Roland W. Burris 

U.S. SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS 

TRIBUTES

IN THE CONGRESS OF 

THE UNITED STATES 

UNUM

E PLURIBUS

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Roland W. Burris 

Courtesy U.S. Senate Historical Office 
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 2012

S. DOC. 111–27 

Tributes

Delivered in Congress 

Roland W. Burris 

United States Senator 

2009–2010

÷ 
Compiled under the direction 

of the 

Joint Committee on Printing 
[ iii ] 

CONTENTS

Page

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

Farewell to the Senate ............................................................................. vii 

Proceedings in the Senate: 

Tributes by Senators: 

Akaka, Daniel K., of Hawaii ..................................................... 10 

Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee ............................................... 5 

Burris, Roland W., of Illinois .................................................... 5 

Carper, Thomas R., of Delaware ............................................... 5 

Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota ................................................. 8 

Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois ................................................... 9 

Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming ................................................... 8 

Hagan, Kay R., of North Carolina ............................................ 5 

Levin, Carl, of Michigan ............................................................ 4 

Murkowski, Lisa, of Alaska ....................................................... 10 

Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island ...................................................... 7 

Reid, Harry, of Nevada .............................................................. 3, 7 

Warner, Mark R., of Virginia .................................................... 3 

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[ v ] 

BIOGRAPHY

Prior to being appointed to the U.S. Senate, ROLAND W.

BURRIS had been elected four times to statewide office in Illinois—three terms as comptroller (1979–1991) and one term 

as attorney general (1991–1995); and served as the administrative officer in the Governor’s cabinet in charge of central 

management services for the State of Illinois (1973–1977). 

Senator BURRIS also has an extensive background in the 

business and financial sectors, serving as the National Bank 

Examiner for the Comptroller of the Currency for the U.S. 

Treasury Department (1963–1964) and vice president of the 

largest bank in Illinois—the Continental Illinois National 

Bank where he worked both in the trust tax department and 

commercial lending (1964–1973). Immediately before coming 

to the Senate, he served as chairman/CEO of Burris & Lebed 

Consulting, LLC, a strategic consulting service concentrating 

in the areas of public relations, governmental representation, 

political strategies, and corporate strategies. He served as 

national executive director and chief operations officer of Operation PUSH. He also served as an independent director on 

the Board of the Inland Real Estate Corporation (listed on 

the NYSE IRC) from 1996 to 2008. 

While serving as State comptroller, in 1984 ROLAND

BURRIS produced the first financial statement for the State 

of Illinois. He served as president of the National Association 

of Comptrollers, as well as president of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers. He was 

instrumental in the establishment of the Government Accounting Standards Board, which became a part of the Financial Accounting Foundation. From 1991 to 1994 he 

served as a trustee of the Financial Accounting Foundation 

Board. He also led the effort before the U.S. Congress to create a comptroller for the U.S. Government, which became the 

number 4 spot in the Office of Management and Budget. He 

served 3 years on the executive board as a Trustee of the 

Government Finance Office Association of the United States 

and Canada. He was elected as the first non-CPA to the 

board of directors of an Illinois CPA Society from 2000 to 

2002. In 1986 he was selected as one of the three ‘‘Out7 2012 Jkt 064806 PO 00000 F 00009 F t 6688 Sf t 6688 H \DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE10\64806 TXT KAYNE
[ vi ] 

standing Financial Officers in the United States’’ by Crain’s

Small Business magazine (Chicago ed.). 

Throughout his career, Mr. BURRIS served on the following 

boards: The Illinois Criminal Justice Authority Board, the 

Law Enforcement Foundation of Illinois, and the Illinois Supreme Court Committee for Civil Jury Instructions. He was 

the chair of the Illinois State Justice Commission, and 

served on the Chicago Area Boy Scouts of America’s board. 

His citations include ‘‘Who’s Who in America,’’ ‘‘Who’s Who 

in Government,’’ ‘‘Who’s Who in Law,’’ and was recognized 

annually from 1979 to 1995 by Ebony magazine as one of the 

‘‘100 Most Influential Black Americans.’’ 

Mr. BURRIS was born and raised in Centralia, IL. He attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale receiving 

a bachelor of arts degree in political science. He was an exchange student on scholarship to study international law at 

the University of Hamburg in Germany. He earned his juris 

doctorate degree (JD) from Howard University School of 

Law.

He is married to Dr. Berlean M. Burris, Ph.D. and is the 

father of two adult children, Dr. Rolanda S. Burris, Ed.D. 

and Roland W. Burris II, Esq., and has two grandsons. 

