TRIBUTES TO HON. DANIEL COATS 

Daniel Coats 

U.S. SENATOR FROM INDIANA 

TRIBUTES 

IN THE CONGRESS OF 

THE UNITED STATES 

UNUM

E PLURIBUS


congress.#15
Daniel Coats 


23050.001
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 2017

S. DOC. 114–20 

Tributes 

Delivered in Congress 

Daniel Coats 

United States Congressman 

1981–1989 

United States Senator 

1989–1999 

2011–2017 

÷ 

Compiled under the direction 

of the 

Joint Committee on Printing 

[ iii ] 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Biography .................................................................................................. v 

Farewell Address ...................................................................................... vii 

Proceedings in the Senate: 

Tributes by Senators: 

Blunt, Roy, of Missouri .............................................................. 10 

Boozman, John, of Arkansas ..................................................... 21 

Cardin, Benjamin L., of Maryland ............................................ 11, 18 

Collins, Susan M., of Maine ...................................................... 7 

Cornyn, John, of Texas .............................................................. 13 

Donnelly, Joe, of Indiana ........................................................... 6, 16 

Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois ................................................... 5 

Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming ................................................... 15 

Feinstein, Dianne, of California ................................................ 12 

Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah ........................................................... 17 

Klobuchar, Amy, of Minnesota .................................................. 17 

Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont ................................................... 13 

McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky ................................................. 3, 17 

Peters, Gary C., of Michigan ..................................................... 20 

Portman, Rob, of Ohio ............................................................... 9, 21 

Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island ...................................................... 12 

Proceedings in the House of Representatives: 

Tributes by Representatives: 

Brooks, Susan W., of Indiana .................................................... 25 

Bucshon, Larry, of Indiana ....................................................... 23 

Messer, Luke, of Indiana ........................................................... 24 

Rokita, Todd, of Indiana ............................................................ 24, 25 

Stutzman, Marlin A., of Indiana ............................................... 24 

[ v ] 

BIOGRAPHY 

DAN COATS returned to the U.S. Senate in January 2011 

to focus on cutting wasteful spending, reducing the national 

debt and promoting a progrowth economic policy to put Hoosiers and Americans back to work. Senator COATS dedicated 

much of his life to serving Indiana and the Nation in a variety of roles. 

After graduating from Wheaton College, DAN COATS went 

on to serve in the U.S. Army. Following his military service, 

DAN COATS attended the Indiana University Robert H. 

McKinney School of Law, where he received his J.D. and was 

associate editor of the Indiana Law Review. He went on to 

work for a life insurance company in Fort Wayne before joining the office of then-Congressman Dan Quayle as a district 

representative. 

From 1981 to 1999, DAN COATS served in the U.S. Congress, first in the House of Representatives and then in the 

Senate. During his time in Congress, he promoted policies to 

lower taxes, reduce spending, and reform entitlement programs. He also served on the Senate Armed Services Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence where he 

worked on ways to strengthen our national defense and security. 

In keeping with a term-limit pledge he made to Hoosiers, 

DAN COATS stepped down from his Senate seat in 1999. After 

leaving the Senate, he worked in the private sector with the 

law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and 

Hand. In 2001, DAN COATS was named Ambassador to the 

Federal Republic of Germany, arriving in country only 3 

days before the tragic events of September 11, 2001. As Ambassador, DAN COATS played a critical role in establishing robust bilateral relations and in the construction of a new U.S. 

Embassy in the heart of Berlin. 

After his time as Ambassador, he worked at the law firm 

of King & Spalding and continued to be active in public service. DAN COATS served as president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and on the boards of many civic and volunteer organizations, including the Center for Jewish and 

[ vi ] 

Christian Values, which he cochaired with Senator Joe 

Lieberman. 

Senator COATS and his wife Marsha formed the Foundation for American Renewal to continue their engagement in 

faith-based initiatives. DAN COATS received national recognition as the author and champion of the Project for American 

Renewal, a comprehensive initiative created to help resolve 

many of our Nation’s social problems. 

In the 114th Congress, Senator COATS served on three 

Senate committees: Finance, Select Intelligence, and the 

Joint Economic Committee (JEC). He served as chairman of 

the bicameral JEC. Senator COATS also was chairman of the 

Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure. 

DAN COATS was the first Hoosier to serve on the Senate 

Finance Committee since 1976. This important assignment 

allowed Senator COATS to help tackle many of the biggest fiscal challenges our country is facing. As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, he worked on initiatives to 

strengthen our national security and protect Americans from 

terrorist threats. As JEC chairman, he pushed for tax reform, spending cuts, and fiscal restraint. 

DAN and Marsha Coats met in college and have 3 adult 

children and 10 grandchildren. 

[ vii ] 

Farewell to the Senate 

Tuesday, December 6, 2016 

Mr. COATS. Madam President, today I rise for the second 

time on the Senate floor to deliver a farewell speech. It 

doesn’t seem like that long ago, back in 1998, that I delivered my first Senate farewell speech. I spoke then about 

making the transition from Senator to citizen, and I reflected 

on the end of 24 years of public service. 

Standing here today in 2016, 24 years has now become 34 

years, as the call for additional public service has brought 

me back to the U.S. Senate. Now, as I begin today, I want 

to assure my family, some of whom are in the gallery; my 

colleagues, some of whom I am pleased to see have come to 

hear me speak; my campaign contributors, and even the 

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee that I will not 

be back for a third farewell address. 

Through it all—the ups and the downs, the highs and the 

lows, the successes and the failures—I have felt nothing but 

gratitude for the incredible privilege of serving. Serving in 

the military, working as a congressional staffer to thenCongressman Dan Quayle, serving in the House of Representatives, representing my home State, as a U.S. Senator, 

and representing our country overseas as U.S. Ambassador 

to Germany—all of this together has been the adventure of 

a lifetime, and I am so very grateful for the opportunities I 

have been afforded. Participating in the process of governing, 

being in the arena fighting for the principles and values in 

which I believe—these experiences have all been a privilege 

almost beyond description. 

It is time to express a few thanks. My good friend and fellow Senator from Tennessee, Lamar Alexander, who is sitting here today, who has a good habit of speaking words of 

wisdom, has said: ‘‘When you are driving down a country 

road and see a turtle on the top of a fence post, chances are 

that turtle didn’t get there on its own.’’ I didn’t get here on 

my own. Throughout my career, I have been blessed to have 

the support of so many talented and wonderful people who 

provided invaluable help along the way. First and foremost, 

[ viii ] 

though, I want to thank God for His providence, guiding my 

steps along the way. I want to thank my family, including 

my wife Marsha for her unwavering support and wise counsel, our 3 wonderful children, and our 10 grandchildren, for 

their love, their support, and their patience, that allowed me 

to engage in the consuming job of an elected official. 

