Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of the nomination of Michael Leavitt to be the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Michael is an overwhelmingly qualified candidate and the kind of leader the Agency needs. I am confident he will work hard to serve the public health needs of our Nation.

Michael Leavitt will bring considerable executive experience to this post. As the former Governor of Utah, he improved access to health care for thousands of children and adults, while keeping rising health care costs in check. To date, Utah's uninsured rate remains below the Nation's average. Michael has also proven himself a capable leader in his former positions as chairman of the National Governor's Association, and most recently, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, helps to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the American people. HHS is among our Nation's largest and most important Federal departments, overseeing more than 300 programs with a budget in excess of $580 billion. HHS is responsible for the management of such vital programs as the Food and Drug Administration, Indian Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Medicaid and Medicare programs alone help provide needed health care to nearly 80 million Americans.

I applaud President Bush for his choice of an accomplished leader to head this vital department. I look forward to working with Secretary Leavitt on critical issues such as implementation of the Medicare prescription drug program, medical liability reform and finding ways to reduce the cost of health care.

Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce a piece of legislation that is of paramount importance to the State of New Mexico and many other western States. This bill will address the mounting pressures brought on by the growing demands of a diminishing water supply throughout the west.

The bill that I am introducing today authorizes the Department of the Interior acting through the Bureau of Reclamation to establish a series of research and demonstration programs to help eradicate non-native species on rivers in the Western United States. This bill will help develop the scientific knowledge and experience base needed to build a strategy to control these invasive thieves. In addition to projects that could benefit the Pecos and the Rio Grande, the bill allows other States in the west such as Texas, Colorado, Utah, California and Arizona to develop and participate in projects as well.

Allow me to explain the importance of this bill. A water crisis has ravaged the west for more than five years. Drought conditions have expanded throughout the Western United States. Snow packs have been continuously low, causing severe drought conditions.

The presence of invasive species compounds the drought situation in many states. For instance, New Mexico is home to a vast amount of salt cedar. Salt cedar is a water-thirsty non-native tree that continually strips massive amounts of water out of New Mexico's two predominant water supplies--the Pecos and the Rio Grande rivers.

We have already had numerous catastrophic fires in our Nation's forests including the riparian woodland--the Bosque--that runs through the heart of New Mexico's most populous city. One of the reasons this fire ran its course through Albuquerque was the presence of large amounts of Salt cedar, a plant that burns as easily as it consumes water.

Estimates show that one mature Salt cedar tree can consume as much as 200 gallons of water per day; over the growing season that's 7 acre feet of water for each acre of Salt cedar. In addition to the excessive water consumption, Salt cedars increase fire, increase river channelization and flood frequency, decrease water flow, and increase water and soil salinity along the river. Every problem that drought causes is exacerbated by the presence of Salt cedar.

I know that the seriousness of the water situation in New Mexico becomes more acute every single day. This drought has affected every New Mexican and nearly everyone in the west in some way. Wells are running dry, farmers are being forced to sell livestock, many of our cities are in various stages of conservation and many, many acres have been charred by fire.

The drought and the mounting legal requirements on both the Pecos and Rio Grande rivers are forcing us toward a severe water crisis in New Mexico. Indeed, every river in the inter-mountain west seems to be facing similar problems. Therefore, we must bring to bear every tool at our disposal for dealing with the water shortages in the west.

Solving such water problems is one of my top priorities and I assure this Congress that this bill will receive prompt attention by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Controlling water thirsty invasive species is one significant and substantial step in the right direction for the dry lands of the west.

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, water is the life's blood for New Mexico. When the water dries up in New Mexico, so will many of its communities. As such, the scarcity of water in New Mexico is a dire situation. Unfortunately, the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, NM OSE, lacks the tools necessary to undertake the Herculean task of effectively managing New Mexico's water resources.

Today, I introduce legislation that would allow New Mexico to make informed decisions about its limited water resources.

In order to effectively perform water rights administration, as well as comply with New Mexico's compact deliveries, the State Engineer is statutorily required to perform assessments and investigations of the numerous stream systems and ground water basins located within New Mexico. However, the NM OSE is ill equipped to vigorously and comprehensively undertake the daunting but critically important task of water resource planning. At present, the NM OSE lacks adequate resources to perform necessary hydrographic surveys and data collection. As such, ensuring a future water supply for my home State requires that Congress provide the NM OSE with the resources necessary to fulfill its statutory mandate.

