(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

TRIBUTES TO HON. JON S. CORZINE 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

Jon S. Corzine 

U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY 

TRIBUTES 

IN THE CONGRESS OF 

THE UNITED STATES 

UNUM

E PLURIBUS


congress.#15
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

Jon S. Corzine 


25161.001
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 2006

S. DOC. 109–12 

Tributes 

Delivered in Congress 

Jon S. Corzine 

United States Senator 

2001–2006 

÷ 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

Compiled under the direction 

of the 

Joint Committee on Printing 

Trent Lott, Chairman 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ iii ] 

CONTENTS 

Page 

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

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

Proceedings in the Senate: 

Tributes by Senators: 

Akaka, Daniel K., of Hawaii ..................................................... 31 

Bayh, Evan, of Indiana .............................................................. 41 

Bingaman, Jeff, of New Mexico ................................................ 37 

Brownback, Sam, of Kansas ...................................................... 40 

Byrd, Robert C., of West Virginia ............................................. ix 

Clinton, Hillary Rodham, of New York .................................... 38 

Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota ................................................. 19 

Dayton, Mark, of Minnesota ..................................................... 21 

Domenici, Pete V., of New Mexico ............................................ 44 

Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois ................................................... 24 

Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin ............................................ 34 

Feinstein, Dianne, of California ................................................ 41 

Johnson, Tim, of South Dakota ................................................. 27 

Kennedy, Edward M., of Massachusetts .................................. 6 

Kerry, John F., of Massachusetts ............................................. 17 

Lautenberg, Frank, of New Jersey ........................................... 3 

Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont ................................................... 26 

Levin, Carl, of Michigan ............................................................ 33 

Lieberman, Joseph I., of Connecticut ....................................... 35 

Lincoln, Blanche L., of Arkansas .............................................. 32 

Mikulski, Barbara A., of Maryland .......................................... 30 

Nelson, Bill, of Florida ............................................................... 42 

Pryor, Mark, of Arkansas .......................................................... 29 

Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island ...................................................... 15 

Reid, Harry, of Nevada .............................................................. 21 

Salazar, Ken, of Colorado .......................................................... 14 

Sarbanes, Paul S., of Maryland ................................................ 7 

Sessions, Jeff, of Alabama ......................................................... 25 

Stabenow, Debbie, of Michigan ................................................. 12 

Wyden, Ron, of Oregon .............................................................. 28 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ v ] 

Biography 

Senator CORZINE was born on January 1, 1947, and grew 

up on a small family farm in the central Illinois community 

of Willey’s Station. His father farmed and sold insurance; his 

mother was a public school teacher. His interest in politics 

was forged in this farming community. It was there that he 

learned the meaning of hard work and the opportunities afforded by a strong education system. 

The Senator graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1969 and enlisted in 

the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He remained in the Reserves until 1975, rising to the rank of sergeant in his infantry unit. 

After his active duty in the Marine Corps, he began his career in finance, working as a portfolio analyst at the Continental Illinois National Bank in Chicago. He enrolled in the 

graduate business school of the University of Chicago in 

1970, first attending classes at night. He received his MBA 

in 1973, and went to work at Bank Ohio, a regional bank in 

Columbus, OH. 

In 1975 Senator CORZINE was recruited by Goldman Sachs, 

the New York investment firm, and he and his family moved 

to New Jersey. He was named a partner at Goldman Sachs 

in 1980, and became chairman and CEO in 1994. He left 

Goldman Sachs in May 1999 after successfully converting 

the investment firm from a private partnership to a public 

company. 

During Senator CORZINE’s leadership at Goldman Sachs, 

the business magazine Fortune named Goldman Sachs 1 of 

the 10 best companies to work for in America. The Senator 

was named by Time magazine as one of the top 50 technology executives in the country in 1997. 

As the CEO at Goldman Sachs, Senator CORZINE expanded 

the company’s community outreach and philanthropic programs, establishing a company-wide service program in 

which employees volunteer on a regular basis in their communities. Also in 1997, Senator CORZINE was the chairman 

of a Presidential commission to study capital budgeting as a 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ vi ] 

means of increasing Federal investment in schools, technology, and infrastructure. 

Senator CORZINE is a member of the board of trustees of 

the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, the 

University of Chicago, and New York University’s Child 

Study Center. Throughout his career in both the private and 

public sectors, Senator CORZINE has developed a reputation 

as an energetic and thoughtful leader who works cooperatively with people from all backgrounds and ideologies. He 

has won effusive praise from partisans from both parties 

who have recognized Senator CORZINE as an independent 

thinker who puts the public interest first. 