I thank my former Senator and Vice President Dan 

Quayle, a mentor, friend, and the person who first encouraged me to consider public service. I want to express gratitude to former Indiana Governor Robert Orr, who chose me 

to fill the Senate seat vacated by then-Vice President 

Quayle. 

I thank President George W. Bush, who gave me the opportunity to serve as our Nation’s Ambassador to Germany, 

and Colin Powell, who led the Department of State during 

my time as Ambassador. 

I thank the exceptional staff I have been blessed to have 

support me over the years—some who are here today and 

many who have served through the years and gone on to 

achieve great success in their own careers. I specifically want 

to thank the five chiefs of staff I have had as a Senator who 

have put the team together to support me in such exceptional ways: David Hoppe; Dave Gribbin, now deceased; 

Sharon Soderstrom; Dean Hingson; and Viraj Mirani. All 

have led our team with exceptional leadership. 

I thank my colleagues for their friendship and encouragement over the past 6 years. This is a demanding job, and we 

all work hard, but it is also a job that allows each of us the 

opportunity to spend a lot of time interacting together. The 

friendships I have had and now have with the talented men 

and women who serve in this distinguished body is what I 

will miss most in leaving the Senate. 

Last, but certainly not least, I thank the citizens of Indiana. Hoosiers have given me the honor of representing them 

in the world’s greatest deliberative body. Hoosiers, thank you 

from the bottom of my heart. 

Now, I am not here today to offer deep reflections about 

the health of this institution or to advise my fellow Senators 

on how to govern in the years ahead. It is clear that at this 

time in our history, in our great Nation, we are a divided 

country with two very different visions for America’s future. 

The Senate is not immune to those divisions, but I firmly believe that all of us, Republicans and Democrats, are trying 

to do what we think is in the best interests of our country 

and its posterity. We are all united in the common cause of 

[ ix ] 

making our country a better place, a safer place, and a more 

prosperous place, even if our means of getting there differ. 

With that spirit in mind, I know there are many topics of 

significant importance that the Senate will consider when I 

am gone, but I want to briefly discuss two transcendent 

issues that I believe jeopardize America’s continued existence 

as the world’s leading nation. These are issues I have repeatedly expressed deep concern about on this Senate floor. 

From a practical standpoint, our country simply cannot 

keep borrowing money we don’t have. Today our national 

debt exceeds $19.5 trillion and continues to grow by the second. Meanwhile, programs that millions of Americans depend on—Social Security and Medicare are two—are creeping ever closer to insolvency. America’s looming fiscal storm 

is bearing down upon us, and the alarms are sounding louder each day. One day, if not addressed, this debt bomb will 

explode and have a devastating effect on our country’s economy and on our children’s future. 

My second great concern is what I call the terrorist 

bomb—the threat posed by terrorists or rogue state actors 

who can successfully conduct an attack with weapons of 

mass destruction. We must ensure that the world’s most 

dangerous weapons stay out of the hands of its most dangerous people, and we must also adapt to the new threats we 

face, such as a cyberattack, that could shut down our financial systems or electric grid. These challenges require all 

those who have governed to rise above the political consequences that may occur in making the hard decisions needed to make our country stronger and more secure for future 

generations. 

In conclusion, I would like to say this. My congressional 

career began during the Reagan administration. I would like 

to conclude my comments with a reflection on remarks President Ronald Reagan made during a memorial service in 1987 

for the fallen sailors of the USS Stark. Allow me to quote a 

few of the words President Reagan shared that day: 

Yes, they were ordinary men who did extraordinary things. Yes, they were 

heroes. And because they were heroes, let us not forget this: That for all 

the lovely spring and summer days we will never share with them again, 

for every Thanksgiving and Christmas that will seem empty without them, 

there will be moments when we see the light of discovery in young eyes, 

eyes that see for the first time the world around them and wonder, ‘‘Why 

is there such a place as America, and how is it that such a precious gift 

is mine?’’ 

As citizens of this great country, we have been given a precious gift—the gift of freedom. America has been a beacon of 

[ x ] 

freedom that has burned bright before a world that cries out 

for liberty, but we should never forget that we have been 

able to preserve this precious gift throughout our history because men and women have heard the call and then said: ‘‘I 

will stand in defense of freedom and I will sacrifice for future 

generations.’’ 

In looking back on my life of public service, I have experienced moments when I also have seen that light of discovery 

of this precious gift of America and asked myself: How is it 

this precious gift is mine? I have seen the light of discovery 

at Veterans Day ceremonies as we remind ourselves that 

this gift has been earned and preserved by those who have 

fought in defense of our freedoms and especially those who 

have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I have seen it in the eyes 

of wives and young children who rush into the arms of dads 

arriving home from the frontlines of battle. I have seen it in 

the tears of joy as our Olympic athletes stand while the 

‘‘Star-Spangled Banner’’ is played before the eyes and ears of 

the world. I have seen it in the naturalization ceremonies, 

where immigrants like my mom expressed pure joy in becoming an American citizen. 

Do we not then—those of us who have been given this 

privilege and the challenge of serving in this body as U.S. 

Senators—do we not then have an obligation and a solemn 

duty to carry on the task of ensuring that the young eyes of 

future generations can see this light of discovery and continue to wonder how it is that such a precious gift is theirs? 

So, my colleagues and friends, with gratitude to the Almighty, love in my heart for each of you, and bright hopes 

for the future of our beloved country, I bid farewell. 

I yield the floor. 

TRIBUTES 

TO 

DANIEL COATS 

[ 3 ] 

Proceedings in the Senate 

TUESDAY, December 6, 2016 

Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, we all remember where 

we were on September 11, 2001. The man we honor today 

certainly does. He was in Berlin. He had only just begun his 

second day as Ambassador to Germany, and then everything 

changed. 

Planes smashed into the World Trade Center. Terrorists 

attacked the Pentagon, where his son-in-law worked. Thankfully, his family emerged unbroken that day. Others were 

not so fortunate. 

Ambassador COATS found himself thrown into a role he 

couldn’t have foreseen a day earlier, a role in which he would 

excel but one that would forever change him. Those who 

know DAN COATS say that day in September affected him 

profoundly. It shook him as a father, it sharpened him as a 

policymaker, and it clarified the stakes and his sense of responsibility. 

He may not have known it then, but he would feel the tug 

of that responsibility many years later and answer the call. 

Senator COATS had enjoyed a successful congressional career when he decided to retire in 1998. He earned a reputation for working hard, getting things accomplished, becoming 

an indispensable member of his conference. In fact, after 

DAN announced his decision not to seek reelection, thenMajority Leader Trent Lott rang him up and said, ‘‘You can’t 

leave.’’ Trent Lott recalled saying, ‘‘I can’t go forward in the 

Senate without you.’’ 

DAN’s success was no accident. He learned the legislative 

ropes working for an up-and-coming Congressman named 

Dan Quayle. He applied that knowledge as he progressed 

from Congressman Quayle’s staffer to his successor, first in 

the House, then in the Senate. 