The bill I introduce today would create a standing authority for the State of New Mexico to seek and receive technical assistance from the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Geological Survey. It would also provide the NM OSE the sum of $12.5 million in Federal assistance to perform hydrologic models of New Mexico's most important water systems. This bill would provide the NM OSE with the best resources available when making crucial decisions about how best to preserve our limited water stores.

Ever decreasing water supplies in New Mexico have reached critical levels and require immediate action. The Congress cannot sit idly by as water shortages cause death to New Mexico's communities. I hope the Senate will give this legislation its every consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce a piece of legislation that is of paramount importance to the State of New Mexico and many other western States. This bill will address the mounting pressures brought on by the growing demands of a diminishing water supply throughout the west.

The bill that I am introducing today authorizes the Department of the Interior acting through the Bureau of Reclamation to establish a series of research and demonstration programs to help eradicate non-native species on rivers in the Western United States. This bill will help develop the scientific knowledge and experience base needed to build a strategy to control these invasive thieves. In addition to projects that could benefit the Pecos and the Rio Grande, the bill allows other States in the west such as Texas, Colorado, Utah, California and Arizona to develop and participate in projects as well.

Allow me to explain the importance of this bill. A water crisis has ravaged the west for more than five years. Drought conditions have expanded throughout the Western United States. Snow packs have been continuously low, causing severe drought conditions.

The presence of invasive species compounds the drought situation in many states. For instance, New Mexico is home to a vast amount of salt cedar. Salt cedar is a water-thirsty non-native tree that continually strips massive amounts of water out of New Mexico's two predominant water supplies--the Pecos and the Rio Grande rivers.

We have already had numerous catastrophic fires in our Nation's forests including the riparian woodland--the Bosque--that runs through the heart of New Mexico's most populous city. One of the reasons this fire ran its course through Albuquerque was the presence of large amounts of Salt cedar, a plant that burns as easily as it consumes water.

Estimates show that one mature Salt cedar tree can consume as much as 200 gallons of water per day; over the growing season that's 7 acre feet of water for each acre of Salt cedar. In addition to the excessive water consumption, Salt cedars increase fire, increase river channelization and flood frequency, decrease water flow, and increase water and soil salinity along the river. Every problem that drought causes is exacerbated by the presence of Salt cedar.

I know that the seriousness of the water situation in New Mexico becomes more acute every single day. This drought has affected every New Mexican and nearly everyone in the west in some way. Wells are running dry, farmers are being forced to sell livestock, many of our cities are in various stages of conservation and many, many acres have been charred by fire.

The drought and the mounting legal requirements on both the Pecos and Rio Grande rivers are forcing us toward a severe water crisis in New Mexico. Indeed, every river in the inter-mountain west seems to be facing similar problems. Therefore, we must bring to bear every tool at our disposal for dealing with the water shortages in the west.

Solving such water problems is one of my top priorities and I assure this Congress that this bill will receive prompt attention by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Controlling water thirsty invasive species is one significant and substantial step in the right direction for the dry lands of the west.

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, water is the life's blood for New Mexico. When the water dries up in New Mexico, so will many of its communities. As such, the scarcity of water in New Mexico is a dire situation. Unfortunately, the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, NM OSE, lacks the tools necessary to undertake the Herculean task of effectively managing New Mexico's water resources.

Today, I introduce legislation that would allow New Mexico to make informed decisions about its limited water resources.

In order to effectively perform water rights administration, as well as comply with New Mexico's compact deliveries, the State Engineer is statutorily required to perform assessments and investigations of the numerous stream systems and ground water basins located within New Mexico. However, the NM OSE is ill equipped to vigorously and comprehensively undertake the daunting but critically important task of water resource planning. At present, the NM OSE lacks adequate resources to perform necessary hydrographic surveys and data collection. As such, ensuring a future water supply for my home State requires that Congress provide the NM OSE with the resources necessary to fulfill its statutory mandate.

The bill I introduce today would create a standing authority for the State of New Mexico to seek and receive technical assistance from the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Geological Survey. It would also provide the NM OSE the sum of $12.5 million in Federal assistance to perform hydrologic models of New Mexico's most important water systems. This bill would provide the NM OSE with the best resources available when making crucial decisions about how best to preserve our limited water stores.

