Floor Statements

I thank my friend the acting minority leader. We are anxious to get to work here. In that regard, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order for the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to meet on January 7, tomorrow, for the purpose of hearing testimony on the Keystone Pipeline; that the meeting be chaired by Senator Murkowski, with Senator Cantwell as ranking member; that the following Senators not currently serving on the committee be considered Members of the committee for the purpose of this meeting: Senators Daines, Cassidy, Gardner, Capito, Hirono, King, and Warren; I further ask that the meeting be considered to comport with all Senate rules relating to the conduct of committees and that customary and authorized expenses be permitted.

If I may, let me just say again, nobody's rights would have been in any way impaired by going forward a day earlier. We are going to pass the committee resolution tomorrow. We all know that one of the things the Senate is best at is not doing much. I hope we can work this out so we can get started. Everyone knows the first measure that is going to be up is going to come out of the energy committee. I would say to my friends on the minority side, it is open for amendment. Why don't we get started? Hopefully Senator Murkowski and Senator Cantwell can work through this and we can get going and do the people's business. We are anxious to get started.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor the life of a brave soldier in the U.S. Army Special Forces from Kentucky who gave his life to defend his country. SSG Daniel T. Lee of Fort Wright, KY, was killed on January 15, 2014, in Afghanistan from wounds received during combat action in the Parwan Province while searching for militants wanted for recent attacks on Bagram Air Base. He was 28 years old.

For his service in uniform, Staff Sergeant Lee received many awards, medals, and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbons, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Basic Parachutist Badge, and a Special Forces Tab.

Danny's mother Frances Lee has this to say about her son:

Danny became consumed with being all that he could be; not

only in Special Forces but as a father, husband, brother, and

son. He never lost his sense of humor and was rarely without

a smile. His smile was infectious even in dire times.

A northern Kentucky native, Danny's childhood was filled with friends, family, and sports. He was a member of the Beechwood diving team from the age of 5. In the eighth grade, he transferred to Turkeyfoot Junior High School and began playing football. He also played basketball, baseball, and softball.

Danny graduated from Dixie Heights High School in 2003 and moved to Tennessee ``for a fresh start,'' says Danny's mother. He began working for a Knoxville electrical company but soon moved to Lowe's hardware chain, where he got a job as a manager in Crossville, TN.

His mother said:

While in Crossville, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, a move

that took all of us by surprise. We packed up the house and

off he went to Fort Benning. He is the only person I have

ever heard say that he loved basic training!

After enlisting in the U.S. Army in October of 2007, Danny completed basic training at Fort Benning. His first assignment was with the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment at Fort Lewis, WA. While serving in the 1st Cavalry Regiment, Danny deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009.

Daniel's service in Iraq compelled him to join the elite ranks of some of our finest fighters in the Armed Forces. Danny's mother said:

Upon his return from Iraq, he became a man with a mission.

That mission was to become a Special Forces Green Beret.

Danny began his Special Forces training in March of 2011 and ultimately earned his Green Beret when he graduated as a Special Forces communication sergeant. To earn that Green Beret, Danny attended Airborne School at Fort Benning and went to Qualification School at Fort Bragg, NC. For approximately 20 months he completed a series of rigorous classes covering skills and tactics such as languages, leadership, navigation, survival, evasion, resistance, and escape.

While in Qualification School, Danny also married his wife Suzanne, whom he met while stationed at Fort Lewis. Danny graduated from Special Forces training in May 2013, and he and Suzanne had a child, Daniel Roderick, in July of that same year.

In August 2013, Danny was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Airborne, based in Fort Bragg. In September of that year,

he was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

After Danny's death, the Kentucky General Assembly appropriately designated a portion of Kentucky Route 1072 in northern Kentucky's Kent County as the ``Sergeant Daniel Tyler Lee Memorial Highway.''

We are thinking of Danny's loved ones today as I recount his story for my colleagues in the Senate, including his wife, Suzanne; his son, Daniel; his parents, Frances and Daniel Patrick Lee; his sister, Jamie Hahn; and many other beloved family members and friends.

