was a successful entrepreneur as the CEO of Franklin International Institute. Under Bennett's leadership, the business grew from 4 employees to more than 1,000 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Bob brought his past experiences running a successful company with him to the Senate. His business sense was certainly an asset that informed his decisions as a U.S. Senator and made him an effective advocate for businesses, large and small, who keep our economy strong. Being a former businessowner myself, I valued his pragmatic perspective and ability to get things done. As a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee and a member of the distinguished Joint Economic Committee, Bob has been a leader in many national economic policy decisions. In addition, while serving as the ranking republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, he has worked to address the critical funding needs our country faces on a wide range of energy and water related issues. I am proud to have served with Bob for so many years, and his leadership and kind manner will be sorely missed in the Senate. Jim Bunning I wish Senator Jim Bunning well as he departs the Senate. Much of his legacy can be defined by his competitive spirit and strong work ethic. These attributes have been evident throughout his many successes in life, first in his career as a Hall of Fame baseball player and then later as a public servant, representing the people of Kentucky. Being an avid sports fan myself, I hold deep admiration for those who can play at the highest levels of competitive sports and later bring that drive to the Senate! Following his highly successful professional baseball career for 17 years, Jim decided he wanted to give back to his community. In 1977, he ran for city council and then later ran for the Kentucky State Senate eventually becoming the Republican leader. In 1986, Jim was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 4th District of Kentucky, where he served for 12 years before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998. During Jim's tenure in Congress, he has established himself as an expert and defender of social security, fighting hard to protect social security for current and future generations. His hard work and devotion will be missed by the people of Kentucky, whom I know are grateful for his many years of service. Kit Bond Kit Bond has a long and distinguished history of service to the people of Missouri. As one of the longest serving Members in the U.S. Senate and a former two-term Governor, his life's work has been dedicated to the State of Missouri. In the Senate, Kit has been a respected leader on many issues, such as national security, transportation, and global economic competiveness. While serving as the vice chairman on the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, he has worked hard to strengthen national security through supporting the U.S. military and reforming the Nation's intelligence community. And as the leader of the Senate National Guard Caucus, no one has done more to support the role of the National Guard in our defense. Kit and I have worked on many issues together during our time in the Senate. In particular, last year when Democratic lawmakers tried to push cap-and-trade bills through Congress, Kit and I released the report, ``Climate Change Legislation: A $3.6 Trillion Gas Tax.'' Our joint report revealed how climate legislation would result in a massive new national gas tax on American families, farmers, workers and truckers--by increasing the price of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. It has been my pleasure to serve with Senator Bond. His office has been next to mine for 12 years and it will not be the same without that familiar cigar aroma lingering in the second floor halls of Russell. Without a doubt, he will be missed by his colleagues in the Senate and his constituents in Missouri. Sam Brownback While Senator Sam Brownback will certainly be missed by the Senate, the people of Kansas will continue to benefit from his leadership, as he serves as their newly-elected Governor. Prior to being elected to public office, Sam's professional experiences include working as a radio broadcaster, attorney, teacher, and administrator. From these varied professional experiences he brought with him a unique and dynamic perspective to the U.S. Senate. Through his leadership as the ranking member on the Joint Economic Committee, ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, and ranking member of the [[Page 23513]] Energy and Natural Resource Subcommittee on Water and Power, Sam established himself as a leader on a wide range of issues. During his tenure in the Senate, he has supported aviation research and expanded global aviation markets. Through these efforts, he has effectively spurred economic growth and strengthened the U.S. military. Some of Sam's most distinguishing characteristics are his personal integrity and his commitment to his Catholic faith. These principles came through in much of what he did in the Senate. I will always appreciate his passion and his work to translate his beliefs into his actions as a U.S. Senator. I am confident Senator Brownback will continue to serve the people of Kansas with the same character and