Ever decreasing water supplies in New Mexico have reached critical levels and require immediate action. The Congress cannot sit idly by as water shortages cause death to New Mexico's communities. I hope the Senate will give this legislation its every consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the following hearing has been scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The hearing, entitled Forecasting the Future: U.S. Energy Challenges in the Global Context, will be held on Thursday, February 3 at 10 a.m. in Room SD-366.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony regarding global energy trends and their potential impact on U.S. energy needs, security and policy. The Energy Information Administration will discuss the 2005 Annual Energy Outlook. Additional experts will offer their perspectives on emerging world energy trends, including the key factors affecting energy supply (such as OPEC and Russia) and energy demand (such as Asia).

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send two copies of their testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, SD-364 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-6150.

For further information, please contact: Shane Perkins at 202-224- 7555.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the following hearings have been scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to consider the President's Proposed Budget for FY 2006 for the agencies and programs under the jurisdiction of this Committee:

Tuesday, March 1 at 10 a.m., in Room SD-366--Department of the Interior.

Wednesday, March 2 at 10 a.m., in Room SD-366--Forest Service.

Thursday, March 3 at 10 a.m., in Room SD-366--Department of Energy.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit testimony for the hearing send two copies of their testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, SD-364 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-6150.

For further information, please contact Carole McGuire at 202-224- 0537.

Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of the nomination of Carlos Gutierrez to be Secretary of Commerce. Mr. Gutierrez has set a great example for all Americans and has proved himself a true leader and visionary in the world of business. It is for this reason I fully support his nomination and I have no doubt he will be a truly superb Secretary of Commerce.

Carlos Gutierrez's story is truly inspiring and sets a wonderful example for all Americans. Born in Cuba, Carlos, along with his family fled to the United States in 1960 to escape the dictatorship of Fidel Castro. Eventually, the Gutierrez family chose to live in Mexico and settled in Mexico City.

At the age of 20, Carlos Gutierrez's journey through the world of business began when he took a job driving a truck for the Kellogg cereal company in Mexico City. Within 10 years, Mr. Gutierrez proved himself an invaluable asset to the company and was promoted to general manager of Kellogg's entire operation in Mexico. Only 15 years later, Mr. Gutierrez achieved the unthinkable and began running the operations for the entire company. This is truly a prime example of the American dream and definitively demonstrates Carlos Gutierrez's considerable talent for business.

I am also pleased by this nomination because of the diversity it adds to President Bush's Cabinet. This President has demonstrated a commitment to selecting Americans from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds to serve him, and I believe that the selection of Carlos Gutierrez is a clear sign of the contributions that Hispanic Americans are making to our Nation.

I believe as Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez will continue to display the values and leadership which have been prevalent throughout his career. I have no doubt that as Secretary of Commerce Mr. Gutierrez will be able to meet any challenge facing this country in the future.

Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of the confirmation of Mike Johanns to be Secretary of Agriculture. As the former Governor of Nebraska, Mike Johanns knows how important agriculture is to this country. Through his dedicated public service he has shown a great understanding of the complex nature of the industry and the problems facing it.

Growing up on an Iowa dairy farm, Mike Johanns learned from an early age that agriculture is the backbone of this great nation. For over two centuries, hardworking men and women like Mr. Johanns have dedicated their lives to protecting the vitality of the food and fiber industry. The nomination of Mike Johanns for the position

of Secretary of Agriculture is a tribute to his commitment, and I have no doubt that this commitment will bring distinction to the position of Secretary of Agriculture.

Throughout his professional career, Mike Johanns has been committed to the wellbeing of America's farmers and ranchers. As Governor, Mr. Johanns emphasized the importance of value-added agriculture, renewable fuels such as ethanol, and job creation in rural areas. Additionally, Mr. Johanns has demonstrated a keen knowledge of international trade policy, a subject that will continue to increase in importance as the world moves towards a more globalize economy. I look forward to working with Mr. Johanns to ensure that future trade agreements with the food and fiber industry are treated equitably.

Mr. Johanns has also been an important leader on drought policy, a subject that is very important to many communities in the west. I believe that with his experience in this area, the country can move forward in establishing a concrete and coherent drought policy that provides tangible benefits for those affected by this serious problem.

I know that Mr. Johanns will serve the agriculture community the utmost integrity and fairness and I look forward to working with him in the future.

Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of the confirmation of Margaret Spellings to be Secretary of Education. Margaret Spellings has devoted her career to working to improve education for children in Texas and across the Nation. Her experience and dedication make her eminently qualified to serve as Secretary of Education.

Margaret Spellings is the ideal person to work with States and Governors of both parties to achieve the goal of raising student achievement for all students in all schools. As the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, Ms. Spellings has been responsible for the development and implementation of White House policy on education, healthcare, labor, housing and many other elements of President Bush's domestic agenda. She has also served with distinction as the senior advisor to then-Governor George W. Bush in Texas with responsibility for State education policy, and as associate executive director of the Texas Association of School Boards.

Throughout her professional career, Margaret Spellings has had in- depth discussions with teachers, administrators and school board members. She understands about school reform and the Federal role in education. In Texas, she was responsible for developing and implementing the State's strong school accountability system, and she was also instrumental in the State's strong reading and charter school efforts. As a top domestic advisor to the President, she was integral to the development of the No Child Left Behind Act, which is producing solid improvements in reading and math for America's students and is helping students by transforming our public education system.

The fact that President Bush has chosen one of his closest and most trusted advisors to become Education Secretary is a clear sign that education will continue to be a top domestic priority for this administration during the next 4 years. I look forward to working with Margaret Spellings in her new role as Education Secretary to help make public schools great for every child.

Mr. President, I rise to express my support for the intelligence reform provisions negotiated by the House and Senate. These measures provide common sense restructuring of our Nation's approach to national intelligence.

For years the United States has contemplated reorganizing the intelligence community. Unfortunately, it took the tragedy of September 11 and the loss of nearly 3,000 citizens to achieve systemic change. This legislation, however, is the culmination of a serious national debate that has occurred since that fateful day. It is a just tribute to those we lost, their families and to future generations of Americans whose security depends on our actions today. I believe this legislation better prepares us to meet the security challenges of today and I would like to make note of some important provisions.

First, it creates a National Director of Intelligence who has the necessary authority to write and execute intelligence budgets. This critical change will help ensure that resources and personnel can be moved to areas of priority throughout the intelligence community for more effective management of intelligence operations and analysis. This change was strongly endorsed by both the 9/11 Commission and Joint Inquiry of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees and I believe it is essential.

Second, it establishes a National Counterterrorism Center. This will

achieve an integrated approach to counterterrorism intelligence and strategic operational planning. Given the continuing threat the United States faces from international terrorists, it is vital that we organize our information and resources in a highly coordinated fashion to meet this challenge. The NCTC provides the proper mechanism to facilitate this coordination by gathering relevant information from all appropriate departments and agencies within our government.

In addition to these primary reforms provisions, I am pleased the conference report includes two other provisions of importance to New Mexico. By retaining my language directing the Department of Homeland Security to report on development of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle border surveillance capability, this legislation recognizes the need to exploit emerging technologies for securing the homeland. The porous nature of our borders, particularly in remote areas of the Southwest, is vulnerable to terrorists, drug smugglers and other criminal activity. My language begins to seek new solutions to this significant security concern. Also, I am gratified that the conferees recognized the value of the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center operated by our national laboratories as Sandia and Los Alamos. The formal relationship this legislation creates between NISAC and the National Director of Intelligence ensures the intelligence community has access to the very best capability our Nation has for understanding vulnerabilities to critical infrastructures.

In conclusion, I believe this legislation is historic. Nothing is more important than the security of our country and intelligence is the underpinning of success in the war on terror. Objective, timely, accurate intelligence is what our policymakers need to make the right decisions affecting the safety of Americans at home and abroad. This legislation takes an important step toward invigorating our intelligence gathering as we face the threats of the 21st century and it has my strong support.

Parliamentary inquiry: Is now a time to speak or are we in some kind of special business?

I seek recognition, to use 5 minutes as in morning business.

Mr. President, I know it is late and there is nobody here. Somehow or another, it seems like, when you have things that are moving along and moving rather slowly, you have to regularly call them to the attention of the Senate.

I do not have anything but great praise for how we got here with this bill. Everybody is saying it could not be helped. Senator Reid and I understand. A piece of this bill is ours. We could never get it done until late in the session because it seemed as if nobody wanted to understand the problem we had. We couldn't do the things we were supposed to do because there was a misunderstanding in the budget about how to pay for things. So that was done.

