The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTES TO DEPARTING SENATORS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the in the Senate section section on pages S6912-S6918 on Dec. 16, 2014.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTES TO DEPARTING SENATORS
Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, before this Congress ends, I wanted to pay tribute to several of my colleagues who will not be here when we convene next year. Some chose not to run again, and others unfortunately lost their reelection campaigns, but we will miss them all next year. I begin in order of seniority.
Tim Johnson
Mr. President, I wish to begin with Senator Tim Johnson. After several years of service in South Dakota, where he received the Outstanding Citizen Award and the Billie Sutton Award for Legislative Achievement, Tim was elected to the House of Representatives in 1986. He served there for 10 years, earning many distinctions, among them, one for passing more legislation than the other 50 first-term Members. In 1996 he was elected to the Senate, where he has served three terms. In recent years Senator Johnson has served as chairman of the banking committee, of which he has been a member since 1997. Over the years he has advocated for community banks in South Dakota, worked to pass the Safe and Fair Deposit Insurance Act of 2005, which updated the Federal deposit insurance system, and pushed to deal with the special needs of consumers in rural areas. Tim has also shown immense courage in dealing with health issues and has been an exemplary public servant. We will miss him next year and wish him and Barbara well.
Mary Landrieu
Mr. President, Senator Mary Landrieu started a career of public service in the Louisiana State Legislature and then as State treasurer. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996 becoming her State's first female Senator. Senator Landrieu has always fought for her State, a fact never more apparent than in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita when she fought valiantly for disaster funding and reforms that helped countless people in Louisiana. Mary has also been a champion for our children, and I have seen her commitment as we worked together on adoption and foster care issues over the years. We will miss Mary's spirit, but we know she will never stop fighting for what she believes in. I wish Mary and Frank well in this new chapter of their lives.
Mark Pryor
Mr. President, Senator Mark Pryor comes from a family with a history of public service. Mark served as Arkansas attorney general before being elected to the Senate in 2002, occupying the same Senate seat his father David held. As a member of the Agriculture Committee, Mark fought hard to protect the interests of Arkansas' farmers, and through his position on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee he pushed for regulatory reform, all the while asking how each decision he made would impact people back in Arkansas. Through his work, Mark embodied what it meant to be a public servant.
Mark Udall
Mr. President, Senator Mark Udall's family has served the United States for decades. His cousin Tom has served beside him in the Senate for the past 6 years. His father Morris ``Mo'' Udall was a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 30 years and also ran for President. His uncle Stewart served as Interior Secretary under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s. Before being elected to the Senate in 2008, Mark served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Colorado State Legislature. Through his position on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Mark has continued his family's commitment to our public lands and resources, chairing the National Parks Subcommittee. Senator Udall has also worked hard to help the U.S. Government get its fiscal house in order, pushing his colleagues to make tough choices today to help create a better tomorrow. As a member of the Armed Services and Select Intelligence Committees, Mark has advocated for more transparent detention and drone policies and pushed to make public the ``Committee Study of the Central Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program.''
Kay Hagan
Mr. President, Senator Kay Hagan spent 10 years serving in the North Carolina State senate before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008. I have had the pleasure of sitting next to Kay on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and working with her on issues such as medication therapy management to help ensure our seniors are taking the prescription drugs that help keep them healthy and the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act that provides funding for the screening of newborn babies for heritable disorders, allowing them the earliest possible access to treatments. Through her position on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, Senator Hagan has pushed to protect and grow North Carolina jobs. On the Armed Services Committee, she has fought for North Carolina's military families. I wish Kay and Chip well in the years ahead.
Mark Begich
Mr. President, Senator Mark Begich arrived in the Senate in 2008, having previously served as mayor of Anchorage. Mark worked hard and accomplished a lot in his 6 years here, but what I will always remember is Mark's commitment to our veterans. Alaska has more, veterans per capita than any other state in our Nation, and through his position on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Begich has been their champion. I thank Mark for his public service and his commitment, and I wish him and Deborah well.
Jay Rockefeller
Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to my friend and colleague, Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, who will soon retire from the Senate after representing his beloved West Virginia for the last 30 years.
Senator Rockefeller and I both came to Washington after having previously served as Governors of our home States, and I have been grateful for his friendship and counsel. I would also note that Senator Rockefeller has some familiarity with New Hampshire, having graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy.