dedication in his new role as governor. Chris Dodd Senator Chris Dodd departs the Senate after nearly three decades faithfully representing the people of Connecticut. From his service in the Peace Corps, the U.S. Army National Guard and Reserves as well as his many years in the U.S. Senate, Senator Dodd's commitment to public service and love for his country have been evident throughout his life. Chris was a leader in the Senate, serving as the chairman of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics, and chairman of its Children and Families Subcommittee. Although we had our differences on various policy issues, I always appreciated his willingness to put partisanship aside to reach consensus when possible in order to improve legislation. For instance, earlier this year when working on the financial reform bill, despite my public opposition to the legislation, Chris worked with me to incorporate my amendments in the final version of the bill. I ultimately voted against the bill, but I am grateful for the efforts he made to include my amendments. Today we bid him farewell after 29 years of tireless service in the U.S. Senate. Byron Dorgan Today we say goodbye to Senator Byron Dorgan after 18 years in the Senate, serving the State of North Dakota. First elected to Congress in 1980, Dorgan has devoted his career to serving North Dakota and fighting for the interests of rural America. After serving six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Byron was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992. I have had the pleasure to serve with Senator Dorgan on the Senate Commerce Committee. Last summer, we joined together with several of our colleagues in the Senate to introduce bipartisan legislation that reauthorized the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA. The legislation accelerated the modernization of the Nation's air traffic control, ATC system, addressed critical safety concerns in the national airspace system, NAS, and improved rural community access to air service. I appreciated Byron's willingness to champion good ideas put forward by members from either side of the aisle. By focusing on issues where consensus could be achieved, he helped to move the debate forward on important issues and solve problems. Senator Dorgan leaves the Senate with my best wishes and respect. Judd Gregg As a leading voice for fiscal responsibility, Senator Judd Gregg will be deeply missed in the Senate. Throughout his long and distinguished career, with unparalleled commitment to fiscal discipline, Senator Gregg worked to address many pressing issues. Senator Gregg is a well known budget expert and national leader on the most critical issues facing our country in recent years, notably health care, economic issues, and financial regulation. His efforts to address the looming entitlement crisis, the rising cost of health care, and the inefficient and complex tax system are commendable and serve as an example to all elected officials. In the Senate, Senator Gregg has also focused his efforts on helping the U.S. maintain its position as the leading destination for capital and investment in the world. I appreciate the job Senator Gregg has done in his position as the former chairman and current ranking member of the Budget Committee. In 2006, Judd sponsored an amendment that strengthened border security by providing resources to integrate biometric databases as well as construction of new stations and check points and tactical infrastructure for immigration and customs enforcement. Unlike other similar proposals at the time, his amendment was offset and did not add to the deficit. I will miss working with him in this Chamber, and I will miss his friendship and support on the issues that matter most to America. In conclusion, the departing Senators' contributions, their dedicated service, and the issues they championed will be remembered long after their final days in the Senate. I believe I can speak for my fellow Senators when I say that we will all miss our departing friends. Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, when the 111th Congress draws to a close, we will bid farewell to 16 colleagues who have collectively given more than 200 years of service to our Nation through their service in the Senate. These include seven of the Senate's most experienced Members. People like Chris Dodd and Arlen Specter who have each served five terms in the Senate. Kit Bond who has served four terms and Bob Bennett, Byron Dorgan, Russ Feingold, and Judd Gregg, who have each served three terms in this Chamber. When the 112th Congress convenes in January, the ranks of women Senators will be reduced by one. In fact, the 112th Congress will be the first Congress in recent memory in which the total number of women Senators will actually decline. And with the departure of our colleague, Roland Burris, there will not be a single African-American Senator when the new Congress convenes. In January we will feel the loss of the great pitching ace, Jim Bunning, and Evan Bayh, both respected colleagues on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. They are among six of my Energy Committee colleagues who are leaving the Senate this year. Judd Gregg, one of our Nation's foremost experts on the Federal budget leaves us