The thing is, if Senators had before them tonight, before this bill, a final vote on a measure that said we are going to do this every 2 years instead of every 1 year, and we are going to do a budget resolution for 2 years, do you know what would have happened? It would have passed with 75 votes because people around here understand we do not have to do this every year. You can do it for 2 years, with 2-year budgets and the right to have, in between those appropriations bills, the special kind of special needs appropriations.

It certainly would not be like it is now. You have those now and you have appropriations every year. You have the supplemental appropriations.

I took this minute to say someone, sometime--maybe before I leave here--will do that. I actually believe the House is ready. They voted on it. They didn't have the bill we would have, but we could go to conference. But I just want to use this last few minutes. Nobody is around and I ought to be out of here at home. I have some new grandchildren at home and they can't watch me at this late hour because they are too little, so I should be gone.

But it is good to have an example. Frankly, I think if we had 2-year appropriations, we wouldn't have this because I think the individual bills would be done, if you had, instead of every year, 2 years to do them. I think we would have a lot of time for oversight and other things we do not do. In fact, my memory is not as good as it was and I can't tell you the percent, but a huge amount of the Senate's voting time and floor time is used for just three things: budget, appropriations, and supplemental appropriations. That is a huge amount of the time. I don't know how we get all the other things done.

So if we could do it every 2 years, it seems to me we would all be the better for it. We would be less apt to have this kind of thing occur with an omnibus, meaning overall, many--all put in one.

I yield the floor.

I agree with the Senator from California.

We are all in agreement on this issue.

I agree with the senior Senator from California.

We all seem to be in agreement on this issue as well.

I likewise share this understanding of how the bill should be implemented.

Mr. President, I have not been coming to the floor for a lot of speeches about our fellow Senators, nor have I given very many as they are departing. I do intend to do that in the next few months for all of them, but I would not dare let this record go today without my having an opportunity to share some remarks with the Senate about the Senator from Oklahoma.

There is nobody here that has served on as many committees together as Senator Nickles and Senator Domenici. We have been thrilled to work on the Energy Committee. He has told us the facts about energy. He has told us the impact that was made by that committee, and nobody can doubt that to have the Senator from Oklahoma come to that committee, having lived with the ridiculousness of the rules on natural gas, having him there was a great stimulus to change, once and for all--we did a little bit and we opened the floodgates--to give the country a great supply of energy called natural gas.

More important than that, he is one who takes an opportunity to come forth with an idea, with a cause, and set it forth when people do not even think it has a chance. All of a sudden it gathers some more momentum, and then it is a big issue, and nobody believes it but pretty soon it passes and becomes law. There are so many that we cannot talk about them. The Senator has talked about some of them.

When you came here, your senior Senator was kind of the opposite of you. He was a great hulk of a man. He was older than you by far. If he ever bragged, it was about being a Marine lieutenant tank commander. He used to look at me and tell me: Well, I do not know. This Nickles is just too young. I am not sure he can do this job.

Well, I am sure he told you some of those things when you were running or preparing to run, but your youth had nothing to do with your success. You were going to get it done because you have a great capacity to lead and to work with people. It has been my privilege to have you as my teammate.

There is one thing for sure, this place does not succeed without people who have talent. We can all look that over and say it is not so, but it is so. You are a very talented man, but talent is not enough. You have to be loyal.

Senator Nickles is the second most senior serving Senator on the Budget Committee, 20 years. I am the one who was goofy enough to serve more, but he was there during most of my time. Many times, Senator Don Nickles did not get exactly what he wanted, but when it came to the time of getting something for this Senate that would permit us to follow that Budget Act, you never worried about Don Nickles. He may have pushed and shoved and maybe held out to the end, but when the time came that you said, We have to do this, Don, he understood. That is because of what he just said here today. He really loves this place. He learned how to love it. He did not love it when he came here. He might have told his colleagues that he started liking it, but he did not love it the first few years like he does now.

I had the privilege once of nominating him for a leadership job. He will not ever forget that introduction because he was thinking I was not going to be speaking in behalf of him, but I surely was. I said something like, Don Nickles came here and he was just too young. Then I proceeded to say, however, I have never seen a Senator mature as much and as fast as he has in terms of acquiring the skills and the capacity and understanding to be a Senator, after which time I suggested that he should win that particular job he was seeking. He did, obviously. I did not have anything to do with it, but nonetheless that is sort of the way I saw him for the first 8, 10, or 12 years.