JON CORZINE was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 

2000. During his time in the Senate, he focused on serving 

the State of New Jersey, applying his financial expertise to 

major economic and regulatory issues, and pushing a forward-looking, progressive agenda. 

Senator CORZINE sought new Federal investments in New 

Jersey’s transportation network, pursued new safeguards to 

protect chemical facilities against terrorist attacks, introduced legislation to improve access to education and health 

care, fought for stronger environmental policies, and led the 

effort in Congress to crack down on corporate abuse. 

In a major victory, the Senate adopted Senator CORZINE’s 

resolution declaring the need for new safeguards at the Nation’s vulnerable chemical plants. He also secured Federal 

funding toward the construction of a second railroad tunnel 

underneath the Hudson River, long sought by New Jersey’s 

congressional delegation, and won Federal support for a wide 

variety of community and economic development projects 

throughout the State. In addition, to protect the environment 

and the economy along New Jersey’s shore, Senator CORZINE

fought to prevent any oil or gas drilling off the coastline. 

Senator CORZINE was a member of the Banking, Housing, 

and Urban Affairs Committee; the Intelligence Committee; 

the Energy and Natural Resources Committee; and the 

Budget Committee. He also served on the Foreign Relations 

Committee and the Committee on the Environment and Public Works. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ vii ] 

Farewell to the Senate 

Friday, December 16, 2005 

Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I would like to give what I 

think will more than likely be the last speech I give on this 

great floor, this historic floor, in front of this deliberative 

body. I am grateful for your courtesies. It is with bittersweet 

feeling that I make these remarks. 

I have been honored beyond words to be a U.S. Senator. 

I think all of us know that feeling in our hearts and souls. 

I will be forever grateful to the 9 million New Jerseyans who 

put their trust in me and asked Senator Lautenberg and myself, and others before us, to represent their hopes and 

dreams at this time and in this place. 

In the 229 years of our Republic, fewer than 2,000 men 

and women have come to this floor and represented the 

voices of the people who elected them or selected them in 

previous times. And like each of my predecessors and those 

to follow, including Congressman Robert Menendez, who will 

be sworn in to fill out my term, we have all been sworn to 

uphold and protect the Constitution. 

I now look at the great Senator, Robert Byrd, who has so 

eloquently and so frequently represented the challenge that 

all of us take on as we are sworn in to be Senators to represent and carry forward those traditions of our Constitution 

and to serve the interests of our people. So there are really 

two purposes. I can only hope that the people of New Jersey 

will believe that has been my sole purpose here on this floor. 

Now as I take my leave, I guess there will be some folks 

who will say some nice things about me, and they have. That 

is a little bit different than in the last days of the campaign. 

It reminds me of a Jack Benny story. He was giving a presentation and listening to the presenter praise him at length. 

He said, ‘‘I don’t deserve this award, but I don’t deserve diabetes either.’’ I will take the compliments and the kind remarks. I very much appreciate it. 

I want you to know that I cherish the friendships I have 

established with the men and women here. I admire the debates—I don’t always agree with all of my colleagues—but I 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ viii ] 

always respect and admire the commitments of the men and 

women who sit on this floor. And I add that it is on both 

sides of the aisle, not just my friends in the Democratic 

Party. Believe me, some of the remarks I have heard in the 

last few days are a little different than they were 6 years ago 

when I ran for my good friend Senator Lautenberg’s open 

seat at that time. Ross Baker is a commentator on the national political scene, and he teaches at Rutgers. He told one 

reporter that the people in New Jersey don’t know JON

CORZINE from a cord of wood. Hopefully, we have gotten a 

little farther down the pike than a cord of wood. 

This has been one of the most remarkable experiences anyone could ever dream of having. I came here for a clear purpose. I believe in American citizenship and the rights we 

have. We certainly have incredible opportunities in this Nation—I have experienced many of them—but it comes with 

responsibilities. To those of us whom much is given, much is 

required. I know that I had no chance to succeed in life without the kind of great support I have had from my community, my Nation, and my friends. That is why one comes 

here—to give back, to fight for fairness and the opportunity 

for all. 

Senator Durbin knows of the little town in which I grew 

up. Like so many of you, I have lived the American promise. 

It is a little town in central Illinois called Willey’s Station, 

with a population of less than 50. In fact, there are more 

cows than people there. My father was a corn and soybean 

farmer. He sold insurance. My mom was a schoolteacher. To 

have a chance to walk on the floor of the Senate and represent the interests of a great State that is really entirely 

different from the background from where I came represents 

the American promise. I believe in it, and I believe we have 

a responsibility to give back. 

