Tim Johnson

Mr. President, I wish to recognize and to extend my thanks and appreciation to Haroon Azam Khan.

For almost two decades, I have been truly fortunate to have had Haroon on my side.

Haroon's personal story is uniquely American. While his parents Mohammad Azam and Anjum Khan immigrated to the United States in the 1960's, the first members of Haroon's family arrived in the United States in 1906 and settled in Willows, CA.

Haroon's interest in government started early, first as an intern in the district office of my friend and former colleague Congressman Bob Matsui and then as an intern in The White House.

After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley, Haroon joined my first Senate campaign and then worked with me as my finance and political director on each of my reelection efforts. He also worked with my colleagues Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Chris Dodd in the same capacity.

Eventually, after working in the private sector, I invited Haroon to work for me as deputy staff director of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

It has been a pleasure to watch Haroon grow both personally and professionally, and it is with sincere gratitude that I would like to thank Haroon for his years of dedicated friendship, counsel and support.

Mr. President, in 1986 the people of South Dakota elected me to serve them in the 100th Session of the Congress in the House of Representatives. In 1996 they gave me the honor and privilege of being their junior Senator.

When I ran for the House in 1986, I told the people of South Dakota that neither party has all the answers, and that both parties have good ideas, as well as men and women of good will. My job, as I understood it, would be to work in a bipartisan manner, listening to all parties and reaching a good fit--also known as a compromise. That is what I still believe.

However, in each year of my 28 years of service this has become more difficult to achieve. Each party, rather than working cooperatively for the American people, is more and more focused on winning the next election. Today, days after the 2014 election, you can walk into the call center for either party and find Members dialing for dollars for 2016. Tonight there will be fundraisers across DC where Members will discuss policy not with their constituents but with organizations that contribute to their campaigns. We have lost our way.

My thoughts are not original. My colleague and dear friend from South Dakota, Senator Tom Daschle, in his farewell called for finding common ground that ``will not be found on the

far right or on the far left. That is not where most Americans live. We will only find it in the firm middle ground based on common sense and shared values.''

Ohio's Senator Voinovich in his 2010 farewell speech said that his greatest frustration was the difficulty in finding common ground on significant issues, saying that ``it doesn't happen enough.''

In fact, the need for bipartisanship and the lack of it in the Senate is a hallmark of Senate farewell speeches. Rather than expounding on this topic, I would like to share the instances where I have experienced it.

I found it working with my colleague Senator John Thune, as we put aside our political differences and worked as our constituents expected two Norwegians to work. We worked side by side as we pushed for farm bills, highway funding, emergency relief from droughts and from floods. We successfully fought the proposed BRAC closing of Ellsworth Air Force Base. However, honoring our Norweigian heritage, we never hugged.

I found it on the banking committee, working closely with Ranking Member Crapo. Together, we reached middle ground on reforms in which both parties gave up significant priorities, compromising, finding the middle ground to pass bills out of committee.

My best and most enduring memory of this magnificent body occurred during my 9-month absence following my AVM, a long and humbling journey. During this journey my committee assignments were respected and my friend from Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed graciously accepted extra responsibilities until my return. Senator Harry Reid told me that during my long absence my colleagues on the other side of the aisle never once tried to take advantage of my absence. More importantly, in so many ways the kind words and prayers from you and your spouses, on both sides of the aisle, supported both Barbara and me and gave us strength during my long and continuing recovery.

I was grateful and humbled by your support on September 9, 2007, the day I returned to the Senate when almost every chair in this Chamber was filled. Senator Reid and Senator McConnell, I thank you for your welcome back to the Senate family.

In the years ahead, I will miss this family--not the bickering that I mentioned earlier, but the blessings that you have all been to Barbara and me.

I would also like to thank another family that has been critical to my work for South Dakota--a family that goes by the name ``Team Johnson.'' This team is composed of highly talented and caring individuals. They have worked tirelessly in the halls of Congress, in South Dakota, and on campaigns to make our State and our country a better place to live.

I wish I could thank each one of you for your service. Please know how much I appreciated the long hours and late nights that you put in. In the years ahead I hope we will continue to celebrate the friendships we have forged.

To my friend and chief of staff for 30 years, Drey Samuelson, thank you for joining my fledgling, uphill race for Congress in 1986 and for staying with me until we close the Senate office in a few days. Few Members of Congress have been as fortunate as I have been to have the loyalty, friendship, and thoughtful guidance that you have given me.