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[ vii ] 

Farewell to the Senate 

Thursday, November 18, 2010 

Mr. BURRIS. Madam President, as you know, one of the 

first duties delegated to freshman Senators is the high honor 

of presiding over the Senate. I remember the very first time 

I sat where you are sitting now, Madam President. Throughout my time as a Member of this august body, I have had 

the opportunity to spend more than 200 hours in the Presiding Officer’s chair and have earned two Golden Gavels. I 

also had the honor of delivering our first President’s—President George Washington’s— Farewell Address on his birthday this year to this august body. From the chair, I have had 

the opportunity to listen to the words of my colleagues and 

reflect upon the great debate that unfolds each and every 

day—as it has always done throughout our Nation’s history—in this, the greatest deliberative body in the world. 

We come to this Chamber from every State in the Union— 

Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike. Each of us 

carries the solemn responsibility of giving voice to the concerns of those we represent. Although we do not always 

agree, as the debate on this floor will often show, I am always struck by the passion that drives each and every Senator to stand in this singular place in the world and to speak 

their mind. It is this passion that will always define this 

Chamber for me. For all the weight of history—for all the 

great and eloquent sentiments that have been expressed by 

our forefathers—on a fundamental level this remains a very 

human place. 

We stand today, as the Members of this body have done 

frequently throughout our great Republic’s history, at a critical moment. Partisanship and obstructionism threaten to 

somewhat paralyze this great institution. But it is a testament to the inherent wisdom and durability of the Senate— 

of the rules and the tradition that govern this institution— 

that even in the face of great discord we have had the high 

privilege of serving in the most productive Congress in generations.

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Despite our many differences, I believe the men and 

women who make up this Senate remain its greatest 

strength. It has been the honor of my lifetime to once again 

represent the people of Illinois and to do so in the Senate. 

First, as a cabinet member for our Governor, as the Illinois 

State comptroller, and as Illinois attorney general, the people of my State placed in me a sacred trust and one that 

throughout my 30 years in public service I made into my 

life’s work: to serve the people of my State to the very best 

of my ability. 

In my younger years, shortly after graduating from law 

school at Howard University, not far from where we stand 

today, I was turned off by a city with far too much government. I headed to Chicago, convinced that I would not return 

to this city unless I could be an effective and meaningful 

part of the solution to the many challenges we face and 

dreaming of a time I might come back to Washington as a 

Senator or as Vice President of the United States. 

That dream took longer to achieve than I could have imagined that day, but in a towering testament to the vibrancy 

of the American dream, that day came. After decades of experience in the executive branch of Illinois government, I 

was sworn in as a Senator for Illinois, and this became my 

first introduction to serving as a legislator. It was the steepest of learning curves, but with the warm assistance of my 

Senate colleagues, the steady support of my loving family, 

and the dedication of my tireless staff, I could not be more 

proud of what we have been able to accomplish together. 

To my family, my friends, and my staff I owe the deepest 

thanks. My wife Berlean has always been by my side, and 

I will always be grateful beyond words for her constant support. My son, Roland II and his wife Marty, and my daughter Rolanda are the pride and joy of my life. Of course, they 

were just here yesterday, my two grandchildren, Roland 

Theodore and Ian Alexander, to whom I dedicate my service 

and for whom I have the greatest hopes and even greater expectations.

To my friends and supporters from Chicago to Centralia, 

I will never forget your smiles and your kind words during 

even the most difficult of times. To my staff, in DC, and 

those in Springfield, Moline, and Carbondale, you have been 

some of the most dedicated, talented, and professional individuals with whom I ever had the privilege to serve. From 

the front office staff assistants and interns answering the 

endless ringing telephones, to my circle of senior advisers 

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who gave me wise and thoughtful counsel throughout, my 

team has been indispensable to me, and they have all served 

the people of Illinois with distinction. I am deeply grateful 

for their service. 

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the complete list of my staff be printed in the Record following my 

remarks.

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Hagan). Without objection, it is so ordered. 

(See exhibit 1, p. xiv.) 

Mr. BURRIS. Thank you, Madam President. 

I wish to extend a special word of gratitude to my old 

friend who is sitting right there, the Sergeant at Arms, Terry 

Gainer; the Secretary of the Senate, Nancy Erickson; the secretary for the majority, Lula Davis; for their many 

kindnesses, and a thank you to the Senate Chaplain, Dr. 

Barry Black, for his counsel and prayers during my time 

here.