Both of my parents were good Republicans, Senator Durbin. My mom still is, by the way. I am not sure if she voted 

for my friend. She had big dreams, and so did my father, 

about how life would serve us. 

I grew up at a time when Adlai Stevenson was Governor 

and then ran for President. Paul Douglas and Paul Simon 

worked the circuits in central Illinois. We had great Democratic Senators who passionately stood for economic and social justice for all Americans. We had another great Illinois 

Senator who worked the same circuits, Everett Dirksen. Like 

my parents, he was a Republican, but he also stood up for 

the promise of justice and equality for everyone in America. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ ix ] 

He believed deeply enough in those promises to use his position as leader to help pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

Mr. BYRD. Will the Senator yield? 

Mr. CORZINE. Yes. 

Mr. BYRD. Lord Byron said, ‘‘Thank God I have done my 

duty.’’ May I say to the Senator from New Jersey, he has 

done his duty. He is a good Senator. We will miss you. I will. 

Thank you for standing up for what you believe. Thank you 

very much. Bless your heart. 

Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, there is not much that 

means more than that coming from a great Senator who has 

served this Nation so well. Thank you. 

I was talking about Senator Dirksen. He actually sat at 

this desk and worked at this desk. So did George Mitchell 

and a whole host of great Americans. It is remarkable what 

the history of this institution represents and the opportunities it affords. It has been a remarkable time. I think all of 

you know that. 

In the last 5 years it seems as if we have jammed more 

historic moments in than you could ever imagine, with an 

unprecedented Presidential election in 2000, where we all 

sat in this Chamber and confirmed the results of that election. We had a 50–50 Senate, and everybody was trying to 

figure out how it worked. And then, with a shift of one vote 

in the caucus, that changed the control of the Senate. 

That dark day on September 11 changed the lives of Americans forever. I live in Hoboken, NJ. It looks out almost directly across the river where the Twin Towers once stood. 

New Jersey’s heart has not fully healed from those losses. It 

never will. We lost 700 of our citizens. We have much to do, 

and it has stimulated even the debate we have on this floor 

today. There were kids who lost their lives on that day whom 

I coached in soccer when they were growing up in my previous hometown of Summit. We still have a lot to do. 

Today we are challenged with the war against terrorism 

and debate about our constitutional freedoms, which we are 

talking about today—the challenge of tradeoffs in security 

and freedom, and protecting what it is that the American 

Constitution stands for. This is a great institution for making sure the rights of our people are represented. 

I came to the Senate to try to use my knowledge and experience to help work on some of those problems that are most 

important to our Nation—health care, economic and racial 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ x ] 

justice, education—there is a whole series of those things. I 

am proud of that progressive agenda. I see so many peers 

and colleagues who fight so hard on those issues every day. 

Mr. President, 9/11 brought us together regardless of our 

political backgrounds in ways we could never have imagined. 

I am proud of how our Nation responded and also how the 

leadership of this great body came together and acted, regardless of background or place, in ways I don’t think any 

of us could have imagined. I am grateful to all of my colleagues for that leadership. 

We also have great people in New Jersey. The Jersey girls, 

as a lot of my colleagues know, have been fighters for making sure we had the 9/11 Commission, the compensation 

fund, responses to human needs, as well as the strategic intelligence and homeland security needs that the American 

people deserve. I am proud of them. I am proud of the work 

we have all done because it encourages us. 

We provided more than $350 million to address New Jersey’s unique security needs after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

There was an element of unity that I hope we can restore 

that was born in those moments because the challenges are 

just as great. The immediacy is a little different, but there 

is no reason we can’t stand together. 

I am proud of the opportunity to be a partner with my 

chairman, Senator Sarbanes, Chris Dodd, and others with 

regard to helping restore investor confidence that was also 

broken around that time where people lost their life savings, 

where people in the world I had come from had taken advantage of other human beings’ savings, retirement securities, 

and their jobs. It is not a proud moment for those of us who 

believe in the capitalistic system. 

With the kind of response that came through the Sarbanes-Oxley bill, I think we have actually made a major contribution to making sure that balance sheets and income 

statements are what they are, that people can have more 

confidence in our fundamental system. I was honored to be 

a part of the detail and the work that brought that back. We 

should protect it as we go forward. 

There is more to do with our pension system. There are 

many things that are part of our financial structure, which 

is such a fundamental defining element of what America is 

about. We need to make sure they have the integrity that 

was built into the theme of the Sarbanes-Oxley reforms. 