This was evident whether DAN was refocused on rebuilding the military after the cold war, bringing opportunity to 

low-income families and children, even dissecting the finer 

points of American garbage policy—yes, garbage policy. 

[ 4 ] 

Toward the beginning of DAN’s time in the Senate, Hoosier 

landfills were filling with New Jersey trash, and Hoosiers 

were fed up. So in came DAN with a war cry—‘‘Don’t dump 

on us!’’—and just the right blend of determination, legislative know-how, and humor to capture the attention of colleagues and the hearts of constituents. 

Some were unamused in DC or Trenton, but back in Indiana, Hoosiers were over the Moon. For many, their first introduction to this plucky new Senator came through his famous Senate trash ad, the COATS for Senate commercial, 

which featured a cigar-chomping garbageman from Jersey, 

and earned DAN a place in the hallowed halls of campaign 

legend—and perhaps a ticket back to the Senate. 

While Senator Lott may not have been able to persuade 

DAN to run for reelection 8 years later, he did offer this prophetic statement as he bid him farewell: 

[DAN COATS] is leaving the Senate, but he is not leaving us. 

I have a feeling that he is going to have a real influence in many ways 

for the rest of his life, and he is going to stay close to all of us. 

How right he was. 

Fast forward to just over a decade later, former Senator 

COATS looked out and saw a country in crisis, adrift on the 

world stage, stagnant at home, and sliding into despair. DAN

was deeply unsettled. He shared his concerns with his wife 

Marsha. He realized he had two choices. He could sit back 

and watch or he could do something. 

DAN COATS chose to do something. His election was hardly 

a sure thing. He pulled through anyway. When he returned 

to the Capitol, he put his head down and he got right to 

work. DAN can be a man of few words. He doesn’t always feel 

the need to speak up, but when he does, people pay attention. It is a true mark of distinction in a body such as this 

with its big egos and sharp elbows. 

People listen to this former Ambassador when he explains 

the ins and outs of foreign policy. People listen to this veteran of previous health care debates when he dissects the 

problems of Obamacare. 

When this fiscal expert shares his waste of the week, people pay attention. It is how we learned taxpayer dollars were 

being spent on Swedish massages for bunny rabbits. It is 

how we discovered taxpayer money was being wasted to determine whether ‘‘hanger,’’ that is, ‘‘hunger’’ plus ‘‘anger,’’ is 

a real thing. 

Senator COATS knew he wasn’t going to solve all of our Nation’s problems as one Senator in one term, but he underVerDate Aug 31 2005 15:03 Apr 24, 2017 Jkt 098900 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE16\23050.TXT KAYNE
[ 5 ] 

stood the important contributions he could make. He also 

recognized his responsibility to make them. In the process, 

he cemented a legacy that will long outlast him in the Senate. It will certainly continue on in my office. My own chief 

of staff, Sharon Soderstrom, is a Coats alum. Speaker Ryan’s 

chief of staff, Dave Hoppe, is another Coats alum. The list 

of Coats staffers who have gone on to achieve great things— 

from former White House chief speechwriter Michael Gerson 

to incoming Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb—is as long as it 

is impressive. 

I know DAN is looking forward to spending more time at 

Wrigley Field after he retires. Here is the tweet DAN sent 

out last month: ‘‘A century in the making, we finally made 

it. What a great day to be a Cubs fan.’’ 

It is hard to overstate the importance of the moment for 

him. This is a guy who spent part of his honeymoon at 

Wrigley Field. So I wonder if maybe, just maybe, he was able 

to see a little of himself in his favorite team—maybe in a guy 

like fellow Indiana University Hoosier Kyle Schwarber—a 

standout player who stepped away from the game for a season and then came back and picked right up where he left 

off without a hitch, knocking it out of the park just when his 

team needed him most. 

DAN promises he is not coming back a third time. We will 

see. It is obvious DAN never needed the office or the title— 

not the first time, not the second time, not a third time. 

That said, I know DAN isn’t going to stop caring. I know 

he isn’t going to stop working. So we are going to keep the 

DAN COATS ‘‘bat signal’’ plugged in. Should the people call 

out for a hero yet again, I hope our friend will suit up one 

more time because, if nothing else, we are really going to 

miss him. 

So let us recognize and congratulate Senator COATS for his 

many years of service. Let us wish him well in his latest retirement, and let me personally thank him for his wise counsel and trusted friendship. 

I will miss you, my friend. 

Mr. DURBIN. I would say to my colleague Senator COATS

from Indiana: We served together in the House, in the Senate, and I actually visited him when he was an Ambassador 

representing the United States in Germany. It is an amazing 

public career on his part, and I wish him the very best for 

whatever the future holds for him. 

[ 6 ] 

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam President, I rise as we bid farewell to my good friend, my colleague, my captain, the senior 

Senator from Indiana, DAN COATS, who has served his State 

of Indiana and our country so well and with such honor and 

such dedication for more than 35 years. 

I also note how grateful I am to be serving with the Presiding Officer [Ms. Ayotte], for what an extraordinary Senator you have been, what a good friend. Someday I hope to 

come see the White Mountains of New Hampshire and visit 

and see your family. We have been very lucky to have been 

touched and blessed by you. 

As many of us know, my friend DAN’s service to his country started long before he was elected to this body. After 

graduating from Wheaton College in Illinois—and he has not 

often told folks he was a soccer star there—he joined the 

U.S. Army, where he served from 1966 until 1968 and 

earned the rank of staff sergeant. 

After coming to Indiana to earn a law degree at Indiana 

University’s McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, DAN

moved to Fort Wayne, where he continued his public service 

as a staff member for then-U.S. Congressman Dan Quayle. 

In 1980, DAN COATS was elected to represent the Fourth 

Congressional District of Indiana—a wonderful area which 

he served so well—and it was an office he held for 8 years. 

Then, in 1988, as Senator Quayle was elected to serve as 

Vice President, DAN COATS was appointed to the U.S. Senate, and he successfully won reelection in 1990 and in 1992. 

For 10 years, DAN continued his legacy of service to our beloved State. 

As I mentioned, DAN is the senior Senator, and I am the 

junior Senator, so whenever we have football discussions, 

DAN wins every time. 

Through his work on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee, he ensured our country was more secure and more prosperous for the future. 

In 1999, DAN retired from the Senate. He was soon called 

back, though, when President Bush asked him to serve our 

country again—this time, as U.S. Ambassador to Germany. 

Then-Ambassador COATS arrived in Germany ready for his 

duties on September 8, 2001. We know how much our world 

changed 3 days later and how important his job became in 

ensuring the United States continued its constructive relationship with our German allies and in keeping all of us safe 

back here at home. He not only forged a strong relationship 

with then-German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and Angela 

[ 7 ] 

Merkel, but he also played a key role in the establishment 

of a new U.S. Embassy in the heart of Berlin. It is hard to 

stress how critical DAN COATS’ leadership was for our country at that time, as he used American diplomacy to help 

maintain American security. 