Senator, you never stopped. You never stopped growing, and I think to grow in this place, besides the qualities I have just described, you have to end up understanding what the Senate is.

I have heard you many times in the last part of your career talk about what a great place this is, and I really believe you understand it. I think you understand that it is not just some legislative body. You have many times cast your vote, done your work, chastised and begged, cajoled people to do things because you would tell them sometimes when it was urgent that this is the Senate and we cannot be all on our own. We have to be a part of this place, and sometimes you have to do things to make it work.

I commend you for all of that and the policies and philosophies that you brought here. We did not agree on some of them. We have not agreed on everything, but I say the Senate was better off for every single day that you were here, and it will not be quite as good until somebody comes along and fills your seat. As our distinguished whip said, it is a continuing place, and we will go on. But I honestly think there will be sort of a place here for you, and we will remember how you used to do things, and, yes, Senator, you will know how you grew in terms of working with the other side. I mean, all of a sudden you would have something and we would wonder what is going on, and you would announce your cosponsor and we would say, well, he started with something that was not going to work, but he has been working at it and it is going to work. I commend you for that. That is the end product of real growth and a real ability to get done what you thought was good.

So I will miss you and your wonderful family and your wife. You have been through some tough problems with the family just like many of us. You have come through it strong and robust, and your children are beautiful and successful.

As far as the prayer breakfast is concerned, you have stated this morning in beautiful terms, just as a matter of fact, with Doug Coe and other names, but I can remember talking to you many times about that, how it made you mature also in terms of your faith, in terms of how we prayed and how we did other things. For that relationship, I thank you. It has little to do with the Senate, but if it were not for the Senate, we would not have had that experience together.

So this is a good day because we get to say something about a great Senator, but on the other hand not so good a day because we say goodbye. He is young enough to honestly spend another 24 years here. I am 72 and I have been here 33 years, so I clearly could have left a while ago. Then I would be out there doing whatever you are going to be doing; I am sure you will have a lot more leisure time. You can hit the ball. Me, maybe I could play with my 11 grandchildren now, and growing.

Thank you, Don. It has been great to be your friend.

Mr. President, I rise today to take this opportunity to honor our departing colleagues who are leaving the Senate. Almost each new Congress a different group of 100 men and women come together from different backgrounds and political philosophies, representing different interests and constituencies, but through all our differences, we develop respect and admiration for each other. Many times we step across the aisle and work together on legislation and often times genuine friendships are created. As I pay tribute to these departing Senators, whether they have been here 1 term or 7, they are a remarkable group and we thank them for their honorable service.

Ben Campbell

Ben Nighthorse Campbell has been more than just a neighbor Senator from out west, but a close friend and colleague.

I have worked with Senator Campbell on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Indian Affairs Committee. During his 18 years in the United States Congress, Senator Campbell has earned the respect of members on both sides of the aisle as being a statesman and staunch advocate for the State of Colorado. In addition, he is the sole American Indian serving in the Senate, and he is also a Northern Cheyenne tribal chief. His work on behalf of tribes is legendary, and I know he will be sorely missed by the American Indian people.

Senator Campbell has been a recognized leader on public land and natural resource policy. Since New Mexico and Colorado face similar challenges, we have worked closely on these matters, and it has been a privilege to work with someone so passionate about improving land management policies.

Senator Campbell is a veteran, Olympian, and public servant, and he has selflessly devoted himself to serving his State and country for over half a century. Senator Campbell is a unique individual who I call a friend. His love of nature, his family and his roots is continually evident. As a father, grandfather, and Senator, I know that Senator Nighthorse Campbell and his loved ones will be glad to have more time for family activities.

He proudly represented Colorado and its people. His leadership and presence will be greatly missed by all. I wish him the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.

John Breaux

John Breaux is retiring after serving 3 terms in the Senate. I would like to take this time to acknowledge a friend, colleague, and dedicated public servant.

Senator Breaux was elected to the House of Representatives in 1972 at the age of 28, and at that time, he was the youngest member of Congress. After serving 14 years in the House, the people of Louisiana elected John Breaux to the Senate in 1986.