The motto of the U.S. Army Special Forces, of which Daniel T. Lee was a proud member, is ``de oppresso liber'' or ``to liberate the oppressed.''

As an elite member of the Nation's Armed Forces, with service in both Iraq and in Afghanistan, Staff Sergeant Lee certainly fulfilled a mission to the best of his ability. The Commonwealth of Kentucky and the U.S. Senate are both grateful for his service and for his sacrifice.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, this morning I would like to wish a fond farewell to a woman we are all going to miss: Nancy Erickson, the Secretary of the Senate.

It is her birthday today. Nancy is the kind of person you would expect to get cards from Democrats and Republicans on a day like this. And it is no secret why. She is fair, she is honest, she has always had a warm smile on her face. And that is no small matter, because Nancy has a really tough job. The title doesn't do it justice. Nancy admits she had to Google ``Secretary of the Senate'' when the position was offered to her.

Let me tell you a little more about what Nancy does. On the one hand, there is an administrative element to her position. That is true. We would run out of printer paper without her. But she is also the keeper of this institution.

Nancy respects the Senate. In fact, she loves the Senate. Her greatest joy is overseeing preservation of the Senate's storied art and history.

I am particularly grateful to her efforts to secure and repair an important painting of my personal hero, Henry Clay. I understand it was a painstaking process, but it was a credit to the Senate and to our common history as America.

Here is the point: Nancy may be a ``Secretary,'' but only in the way you would think of John Kerry or Condoleezza Rice being a ``Secretary.'' In other words, Nancy is pretty important.

She presides over the Chamber. She signs the bills we pass. And, importantly to the Senate staff, she signs the checks they receive. So, you see, Nancy is actually a minor celebrity around here on payday.

But she is something else entirely on game day. Nancy is one of the biggest Packers fans you will ever meet. There is no interrupting her when the green and gold take the field. Fortunately for Nancy, her home-State Senator John Thune feels the same way. So you often see the two South Dakotans--one a Democrat, the other a Republican--debating the finer points of last night's game.

There is a reason I say this. Nancy goes out of her way to build trust across the aisle, even in unconventional ways. The folks in my office who work closest with Nancy have nothing but kind words to say about her. Some call her a personal friend. In fact, the remarkable woman I nominated to replace Nancy, Julie Adams, is just such a person. I know Nancy couldn't be happier for Julie, and neither could I.

And while Nancy is going to miss the Senate, I know she is also looking forward to seeing more of her family. I know how important Nancy's parents are to her in particular. We are glad Nancy will be able to see more of them, even though we are going to miss her.

Tribute to Sheila Dwyer

The Senate is also going to miss Nancy's deputy. Sheila Dwyer is another Democrat my staff can't speak highly enough of. Sheila has had a long run here in the Senate. She has seen it from a lot of different angles. She has been a page, a scheduler, and now Assistant Secretary of the Senate. Along the way, she has worked for members such as Moynihan, Hollings, and Robb. It is an impressive career. It makes you understand why, as Leader Reid mentioned earlier, Sheila is known around here as the ``Mayor of Capitol Hill.''

Tribute to Robert Paxton and Mark Tratos

We also can't forget to wish a fond farewell to Robert Paxton and Mark Tratos.

Robert, Nancy's chief of staff, is a fellow Kentuckian who has worked in the Senate for more than a quarter century. And we understand that Mark, Robert's No. 2, is expecting his first child soon.

So we wish both Robert and Mark all the best, just as we offer Sheila well-deserved recognition for a job well done, just as we bid the fondest of farewells to Nancy--and a very happy birthday as well.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Madam President, I wish to take a moment to speak on something that I think there is an overwhelming bipartisan desire to achieve, and that is to finish tonight. There is no good reason not to.

We are working to clear an agreement on our side to process the CR/ omnibus, the extenders bill, and TRIA tonight--tonight

Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 5771.

