Russell D. Feingold

Mr. President, the repeal of the discriminatory don't ask, don't tell law will mean a stronger and more secure America. Discrimination has no place in American society, especially when it undermines our national security by hampering military readiness. While the repeal of this law is long overdue, ending this harmful policy does mark an important moment in the fight for equal rights for all Americans. I applaud all those who worked to overturn this policy, the many Americans who advocated for its repeal, and the patriotic men and women who will now be able to openly serve their country.

Mr. President, as I leave the Senate I want to take a moment to express my profound thanks to those who have served on my Federal staff over the last 18 years. I feel so fortunate to have had the honor of serving in this body, and the honor of working with these dedicated staff members. I am deeply proud of the work my staff has done, and the outstanding commitment they have shown to serving the people of Wisconsin. I ask that their names be printed in the Record.

George R. Aldrich, Ed An, Anneka Anderson, Carol Anthony,

Rebecca F. Austin, Jessica G. Bacalzo, Dean T. Baldukas, Mike

Bare, Cyndi Bartel, Stephanie Batko, Amanda Beaumont, Jihan

Bekiri, Brittany Benowitz, LaMarr Q. Billups, Laura A.

Bishop, Yolanda T. Black, Dave Bolles, Patrick Bomhack, Lois

M. Boos, Jon Bortin.

Mary Bottari, Laura Bowman, Mark Bromley, Catrell Brown,

Jeanne Bruce, Deanna M. Busalacchi, Shawn Campbell, Kevin C.

Canan, Sarah Carlson-Wallrath, Aisha Carr, Dawnita S.

Chandler, Brian Chelcun, Celine Clark, Nick Cornelisse, Katie

Crawley, Kenneth M. Creighton, Jordan Cutler, Bill Dauster,

Serena Davila, Hilary DeBlois.

Robert B. Decheine, Danielle Decker, Margaret Della,

Jennifer K. Dettmering, Greg L. Deuchars, Hope DeVougas,

Cynthia L. Devroy, Steven Driscoll, Jennifer Eberhardt,

Suzanne Endres, Erin Erlenborn, Meredith Fahey, John A.

Fairbanks, Matthew Farrauto, Neil W. Fehrenbach, William M.

Feitlinger, Lara Flint, Thomas E. Ford, Grey Frandsen, Jeri

Gabrielson.

Mirna Galic, Adrian G. Garcia, Jeanette Garza, Michelle

Gavin, Ari Geller, Paul Geller, Max Gleischman, Kathleen

Gohlke, Evan Gottesman, Tim Raducha Grace, Karen Graff,

Ryshawnda E. Grant, Laura Grund, Ian A. Gustafson, Carl

Hampton, Sean K. Hanley, James L. Hansen, Katie Hanson, Moira

F. Harrington, Charlotte Harris-Benn.

Jenny G. Hassemer, Kenneth C. Haugh, Ben Hawkinson, Robb

Hecht, Trisha Helchinger, Alyson Herdeman, Elizabeth Hill,

Russell A. Hinz, Rea Holmes, Heidi A. Holzhauer, Euphia Hsu-

Smith, John B. Hwang, Michael Inners, Mary Irvine, Michael

Jacob, Brad Jaffe, Gail C. Junemann, Christopher Kattenburg,

David Kaufman, Jeannine M. Kenney.

Maya Khan, Farhana Khera, Timothy P. Killian, Lance Kinne,

Leesa Klepper, Katie Klimowicz, Casey Klofstat, Matthew

Knopf, Ted Koehler, Joe Komisar, Rebecca Kratz, John Kraus,

Chris M. Kujack, Andrew H. Kutler, Ruth E. LaRocque, Laura M.

Langer, Peter S.Y. Lau, Savannah Lengsfelder, Robyn

Lieberman.

Cindy Liebman, Shannon Lightner, Christine Lindstrom, Todd

S. Lipke, Sebastian Lombardi, Rebeca Lopez, Zach Lowe,

Jessica Maher, Amy E. Maloney, Sarah Margon, Rheanna

Martinez, Susanne M. Martinez, Jackie Martins, Sharmila

Matugama, Greg C. May, Patti Jo McCann, Tom N. McCormick, Joy

McGlaun, Anne T. McMahon, Molly McNab, Erin Meade.

John M. Medinger, Jeff Miller, Karen R. Miller, Tom M.

Miller, Trevor Miller, Nicci M. Millington, Nancy Mitchell,

LaKindra Mohr, Bryan N. Mowry, Catherine S. Murphy, Michelle

Murray, Jeffrey P. Neterval, John Neureuther, Matt Nikolay,

Mustafa Nusraty, Tanya Oakes, Elizabeth M. O'Callahan, Chris

Oechsli, Odalo J. Ohiku, Brian O'Leary.