Senator Rockefeller will forever be remembered in the Senate for his dedication to the hard-working people of West Virginia. When West Virginia coal mining companies threatened to abandon their pension obligations to miners, Senator Rockefeller successfully fought to pass the Coal Act of 1992 to safeguard their retirements. Among his numerous other legislative accomplishments, Senator Rockefeller will certainly be remembered as the father of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Since its creation in 1997, CHIP has provided millions of low-income children and pregnant women access to health insurance. Just last year, CHIP touched the lives of more than 8 million Americans.
During his lengthy career Senator Rockefeller chaired the Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Intelligence, and most recently Commerce, Science, and Transportation. As a chairman, Senator Rockefeller believed strongly that good policy started with listening and ran his committees in a way that allowed all Senators, no matter their party, a voice and a role in the legislative process.
The example set by Senator Rockefeller is an inspiration to all of us who serve in the Senate. On behalf of the people of New Hampshire, I thank him for his years of dedicated service to our country and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.
Carl Levin
Mr. President, I wish to honor Senator Carl Levin as he prepares to retire after 36 years of dedicated service in the Senate.
As the longest serving Senator in Michigan's history, Senator Levin has been a stalwart advocate for the people of his State. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, Senator Levin played a critical role in drafting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to ensure it would bolster the Midwestern manufacturers that would prove integral to our national economic recovery. As cochair of the Great Lakes Task Force, Senator Levin has worked throughout his career to protect the vast waterways that are critical to Michigan's economy and those of the other Great Lakes States.
I have had the honor of serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee under the leadership of Chairman Levin, and his concern for the people of Michigan is perhaps only matched by his concern for the soldiers, sailors, marines, and airman who defend our Nation, as well as the families who support them. Under his steady leadership the Senate has kept faith with our military by passing the annual National Defense Authorization Act, and this year's defense bill bears Senator Levin's name as tribute to his lengthy service on the Committee. As chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, I have always appreciated Senator Levin's commitment to a strong bipartisan spirit in the work of the committee, and I know it will endure thanks to his example.
A sharp legal mind, Senator Levin also worked in a bipartisan fashion as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to hold powerful public and private institutions accountable. Born from the highly successful Truman Committee formed in the lead-up to World War II, Senator Levin's subcommittee investigated critical issues such as the 2008 financial crisis, systemic credit card fraud, as well as corporate abuse of off-shore tax havens--bringing light to complex and obscure issues to the benefit of the American people.
Senator Levin has been a source of reasoned counsel for many in the Senate, and I know his presence will be missed. However, I also know he is looking forward to spending some well-earned time back in Michigan with his children, grandchildren, and wife Barbara.
Tom Harkin
Mr. President, I wish to recognize Senator Tom Harkin and his 30 years of Senate service.
When Senator Harkin retires at the end of this year, he will also step down from his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, a post from which he has advocated progressive policies aimed at increasing opportunity for all Americans.
One of Senator Harkin's greatest legislative achievements is the Americans with Disabilities Act, legislation that he fought for on behalf of millions of disabled Americans. The ADA is truly a landmark law in this country, and Senator Harkin's decades of work on this issue will never be forgotten.
Senator Harkin also has a strong legacy as a champion for human rights, which began even before his election to public office while he was still a staffer on Capitol Hill. Invited to travel with a congressional delegation to Vietnam in the summer of 1970, Senator Harkin arranged for the group to visit the Con Son prison in order to investigate allegations of human rights abuses by the South Vietnamese Government. At the prison, the delegation strayed from the official tour and found abused prisoners held in so-called ``tiger cages,'' which Senator Harkin documented extensively with a camera. In defiance of some of the delegation members, Senator Harkin courageously handed over the pictures to Life magazine in order to better educate the American public about U.S involvement in Vietnam.
I have been fortunate to witness firsthand Senator Harkin's passion for U.S. leadership in human rights during our service together on the Senate Appropriations Committee, where he has brought heightened attention to the scourge of child labor and exploitation. I know this is one particular issue on which Senator Harkin feels his work has just begun, and I look forward to hearing of his continued efforts on behalf of vulnerable children around the world.