In 2011, DAN made his return to the Senate, eager once 

again to serve the people of Indiana. Over the last 6 years, 

he has produced steadfast leadership on the Finance Committee, the Intelligence Committee, and the Joint Economic 

Committee. 

On a more personal note, I have always been able to count 

on him as a partner and a thoughtful friend, willing to work 

together to address the many issues impacting Hoosiers and 

our whole country—because, when it comes down to it, we 

are Americans, and we are all in this together. 

DAN always has been ready to roll up his sleeves and work 

in a bipartisan manner, whether it was on an issue impacting our veterans, protecting our national security, advocating 

for fiscal responsibility, or even the finer issues of government, such as making sure the Government Publishing Office could change their style guide. As the rest of us all 

know, DAN was able to make it clear that we are not Indianians; we are Hoosiers, and it should be appropriately discussed as such. 

DAN, it has been an honor to serve with you. 

He has been a true gentleman and a great teammate in 

our work to improve the lives of the hard-working Hoosier 

families we represent. I am proud of the work we have done 

together. 

As DAN leaves the Senate, I wish my friend and partner— 

my senior Senator—the best. He will be remembered for his 

extraordinary service, his love of country, his love of our 

State, and his love of his family. I hope he will be able to 

spend a lot of time with his wonderful wife Marsha, their 3 

children, and their 10 grandchildren. DAN has been blessed 

to have a wonderful family, and we have been blessed that 

we could be a part of his life. 

May God bless Senator COATS and his family, may God 

bless Indiana, and may God bless America. 

I yield the floor. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine. 

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, as I have listened to the 

eloquent farewell remarks of my friend and colleague, Senator DAN COATS of Indiana, I could not help but think that 

[ 8 ] 

he sounded happy, contented, serene, and at peace with the 

decision he has made. But he leaves the rest of us feeling 

bereft and sad and knowing that we will miss him as a 

friend and as an esteemed colleague. 

As the 114th Congress draws to a close, many words of affection and gratitude will be offered in tribute to our friend 

and colleague DAN COATS as he leaves this Chamber. But 

there is no word that better defines this outstanding leader 

than the one word that has guided his entire life, and that 

word is ‘‘service.’’ 

As we have heard from his colleague from Indiana, the 

junior Senator, in 1966, at the height of the Vietnam war, 

DAN COATS enlisted in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of 

staff sergeant. In 1980, he was elected to the U.S. House of 

Representatives from Indiana’s Fourth Congressional District, and he joined the Senate 8 years later. He quickly became widely known and deeply respected as a strong voice 

for fiscal discipline and national security and as an expert in 

our intelligence agencies and foreign affairs. 

DAN COATS left the Senate in 1999 and was named as U.S. 

Ambassador to Germany 2 years later. He arrived at his post 

in Berlin just 3 days before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I cannot help but think how fortunate our 

country was to have him in that key position at a time of 

such turmoil, anxiety, and fear for our country and all the 

world. He played a central role in strengthening the relationship between our Nation and Germany during that critical 

time. 

After his tenure as Ambassador had ended, Senator COATS

continued his service. He became the president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and offered his talents to many 

other civic and volunteer organizations, including the Center 

for Jewish and Christian Values, which he chaired with another dear friend of mine, Senator Joe Lieberman. With his 

wife Marsha, he founded the Foundation for American Renewal to advance faith-based solutions and initiatives to help 

resolve our Nation’s many social problems. 

When DAN COATS returned to the Senate in 2012, he 

pledged to the people of Indiana and to our Nation that he 

would focus his tremendous energy and extraordinary intellect on cutting wasteful spending, reducing our national 

debt, promoting progrowth, job-creating policies, and 

strengthening our national security in an era where we face 

numerous threats from every possible place. He has kept 

those promises. As a father and a grandfather—two roles 

[ 9 ] 

that I know he cherishes—Senator COATS has taken to heart 

our obligation to ensure a sound economic future for the next 

generation. 

It has been a particular honor to work side by side with 

DAN COATS on the Intelligence Committee. His public service 

through that committee will never be fully known to the public, but I can share with you that Senator COATS has almost 

an instinctual ability to get to the heart of an issue, no matter how complex or difficult the topic. That, of course, is also 

a tribute to the fact that he has thought so deeply about the 

issues that confront our country and the threats posed by 

rogue states and terrorist groups. He was one of the first 

Members of the Senate to recognize the crisis that would 

emerge due to this administration’s failed policy and incoherent strategy toward Syria. 

His strong and effective advocacy for improved cybersecurity, a passion that we share, is another example of his 

deep commitment to the safety and security of our Nation 

and its people. For years, Senator COATS has worked to protect our Nation’s most critical infrastructure from devastating cyberattacks. Senator COATS has warned us that it 

is not a matter of if but of when such attacks occur right 

here in our country. He did so—he led the way—knowing of 

the political pressure that would be brought to bear to accept 

the status quo of cyberinsecurity that exists within our country’s most important infrastructure. 

Senator DAN COATS is an inspiring role model to all of us 

who seek to serve. He epitomizes dedication, effective service, and an untiring commitment to making America—already the greatest country in the world—an even better 

place to live. Our Nation is truly grateful to this great man, 

and I am so grateful for his friendship. 

I wish Senator COATS and his family all the best in the 

years to come. 

Mr. PORTMAN. Madam President, I speak today as a 

neighbor of DAN COATS. I am his neighbor here on the Senate floor, and I am his neighbor back home. I represent the 

State of Ohio, and he represents Indiana. I also was involved 

in DAN COATS’ early political career because I was asked to 

interview him when I was a young lawyer for his potential 

move from the House to the Senate. There was no way to be 

involved in that process without acquiring great respect and 

admiration for this man. 

I got to know about his family and his background. He is 

literally and figuratively a Boy Scout in every way. He is 

[ 10 ] 

also a guy who we will miss here greatly. He has become the 

voice of reason, the voice of wisdom, and the voice of knowledge here in the Senate. In our conference meetings, he is 

the person who, when he stands up to speak, others stop 

their conversations and actually listen, which is a rare trait 

for people in public office sometimes. But that is because 

DAN is always sincere, he is to the point, and, again, he has 

the experience and knowledge to be able to speak intelligently on a whole range of issues—some which we heard 

about today on the national security front. But also, he is an 

advocate for economic growth. He is the leader here on tax 

reform proposals. He is the guy who continually reminds us 

of our solemn duty here to represent all the people. 

So, DAN, we will miss you greatly. I know Marsha is happy 

to have you around a little more. You are going to have a 

great time with your grandkids, as we have talked about. 

But we know that there will be a great loss here when you 

move on. I have to find a new neighbor. 

I yield the floor. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri. 

Mr. BLUNT. Madam President, I have one story I want to 

tell about Senator COATS. 