As for right now, I can tell you we are prepared to go forward on the extenders bill. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, after consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate proceed to consideration of H.R. 5771, the Tax Increase Prevention Act; that there be up to 1 hour of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees prior to the vote on passage of the bill; further, that the vote on passage be subject to a 60-vote affirmative threshold.

I would briefly make the point that we are very close to being cleared on this side to finish. I want everybody to understand that it is possible to finish tonight. Very shortly, we will be able to announce that there are no impediments toward getting to that goal on our side of the aisle.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, along with many of my other colleagues, I pay tribute to one of the most decent and principled men I have ever met, Senator Tom Coburn.

Washington is going to miss Tom, but the irony of that is Tom really can't stand Washington. When he first got here, the feeling appeared to be mutual. Some just didn't know what to make of this doctor from Oklahoma--so frequently on the losing end of lopsided votes, so often pressing ahead on his own and never giving up. That was apparent from his days in the House, when we hear he led the only ``filibuster'' in the House anybody can ever remember. He may have placed more holds than any equivalent Senator in history. He apparently held his own bill once.

Fast forward to today. The pundit class has declared Tom Coburn a card-carrying member of the establishment. The rebel who once described himself as a kamikaze pilot has now been branded, incredibly, with a scarlet ``E'' right on his forehead. It may seem contradictory, but Tom always fought smart battles--the kind you might lose today but win later--and he forged an amazing bond with the people he represents. For Tom that meant spending as much time away from Washington as possible and making himself available when he was home.

Tom published his address, and Oklahomans were never shy about coming over to share their opinions. Tom was never shy about sharing how he felt either. He believed his constituents deserved the truth. He gave it to them absolutely unvarnished, but he did it in a respectful way.

It reminds me of the two posters he has framed on either side of his desk. One says: ``NO,'' N-O. The other says ``KNOW,'' K-N-O-W. That is Tom in a nutshell. It is why Tom has made so many friends on both sides of the aisle. It is why you can't flip on MSNBC most mornings without seeing him.

I think Tom actually prefers these settings. It is a challenge he relishes. Not only is Tom confident enough to tangle with anyone, he usually wins, and he rarely--rarely--makes lasting enemies. It is a trait that has served him well, particularly at the beginning of his career.

Tom first came to Washington representing a district that was heavily Democratic. He won a close race that year. I am told he also gained a friend, and that friend was the Democrat he defeated. His opponent's grandson actually ended up joining Tom's staff, which obviously is a great honor.

But it is no picnic being on Tom's staff. Tom works his staff hard. It is difficult even to take a sick day over there. Tom has always got the stethoscope nearby. If the doctor is in, so are you. Yet the people on Tom's team seem to love him. ``Once a member of Coburn's family, always a member.'' That is their motto.

It doesn't mean they love everything about him. Take his handwriting; it is just what you would expect from a guy named Dr. Coburn. It is absolutely awful--a mix of chicken scratch, hieroglyphics, and vocab from the extra credit section of an MCAT.

Back in the 1990s one staffer made the mistake of letting Tom take a yellow highlighter back to Oklahoma. Tom spent the entire weekend marking up a massive bill. There were handwritten notes and questions in nearly every margin. It took literally days to decipher any of it. It was like something out of a Dan Brown novel. Needless to say, an office ban on yellow highlighters was quickly implemented.

So the legacy of Tom's former profession gets him in trouble sometimes, but it remains the job he enjoyed most: helping to deliver new lives into the world. It brings a unique perspective to Tom's work in the Senate. It instilled a lasting appreciation for life too.

Even though Tom has stopped delivering babies these days, he still travels back to Oklahoma a lot. There is nowhere he would rather be than his hometown of Muskogee, and there is almost nothing he would rather be doing there than mowing his lawn or eating a sandwich at his favorite barbecue joint or sipping a cold Coors with olives. He prefers these things over almost anything else, except spending time with his grandkids and of course his wife Carolyn.

Tom has known Carolyn since grade school. She has always been the one to keep him balanced and grounded. She doesn't care that he is a Senator. She frequently reminds him of that too.