I also wish to acknowledge my fellow freshman Senators: 

Senators Begich, Bennet, Franken, Gillibrand; the Presiding 

Officer, the North Carolinian, Senator Hagan; as well as 

Senators Merkley, Shaheen, Mark Udall, Tom Udall, Mark 

Warner, and our just departed Senator Kaufman from Delaware. They are tremendous individuals possessing incredible 

talents and have been a very supportive group for me. Thank 

you, my freshman colleagues. 

In a broader sense I wish to also thank all of those who 

serve under this hallowed dome with quiet and often 

unheralded dignity and duty. The Senate floor staff, you all 

do a heck of a job—the maintenance crews, the elevator operators, the Capitol Police, the Senate train drivers, the dining 

room servers, and the scores of others whose hard and important work ensures the smooth and constant operations of 

the business that takes place within our Capitol. 

As I stand to address this Chamber for the last time, I 

cannot help but reflect on the unlikely path that led me to 

this point and upon the challenges we continue to face. 

When I first came to the Senate nearly 2 years ago, our Nation was only days away from inaugurating an AfricanAmerican man from Chicago as the 44th President of the 

United States of America. It was a national milestone I 

never thought I would ever live to see, an incredible moment 

that speaks volumes about the progress our country has 

made even in my lifetime. 

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As a child, I knew the injustice of segregation. When I was 

only about 15 years old, I helped integrate the swimming 

pool in my hometown of Centralia, IL. Although that incident drove me to pursue a life of public service—dedicating 

myself to the goals of becoming both a lawyer and a statewide elected official—there was never any guarantee that 

such a path would be open to me. There were no people of 

color in elected office in those days, especially not in Illinois 

and not in Centralia, and there was no path to follow. So I 

knew from the start that I would have to blaze a trail. 

Despite the lack of established role models, my parents 

provided nothing but support and encouragement. They nurtured my dreams and helped me develop the skills to achieve 

them. In the end, they and my older brother Earl, who is 

now deceased, and my sister Doris, God bless her, who is 

still living, were the only role models I needed. The values 

they instilled in me—of hard work, determination, and unwavering dedication to principle—have guided me throughout my life, and the same values have driven me to take an 

interest in the next generation. 

It is that focus on the future that drives all of our legislative energy, to constantly improve the quality of life for the 

generations to come. 

Not too many generations ago, my family roots told a different story. I stand in this Chamber as the great-grandson 

of a man who was born into slavery, in an era when this 

Senate debated whether he and others like him were worthy 

of freedom and equal treatment under the law. Yet today I 

stand among my colleagues on the Senate floor, a Member 

of the highest body of lawmakers in this land. In some ways, 

this is a remarkable testament to our Nation’s ability to correct the wrongs of generations past, to move always toward 

that ‘‘more perfect Union.’’ 

However, in other ways, it is a solemn reminder of how far 

we still have yet to go. In a country as progressive and 

diverse as any on this planet, I am today the only BlackAmerican Member of this Senate. Aside from myself, I can 

count the number of Blacks who have served in this body on 

the fingers of a single hand: Blanche K. Bruce, Hiram Revels; Edward Brooke, the last from Illinois, Carol MoseleyBraun, and our President, Barack Obama. 

Throughout 220 years of Senate history and 111 Congresses, only 6 Black-Americans have been able to serve. 

This is troubling in its own right. But when the 112th Congress is sworn in this coming January, there will not be a 

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single Black-American taking the oath of office in this Chamber.

This is simply unacceptable. We can and we will and we 

must do better. In this regard, and in others, our political 

process has proven less successful and less representative 

than it ought to be. Although I have never allowed my race 

to define me, in a sense it has meant that my constituency 

as a Senator has stretched far beyond the boundaries of Illinois.

Letters, emails, and telephone calls have poured in to my 

office from Black-Americans from all across the country, and 

at times, as I have tried to bring their voices to this Chamber, I have acutely felt the absence of any other Black person 

to represent them. 

Our government hardly resembles the diverse country it 

was elected to represent. Partisan bickering has driven moderates out of both parties and made principled compromise 

more difficult for those who remain. Too often our politics 

seem to have become a zero-sum game. It is easy for people 

to believe that the best argument or the plainest truth would 

not necessarily win the day anymore. In such a destructive 

political environment, people are often left wondering who 

will speak up for them. The media certainly isn’t blameless. 

News outlets which could play a critical role in educating the 

American public with facts too often bow to ratings or quick 

sales and, in the process, end up choosing to pursue the entertainment value of conflict over thoughtful analysis. 

This is the harsh reality we face. 

America just cannot afford this any longer. We should 

check these notions at the Cloakroom door. 

This is a critical moment. 