We have been able to serve together on the Intel Committee. We sit near each other on that committee. We work 

together on other things. 

I came to the Senate when Senator COATS came back to 

the Senate. It has already been established here that he 

served and then served in another capacity as Ambassador. 

Then in 2010, when the Presiding Officer [Ms. Ayotte] and 

I came to the Senate, he came with us. In almost everything 

in the Senate, there is some element of seniority in how everything is done. 

As the only person in our class with prior Senate service, 

DAN COATS is the ranking member of our class. He was 88th 

in seniority in the Senate the day he started his second term 

of the Senate. For circumstances, I turned out to be 89th. 

In the process of going through and selecting offices, when 

they got to 88, DAN COATS called me, standing in the hallway of the Russell Senate Office Building, and he said, ‘‘I am 

standing here in front of an office that says it was Harry 

Truman’s office when he was in the Senate. You choose after 

me; don’t you?’’ 

I said, ‘‘Yes, I choose after you.’’ 

He said, ‘‘If I don’t take this office, will you take it?’’ 

[ 11 ] 

It was the best of the 12 offices still left. That wouldn’t 

have been the reason I would take it, but I said, ‘‘Yes, I will 

take that office.’’ It would be great for me to be in an office 

in which Harry Truman had spent 10 years while in the 

Senate, and I later found out he also spent 82 days as Vice 

President in that office. 

I said, ‘‘I will stay there if I take that office.’’ 

I am actually the only Member who—every year when the 

question comes around ‘‘Do you want to look at another office?’’ I check the ‘‘no’’ box and send it right back. Almost everybody else checks the ‘‘yes’’ box because they want to see 

the real estate in the building that is available. 

I said, ‘‘I will stay there if I take it.’’ 

He said, ‘‘Well, I am going to find an office somewhere 

else.’’ 

I have chaired the Rules Committee in the last couple of 

years. I deal with lots of Members about lots of requests. I 

don’t actually know of very many similar circumstances. In 

fact, I don’t know of any exactly like that one where Senator 

COATS said: ‘‘I want you to have the office.’’ 

I mentioned it to him again the other day, and he said: 

‘‘You know, the reason for that was, it was the right thing 

to do.’’ 

If there is any part of DAN COATS’ character that comes 

through time after time, it is that part. It is that part of who 

he is that always wants to do the right thing. He is a man 

of great conscience, of great courage, of great willingness to 

serve. He is a good friend, and it has been one of the honors 

of my life in elected office that I have gotten to spend 6 years 

working in the Senate with him. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland. 

Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, first, I notice that Senator COATS is still on the floor. I want to add my personal 

congratulations to Senator COATS for an incredible career of 

public service, not only here in the Senate but serving our 

country in a very important diplomatic role. 

Senator COATS has added such dignity to this body. He is 

a person of incredible integrity and a person who always listens and tries to do what is right not only for the people of 

his State but for our Nation. It has been a real honor to 

serve with Senator COATS in the U.S. Senate, and I wish him 

only the best going forward. I know he will continue to find 

ways to help our country. 

[ 12 ] 

WEDNESDAY, December 7, 2016 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor 

our colleagues who are leaving us at the end of this Congress, six individuals who have done a lot to shape how the 

Senate operates today. 

First I would like to thank my three Republican colleagues 

who are departing. Thank you not only for your service to 

our country but your willingness to work with me and other 

members of my party on a number of issues. 

Mr. President, Senator COATS and I served on the Intelligence Committee together. He was a supporter of many of 

our efforts, including our encryption bill to require all companies to abide by lawful court orders. . . . 

THURSDAY, December 8, 2016 

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I want to take an opportunity 

to salute and thank and commend my colleagues who are departing. . . . 

We also have other colleagues departing: Senator Ayotte 

from New Hampshire; Senator Boxer of California, Senator 

COATS of Indiana; as I mentioned, Senator Kirk of Illinois; 

Senator Mikulski of Maryland; Senator Reid of Nevada; and 

Senator Vitter of Louisiana. Each has brought passion in 

their work to best serve their constituents, and the institution of the Senate and the Nation are better for this service. 

I am better for knowing them, working with them, and having the opportunity to share with them, and I want to thank 

them for their service. Let me mention a few words with respect to all of these distinguished Senators. . . . 

Mr. President, DAN COATS and I served together. This goes 

back to both his tenures in the Senate. DAN and I served in 

the Armed Services and HELP Committees. He was a remarkable Member. He continues to be a remarkable Member. He left us for a while to serve as Ambassador to Germany. Once again—no surprise—he distinguished himself 

with his thoughtful support of American policy, with his 

international approach to issues of concern, and with the 

ability to bring people together, not just colleagues in the 

Senate but, also, international colleagues. 

When he returned, I was very grateful for his help. Senator Dean Heller and I were working very hard together on 

a bipartisan basis to help unemployment insurance extenVerDate Aug 31 2005 15:03 Apr 24, 2017 Jkt 098900 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE16\23050.TXT KAYNE
[ 13 ] 

sion. DAN joined us in that effort, and I thank him for that. 

It reflects the huge range of talent and interests that he has 

and, also, his commitment to the men and women of Indiana, 

particularly the working men and women of Indiana. . . . 

I have been very fortunate. I have had the privilege to 

serve with these ladies and gentlemen, and I want to thank 

them for their service. 

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, it is an honor for anyone to 

serve in the U.S. Senate. Giving voice to your constituents’ 

views is a humbling responsibility. It is one thing to be 

called to serve; it is another to come back for a second tour 

of duty. Senator DAN COATS’ life is one of public service, beginning with military service and culminating for now in his 

retirement this year from the Senate—his second tenure representing the people of Indiana. 

Senator COATS has championed a number of efforts during 

his terms in the Senate. I am particularly grateful for his 

support of the National Guard and his support for our efforts 

to empower the National Guard within the Pentagon. Senator COATS has been a watchdog of government spending, a 

supporter of critical home assistance programs for lowincome families such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and was a supporter of our most recent efforts to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. 

Senator COATS has come a long way since his early days 

as a State staffer for then-Representative and future Vice 

President Dan Quayle. I am sure Hoosiers have not seen the 

last this public servant will offer. I wish him, his wife, Marsha, and their entire family the best in retirement. 

Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I know it is always difficult 

to come to the floor and talk about the departure of our good 

friends and valued colleagues. The word I have heard mentioned the most this week is ‘‘bittersweet’’—people looking 

forward to the next chapter of their lives but regretting the 

fact that good friends and valued colleagues are moving on 

to the next chapter of their lives. Every other December, we 

find ourselves bidding farewell to some of our most admired 

and respected Members. Today I wish to speak briefly about 

four of them, starting with our good friend from New Hampshire, Senator Ayotte. . . . 