Carolyn is also the reason Tom is such good friends with President Obama. Both men came to the Senate the same year. At freshman orientation, Carolyn spotted Michelle Obama from across the room. ``She looks like fun,'' Carolyn said. ``Let's sit next to her.'' The rest, as they say, is history, and it is also remarkable. Because when Tom announced his retirement, warm sentiments poured in from across the political spectrum. It was a day--listen to this--when Barack Obama and Jim DeMint found something to agree on. It must have brought some joy to Tom at such a difficult time.

As he departs the Senate, Tom will leave one battle behind to confront another. We are sending him every best

wish in that fight. We are keeping him in our prayers. We know he will prevail, but he is really going to be missed around here. He is just the type of citizen legislator our Founders envisioned.

Tom has poured over more oversight documents than anyone cares to imagine. His ``Wastebook'' has become an annual phenomenon. It helps drive the conversation on spending. He has led on issues like HIV and malaria.

The Senate will lose a critical leader on intelligence oversight when he leaves. Tom played an invaluable role on the Intelligence Committee, where he brought a unique blend of integrity, analytical rigor, and dogged determination. He served our Nation selflessly, toiling for hours every week in a secure hearing room, learning many sensitive matters he could not discuss with others.

He worked closely with another extraordinary departing colleague, Vice Chair Saxby Chambliss, to ensure that our Nation's intelligence community retains the tools necessary to defend our country.

If anyone thinks our Nation's classified programs aren't overseen rigorously, they certainly haven't met Tom Coburn. He brought a skeptic's eye and a professional determination to the task. His probing lines of questioning earned the respect of his colleagues and helped the intelligence community craft stronger programs, while also reminding us of the value of many other intelligence activities.

Now, Tom has obviously done a lot to earn his reputation as a hawk on the budget, too. His interest there was never about the baubles of office. It is about solutions. That is why Tom actually volunteered for Simpson-Bowles. That is why he lobbied me to actually take him off-- believe it or not--of the Finance Committee.

You always know where Tom stands. I am told he was overseas with a couple of other Senators when a government minister launched into a finger-wagging harangue about our country. Tom couldn't take it after he listened for a few minutes. He cut him off, told the minister what he thought of him, and caught the next flight home. So Tom is literally one of a kind. We are not likely to see another one like this guy.

Here is what former Senator Kyl had to say about him:

Tom's like your conscience. You can try to ignore him, but

you know he's right even when you wish he weren't.

Some people may think Tom is a member of the establishment now, but the truth is Tom never changed. Washington changed. America changed.

People recognize the wisdom of his ideas--about leaving a better country to the next generation, about giving Americans the freedom and the opportunity to achieve real meaning and lasting happiness in their lives.

We are going to miss the Senator who actually likes to get his hands dirty, who actually likes to legislate. We are going to miss the Senator who is so devoted to procedure that he sleeps next to Marty Gold's book, and we are going to miss a friend who understands that honest compromise is necessary to achieve anything in a pluralistic society. We are all going to miss Tom a lot. But he can retire with pride, and he should know that we are sending him our best wishes for a speedy recovery and a joyful retirement.

Mr. President, I wish to say a few words about my friend and colleague, Senator Saxby Chambliss.

Saxby, as we all know, is the ultimate southern gentleman. He is a man of his word. He is blessed with the charm and the drawl only a Georgian could possess, and he is far too modest. He shouldn't be. He has a lot to be proud of as he looks back at a storied career here in Congress.

We are talking about one of our Nation's top experts on intelligence and national security. We are talking about a standout champion for the men and women of our military. We are also talking about a Senator who became chair of the Agriculture Committee just 2 years into his first term. That is really quite an accomplishment. But once you get to know Saxby, it isn't all that surprising.

Before he came to Congress, Saxby was a smalltown ag lawyer. He still lives in a rural area--a peanut and cotton-farming region far removed from the bright lights of Atlanta. Saxby has a feel for the issues that could only be acquired from actual on-the-ground experience. He understands the real-world impact of what we discuss here in Washington, and he cares.