So I believe it’s the responsibility of everyone in this 

Chamber to take ownership of this process once again, to 

demonstrate leadership, and pledge a return to more responsible rhetoric, and more responsive government. 

What we face is a test—not only of our willingness to meet 

the challenges we face, but of the democratic institutions designed to cope with these challenges. 

Here in the U.S. Senate, this question is paramount. 

Have our destructive politics left this great body locked in 

a stalemate—unable to move forward, because of the petty 

obstructionism that has taken root? 

Or can this Chamber be made to address these problems 

once again? Can it be redeemed by the good people who 

serve here? 

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I have confidence that it can. 

It will require the concerted effort of all 100 Senators to 

overcome the partisanship that has paralyzed this Chamber, 

and the obstructionist tactics that have become the rule 

rather than the exception. 

Colleagues, this is the moment to summon the strength of 

our convictions, and fight for what we believe in. 

This is the hour for principled leadership, originating right 

here in the U.S. Senate. 

But even as we look to the future and debate the agenda 

for the upcoming year, I must note with regret that my time 

here is nearly at an end. 

Serving as a Member of this body, alongside so many fine 

colleagues who have become good friends, has been the honor 

of a lifetime. 

Together we have achieved passage of the most ambitious 

legislative agenda since the Great Depression. And a great 

deal of the credit for our success is owed to Leader Harry 

Reid.

I am proud of every vote I cast in the name of the people 

of Illinois, and proud of the more than 60 bills I sponsored 

and over 300 I have cosponsored. 

In the 22 months I have been a Member of the Senate, I 

have advocated for comprehensive health care reform designed to meet the goals of a public option, and fought to address health care disparities that separate minority communities from the population as a whole; pushed for redirection 

of subsidized funds that made $68 billion available for new 

Pell grants and extended new opportunities for minority students to attend historically Black colleges and universities, 

and predominantly Black institutions; stood up for minorityowned businesses, and made sure they will have equal opportunity to share in America’s renewed prosperity as our 

economy continues to recover; worked hard to extend unemployment insurance, improve access to COBRA benefits, and 

create jobs for the people of Illinois and across the country; 

voted for the sweeping stimulus package that brought this 

country back from the brink of economic disaster and started 

us on the road to recovery; introduced legislation that would 

improve transparency and accountability as stimulus dollars 

are spent, so the American people can keep their elected officials honest; cosponsored legislation to repeal the military’s 

discriminatory ‘‘don’t ask, don’t tell’’ policy, so all of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines can serve openly, and 

had a press conference on that. 

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I say to my colleagues, don’t filibuster that issue. We need 

all of our individuals to have an opportunity to serve in the 

military service, regardless of their sexual orientation. Don’t 

be surprised if I come back for that vote. I am from Chicago, 

and I will vote twice. I supported major credit card reforms, 

to prevent credit card companies from abusing their customers; fought for equal pay and benefits for women, to cut 

down on workplace discrimination; fought for additional impact aid funding, to shore up Federal support for school districts that serve military communities and other Federal activities; honored the accomplishments of pioneers like Vice 

Admiral Samuel Gravely, the first African-American to serve 

as a flag officer in the Navy, and the Montford Marines, the 

first African-American Marine division; supported the Matthew Shepard Act, which will help make sure those who target people based on sexual orientation, race, or other factors 

are brought to justice; raised my voice on behalf of Main 

Street, and all those who have been left behind in our continuing economic recovery, so that everyone can share in the 

benefits; introduced legislation calling for the Department of 

the Interior to study a historic site called New Philadelphia, 

IL—the first settlement founded by a freed African-American 

slave—for its preservation as part of the National Park System.

I hope, as a legacy to ROLAND BURRIS, that someday that 

legislation will pass. 

I raised awareness of youth violence, which threatens our 

children and tears our inner cities apart—and must be 

stopped; fought for veterans’ benefits, including the implementation of the new GI bill, so we can honor the service of 

those who defend our freedom. 

And now, as we are ready to close the books on the 111th 

Congress and the long and significant chapter of legislative 

accomplishment, it is time for a new class of Senators to join 

this fight. 

I am deeply grateful to my friends on both sides of the 

aisle for the passion they bring to their work every day. 

I have witnessed it from the Presiding Officer’s chair—and 

have had the privilege not only to watch the debate but to 

take part. 

But now it is time for me to find new ways to serve. 

This is the arena where great ideas are put to the test on 

a national stage. This is where our identity is forged anew, 

every day, and where our principles are challenged. 