Mr. President, next I wish to recognize our friend, Senator 

DAN COATS. Senator COATS is a well-known commodity not 

just in Hoosier country but across the United States. He has 

earned the reputation of a distinguished statesman who 

[ 14 ] 

genuinely doesn’t need an introduction because his sterling 

reputation precedes him. 

We know his impressive resume. After serving the country 

as a soldier in the Army, he decided he wanted to continue 

in public service, so he worked as a congressional staffer for 

then-Congressman Dan Quayle. When his boss decided to 

run for the Senate and won, DAN COATS took his boss’ congressional seat to serve in the House of Representatives. 

When Senator Quayle became Vice President Quayle, Representative COATS became Senator COATS, following on in his 

example. 

He broke that pattern of following in the footsteps of the 

former Vice President when he was appointed Ambassador to 

Germany. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, he was an instrumental diplomat, working with our allies in Europe as 

we responded and as the world responded to the worst terror 

attack on our country in our history. 

I know I speak for every Member here when I say that we 

are grateful Senator COATS came out of retirement and came 

back to the Senate in 2010. We have come to know that he 

is a warrior when it comes to wasteful Washington spending, 

and every week he comes to the floor to talk about his waste 

of the week. It is a service to all of us, really, to remind us 

that we have a lot of work to do in that area but also to 

point out how we can save taxpayers’ dollars and use them 

more efficiently. 

Many folks wouldn’t know that he regularly attends the 

weekly Prayer Breakfast we have here in the Senate as well, 

which is a great time for Senators to come together and to 

support one another. It reflects DAN’s commitment to faithfully encourage his colleagues day in and day out. 

My colleagues know that Senator COATS is also a big fan 

of getting things done during votes, and he knows how to 

work a room. He has been on the deputy whip team and 

helped consult with and helped inform our colleagues in a 

way that has helped us to actually get legislation passed by 

unifying us. 

Suffice it to say Senator COATS is a true diplomat wherever he goes, and this Chamber has been a better, more civil 

place with him in it. 

I know DAN would be the first to tell us that his decades 

of public service were made possible because of the equal 

partner he has in his wife Marsha. They met in college. They 

have been married more than 50 years, and they are a great 

[ 15 ] 

example to all of us. So thanks to Marsha and their children 

and grandchildren for sharing DAN all these years. 

I have a suspicion that Senator COATS doesn’t have it in 

him to step totally away from public service, and there has 

been some news and discussion as to whether he might be 

in the running for another important position, perhaps in the 

next administration. I know we all look forward to seeing 

where he goes next to serve our country, which we know is 

so important to him. . . . 

Let me close by saying thank you again to our friends Senator Kirk, Senator Vitter, Senator COATS, and Senator 

Ayotte for the indelible mark and contributions they made to 

the Senate and my sincere appreciation for how they have 

faithfully served our country. I am grateful for their friendship and wish them and their families well as they tackle 

new ventures ahead. 

Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, as this session of Congress 

draws to a close, it provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge and express our appreciation to those Members of 

the Senate who will be retiring in a few weeks. One of those 

who will be retiring and will be greatly missed is DAN COATS

of Indiana. DAN has had an interesting career and through 

his more than 15 years in the Senate has made a difference. 

He has been a reliable vote for the best interests of his 

home State and the future of the Nation, and he leaves behind a legacy of which he should be very proud. DAN’s first 

years of service in the Congress began in 1981, when he 

served in the House of Representatives. He was then appointed to the U.S. Senate when Dan Quayle was elected 

Vice President. 

He served in the Senate from 1989 to 1999, when his selfimposed term-limit pledge brought to an end his first years 

as a Senator. It was not long thereafter that DAN was again 

asked to serve, this time as Ambassador to Germany. 

He arrived in Germany and took up his service there just 

before our Nation experienced the tragic event of September 

11. Our relationship with our allies took on prime importance after that, and we were fortunate to have DAN abroad 

to maintain our strong friendship with the German Government and people. 

Several years later, the Indiana Senate seat was open 

again, and DAN took up the challenge to run again to serve 

the people of his home State in the Senate. The people of Indiana and our Nation, conservatives and people of faith, 

have been fortunate to have DAN to rely on. He has been a 

[ 16 ] 

steady and dependable force for taking better care of our Nation’s finances and keeping a close watch on our security. 

Last year, after a great deal of prayer and thought and 

consideration, DAN did announce that he would not be running for another term in the Senate. It was a decision he 

made once again with the people of his home State in mind. 

He has always been determined to have the best representatives in place to serve the people of Indiana and address 

those issues that most concerned him. 

With that in mind, DAN announced that he believed ‘‘the 

time has come to pass this demanding job to the next generation of leaders.’’ We will miss DAN. We will miss his background and experience. We will miss his reasonable, appropriate, and well-timed comments and his ability to get results. I look forward to his next challenge or adventure and 

know he will continue to look out for what is best for our Nation and our people. 

DAN has been a great source of strength and support for 

our party and he will be missed. To you, DAN, Diana and I 

join in sending our best wishes and our appreciation to you 

and Marsha. Together, you have been great examples of the 

importance of public service. The organization you founded, 

the Foundation for American Renewal, and the Project for 

American Renewal that you created have helped you to focus 

on and work toward solutions to many of our problems. 

That is also a part of our legacy and why you will continue 

to receive the recognition you deserve. You have also been a 

part of a number of community and volunteer organizations. 

For these and so many more reasons, we thank you and 

Marsha for devoting so much of your life to making our Nation a better place to live. You certainly achieved that goal 

and we wish you both the best. . . . 

Good luck to these fellow Senators. 

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, I rise today to join my 

colleague, DAN COATS, our senior Senator from Indiana, who 

is wrapping up his time in the Senate as of the next few 

weeks. What an extraordinary service he has provided to our 

Nation, to our State. We are incredibly grateful to Senator 

COATS for what he has done. . . . 

To my friend, the senior Senator from Indiana, I wish to 

tell you what a pleasure it has been to serve with you, what 

a good friend you have been, and how lucky I am to have 

been your junior partner in this endeavor where we try to 

stand for America every single day. 

[ 17 ] 

FRIDAY, December 9, 2016 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR. . . . Madam President, I will close my 

remarks by turning to some of our retiring Senators and 

speaking briefly on each one of them. . . . 

I also worked at length with Senator COATS. We both serve 

on the Joint Economic Committee. He has shown great leadership there, and also, again, an ability to work across the 

aisle. He believes strongly in civility and in getting to know 

your fellow Senators. We are going to miss him dearly for his 

pleasant way and his ability to cross over the aisle and work 

together. I also want to thank him for the work he did on 

an adoption bill that we worked on together. 

Mr. HATCH. . . . I want to thank the members of our Finance Committee for their efforts this year. They have all 

been exemplary colleagues to work with. Even when we disagreed, we have had good discussions. 

Today, I want to particularly thank Senator COATS, who is, 

as we know, retiring at the end of this Congress. We will 

miss the senior Senator from Indiana’s stalwart presence on 

the Finance Committee and in the Senate as a whole. I wish 

him the best of luck. . . . 