Michael P. O'Leary, Erik Opsal, Erika Pagel, Suzanne Brault

Pagel, Mary Palmer, Peter P. Pedraza, Janet L. Piraino, Emily

Plagman, Sarah Preis, Elizabeth Prestley, Shelly M. Principe,

Emily Pritzkow, Lawanda A. Proctor, Peter Quaranto, Deborah

G. Ragland, Caren Ramsey, Kristin L. Rech, Kelly Miller Reed,

Jodi L. Reinke, Mary Frances Repko.

Theresa Reuss, Thomas Reynolds, Mary Ann Richmond, Jay

Robaidek, Francisco Rodriguez, Susan Rohol, Linda S.

Rotblatt, Nick Rotchadl, Maurice A. Rouse, Katie Rowley,

Rebecca Rubel, James M. Rudolf, Jacqueline Sadker, David J.

Sandretti, Bob Schiff, Mike Schmidt, Darin C. Schroeder,

Nicole Schultz, Bob Schweder, Will Sebern.

Jennifer Francis Seeger, Nhora L. Serrano, Geoffrey M.

Seymour, Michael J. Shmagin, Melissa F. Shusterman, Ravae

Sinclair, Sumner Slichter, Asher Smith, Todd G. Smith,

Cecilia Smith-Robertson, Victoria C. Solomon, Greg St.

Arnold, Stacia Stanek, Julie E. Stansfield, Danice K.

Stanton, Scott Stearns, Matt Steiner, Sara Steines, Jennifer

H. Sterling, Chuck Stertz.

Meritene Steward, Kimberly Stietz, Kristin L. Stommel,

Karen R. Surrett, James S. Swiderski, Anthony J. Taylor,

Laura E. Teelin, Jenny Thalheimer, Sara D. Thom, Kitty

Thomas, Stacey R. Thompson, Jeremy Tollefson, Rene Torrado,

Manuel Vasquez, Ken D. Velasco, James Verbick, Caroline

Wadhams, Ala'a Wafa, Peter Waldman.

Tom Walls, Adam Waskowski, Paul Weinberger, Stephanie A.

Weix, Travis West, Heather White, Kirsten White, Margaret

Whiting, Joel Wiginton, Michael Wilder, Jennifer J. Williams,

Nathan Winn, Mike B. Wittenwyler, Cynthia Woolfolk, Bashaun

D. Wray, Tom Wyler, Lisbeth Zeggane, Natale Zimmer, Graham

Zorn.

Mr. President, it is with great sadness that I pay tribute to the memory of my friend Richard Holbrooke, who passed away earlier this week. Richard was a masterful diplomat who brought his extraordinary skills to bear on some of the thorniest issues in U.S. foreign policy. Every step of the way, from his tremendous accomplishments at the Dayton Accords to his work as U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, he showed his deep commitment to our country, and to serving the greater good the world over.

I came to know Richard when we travelled to Africa together in 1999, when he was serving as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. He had never been to Africa before, and yet on the trip he was able to thoroughly grasp the complex issues facing the continent immediately. His brilliance was apparent, and it enabled him to identify emerging issues quickly and push for critical action. On that trip our purpose was to focus on the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but we also saw the incredible devastation of the HIV/AIDS crisis firsthand. Richard called then-U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and told him that the Security Council needed to address AIDS directly. When the Secretary-General responded that the Security Council only addressed security issues, Richard replied that this was, indeed, a security issue. He was right, and the Security Council's subsequent discussion was a turning point as the world community began to understand the depth and severity of the crisis on the African continent.

In the years since, Richard always made time to discuss foreign policy issues with me, and he always truly listened and wanted to understand my point of view, even when we disagreed. This was especially true of his work on Afghanistan and Pakistan. We didn't always see eye to eye about U.S. policy in the region, but he always reached out to me and solicited my views, and I was so appreciative of that. Those efforts on his part said volumes about him and his thoughtful approach to the complex issues he worked on with such commitment and such skill.

We had breakfast the morning after one of his last trips. I could see the toll his work was taking on him, but he was terrific to be with as usual. He was completely engaging and interested in my perspective, yet still managed to work the whole room, multitasking as always.

Richard Holbrooke was an extraordinary man of many talents who spent his life building a better, more just

world for us all. His many accomplishments will live on as a testament to his profound commitment to our nation and to a life of public service. But for me, I will simply miss him as a friend.