On top of that, he has the disciplined work ethic of a minister's son--which makes sense, because he is one. Saxby is usually the first guy to raise his hand when there is an assignment no one else wants. That is what we saw for him on the Gang of 6, a politically difficult and work-intensive committee if there ever was one.

But Saxby came here to get things done--not to posture. He takes on projects with the kind of drive and courage we don't often see.

How courageous is Saxby? Well, he accepted an invitation to go quail hunting with Vice President Cheney, and he lived to tell the tale. The senior Senator from South Carolina remembers the trip very well. He had to be persuaded by Saxby to come. He still suspects that Saxby's real motive was to give Cheney a second target.

It wasn't the only time Saxby cheated death with the Vice President. Lindsey recalls a meeting in Baghdad with Saxby, Joe Biden, and the Iraqi Prime Minister. Afterward, they boarded a plane and came under fire. Here is what Saxby said: ``I guess the meeting didn't go that well.''

So Saxby is a comedian. But he is also courageous. He is also persuasive. He is really good at getting his way. It is kind of what we would expect from a former door-to-door fruitcake salesman. After hawking loaves of spiced dough, there is not much Saxby can't sell at this point.

We know he was persuasive enough to convince Julianne to marry him. Saxby and Julianne met at the University of Georgia. She was Sigma Chi's pledge-class sweetheart--and she soon became Saxby's sweetheart. The Chamblisses have been inseparable ever since.

Now, just in case Saxby ever becomes his own category on Jeopardy, here is an interesting piece of trivia. The president of the same pledge class became Saxby's Democrat challenger in 2008. The two fraternity brothers are still friendly. Here is how this gentleman remembered Saxby from college. He said he ``looked old.''

Well, Julianne fell for him anyway, and it is a good thing she did. This former schoolteacher is better than anyone at keeping him centered, and she has even taught students who would go on to serve on Saxby's staff. So it is really quite a partnership. Saxby says that the most significant moment of his life is when he met Julianne.

That is really something when we consider how much he loves golf. Last year, Saxby sank a hole in one squaring off against the leader of the free world--that is, the President of the United States. He has a signed flag to prove it.

But golf is more than just a hobby for Saxby. It is a way to get things done. More than most people around here, he understands the value of relationships. He is good at whipping votes and picking up intel from both ends of the Capitol. He works across the aisle, and he is unafraid to stand up when something needs to be said.

That is the thing about Saxby. He doesn't say a lot, but when he does, you know it is significant. You know there is a lot of careful thought behind it.

Saxby is a serious legislator who approaches his role as vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee in that frame. Saxby learns things on that committee that would keep anyone up at night. It is a grave responsibility. But Saxby is perfectly suited to it. He has always stood proudly in defense of our Nation.

We are going to miss his sharp wit, his integrity, and his judgment.

I know Saxby's staff is going to miss him, too. Some of them have been with him since his days in the House. Well, the Senate's loss is the Chambliss family's gain.

I know Saxby is looking forward to spending more time with Julianne. I know he can't wait to trade the title of Senator for a new one--Big Daddy. It is what his grandkids call him. He can't wait to see more of them. They are the reason he works so hard here--to build a better future for them, for the next generation.

Saxby will have plenty of stories to share when he leaves, such as when he hit that hole in one, when he threw out the first pitch for the Braves, and when he made the cover of Peanut Patriot Magazine.

So Saxby has obviously had a long and interesting career. He deserves some time to focus on his family. We thank him for his dedication to this body and to the people he represents, and we send him every wish for a retirement filled with joy and happiness.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a fallen soldier from Kentucky who was lost in battle. PFC Brandon T. Pickering of Fort Thomas, KY, died on April 10, 2011, in Germany from wounds sustained on April 8 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, when enemy combatants attacked his unit with small arms fire and a rocket- propelled grenade. He was 21 years old.

For his service in uniform, Private First Class Pickering received several awards, medals, and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Says Tammy Moore, Brandon's mother:

To know Brandon was to know love and laughter.

When Brandon was boarding the plane to go back to

Afghanistan, he turned and looked at me and I thought, ``My

God, my son's a man.'' It was the first time I looked at him

and didn't see him as my little boy.