I have had the pleasure of working closely with Senator Breaux on many energy matters over the years. During this time, I have admired his ability to find common ground between those who hold disparate views. His uncanny ability to bring industry leaders, policy makers, and administration leaders together is unique, and I will always appreciate his candor in resolving energy policy differences. John was always someone I could reach across the aisle to work with on the Budget Resolutions.

It is well known that Senator Breaux is passionate about improving health care for all Americans. He worked tirelessly on welfare and health care issues, and took an active interest in the elderly as a member of the Finance Committee and a leader of the Special Committee on Aging, just last year he played an integral part in drafting the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003. This historic legislation will provide relief to the millions of people struggling to pay for prescription drugs and he should be honored for his dedication to this bill.

Senator Breaux's work has touched the lives of a great many Americans, and his talents and unrivaled sense of humor will be sorely missed in the Senate. Just as importantly, he has been a great advocate for his home State of Louisiana, and his State has been lucky to have his service for so many years.

In the course of working together for so many years, I have developed genuine respect for Senator Breaux. I thank him for years of distinguished service, and wish him the very best in all his future undertakings. I will miss Senator John Breaux.

Zell Miller

I wish to take this time to honor a great senator and a true American patriot, Zell Miller. He is a man who has served Georgia with dignity and honor these past 4 years in the United States Senate.

Zell Miller embraced public service early on in his life. His mother served as one of Georgia's first female mayors. She taught him early on about public service and a strong work ethic, which he has exemplified throughout his career.

In the late 1950s, Zell Miller served as mayor of his hometown of Young Harris, GA. He then went on to serve as a State Senator, Lieutenant Governor, and eventually served in the highest power in the state of Georgia as Governor. Not surprisingly, Zell Miller was named by the Washington Post in 1998 as the most popular governor in America and the Governing Magazine named him Governor of the Year in 1998. These career paths finally led him to the United States Senate in 2000.

While Zell Miller was invested in politics, he was also dedicated to education and students. Throughout his career, Zell Miller was a professor of political science and history at the

Emory University, University of Georgia, and Young Harris College.

Senator Miller has continuously reached across the aisle to work with Republicans, but it is probably best stated in his own words when he pointed out that while he is a lifelong Democrat, he pledged to serve all 8.5 million Georgians and no single party in the Senate. Through this approach, Zell Miller has been a supporter of a broad range of issues such as tax cuts, improving education, strengthening national security, and fighting the global war on terrorism. While in the Senate, he dutifully served on the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, the Banking, Housing, and Urban Development Committee, and the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

His time here has been all too brief, but Senator Miller has made a difference and I will miss him. While he may be leaving the U.S. Senate, I do not doubt that we have not heard the last of Zell. I bid him farewell and extend my best wishes to him and his family.

Tom Daschle

I would like to pay tribute to a respected colleague who is leaving the Senate after a long and distinguished career. Senator Tom Daschle worked hard, for 8 years as a Member of the House of Representatives and for 18 years as a United States Senator, to represent the interests of voters across the State of South Dakota.

As the leader of his party for the past 10 years, Senator Daschle has proven himself to be a capable legislator and moreover, an advocate for his State's and party's interests. During the 108th Congress, Senator Daschle served on four committees: Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Finance, and Rules and Administration; and today he serves as the Senior Senator and the Democratic Leader of the Senate.

Influenced by his formative experiences during the Vietnam War as an intelligence officer in the Air Force, Senator Daschle worked hard to serve the interests of veterans across this great country. His most notable achievement in this field was the enactment of legislation securing benefits for those soldiers exposed to Agent Orange.

During his tenure, Senator Daschle also developed a reputation for being a shrewd legislator on issues related to agriculture and South Dakota's farming community. He was always apprised of even the most minute issues at stake and thus ensured that all of his constituents were represented at the negotiating table.

Senator Daschle fought tirelessly for his beliefs throughout his time in the Senate. I wish Senator Daschle and his family the very best in the years ahead.

Bob Graham

I have a great affection for the departing Senator from Florida Bob Graham. After 18 years of dedicated service to his country and to the people of Florida, all of us in this Chamber will certainly miss the Senator as he retires from elected office.

I had the pleasure of serving on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee with Senator Graham during the past 9 years. During that time, I had the opportunity to work with Senator Graham on a number of important issues. He proved to be a sound leader for his party and a member committed to bipartisan solutions.