Mr. MCCONNELL. . . . It goes without saying that keeping 

the Capitol running is a vast undertaking. It requires a passion for service, round-the-clock work, and great sacrifice by 

everyone employed. The legislative process simply wouldn’t 

be possible without the dedicated work of so many. On behalf 

of the Senate, I would like to acknowledge their efforts and 

say thank you to the following: 

To my leadership team for their wise counsel; to our committee chairs and ranking members for so much great work 

over the past 2 years; to the many colleagues in both parties 

for working so hard to make this Senate a success; and, to 

those we are saying farewell to—Senators COATS, Boxer, Mikulski, Reid, Vitter, Kirk, and Ayotte—for your service to our 

country, I say thank you. . . . 

Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to 

my friend DAN COATS. DAN has twice served the people of 

Indiana as Senator, first in the late 1980s and 1990s, and 

again for the past 6 years. DAN is a man of integrity and a 

leader in the fight against government waste. He will be 

missed. 

[ 18 ] 

Senator COATS was born in Jackson, MI, in 1943 and attended Wheaton College in Illinois and Indiana University 

School of Law. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 

1968, during which time he deepened his lifelong love of our 

country. 

DAN began his career in politics in 1976 when he went to 

work for future Vice President Dan Quayle, who at the time 

was serving in the House as a Representative from Indiana. 

When Representative Quayle decided to run for the Senate 

in 1980, DAN ran for and won Dan Quayle’s House seat. 

DAN served four terms in the House before being appointed to the Senate in 1989 to fill the remainder of Senator 

Quayle’s term after he was elected Vice President. DAN

served in the Senate until 1999. He was a leader in tax and 

entitlement reform and provided unwavering support to our 

Armed Forces. 

After Senator COATS retired from the Senate, President 

George W. Bush appointed him Ambassador to Germany, 

where he developed a close working relationship with future 

Chancellor Angela Merkel and oversaw construction of a new 

Embassy near the Brandenburg Gate. 

But DAN soon felt the pull of the Senate again and decided 

to return to this body in 2010, winning election to his old 

seat. Over the past 6 years, Senator COATS has again been 

a leader in tax and entitlement reform and has become well 

known for his waste of the week speeches, in which he comes 

to the floor to highlight particularly egregious examples of 

government waste and abuse. 

Senator COATS has served the people of Indiana well. He 

has served our country well. He has led the fight against 

wasteful spending and helped keep our government accountable. I wish him, his wife, Marsha, and their family the very 

best. 

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, much of the time here in the 

Senate, we are engaged in pretty fierce partisan battles. I 

would like to take a break from that for a moment and talk 

about the four Republican Senators who will not be back 

when the 115th Congress convenes next month. While we 

may have different political philosophies and policy prescriptions, I respect and admire each of them, and I will miss 

working with all of them. . . . 

Mr. President, there is a famous quote attributed to the 

American author F. Scott Fitzgerald: ‘‘There are no second 

acts in American lives.’’ We all know that to be untrue and, 

as it turns out, so did Fitzgerald, who was quintessentially 

[ 19 ] 

American. What he actually wrote, in an essay called ‘‘My 

Lost City,’’ is this: ‘‘I once thought that there were no second 

acts in American lives.’’ 

If we want to see a successful ‘‘second act’’ we need to look 

no further than to the senior Senator from Indiana, Mr. 

COATS. He is actually on about his fourth act. 

Senator COATS graduated from Wheaton College and then 

began his long service to our Nation by enlisting in the U.S. 

Army. Following his military service, he attended the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He excelled academically, becoming associate editor of the Indiana 

Law Review, and earned his juris doctor degree. 

Senator COATS served as a district representative to thenRepresentative Dan Quayle. When Dan Quayle was elected 

to the Senate in 1980, DAN COATS won his House seat and 

was reelected four times, never receiving less than 60 percent of the vote. When Dan Quayle was elected Vice President in 1988, DAN COATS was appointed to the Senate seat 

being vacated and then won elections in 1990 and 1992. 

During what I will call Senator COATS’ ‘‘first’’ congressional career, he focused on cutting taxes and government 

spending and reforming entitlement programs. In 1998, he 

honored a term-limit pledge he had made to his Hoosier constituents and did not run for reelection to the Senate. 

For many people, 18 years in Congress might be enough, 

but Senator COATS was just getting started. After he left the 

Senate, he joined the prestigious law firm of Verner, Liipfert, 

Bernhard, McPherson and Hand. In 2001, then-President 

Bush nominated Senator COATS to be Ambassador to the 

Federal Republic of Germany. He arrived in Germany just 3 

days before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In the 

aftermath of 9/11, Ambassador COATS established excellent 

relations with then-opposition leader and future German 

Chancellor Angela Merkel—a crucial ally—and managed the 

construction of a new U.S. Embassy in the heart of Berlin, 

next to the Brandenburg Gate. 

Senator COATS served honorably as Ambassador for 31⁄2

years and then returned to practicing law at another ‘‘blue 

chip’’ law firm, King & Spalding. He also served as president 

of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and on the boards of 

many civic and volunteer organizations, including the Center 

for Jewish and Christian Values, which he cochaired with 

Senator Joe Lieberman. Senator COATS and his wife, Marsha, formed the Foundation For American Renewal to continue their engagement in faith-based initiatives. 

[ 20 ] 

Senator COATS began his ‘‘second’’ congressional career by 

running successfully for his old Senate seat in 2010. During 

Senator COATS’ second stint, I have had the pleasure of serving with him on the Finance Committee, where we worked 

together to help charities receive timely notice on issues related to their tax-exempt status. I appreciate Senator COATS’ 

calm and steady demeanor, the diligence he applies to his 

work, and the civility he extends to his colleagues. 

Senator COATS may be retiring from the Senate, but I have 

a hunch there will be yet another successful act in his long, 

distinguished career. While we may have policy disagreements, I have no doubt that Senator COATS is committed to 

the common good and will find new ways to serve. I anticipate, however, that he will also seek to spend more time 

with his wife, Marsha, whom he met in college, their 3 children, and their 10 grandchildren. 

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, as this eventful 114th Congress draws to a close, today I wish to honor a number of our 

colleagues who will be ending their service in the Senate. I 

was a newcomer to the Senate at the beginning of this Congress and the only Democrat in the freshman Senate class 

of 2014. I am eternally grateful for the guidance and wisdom 

of my fellow Senators, particularly those with decades of experience fighting for the American people. Constituents, colleagues, and historians will recount their accomplishments 

for years to come, but I will take a few minutes now to convey some brief words of praise and gratitude. . . . 