On a more personal note, I will miss competing with Senator Harkin's office for the most staff participants in the Everybody Wins! DC reading mentorship program, a great cause in which Senator Harkin has been involved in for the last 16 years.
I join my colleagues in thanking Senator Harkin for his dedicated service in the Senate and wish him all the best in retirement.
Kay Hagan
Mr. President, Senator Hagan and I came to the Senate 6 years ago with a shared commitment to bipartisan problem solving reflective of the independent spirit of the States we represent. I am glad to say that in Senator Hagan I found not only a strong partner in policymaking but also a good friend.
Born in Shelby, NC, Senator Hagan got her start in politics, as many of us do, at the State level. During 10 years in the North Carolina Senate, she built a reputation as a committed public servant, and that reputation would eventually propel her to the United States Senate.
In Washington, Senator Hagan has used her position on the Senate Armed Services Committee to support the military families stationed at Fort Bragg, Camp Lejune, and other military installations in North Carolina. Thanks to her efforts, Congress passed legislation in 2012 to provide health care and compensation to military families impacted by water contamination at Camp Lejune. Also a member of the small business committee, Senator Hagan's private sector experience has been a tremendous asset to the legislative work of the committee.
I would like to wish the very best to Senator Hagan, who I know is looking forward to the opportunity to spend more time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Mark Udall
Mr. President, I wish to take a moment to thank my friend and colleague Senator Mark Udall for his dedicated service to the people of Colorado and our Nation.
As many of my colleagues are aware, long before Senator Udall was climbing the steps to Capitol Hill he was hiking the mountains of Colorado as a course director and educator with Outward Bound, an organization he would eventually lead as executive director. However, as a member of the Udall family, headed by his father Congressman Morris ``Mo'' Udall, who served in the House of Representatives for 30 years, elected office was never far from Senator Udall's mind. After 20 years with Outward Bound, Senator Udall left to pursue a career in public service.
After serving a term in the Colorado State Legislature, Senator Udall ran successfully to represent Colorado's Second Congressional District in the House of Representatives, a seat he held for five consecutive terms. When we arrived at the Senate in 2008, Senator Udall and I found common cause in our work on both the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Senator Udall's commitment to working across the aisle to confront the difficult issues facing our Nation was appreciated by many in the Senate, and I know his presence will be missed.
I wish the very best to Senator Udall and thank him for his service.
Mary Landrieu
Mr. President, my friend from Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu has devoted her entire life to public service, and today I wish to recognize the extraordinary leadership and energy that she has brought to the Senate throughout her career.
Senator Landrieu has been a leader on so many issues, none more so than as a passionate advocate for children around the world. I was proud to work with her on legislation to address the decline in international adoptions, in addition to several other bills that Senator Landrieu has authored to support children both in the United States and in developing nations. This issue is particularly near to Senator Landrieu's heart, and I know I am speaking for countless children around the world when I thank her for her efforts to ensure all children experience the benefits of a safe and loving family.
I also had the pleasure of working with Senator Landrieu during her leadership of the Senate Small Business Committee, as well as on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Senator Landrieu has always fought hard for her home State of Louisiana, and her dedication to her constituents was made clear in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. All Americans vividly recall the scenes of destruction caused by the storm--more than 1,800 killed and $100 billion in property destroyed in just days. Those who were fortunate to escape the storm physically unscathed were more than likely left homeless, and over 80% of Senator Landrieu's hometown of New Orleans was under water for weeks after Katrina made landfall.
After the storm Senator Landrieu immediately set to work building support for legislation to jump start the gulf coast recovery and help her constituents put their lives back together. Senator Landrieu nearly singlehandedly pushed through critical funding and reforms to help Louisiana rebuild.
It has been an honor working with her, and I thank her for her years of service to the Senate and the Nation.
Mark Begich
Mr. President, today I wish to recognize my fellow Senator from the class of 2008, Senator Mark Begich of Alaska.
Senator Begich's career in public service began earlier than most at the young age of 19, when he was hired by the Anchorage city health department. By that time, Senator Begich was also well on his way to establishing himself as an enterprising businessman and entrepreneur. Born and raised in Anchorage, AK, Mark Begich would go on to serve in the Anchorage Assembly where he was the youngest member ever elected, before successfully running for the post of mayor in 2003, a role in which he served until his election to the Senate.