Senator Graham's brief tenure as Chairman of the Select Intelligence Committee, came during one of the most trying times our Nation has faced, the attack on our country by terrorists on September 11, 2001. Senator Graham worked closely with his House counterpart, and current Director of Central Intelligence, Porter Goss to lead a joint Senate- House inquiry into the attacks on our nation.

Although he was first elected to the Senate in 1986, Senator Graham has been serving the people of Florida since 1966 when he was first elected to that State's House of Representatives. After serving in the House for 4 years and in the State Senate for 8 years, Senator Graham was elected the 38th Governor of the State of Florida.

In spite of these accomplishments, it is fair to say that Senator Graham will perhaps be most memorable for instituting the ``Workdays'' he began in 1974 and continued during his time in the Senate. Senator Graham began the ``Workdays'' by teaching a semester of civics courses at a Miami area high school.

I wish Senator Graham, his wife Adele, and his children and grandchildren the very best in the coming years.

Ernest Hollings

Ernest ``Fritz'' Hollings devoted his entire adult life to public service. He admirably served 7 terms as a U.S. Senator and today he is the fourth most senior member of the Senate, and he also hold the distinction of being the longest serving junior Senator in history.

His service to our country began immediately after he graduated from The Citadel in 1942 when he received a commission from the U.S. Army. Throughout his honorable military service Senator Hollings received the Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons. He served as an officer in the North African and European campaigns during World War II.

After returning from the war, Fritz attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where he completed his Juris Doctorate in less than 3 years. At the age of 26, Fritz Hollings launched his public service career when he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. He went on to become Speaker Pro Tempore, Lieutenant Governor, and at the age of 36 Governor of South Carolina becoming the youngest man in the 20th century to be elected Governor of South Carolina.

It has been a great honor to work with Fritz Hollings over these many years. We were able to work together while serving on the Senate Budget Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee together. He consistently fought for fiscal responsibility and a reliable Government for the people.

As a principal author of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, Senator Hollings was a perfect candidate to serve as the ranking member on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee during the 108th Congress. Through this position, Senator Hollings developed legislation to strengthen national security for our nation's port, railroad, and aviation systems.

Senator Hollings has served the Senate in so many ways over the past 42 years it is impossible to know where to begin showcasing his contributions. Therefore, I would just like to say that he has continued over the years to work to better not only the lives of South Carolinians, but all the people of our nation.

Senator Hollings will certainly be missed around here. I bid him farewell and extend my best wishes to him and his family.

Peter Fitzgerald

Senator Peter Fitzgerald is retiring from the Senate after 6 years of service to his home State of Illinois.

Prior to joining the Senate, Senator Fitzgerald was a commercial banking attorney and in this position played a significant role in investigations of corporate accounting fraud, mutual fund industry abuses, chronic under-funding of employee pensions, and waste, fraud and mismanagement in various Federal agencies. In 1993, he embarked upon his public service work when he began serving as an Illinois State Senator until his election to the U.S. Senate in 1998 at the young age of 38.

Peter was the first Republican in Illinois to win a Senate race in 20 years. Even though his time here was brief, he has been able to establish himself as a fiscally responsible Senator. He has consistently backed efforts to control spending and reduce taxes. Through these actions, Senator Fitzgerald has received many awards from taxpayer watchdog groups such as the Americans for Tax Reform, who has repeatedly named him a ``Hero of the American Taxpayer.''

While serving as chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Product Safety, Peter has also led a successful fight to improve outdated consumer safety regulations. These regulations brought about higher testing and safety standards for child car seats and improved car safety features that benefit all Americans.

Senator Fitzgerald will be missed, though I'm sure he is now looking forward to spending more time with his wife Nina and their son Jake. I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

John Edwards

Finally, I would like to acknowledge my retiring colleague from North Carolina, Senator John Edwards.

Senator Edwards was the first in his family to attend college, working his way through North Carolina State University and later earning his law degree from the University of North Carolina. Afterward, John Edwards established himself as a distinguished and successful lawyer. These accomplishments alone are quite striking and aptly demonstrate the intelligence and determination of Senator Edwards.

During his time in the Senate, Senator Edwards served on four committees: Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, the Judiciary, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship, and the Select Intelligence. He continually championed for issues affecting the daily lives of regular people in North Carolina and the nation.

I am sure Senator Edwards will find success in any endeavor he now chooses to undertake and I join with my colleagues in wishing him the best.