My legislative directors have all been remarkable, but time limits me to noting the services of two individuals who have served the longest. Dwight Fettig started with us in the House as a young man fresh from his internship with Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota. Dwight rose through the ranks to legislative director and then became my first director on the banking committee. Todd Stubbendieck is my current LD, and his legislative guidance for over 10 years has guided the staff in moving critical legislation through the Senate. Todd and Dwight have worked on legislation for projects that now deliver water to hundreds of thousands of people across South Dakota, country of origin labeling bills, farm bills, national historic sites for Lewis and Clark and the Minute Man Missile, numerous projects for Ellsworth Air Force Base and the South Dakota National Guard with efficiency and collegiality. To Todd and Dwight, thank you for your outstanding legislative teams.

Our No. 1 researcher, humorist, historian, and go-to person, Luci Weigel, has been with us since we opened the first offices. Thank you, Luci.

To my South Dakota State director, Sharon Boysen, thank you for leading the three State offices, for ensuring that we were responsive to South Dakotans, and for coordinating with the DC office.

Sharon Stroschein, who directed the Aberdeen office, and Darrell Shoemaker, who managed the Raid City office, have been outstanding leaders for 28 years. You and all the State staff have been great advocates for South Dakota. You made sure that I always knew what was on the minds of South Dakotans, that I visited crisis situations, nonprofits, local and tribal governments, promising businesses, schools, and much more. Thank you.

Linda Robison, thank you for your dedication, willingness to go the extra mile, and your outreach to and service for our State's veterans for 28 years.

The Senate office only needed one office manager for the last 18 years. Nancy Swenson is the most efficient, precise, and insightful person I know. The University of South Dakota will be forever grateful when they receive the archives Nancy assembled. Thank you.

To the Senate standing committees on banking and MILCON, you have served our Nation well, and I know you will continue to do so in the future. Thank you for your leadership on important issues.

I am looking forward to the years ahead and the time we will share.

To my wife Barbara and our three children--Brooks, Brendan, and Kelsey--thank you for your unwavering support, for putting up with late-night dinners, for accepting that my work demanded that I be away so many weekends, and for working side by side with me on challenging campaigns. Without your understanding, love, and support, I could not have done the work I love.

Finally, to the people of South Dakota, thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you in our State legislature, the House of Representatives, and the United States Senate. Thank you for working side by side with me to improve the lives of South Dakotans and our Nation.

Pilamayaye.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

(Applause, Senators rising.)

Mr. President, the Banking Committee has jurisdiction over economic, trade, banking, and financial sanctions. During the last year, I have worked with my colleagues in Congress to authorize the President to impose tough sanctions targeting President Putin and his cronies, and he has enlisted our allies in that effort. We all agree that if Putin continues to intimidate the people of Ukraine he must face intensifying economic and political isolation.

But unlike with the sanctions bill enacted earlier this year, the Foreign Relations Committee did not consult the Banking Committee on this bill prior to its markup. Even so, my staff has worked cooperatively with Foreign Relations staff in recent weeks to fix many of the most significant textual problems which would have made its implementation unworkable. Those negotiations have now progressed to a point where I have been satisfied with the changes included in the substitute amendment. While it is still not perfect and contains some provisions

which in my view are unnecessary, we have made substantial progress.

The President has worked to impose punishing sanctions on Russia, maximizing their effect on Russia while minimizing their effect on the U.S. and Western allies. I heard personally from Secretary Lew the administration's concern that the mandatory global energy sanctions in a prior version of this bill could have driven a wedge between the U.S. and our allies. They could have ensnared potentially hundreds of our allies' businesses--including firms whose governments in Europe and elsewhere may otherwise be working with us to isolate Russia. That problem has now been resolved, and the substitute now gives the President discretion to target firms involved in these activities should he so choose. I am confident he will now be able to implement these measures in a way which is sensitive to the concerns of our allies, and which can protect innocent U.S. investors in pension funds, mutual funds, and emerging market funds which hold stock in European, Asian or other firms subject to potential sanction under the bill.

Sanctions should offer the President flexibility to continue to work with allies to maximize pressure on Russia as its economy reels under the stress of sanctions, falling world oil prices, and a falling ruble. I support the aid to Ukraine authorized in this bill, and I support further sanctions on Russia that will not drive a wedge between the U.S. and our allies, that will protect innocent U.S. investors, and that can be implemented with minimal confusion or delay. I am glad we were able finally to reach agreement on the bill and appreciate the cooperation of my colleagues in this effort.