Here in Washington Senator Begich has used his position as chair of the commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard, as well as his extensive knowledge of the Alaska economy, to advocate for Alaska-first policies. As a Senator from a State with one of the highest populations of veterans per capita, Senator Begich has also been a passionate defender of our Nation's military. I also have had the pleasure of serving with Senator Begich on the Senate Appropriations Committee and have greatly appreciated his contributions.
I would like to thank Senator Begich for his years of dedicated service both to Alaska and the Nation.
Mark Pryor
Mr. President, Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas has served the people of Arkansas in the Senate for the last 12 years, guided by his strong faith and determination to bridge the partisan divide.
As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Pryor has successfully directed Federal assistance to his Arkansas constituents, helping to strengthen his State's economy. As a member of the commerce committee, he prioritized bringing broadband Internet service to the rural parts of Arkansas. When Senator Pryor served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, he successfully introduced and passed legislation to provide tax relief for our servicemembers deployed in combat zones, as well as legislation to more quickly inform military families when their loved ones are injured in combat.
Senator Pryor has time and again proved his dedication to the State where he was born and raised, and I wish to thank him for his service in the Senate.
Mike Johanns
Mr. President, over three decades as a public servant, my friend and colleague Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska has proven time and time again that politicians can be deeply principled while still recognizing the need to find common ground on the complex and difficult choices we must make as a nation. I believe this is a lesson that all former Governors carry with them after holding executive office, and Senator Johanns and I were often able to reach an understanding on that basis.
Before coming to the Senate in 2009, Mike Johanns had already built a distinguished record of public service as a county board member, city council member, mayor and two term Governor of Nebraska. Senator Johanns also served for 3 years in the White House Cabinet as Secretary of Agriculture to President George W. Bush. While leading the Department of Agriculture, Senator Johanns helped U.S. agriculture producers find new markets overseas, promoted expanded use of renewable fuels, and encouraged conservation of agricultural lands. Having played a key role in developing the farm bill passed by Congress in 2008, then-Secretary Johanns decided to return to legislating full time and successfully ran to represent Nebraska in the Senate.
Senator Johanns' time in Congress is best characterized by his low-
key approach to the most high-profile and consequential issues of the day. He was one of the bipartisan Gang of 8 Senators who tackled the challenge of crafting a comprehensive Federal deficit reduction plan in 2011, and in 2013 we worked together on a bipartisan deal to reopen the Federal Government and avoid a default on our national debt. I was also very proud to work with Senator Johanns on legislation to address the unacceptable trends in military sexual assault. Senator Johanns always brought the work ethic he developed growing up on a Nebraska farm to our business in the Senate, and for that and many other reasons I very much enjoyed working with him.
Senator Johanns has given many years to public service, earning him the right to seek a bit of a break from the spotlight, and I wish him all the best in his retirement.
Carl Levin
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to pay tribute to Senator Levin as his distinguished Senate career comes to a close at the end of the 113th Congress. Senator Levin has proudly represented the people of Michigan in the Senate for 36 years.
The desire to help others has been in Senator Levin's makeup long before coming to Washington. In fact, one might say it is in his DNA. He comes from a family with a distinguished record of public service. I served with his brother Sander in the House of Representatives, another truly distinguished Member of Congress. Their father served on the Michigan Corrections Commission. His uncle served as a chief judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and his cousin was a Michigan Supreme Court Judge.
Given this public service pedigree, it is no surprise that he got started in politics at an early age. He was elected class President at Detroit's Central High School. After Swarthmore College and Harvard Law School, he served as an assistant attorney general and general counsel of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. In 1969 he was elected to the Detroit City Council and in 1978 joined the Senate.
Senator Levin has served on the Armed Services Committee for as long as he has been in the Senate. His Armed Services Committee tenure has provided him the opportunity to work with 11 Secretaries of Defense, helping to ensure that our Armed Forces were ready and able to meet the national security challenges facing our Nation. He has long been a champion of the men and women of our military and their families. From visiting deployed troops far from home, to ensuring much needed training, equipment, and pay increases, and improving the delivery of benefits and services they have earned, Carl Levin has been there for our troops.
Senator Levin is also a problemsolver. In order to improve the way the Pentagon buys its weapons and to get the most out of the taxpayer dollars the government is entrusted to spend, he has worked hard to improve acquisition practices throughout his career. In this arena, he led the way in passing the Competition in Contracting Act and the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act.