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It is the heart of our democratic process. Although there 

will be few easy solutions for the problems we face, I will 

never forget the courage and patriotism that I have seen 

from countless citizens of Illinois and America over the 

course of my time here. 

This is a trying time for our Nation. But as long as the 

American people have the wisdom to elect leaders like the 

ones I have come to know in this Chamber—and as long as 

this Senate remains true to the people we serve—I will never 

lose faith in our ability to overcome these challenges together.

These are my parting remarks from this body. I treat this 

as an opportunity of a lifetime, and I treat this with great 

respect and dignity for all of those I have worked with and 

have come to know in this body. 

With that, I thank the Chair, I thank all my colleagues, 

and I yield the floor for the final time. God bless you all. 

Thank you. 

EXHIBIT 1

OFFICE OF SENATOR ROLAND W. BURRIS STAFF LIST

WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE

Dori Alexandre, Legislative Aide; Roosevelt Barfield, Military Legislative 

Assistant; Eleanor Bastian, Legislative Assistant; Charles Brown, Legislative Assistant; Nicholas Catino, Legislative Aide; Nate Davern, Legislative 

Aide; Cynthia Dorsey, Intern Supervisor; Amanda Fox, Legislative Assistant; Joel Griffith, Staff Assistant/Driver; Cristen Hall, Counsel/Legislative 

Assistant; Giana Hutton, Staff Assistant; Renee Johnson, Legislative Aide; 

Andy Keeney, Correspondence Manager; Brady King, Chief of Staff; Ursula 

Lauriston, Deputy Press Secretary; Ken Montoya, Legislative Director; Kyle 

Moore, Military Fellow; Terry Mullan, Legislative Aide; Robin Nichols, Director of Scheduling; Jim O’Connor, Communications Director; Ford Porter, 

Legislative Aide; Aleysha Proctor, Administrative Director; Shomaila Sharif, 

Deputy Administrative Assistant; Stephan Tibbs, Special Assistant. 

CHICAGO OFFICE

Rachelle Badem, Grant Coordinator/Special Assistant; Matt Berry, Outreach Rep.; Jacqueline Dawkins, Constituent Service Agent/Outreach Rep.; 

Scott Kagawa, Outreach Rep.; Rodney LaBauex, Staff Assistant; Jazmine 

Hasty, Small Business Outreach Rep.; Frank S. McClatchey, Small Business 

Coordinator; My’Ron McGee, Constituent Service Agent/Outreach Rep.; 

Kristina Michell, Constituent Service Agent; Jason Miller, Constituent Service Agent; Richard Porter, Director of Outreach; Chris Russo, Special Assistant; Kenneth Sawyer, State Director; Tami Stone, State Scheduler; Audrey 

Till, State Press Secretary; Zorie Valchev, Constituent Service Agent; Erin 

T. Williams, Assistant to State Director; Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas, Office 

Manager/Intern Coordinator. 

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SPRINGFIELD OFFICE

Ceceilia Haasis, Constituent Service Agent; Jamar Johnson, Constituent 

Service Agent; Sally Millichamp, Constituent Service Agent; Bradley Smith, 

Constituent Service Agent; Jimmie Voss, Downstate Director. 

CARBONDALE OFFICE

Dina Timmons, Field Rep./Constituent Service Agent. 

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TRIBUTES

TO

ROLAND W. BURRIS 

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[ 3 ] 

Proceedings in the Senate 

TUESDAY, September 28, 2010 

Mr. WARNER. . . . The Senator from Illinois (Mr. BURRIS)

will be leaving this Chamber at the end of this year. He and 

I came in together, as did the Senator from New Mexico 

(Tom Udall). It has been a great honor of mine to serve with 

him. I consider Senator BURRIS a dear friend. I know there 

will be time for a more formal process, but I simply wish to 

say on this matter and countless others over the 2 years we 

have served together, it has been a real pleasure. I look forward to other opportunities for us to serve and work together 

for many years to come. . . . 

WEDNESDAY, September 29, 2010 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, the 111th Congress will be recorded as one of the country’s most historic. It will be rightfully remembered for the landmark legislation we passed to 

help our economy recover from recession and to help Americans afford to recover from health problems and for the passion that characterized the debates over many of these laws. 

But it will also be remembered for the replacement of remarkable Senators, under remarkable circumstances, by 

dedicated and devoted appointees. 

Two years ago, for the first time in half a century, the men 

elected President and Vice President of the United States 

were sitting U.S. Senators. One year before the last time 

that happened, in 1959, Robert C. Byrd was sworn in for the 

first of his record nine consecutive full terms in this body. 