Brandon grew up in Fort Thomas, in northern Kentucky and attended Woodfill Elementary, Highlands Middle School, and Highlands High School. As a kid growing up he loved to fish and played baseball and football. Brandon also practiced tae kwon do as a kid, and he earned his black belt by age 10.

Brandon's high school classmates and teachers remember him as an unassuming student with a big heart, a good sense of humor, and a dedication to helping others.

Says Highlands High School principal Brian Roberts:

As a school, we join the Fort Thomas community and the

family in mourning his loss.

Says former high school classmate Stephanie Orleck:

Even on bad days, I was always able to turn to Brandon to

bring out a smile on my face.

Brandon also had a mischievous side. His mother recalls:

Brandon loved a good prank. In high school he decided it

would be funny to place a mouse trap in another student's

locker. When the principal called him, he admitted it right

away.

That was the worst trouble Brandon ever gave his parents.

As a teenager, Brandon also enjoyed the freedom that came with his driver's license.

While teaching Brandon how to drive, he told me, ``Mom, I

know you don't want to hear this, but this is the happiest

I've ever been.''

I told him, ``Brandon, I know you don't want to hear this,

but this is the most scared I've ever been!''

After graduating high school in 2008, Brandon attended Cincinnati State.

Tammy recalls:

After two semesters, he told me he was thinking of joining

the Army. I asked him to give school another semester and if

he still felt the same, I would support his decision. The

third semester came and went, and Brandon was firm on his

decision.

He enlisted and in September 2009 he left for basic training at Fort Benning, GA. After basic training he was stationed at Fort Polk, LA.

Tammy said:

There was a small town outside of Fort Polk named

Pickering; Brandon thought that was neat and so did I.

Brandon was an only child, but when he got to Fort Polk he

found brothers.

Assigned to Fort Polk in April of 2010, Brandon was assigned to the 1st Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. He was soon deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom in October of 2010. Part of a two-man machinegun team, Brandon was 6 months into his first combat tour when he was fatally wounded.

Brandon was flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany before he died. Because of this, his family was able to be with him before he passed away.

Brandon made one final gift by volunteering to be an organ donor. His final sacrifice was an offering of life for four Germans, including a 6-year-old girl.

Tammy said:

Even in his death, Brandon saved the lives of four people.

I often wondered how I could have raised such a wonderful

human being and then I think, only by the grace of God.

The Fort Thomas, KY, road where Brandon grew up was fittingly renamed in his honor as a permanent reminder of his life and his deeds. The portion of River Road in Fort Thomas that runs from State Route 8 along the Ohio River to South Fort Thomas Avenue next to the Cincinnati VA Medical Center is now named the Private First Class Brandon T. Pickering Memorial Highway.

We are thinking of Brandon's family as I recount his story for my Senate colleagues, including his mother Tammy Moore, his father David Pickering, his grandfather Thomas Pickering, and many other beloved family members and friends.

Brandon was laid to rest with full military honors at the Alexandria Cemetery in Alexandria, KY. His tombstone bears the words, ``Live a life worthy of my sacrifice.''

Tammy had some final thoughts on the words that mark her son's grave.

People should think about that--not just for my son, but

for all the sons and daughters, and the ones in the past.

What people have sacrificed to keep this country free--

freedom isn't free, and it's not cheap. It comes at a high

cost, and we all have a responsibility to each other and to

this nation.

I couldn't agree more with Tammy Moore's thoughts, and I want her to know that this Senate certainly does recognize the responsibility we have as a nation to honor and always remember the sacrifices of brave heroes like her son, PFC Brandon T. Pickering. We are in awe of his life of service, and we are humbled by his final sacrifice. From Germany to Afghanistan to Fort Thomas, we can see the lives he touched and the people he left better off for having known him.