I was fortunate to serve on the Armed Services Committee during my first 2 years in the Senate. I have been able to observe Chairman Levin firsthand as he led the committee with a steady hand in a very bipartisan manner. I have been proud to be part of two National Defense Authorization Acts--including the one this body passed last week, which bears his name--which preserve our readiness and provides for the well-
being of our men and women of the armed services and their families.
Senator Levin also chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, where he has led investigations in many critical areas, including the 2008 financial crisis, energy and food market speculation, abusive offshore tax havens, and unfair practices within the credit card industry. His investigations have led to many reforms and laws to fix these problems. In 2012, the National Journal wrote that ``the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is one of the few institutions in Congress that's still working. Carl Levin is a big reason why.''
The Senate is losing one of its giants--a voice of reason, integrity, and fairness. Michigan's working families are losing a lifelong advocate for their best interests who has really made a difference. Carl, thank you for your service to our country. I wish you, Barbara, and your entire family all the best as you move to the next chapter of your journey.
Aloha Carl, a hui hou, ``until we meet again.''
Tom Harkin
Mr. President, I wish to recognize the accomplishments of the distinguished Senator from Iowa, Tom Harkin, who is retiring this year.
Senator Harkin has served in the House and Senate for nearly 40 years. During those 40 years he has been a consistent and inspirational voice for the idea that America should be a place where everyone can succeed.
Tom's life experiences shaped who he fought for and why. His mother died when he was 10. His father never got beyond the sixth grade and suffered from black lung disease. He grew up in a tiny town in Iowa. He saw what the New Deal, Social Security, and Medicare did for his family and he saw government as a force that could lift people up and give them hope.
Last week, during his farewell remarks to this body, he said something that the progressives among us should take to heart. He said:
`` . . . I believe government must not be just an observant bystander to life. It must be a force for good, for lifting people up, for giving hope to the hopeless.''
Under Tom Harkin's watch, government certainly has not been a bystander.
One of his proudest accomplishments was gaining passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Tom stood with people with disabilities, one of the largest minorities in the United States, to enact historic legislation that changed the lives of millions of people. I was proud to cosponsor and support the 2008 Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. His commitment to creating and expanding opportunities for those with disabilities is a hallmark of his career.
Senator Harkin will also be remembered for his tireless leadership as the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. As chairman he worked to promote health care and education, fairness for workers, equal rights, and, above all, the American dream. He worked to fund those priorities for years on the Appropriations Committee.
These are some of Tom's signature issues. But equally important has been his work fighting injustice and human rights violations across the globe.
As a young Congressional staffer he travelled to Vietnam and uncovered torture on Con San Island, off of Vietnam. There people were being held in ``tiger cages''--5 foot by 9 foot cells dug into the ground where three to five people were held captive.
While he lost his staff job over the pictures he took, he shed light on atrocities that too many others had either ignored or covered up.
Tom's values and the results he has been able to achieve have made him a powerful moral and progressive voice for decades. Some of us were drawn to Tom during his Presidential run in 1992. I was. As a Hawaii State legislator, I supported the Senator from Iowa long before I ever had the privilege of serving with him in the Senate. In fact, when his bid for the presidency ended, some of us continued to support him, making buttons with a slogan I coined: ``Harkin for the Heck of It!''
Tom Harkin has done much to help build the ladders of opportunity that he so firmly believes is a big part of what government should do. His work inspires us to continue pushing to see that every individual in our country has an opportunity to improve his or her life for the better.
Last week in his farewell remarks, Tom noted that while he is retiring from the Senate, he is not retiring from ``the fight.'' He also gave those of us who are still here a list of unfinished business to continue the fight.
First, we have to do more to address income inequality and restack the deck so that working people have confidence that their government works on their behalf. Second, we have to work on addressing climate change. Third, we have to do more to give employment opportunities to the disabled, and finally, we have to pass the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
These are all big fights. But it speaks to Tom's passion for public service and improving access to opportunity that in his farewell remarks, he would give us a list of unfinished business.
I will miss him in the Senate. I am confident that Tom Harkin will be a prominent voice in American society for years to come.
Aloha Tom, a hui hou, or ``until we meet again.''