In the 111th Congress, three pairs of the biggest shoes in 

American history needed to be filled, three public servants 

were chosen to sit in the seats vacated by the President, the 

Vice President, and the longest serving Member of Congress. 

That has never happened before and will probably never 

happen again. 

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Though Senators Edward Kaufman, ROLAND BURRIS, and 

Carte Goodwin were selected and not elected, none was content to be merely a footnote of history or the answer to a congressional trivia question. Each made the most of his time 

in the service of his State. . . . 

ROLAND BURRIS came to the Senate under difficult circumstances, but he impressed our caucus by rising above the 

controversy and concentrating on doing his job for the people 

of Illinois. He had already built an impressive record in that 

State, becoming the first African-American to ever hold 

statewide office in Illinois and spending more than three successful decades in the public and private sectors. 

During his time here, Senator BURRIS stood up for many 

progressive causes, including advocating for better civil 

rights education and writing legislation in support of our 

servicemembers overseas. He also presided over the Senate 

Chamber far more than anyone else during the 111th Congress, soaking in every minute of it along the way. . . . 

Senators Edward Kaufman, ROLAND BURRIS, and Carte 

Goodwin represented their respective States with distinction. 

They will forever hold a special place in American history for 

the good work they did in the short time they were U.S. Senators.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, Senator ROLAND BURRIS of Illinois was sworn into office less than 2 years ago. In that 

short time, he has debated and voted on some of the most 

important legislation the Senate has considered in 40 years. 

During his tenure, Senator BURRIS has helped pass major reforms to end abuses by the credit card industry, to put a cop 

back on the beat on Wall Street, and to expand health care 

coverage to 32 million Americans while reducing the Federal 

deficit by $143 billion. Senator BURRIS also voted to confirm 

the nomination of two U.S. Supreme Court Justices: Justices 

Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. 

Senator BURRIS serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which I chair. During his service on the committee, 

Senator BURRIS helped provide oversight of the military as 

we draw down U.S. forces in Iraq and standup Afghan forces 

in Afghanistan. He helped pass weapons acquisition reform 

legislation and two national defense authorization acts out of 

committee. He helped confirm the nominations of the Nation’s top civilian and military leaders. 

Before coming to the Senate, ROLAND BURRIS had a distinguished career in Illinois politics, as Illinois comptroller and 

then as the Illinois attorney general. 

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As Senator BURRIS ends his time here in the Senate, I 

thank him for his service to our Nation and wish him and 

his family the very best. 

WEDNESDAY, November 17, 2010 

Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, first, let me say I have had 

the pleasure any number of times, as I think have most all 

of our colleagues, to be recognized by the Presiding Officer. 

Many times it is you (Mr. Burris). I know you will be leaving 

us soon—2 days—but it has been a real pleasure to serve 

with you. I appreciate not only having the opportunity to 

work in the Senate with you but on our committees and subcommittees. You have been a great colleague. We are going 

to miss you. 

THURSDAY, November 18, 2010 

Mrs. HAGAN. Mr. President, as I see my colleague, Senator BURRIS, still on the floor, I wish to thank him for his 

excellent work and his comments today. He will certainly be 

missed by all of us. 

Mr. BURRIS. I thank the Senator from North Carolina. 

TUESDAY, November 30, 2010 

Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, 16 Senators will retire 

this year. There is a pretty big turnover in this body, but 

that is a lot of Senators at once. We are losing an enormous 

amount of talent, but, of course, we are gaining a lot of talent with the new Senators. 

I wish to show my respect for those who have served, 

which I will do in a summary fashion because we are talking 

about 16 individuals with very complex and distinguished 

backgrounds.

One might ask, what are the characteristics of a Senator? 

There are a lot of different answers to that, depending on 

your background and attitude toward politics and government. First, I have always thought that one characteristic of 

almost every Member of the Senate is that he or she probably was a first grader sitting in the front row, hand in the 

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air waiting to be recognized. This is an eager bunch or you 

would not have gotten here. 

Second, it is a group of risk takers. Most people who end 

up in the Senate get here because a lot of other people who 

wanted to be Senators were standing around waiting for the 

right time to run. A lot of people who were elected to the 

Senate seemed to have no chance of winning at the time they 

decided to run, but the voters decided differently, and here 

they are. 

Third, we are almost all professional and congenial. That 

is a big help. It is almost a requirement in an organization 

of 100 individuals who spend almost all their time with one 

another, who serve in a body that operates by unanimous 

consent, when just one Senator can bring the whole place to 

a halt, and whose job basically is to argue about some of the 

most difficult issues that face the American people. So it 

helps that almost every Member of the Senate is an especially congenial person. 