Madam President, I had an opportunity to address the extraordinary career of the Senator from Nebraska the other day, and he was on the floor, which was welcomed, and his staff was in the gallery. I wanted to say again, in a much shorter version, how much we all appreciate his remarkable contributions to our country, to his State, and to the Senate and wish him well in the future.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a good friend of mine and a renowned educator in Kentucky, Dr. Michael B. McCall. Dr. McCall has served as the president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, or KCTCS, since 1998, and he recently announced his retirement from that position. It would be difficult to overstate his success at the helm of Kentucky's statewide community and technical college system or the growth by leaps and bounds that KCTCS has seen under his tenure.

KCTCS was created by the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997, which united all of the Commonwealth's community and technical colleges under one system to serve as a gateway to postsecondary education for all Kentuckians. Dr. McCall was named as the founding president in December 1998. Since then, he has overseen 16 colleges located on more than 70 campuses across the Bluegrass State.

Under Dr. McCall's leadership, KCTCS has become the largest provider of postsecondary education in Kentucky, representing 47.1 percent of all undergraduate college students. KCTCS serves over 92,000 students, and since 1998 the KCTCS Board of Regents has ratified or approved more than 700 programs that result in certificates, diplomas, or associate degrees.

KCTCS is also the State's largest provider of workforce training, serving more than 5,300 businesses and 52,000 employees annually. It is workforce training initiatives such as these that help develop Kentucky's labor force and therefore its economy.

KCTCS has also become Kentucky's largest provider of online learning, offering more than 77 online credentials. Thanks to Dr. McCall's virtual learning initiative known as KCTCS Online, online learners can pursue higher education at any time that is convenient for them.

Other KCTCS accomplishments achieved under Dr. McCall's tenure include the establishment of the North American Racing Academy, which is the first college-affiliated horse racing academy in the United States; the Kentucky Coal Academy; the Kentucky Fire Commission; and the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services. It is clear that Dr. McCall has kept the interests and demands of Kentucky's students and businesses in mind while developing these programs.

Dr. McCall has been an educator and served in community and technical colleges for more than 40 years. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his leadership and dedication to education. He was the recipient of Phi Theta Kappa's prestigious State Community College Director Award of Distinction.

Dr. McCall also received the National Council for Continuing Education and Training's National Leadership Award in 2005. In the same year the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development honored him with their International Leadership Award. In 2004 Kentucky Monthly Magazine named him the ``Kentuckian of the Year.'' Dr. McCall also served as board chair of the American Association of Community Colleges, completing his tenure in 2006.

When KCTCS was first established, it set ambitious goals for improving the level of college attainment for Kentuckians. Thanks to Dr. McCall, KCTCS has met those goals.

Under the leadership of Dr. Michael B. McCall, KCTCS has become a remarkable community and technical college system in the United States, and it will reach even higher in the future. I ask my Senate colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. McCall and wishing him well upon his retirement. He has certainly proved to be a great educator and a great friend to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to a truly outstanding Senator, who will soon retire from this body after more than 30 years of public service.

Of course, I am speaking of Senator Mike Johanns. Mike has had a remarkable career. He is the only current Member of this body--besides Senator Alexander--who has served as Senator, Governor, and Cabinet Secretary.

Yet for all he has accomplished, Mike isn't the flashiest Senator. He doesn't hold the most press conferences, he doesn't yell the loudest, and you never have to worry about him knocking you over to get to a TV camera, but in his steady and determined style, Mike has proven himself a remarkably successful Member of this body.

That was true in his successful battles to defend Nebraska's rural communities against government overreach, it was true when he worked with the late Senator Byrd to sink a national energy tax that threatened his constituents, and it was true when he led the first successful legislative effort to revisit ObamaCare, working with many Democrats to repeal the so-called 1099 provision.

Mike has never looked for drama. He is always aiming for results. So it didn't take long for people in the Senate to recognize that Mike was more than just another freshman in the minority. He became the guy you would turn to if you wanted to get an amendment up to 60 votes.

That is truly remarkable for a first-term Senator. It is especially remarkable when we consider that Mike came to the Senate at a time when Republicans were in the deep minority. But then again, Mike is a very remarkable guy: county commissioner, city councilman, mayor, Governor, Secretary of Agriculture. You name it, Mike has done it, and that was before he even set foot in the Senate.