Jay Rockefeller
Mr. President, I also wish to pay tribute to a man who has dedicated nearly 50 years to public service. That is our retiring colleague Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia.
Jay Rockefeller's lifetime of service was shaped by his experience as a VISTA worker in a rural coal town in West Virginia. Jay told me that this experience was life changing, coming as he did from a very privileged background. Working day-to-day in that community, learning the hopes and fears and anxieties of the people, and seeing their struggles led to his lifelong commitment to improving the lot of working people everywhere.
In his farewell remarks to the Senate, Senator Rockefeller said that the Senate must be a ``place in which we embrace the commitment to be deliberative, passionate, and unrelenting.''
Senator Rockefeller embodied these qualities while serving the people of West Virginia. He has been a deliberative, passionate, and unrelenting champion, especially for those whose circumstances in life are the hardest.
His work on health care has impacted Americans in every corner of the United States, from the mountains of West Virginia, to my State of Hawaii. He was instrumental in the efforts to establish the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, which provides care to more than 8 million children across the Nation. More than 30,000 of those children who currently receive coverage for necessary primary and preventive health care are those children in my State of Hawaii.
From his Medicare Drug Savings Act to his Rebuilding America's Schools Act, Jay Rockefeller has truly been a champion for those who needed a hand up in life.
We are all aware of Jay's efforts to enhance our national security while also holding our Nation to the highest standards possible as a chairman and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. His commitment to keeping America safe is met only by his commitment to ensure that our Nation's veterans get the care and benefits that they have earned and deserve. I have been privileged to serve with Jay on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Senator Rockefeller reminds us that to those upon whom fortune has smiled, there is no greater calling than to dedicate ourselves to fight hard for those struggling, for those hard working, and for those who put us here.
As Senators I hope that we heed Jay's words and in the coming Congress we work together on a bipartisan basis to collaborate and compromise on behalf of America's workers and families.
On a personal note, Jay and I had one of the best conversations recently on the Senate floor where we discovered that we were two pretty private people, some would even describe as introverts, who picked a most public of arenas, politics, to do our life's work of making a difference in the lives of those we are privileged to represent.
Thank you for your service, Senator Rockefeller. It has been an honor being your colleague and serving with you.
Aloha Jay, a hui hou, or ``until we meet again.''
Tim Johnson
Mr. President, I wish to recognize the contributions of Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota, who is retiring at the end of this year.
Senator Johnson has served South Dakota in the House and the Senate for nearly 28 years. He was elected to the House in 1986 and was elected to the Senate in 1996. During those 28 years, Senator Johnson has been an advocate for bipartisanship to get results in Congress. In fact, bipartisanship could be considered one of the campaign platforms that first got him elected to Congress. As he related in his farewell remarks on this floor last week, when he first ran for the House of Representatives, he told the people of South Dakota that neither party had all the answers, that both parties had good ideas, and that both parties had men and women of good will.
``My job, as I understood it, would be to work in a bipartisan manner, listening to all parties and reaching a good fit--also known as compromise.''
Twenty-eight years later, it is clear that he not only understood his job well then, but his efforts to compromise have paid big dividends for South Dakota. Over the years he has worked on a number of issues, from the farm bill, to highway funding, to flood relief and to protect South Dakota's Ellsworth Air Force Base.
No one Senator can deliver results on their own, but by working across the aisle, Tim has not only done well for his constituents but has gained a good reputation here in the Senate. He has served in leadership positions on the Senate banking committee, which he currently chairs, as well as the Senate Appropriations, Energy and Natural Resources, and Indian Affairs Committees. On each of these committees, Senator Johnson has championed issues that are important to the people of his State but has always done so with an eye toward fairness--listening to all parties, promoting compromise, and doing what is right for working people across the country.
For these reasons, Senator Johnson is well-respected and has earned the good will of the Senate. When he was faced with the challenge of a lifetime--a brain hemorrhage in 2006--he was supported by a Senate community that set aside partisanship and political calculations. Everyone wanted to see him recover. When he returned to the Senate after months of recovery, he was welcomed by the whole community. Tim continues to be a profile in courage.
His legacy is one of compromise and collaboration--two attributes that are critical to the functioning of this body and two attributes which we would do well to remember.