Mr. President, I would also like to extend my warm wishes 

to Senator DAN COATS. He has served ably as chairman of 

the Joint Economic Committee, and I have been proud to sit 

on the committee during his tenure. He has convened important hearings to discuss essential issues including the Federal debt, the effects of automation on our economy, tax reform, and economic growth. I appreciate his consistent efforts to create a bipartisan forum where we can discuss innovative ideas for addressing our Nation’s economic challenges. 

As a fellow midwesterner, Senator COATS knows that we 

must have big ideas and bigger hearts as we move forward, 

committed to helping all Americans achieve the future they 

deserve. . . . 

It has been a privilege to work with such talented and 

committed colleagues. I wish them all the best in this next 

chapter of their lives and thank them for their work. Thank 

you. 

[ 21 ] 

ORDER FOR PRINTING OF SENATE DOCUMENTS 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 

that there be printed as a Senate document a compilation of 

materials from the Congressional Record in tribute to retiring Members of the 114th Congress, and an additional Senate document a compilation of materials from the Congressional Record in tribute to the President of the Senate, Joe 

Biden, and that Members have until Tuesday, December 20, 

to submit such tributes. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

ORDER FOR PRINTING 

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 

that any tributes submitted by December 20, 2016, as authorized by the order of December 10, 2016, be printed in the 

January 3, 2017, Congressional Record of the 114th Congress. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

[ 23 ] 

Proceedings in 

the House of Representatives 

THURSDAY, December 8, 2016 

Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I want to use some of the 

last time that we have to honor a great Hoosier. I know others will have comments and, today, as we recognize Indiana’s 

200th birthday, it is also important to acknowledge the contribution of one of those who has made an indelible mark on 

our shared history. 

Without a doubt, one of those people is a man who delivered his final speech from the Senate floor this past week 

with a heartfelt message about preserving the freedoms that 

make this country so great. 

Senator DAN COATS exemplifies what it means to be a public servant. He has dedicated his life to improving the lives 

of his fellow citizens. 

He served his country in the U.S. Army; he has spent time 

in both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate; he served as an 

Ambassador to Germany, assuming that role just 3 days 

prior to the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001. 

After this distinguished career, Senator COATS answered 

the call to serve his fellow citizens once again in the U.S. 

Senate, where he has been a national leader on reducing 

Federal spending, fixing our economy, and keeping our Nation safe and secure. 

A little personal story. I was a cardiovascular surgeon 

prior to coming to Congress. When I spend time at events 

with Senator COATS, he always likes to tell everyone he feels 

very comfortable because, if he has a heart problem, Congressman Bucshon will pick up a butter knife or something 

and fix him up right there on the spot. 

It is a really humorous story that I enjoy his telling every 

time we are together at an event. Senator COATS has a great 

sense of humor. While his time in the Senate has come to an 

end, I am also confident he will continue to be a voice and 

an advocate for the issues he cares about most. Our State 

[ 24 ] 

and our country are lucky to have benefited from the service 

of a great man like Senator DAN COATS. 

I wish DAN and Marsha all the best. 

Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 

Indiana (Mr. Messer), who represents the Sixth District. 

Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, when given the opportunity to 

say something nice about DAN COATS, I didn’t want to pass 

it up. If I could give one word to describe U.S. Senator DAN

COATS, it would be ‘‘Hoosier.’’ He is a person of grace and humility, hard work, and humor. He never worried about who 

got credit, loved his country, and made the sacrifices through 

his life and career to make our country better. 

I am honored to call DAN a friend, and I appreciate his 

mentorship of our entire delegation in the time that I have 

had an opportunity to serve here. I suspect DAN’s service for 

our country isn’t quite over yet, and I look forward to whatever he does next. 

One of the other great things about DAN COATS is he is a 

family man. I certainly wish DAN, Marsha, and their entire 

family a great future. 

Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman is right. 

I don’t know if DAN COATS will ever be able to retire. I know 

he wants to. 

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 

Stutzman), who is from the Third Congressional District in 

the northeast. 

Mr. STUTZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I just want to stand here 

in front of this House and this body to honor our Senator, 

DAN COATS, who served Indiana in so many different capacities. I actually have the privilege of representing his district, the Third District in northeast Indiana. 

We have such a long line of great leaders from northeast 

Indiana who have served here in Washington from our State, 

and DAN COATS, of course, exemplified a man of character, 

humbleness, and leadership. He followed former Vice President Dan Quayle. 

I also would like to recognize him as well. He is another 

man who showed leadership for our State here in Washington, DC. 

Both of those gentlemen have been heroes and models for 

me growing up, watching both of them as they took time to 

come to Washington and show what Hoosier leadership is all 

about. 

[ 25 ] 

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman again for honoring 

them today. 

Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. 

In closing this out, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that 

Indiana has produced no shortage of great statesmen, as we 

reflected on this last half hour, and Senator DAN COATS has 

indisputably joined their ranks after decades of service to 

both our State and to our country. My own history with Senator COATS goes way back to when I was an intern in his 

Senate office. If he were on this floor today, Mr. Speaker, I 

am sure he would say that I was one of the worst interns 

he ever had. Nonetheless, he started my career in politics 

with that unpaid job that was one of the best experiences of 

my life. He has conservative leadership, and I know that he 

was anxious to get back to helping out the office and do 

whatever he could for the State of Indiana, however he 

could. 

Since those many years ago, since those first observations 

that I have had of Senator COATS, he has gone from Senator, 

to U.S. Ambassador to Germany, and back to Senator again. 

It is a long and distinguished career full of dedication to 

right ideals and the desire to fight for what is best for all 

Hoosier families and what is best for Americans. 

I appreciate all of the work, as we all do, that Senator 

COATS has done and the causes he has advocated for and for 

his counsel. As I have said, I don’t know if he is actually 

going to be able to retire at this time, but whatever his desire, he deserves it. 

I have no doubt that he will continue to represent the best 

interests of our State and this country even after his time in 

the Senate has come to an end. I would like to issue a heartfelt thank you for all of his work, and I wish him my best 

on all his future endeavors. 

Again, Mr. Speaker, I hope you will please join us all in 

wishing Indiana a happy birthday on this wonderful occasion 

of our 200th anniversary. 

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. 

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 

honor and recognition of Senator DAN COATS, a U.S. Army 

veteran, former Member of the House of Representatives, 

U.S. Ambassador to Germany and a great Hoosier. I’ve had 

the pleasure of serving with Senator COATS as a fellow member of the Indiana delegation since my first term in 2013. In 

fact, the first legislation that I introduced and got passed 

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into law was a bill that I worked on with Senator COATS and 

his team, the Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act. 

During his time in the Senate, he has been a passionate 

advocate for Hoosiers, working on policies that are focused 

on getting more Americans back to work and getting our 

economy back on track. His leadership will be missed, but I 

know that he and his wife Marsha will continue to do great 

things that make a difference for Hoosiers as they begin this 

next chapter of their lives. 

Thank you, Senator COATS, for all of your work to represent our great State of Indiana, and best wishes as you 

embark on your next adventure. 

Æ