Back in Tennessee, people often say to me it must be 

rough being in that job. They are awfully mean up there. 

The truth is, I don’t know of a more congenial group than 

the Members of the Senate. We begin the day in the gym. 

The next thing you know we are at a Prayer Breakfast, and 

then we are at a committee hearing. Then we are on the 

floor voting, and then we have lunch. It goes through the day 

until 7 or 8 o’clock, or sometimes later. We live together and 

we get along very well. We know and respect each other. 

Not long ago, the Presiding Officer (Mr. Udall of New Mexico) and I were having dinner together with our wives. We 

were lamenting the loss of families who know one another, 

the way it happened when his father was serving in Congress and when I first came to the Senate to work for Senator Baker. And that’s true. We’ve lost some of that. Still, 

there is an enormous amount of affection and good will here. 

You don’t always get to be very close friends in this job, but 

you get to be very good acquaintances, and you learn to respect people for their strengths. 

Senator Domenici said, when he left, that we don’t do a 

very good job of saying goodbye here. That is true. As one 

part of saying goodbye, I wish to say at least one good thing 

about each one of the 16 retiring Senators. Much more could 

be said about each, of course. Mostly, I am going in alphabetical order. . . . 

There have been four Members appointed to the Senate 

who are retiring, and that is quite a number. . . . 

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Senator ROLAND BURRIS of Illinois was a State comptroller 

and attorney general. He is his own man, and capped off a 

long career in public service by serving here. . . . 

It has been my privilege to serve with these 16 Senators. 

We thank them for their service to our country. They have 

had a chance to serve in what we regard as the world’s 

greatest deliberative body; it is a special institution. We will 

miss their leadership, and we hope they will stay in touch 

with us because they are not just retiring Senators, they are 

all our friends. 

I yield the floor. 

WEDNESDAY, December 8, 2010 

Mr. REID. 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 111th Congress, and that Members have 

until Thursday, December 16, to submit such tributes. 

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

FRIDAY, December 10, 2010 

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 

our colleagues who are departing the Senate after distinguished service on behalf of their States and on behalf of the 

Nation. I have been privileged to work with these individuals, to learn from them, to collaborate and cooperate 

with them, and to, in some small way, help them do what 

they have done so well—represent their States with fidelity, 

with great effort, and to move the agenda of the Nation forward. . . . 

Senator ROLAND BURRIS brought a great bit of vitality and 

energy to the Senate in his time here. I wish ROLAND and

Berlean the very best. He has had a remarkable career in Illinois as someone who was in the banking industry and then 

public service—been a pathbreaker in so many different 

ways. When he came to the Senate, he came with that same 

enthusiasm, knowing that his service would be limited in 

days but not limited by any aspirations or any ideals. He 

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wanted to do the best for the people of Illinois and the Nation. I thank him. . . . 

To all of these colleagues and their families, my deepest 

appreciation and my profoundest respect. 

WEDNESDAY, December 15, 2010 

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to 

honor my colleague, Senator ROLAND BURRIS, who will be retiring from the Senate after serving 2 years. 

Senator BURRIS has had a long and distinguished career as 

a public servant, both at the State and local levels. Upon 

graduation from Howard Law School in 1963, Senator 

BURRIS became the National Bank Examiner for the Office 

of the Comptroller of the Currency for the U.S. Department 

of the Treasury. In 1978, Senator BURRIS became the first 

African-American to be elected to a statewide office when he 

was elected comptroller of the State of Illinois. Senator 

BURRIS continued to break barriers when elected as attorney 

general for the State of Illinois, becoming only the second 

African-American ever to be elected to the office of State attorney general in the United States. 

Mr. BURRIS was appointed to fill President Obama’s open 

Senate seat on December 30, 2008. In his nearly 2 years in 

the Senate, Mr. BURRIS has been active on the Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, as well as the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 

Whether it is fighting hard for Illinois’ veterans or casting 

an important vote in favor of health care legislation, Senator 

BURRIS has done much with his limited time in the Senate. 

A lifelong resident of Illinois, there are very few people more 

invested in their State’s future than ROLAND BURRIS.

As he departs the U.S. Senate and heads off to future endeavors, there is no doubt that his beloved wife Berlean and 

his two children, Rolanda and Roland II, will be by his side. 

I wish Senator BURRIS lots of luck and happiness in the 

years ahead. 

Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, soon the gavel will bring to a 

close this session of Congress, and many of us will return 

home to be with our families for the holidays. Before we 

leave, it is one of the Senate’s traditions to say goodbye to 

those who will not be with us when we reconvene for the 

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next session of Congress in January. One Senator I know I 

will miss in the months to come is ROLAND BURRIS.

ROLAND is quite a remarkable individual—a man of many 

firsts who has never been one to shy away from any challenge. He was the first African-American to win a statewide 

election in Illinois, for example, and for the past months he 

has been serving the people of that State as their Senator. 

Through the years, ROLAND has had a wide and varied career. He has been a lawyer, a lobbyist, a college instructor, 

the director of a civil rights nonprofit, a bank executive, and 

so much more. He has a great understanding of how government works from many different perspectives, and that 

knowledge has helped him to make an important contribution to the work of the Senate every day. 

One aspect of his character I will always remember is his 

great love of God and his willingness to share so much of 

himself and his faith in our Senate Prayer Breakfasts. He 

has always had something important to say, a word or an insight that had not been mentioned until he spoke and added 

something that needed to be said by him—and heard by us. 

I am always amazed to discover that no matter how many 

times I have read or reflected on a passage in the Bible, 

there is always someone who is able to offer a fresh insight, 

a new approach to the text that I had never heard or considered before. That is what made ROLAND such an important 

part of our Senate Prayer Breakfasts. On many occasions he 

was able to offer a personal perspective on the Bible that 

was gained from his unique life experience. His heartfelt 

dedication to the words of the Bible meant a great deal to 

me and to all those in attendance. Through these past 2 

years, I have enjoyed listening to him speak about his faith 

and the source of strength and support it has been for him 

throughout his life. 

Now ROLAND will be returning home to Illinois in search 

of another mountain to climb, another adventure to enjoy. I 

have no idea what the future holds for him, but if his past 

is any indication, we haven’t heard the last from him. He 

has always been a trailblazer in a number of fields, and I am 

certain he will continue to be all of that—and much more. 

Diana and I send our best wishes to ROLAND, his wife 

Berlean, and their children. Thank you for your willingness 

to serve. Life in the Senate has never been easy, and you 

have handled its pressures very well. God bless. 

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

that the order for the printing of tributes be modified to pro7 2012 Jkt 064806 PO 00000 F 00029 F t 6688 Sf t 6688 H \DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE10\64806 TXT KAYNE
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vide that Members have until sine die of the 111th Congress, 

2d session, to submit tributes and that the order for printing 

remain in effect. 

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

THURSDAY, December 16, 2010 

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to bid farewell to 

a number of our friends and colleagues who are ending their 

service in the Senate. Their contributions are too numerous 

to mention, therefore I would like to take just a few minutes 

to highlight some of the memories of the Senators I came to 

know personally. 

Some of the departing Senators I have served with for decades. Others were here for only part of a term. All of them 

worked hard for their constituents and our country. . . . 

SENATOR ROLAND BURRIS served on the Senate Committee 

on Veterans’ Affairs, which I have the honor of chairing. 

Throughout his months with the committee, he made time in 

his busy schedule to attend and participate in numerous 

committee hearings and meetings. His participation played 

an important part in the committee’s ability to conduct oversight and, ultimately, to improve benefits and care for our 

Nation’s veterans. Senator BURRIS’ work on the committee 

was a great service to the men and women of Illinois who 

wore the Nation’s uniforms, as well as to servicemembers, 

veterans, and their families nationwide. . . . 

In closing, the end of this Congress is bittersweet, with so 

many talented and dedicated public servants leaving this institution. All of them made a lasting impact on the Senate 

and on our country. Mahalo nui loa, thank you, for all your 

work.

WEDNESDAY, December 22, 2010 

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, when the 111th Congress draws to a close, we will bid farewell to 16 colleagues 

who have collectively given more than 200 years of service 

to our Nation through their service in the Senate. These include seven of the Senate’s most experienced Members. People like Chris Dodd and Arlen Specter who have each served 

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five terms in the Senate. Kit Bond who has served four 

terms and Bob Bennett, Byron Dorgan, Russ Feingold, and 

Judd Gregg, who have each served three terms in this 

Chamber.

When the 112th Congress convenes in January, the ranks 

of women Senators will be reduced by one. In fact, the 112th 

Congress will be the first Congress in recent memory in 

which the total number of women Senators will actually decline. With the departure of our colleague, ROLAND BURRIS,

there will not be a single African-American Senator when 

the new Congress convenes. . . . 

It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve with each of 

the people who will leave this Chamber when we adjourn 

sine die. Each has made substantial contributions to their 

States, to the Nation, and to the Senate during their time 

here.

Æ 

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