We will all miss Senator Johnson in the Senate. Aloha to him, his wife Barbara, his three children, and his six grandchildren, and a hui hou, ``until we meet again.''
MARK UDALL
Mr. President, I would like to say a few words about my colleague, Senator Mark Udall of Colorado, who will be ending his 6-year tenure in the Senate at the end of this Congress.
Senator Udall has served in public office for 18 years, serving in the Colorado House of Representatives for 2 years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served for 10 years. He was elected in 2008 to the Senate.
For Mark, public service is a family affair. His father, Arizona Representative Mo Udall, served in Congress for 30 years. His father ran for the U.S. Presidency. His uncle, Stewart Udall, served as President Kennedy's Secretary of the Interior. And his cousin, Tom Udall, serves as one of New Mexico's U.S. Senators.
This legacy, coupled with Mark's love of the outdoors, give him a unique perspective on public service. Before running for office, Mark worked as an educator and executive director of the Colorado Outward Bound School. As an avid mountaineer and educator, Mark understands the value of America's open spaces, smart policies for conservation and economic growth, and finding practical solutions to our shared challenges.
Mark Udall is a champion for the environment. His efforts to support progressive renewable energy policies as a State legislator and Member of Congress have helped Colorado become a frontrunner in clean, sustainable energy to prepare for a more sustainable future. He has also fought hard to expand the National Park Service, saying the Earth is borrowed from our children, not inherited from our parents, and that we must work to preserve these public lands to ensure their existence for future generations.
I have had the privilege of serving with Mark in the House and on the Senate Armed Services Committee to support the men and women who defend our country. We have worked together to focus on making our military more energy efficient and less reliant on fossil fuels.
Mark has climbed some of the most daunting peaks in the world. The kind of self-reliance and focus required to meet those kinds of challenges mark his work in public service. His decency and integrity in fighting for the middle class, for our environment, for transparency in government, inspire us to continue his work.
It has been a privilege to serve with Mark.
Aloha Mark and Maggie and a hui hou, ``until we meet again.''
kay hagan
Mr. President, I thank my colleague Kay Hagan for her service in the Senate. Kay has spent every day of her 6 years fighting for North Carolina's families.
Kay's father, brother, husband, and father-in-law are all veterans. She has two nephews on Active Duty. Their experiences--and the stories of thousands of North Carolina servicemembers and veterans--have helped guide Kay's work on the Senate Armed Services Committee, SASC, where I have been privileged to serve with her.
As a member of SASC, I have seen firsthand Kay's deep knowledge and commitment to our servicemembers, veterans, and military families--in North Carolina and around the country. North Carolina, like Hawaii, has a large number of servicemembers and veterans, and Kay has worked to make sure our troops get the support they need while they are in harm's way and when they get home.
Making sure veterans get the benefits they have earned and are treated with respect is another area where Kay has been a strong leader. She has worked to make sure veterans are able to transition to civilian life and prepare for college and career. Whether that means protecting veterans from scams or making sure colleges are serving veterans effectively, Kay has their back.
Kay also is a strong advocate for children and families. She has worked on reauthorizing newborn screening legislation to make sure illnesses are detected and treated early. Just last week she got her bipartisan newborn screening bill across the finish line, and it will soon head to President Obama's desk.
On education, Kay has worked on financial literacy in middle school and high school and turning around the highest-need K-12 schools. She has fought for minority-serving institutions and making sure job-
training and college help adults earn an associate's degree or industry credential as soon as possible.
As I was running for the Senate, I got a chance to get to know Kay, and upon my election, she was very helpful in showing me the ropes as a new Senator. The 20 Senate women have regular bipartisan dinners where we leave politics at the door, get to know each other, and relax. Kay is well known for her tireless work on behalf of her constituents, her graciousness as a host of Super Bowl parties, and her indefatigable positive attitude that rubs off on the rest of us.
I and the Senate sisterhood will miss Kay. However, I expect that she will continue the spirited advocacy on behalf of the people of North Carolina whatever she next undertakes.
Aloha Kay and a hui hou, ``until we meet again.''
Mark Begich
Mr. President, I recognize the accomplishments of Senator Mark Begich, our colleague from the State of Alaska. These last 2 years, I have had the privilege to work with Senator Begich on a range of issues--from Native Adult Education and Health Care to fishing rights--
and I consider him a good friend. Senator Begich is not only someone who is easy to work with as a reasonable, open-minded legislator, but is also someone who truly cares about the people of his State and embodies the values of the Senate.