at the end of the year. As this Senate comes to grips with the challenges of a rising deficit and economic stagnation we will miss his firm hand and thoughtful guidance. My neighbor in the Hart Senate Office Building, Arlen Specter, is one of the Senate's most independent voices and perhaps the best friend that the National Institutes of Health, and every American who benefits from its cutting edge research, has ever had on Capitol Hill. Bob Bennett, one of the most thoughtful among us, who draws wisdom from experience as an entrepreneur as well as in public service, will not be among us. I learned much from Senator Bennett during the period that he served as counselor to the Republican leader and I served as vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference. I would also like to acknowledge contributions of Kit Bond, one of the foremost experts on our Nation's transportation and infrastructure needs. I appreciate Senator Bond's interest in understanding the unique transportation and infrastructure challenges that we in Alaska, the largest State in our Union in terms of land mass and one of the youngest must contend with. Senator Bond, like all of us, wears many hats in this institution. He has also earned the undying respect of our Nation's citizen soldiers through his leadership of the Senate National Guard Caucus. One of Chris Dodd's legacies to the Nation is legislation to ensure that the unique needs of children are addressed in our Nation's response to catastrophic disasters. I was honored to partner with Senator Dodd in helping to pass this legislation. [[Page 23514]] Russ Feingold may have earned his place in history for his work on campaign finance reform but I will also appreciate him for his efforts to ensure that members of the National Guard and Reserve do not fall through the cracks when they return home with battlefield injuries. Senator Feingold and I teamed on the Wounded Warrior Transition Act, a portion of which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. I will continue to pursue the remaining provisions in the new Congress. Sam Brownback has forever earned a place in the heart of our first Americans for his work on the adoption of a joint resolution apologizing to American Indians and Alaska Natives for centuries of ill conceived policies carried out by our Federal Government. He is known around the world as a champion of religious freedom as well. George Voinovich came to the Senate after a distinguished career that included service as Governor of the State of Ohio and mayor of the city of Cleveland. He has made a substantial contribution to the efficient operation of our federal government as a leader of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. I appreciate his support of the effort that Senator Akaka and I advanced, along with others, to make locality pay available to Federal employees in Alaska and Hawaii through the Non-Foreign Act of 2009. I would like to say a few words about my friend Byron Dorgan. In 2007, following the sudden and unexpected death of our friend and colleague Craig Thomas, I was elevated to vice chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Senator Dorgan was the chairman of that committee. Last week both of us had the honor of addressing the National Congress of American Indians at one of the meetings that preceded President Obama's tribal summit. Each of us reflected on that fact that the committee has highly productive during the period we shared the gavel. During our time together the committee laid the groundwork for reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, more than a decade in the making. We reauthorized the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act, we pursued a settlement of the Cobell litigation, and we crafted and introduced the Tribal Law and Order Act, which President Obama signed into law earlier this year. Senator Dorgan has consistently championed adequate funding for the Indian Health Service and he has come to the floor on many occasions to speak to the unacceptable rates of suicide among Native youth. I am pleased to know that he will continue this work after he leaves the Senate. It comes from the heart. As I noted at the outset, 2011 will be the first year in recent memory that the number of women serving in the Senate has actually declined. All of the women of the Senate will miss our dear friend and highly respected colleague Blanche Lincoln. Blanche Lincoln made history in her own right when she became the youngest woman ever elected to the Senate at the age of 38. Senator Lincoln represented the people of Arkansas with distinction for two terms, juggling a demanding career in public service while raising two wonderful twin boys Reece and Bennett. She is truly a wonderful colleague to work with. A centrist who comfortably works across the aisle and votes her convictions. One of the kindest people in the Senate. I expect great things of Blanche Lincoln in the future and I have every confidence she will deliver on that prediction. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve with each of the people who will leave this Chamber when we adjourn sine die. Each has made substantial contributions to their States, to the Nation and to the Senate during their time here. ____________________