Some think Mike must have a secret that allows him to assemble bipartisan coalitions on conservative issues, but I don't think it is much of a secret at all. Mike works across the aisle. He works in good faith, and he works hard. He doesn't care what party you are from and absolutely no one can outwork him.

Mike makes sure of that by getting up earlier than anyone else. It is a habit he learned growing up on a farm in northern Iowa. He would get up at 5 a.m. every day and then from age 4 he would work. He would shovel muck. He would fill the hog tanks. He would even deliver piglets.

The point is, Mike developed an appreciation for hard work and responsibility at an early age. Along with his strong Catholic faith, these are the traits that still define him today, but they don't paint the whole picture, because Mike Johanns may be an accomplished man, he may be one of the smartest and most capable public servants you will ever meet, but he is absolute putty in the hands of his wife Stephanie. She is always by his side. She is his best friend, and they complement each other perfectly.

Their idea--listen to this--of a perfect night out is a night in together. They are both Husker fans and, as Mike put it, ``Steph is almost never in a bad mood.'' He said: ``She jumps out of bed, and she's got a big smile on her face and she thinks this is bound to be the best day of her life.''

It is a personality perfectly suited, as one can imagine, to the campaign trail, which is a good thing because the two of them have logged tens of thousands of miles together campaigning across Nebraska, usually in matching T-shirts, sometimes in a beat-up old Corsica.

They have plenty of stories from the trail, too, but one from Mike 's run for Governor stands out particularly. This is what happened: The Johanns were driving home after a long day of marching in parades in the hot Sun. They passed a barn on the way, assuming it was a cattle sale. They figured they would drop in and press a few palms. Stephanie parked the car, Mike opened the door, and dozens of well-dressed Nebraskan eyes fell on them.

The Johanns, in their sweaty T-shirts, hadn't dropped by a cattle sale; they had crashed a wedding. I will give them this, they made the best of it. Mike ended up dancing with the bride, and of course he went on to win the election as well.

This is the sequel: Months later, at an inaugural ball in Lincoln, two uninvited guests showed up. It was, of course, the bride and her husband.

They had a simple message: ``You crashed our wedding, Governor, and now we're crashing your inaugural.''

So the senior Senator from Arizona may like to brag about his Hollywood cameo with Vince Vaughn, but our colleagues know the truth. Senator Mike Johanns is the original--the original--wedding crasher.

Mike and Stephanie certainly have traveled a long and interesting road from when they first met while serving on the Lancaster County Board in the 1980s, when Mike would draft up walking lists on an old typewriter and they would go out and campaign door to door.

A lot has changed. For one thing, Mike isn't a Democrat anymore. But much is the same too. Mike still cares deeply about mental health issues. It is what brought him into politics in the first place. It is what he considers his crowning achievement as Governor. He still has loyal fans on staff who remember all of his efforts on the issue.

It is a rare thing, the loyalty Mike inspires in people. This is the Senator with staffers who have been with him for many years, some since his days in local politics, and here is what they all say about Mike Johanns: Senator Johanns is a man who cares--cares about his family, he cares about the people who work for him, and he cares about his constituents. That is why he has given his cell phone out to half of Nebraska.

He has made his mistakes, of course. As mayor of Lincoln, he had to cancel Halloween one year. But that is old news. To many Nebraskans he is still Governor, to others he is simply Mike. But whatever Nebraskans call Mike Johanns, they respect him, and I know they are going to miss him. And so are we.

At least retirement will give Mike more time to pursue his hobbies. We hear he is a voracious window washer. He has even been known to pull out the Windex on vacation. Whatever he does, we know this is a retirement that is well earned. He has dealt with bird flu, mad cow disease, the farm bill, deficit

reduction, and just about any other issue you can think of over a long and distinguished career in public service.

We all want to thank Senator Johanns for his loyal and dedicated service to the Senate and to the people of Nebraska. We wish Mike and Stephanie the best as they look forward to their next adventure together.

I yield back the time.