In his farewell remarks last week, Senator Begich commented on the relative size of his State, which, at 660,000 square miles, is more than twice and three times as large as other large States such as Texas and California geographically.
That is 164 times larger than my home State of Hawaii. It also gets a lot colder. Despite the differences between our States, as the two non-
contiguous U.S. States, Hawaii and Alaska have always had a special bond.
That bond was forged by Senators Inouye and Stevens--two of the Senate's giants. Those two men, who were from different parties and very different States, looked out for one another. They did a lot of good for our States, and all who come after them have sought to emulate their example of working together and looking out for each other.
Mark did that for me even before I was sworn in to the U.S. Senate. As many of my colleagues may know, Senator Inouye passed away just weeks before I was to be sworn in. At the time I would been assigned to the Energy, Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs Committees. However, with Senator Inouye's passing--and I have to thank our leadership here as well--I asked for a seat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, an appointment critical to Hawaii, where military activity is a vital part of our economy.
Mark Begich gave his seat up on the committee to open a slot for me. Not to shortchange Alaska, Mark got a seat on Appropriations. But I will never forget that he recognized how important the military was to Hawaii and how he agreed to help me out.
Not only was Mark reinforcing the long-lasting Hawaii-Alaska bond, but it was also characteristic of Mark's desire to help-something that his constituents know all too well.
As Senator Begich mentioned in his farewell remarks, ``Alaska is a very small place in many ways. People make personal connections with their elected officials.''
Whether it is answering constituent letters, or helping people navigate the Federal bureaucracy, Senator Begich has been there for Alaskans. He has also taken their concerns and made sure that everyone in Washington knows about them--whether it is the situation in the Arctic, fishing, energy development, or the challenges of Alaska Natives. There is not a Member of this body who has not heard Senator Begich talk about Alaska's unique challenges.
As he also mentioned, most people in his State pretty much know each other.
In a State like Alaska--much like Hawaii--you can't ``go Washington.'' You have got to stay grounded in the day-to-day concerns of the unique local communities back home. Sometimes this can be tough, but Mark has always kept Alaskans first and foremost in all of his work in the Senate.
I have had the privilege of serving with Mark on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, and have seen firsthand how hard he has worked on behalf of Alaska's veterans. He has been tenacious in working to see that Alaska's veterans and Natives have access to health care--and creatively, worked to see that veterans can access the tribal health care delivery system. As he has put it, if the clinics are there for some, why not have them be available to all?
This is the kind of commonsense solution that is a hallmark of his time in the Senate.
I will miss his good humor and his hard work. It is been a pleasure serving with Mark and I wish him and his family all the best in their next chapter.
Aloha Mark and a hui hou, ``until we meet again.''
John Walsh
Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to our colleague, Senator John Walsh of Montana. While his Senate career is shorter than any of us would have hoped, the institution is better for his service and he will be missed.
His road to this body is different than most anyone else. He grew up in Butte, MT, close enough to a copper mine that his house would shake when the dynamite went off. His dreams were modest--get an education, find a job, and do some fishing.
But life often takes unexpected turns. He enrolled in the Montana National Guard in order to pursue those modest dreams, and found a home in the Guard. He rose to serve as Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard. In this capacity he commanded troops in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. He earned the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit Award, and Combat Infantry Badge for his efforts leading over 700 young men and women. This military experience is one that he carries with him in ways that most of us will never know.
After retiring from the National Guard in 2012 he served as Montana's Lieutenant Governor, and currently, as a Senator. He is the first Iraq war combat veteran to serve in the Senate.
His experience growing up in a working-class family, serving in the military, and as a public servant in elected office have made him a valuable Member of this body.
His advocacy for Montana, and for our servicemembers and veterans, and his perspective on national security matters--particularly reigning in the National Security Agency--have been valuable to our caucus. I know that he will carry these priorities forward in whatever endeavor he pursues next.
I am proud to have to served as his colleague in the Senate. Aloha John, and a hui hou, ``until we meet again,'' to you, your wife Janet, and your family.
I have worked side by side with these men and women for years--some for decades--and witnessed firsthand their extraordinary commitment to public service and 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.
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