I am proud to have represented the Democratic caucus for 

2 years in the push back against the privatization of Social 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ xi ] 

Security. We had a debate on the floor where Senator 

Santorum, Senator Sununu, Senator Durbin, and myself, for 

a remarkable hour and a half, had a dialog among Senators. 

All of those elements of debate are still in play. We need to 

make sure we protect the security of our seniors. I know 

folks on this side of the aisle feel so strongly in winning that 

battle, and we should continue. 

There are many others issues: affordable drug benefits, 

college tuition. Senator Kennedy and others have fought so 

hard to make sure everybody has access to the American 

promise. I am proud that I had a role—an amendment role, 

a voting role, a sponsorship role—to be a part of those agendas. We can do, and have done, a lot to protect our environment to make our quality of life better. 

Together with my colleagues from New Jersey, we protected people in our State from Federal changes that would 

have weakened New Jersey’s model prescription drug program for seniors and people with disabilities. 

We lifted Federal home loan mortgage limits to help more 

New Jersey veterans buy their own homes. 

We fought the administration’s effort to reduce the availability of student loans. We held them off for a year—long 

enough to enable many students to stay in school instead of 

having to drop out. 

We preserved the unspoiled beauty and critical water supply in the New Jersey Highlands. 

And we stopped a plan by the administration that would 

have paved the way for oil and gas drilling off the New Jersey shore, because America needs a balanced energy plan 

that invests in conservation and alternative energy sources—

not oil derricks lining our beaches. 

In the highway bill that passed this year, we increased 

New Jersey’s rate of return on the Federal highway tax dollar from 90.5 cents to 92 cents. And we paved the way for 

the New Jersey Trans-Hudson Midtown Corridor. 

There is a lot more to do. I have some challenges that I 

leave for all of my colleagues. Maybe the most important 

one, and the one I feel most passionately about, is the ongoing challenge of man’s inhumanity to man in Darfur, Sudan. 

We have lost 300,000 lives, give or take. People don’t really 

know the degree to which life has been lost. But we need to 

make sure that we don’t revisit Rwanda and other places 

where we have turned our backs on the killing of one man 

and one woman, one at a time. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ xii ] 

There is much to do. I am proud of the efforts that Senator 

Brownback and I have done to make sure this body recognized for the first time that genocide was taking place, that 

we had some financing to sponsor the African Union to do 

that which would bring an end to the rape, the killing, and 

the pillaging that is going on. There is much more to do. 

Please, please, make sure, whether it is in Darfur or other 

places, that this body speaks out for humanity, something I 

know all of my colleagues carry in their hearts. It is one of 

the great hopes and dreams. 

I know a number of my colleagues—Senator Obama, Senator Durbin, Congressman Payne on the other side of this 

great Capitol, communities of faith, concerned citizens—are 

really committed to these issues, particularly as it relates to 

Darfur. But we should stand up, and we should move forward. 

I have a big hope that my colleagues will take the opportunity to move on chemical plant security, which is something I have hooted and hollered about and bored people to 

death with over the last 4 years. We are so close but yet so 

far and at such risk. Whether it is rail security—and all of 

us have a number of other issues—it is painful for us to get 

such low marks in how we have addressed our homeland security. 

Now I go to be a Governor of a State where the primary 

day-to-day practice and responsibility is to protect the lives 

of the people who live in these communities. I hope we will 

move forward in an expeditious manner to address some of 

those items that we all know are at great risk. 

There is a lot of progress to be made in a lot of areas. I 

could go on. I am proud of the initiative on kids’ accounts, 

which I hope a lot of you will get behind. We can change the 

financial underpinnings and knowledge of so many folks. I 

am proud of this idea. I know there are a number of my colleagues who are interested in the idea of giving every child 

who gets a Social Security number a start in life. It is implemented in Great Britain. We ought to do it here. There is a 

real hope it can bring about a different opportunity and potential for every person. 

And I’m proud of what we’ve done for financial literacy. 

It’s mind-boggling to me that we live in a capitalist society, 

yet our schools provide students with few, if any, tools about 

how to navigate the system. We push our kids out into the 

world and say, ‘‘You’re on your own. Good luck.’’ As more financial risk is shifted onto individuals, the consequences of 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ xiii ] 

bad financial decisions grow more dire. That’s why I pushed 

to include basic financial literacy in the No Child Left Behind Act to teach young people the basic principles of capitalism and responsible money management. 

I will look to this body to come up with answers on health 

care, Medicare, making sure our children are educated appropriately. The agenda is large. There are great disappointments, by the way. I close with a few of those. It is hard for 

me to imagine when I came here that we were running a 

couple hundred billion dollars in surpluses, and now we have 

created debt that is greater in the past 5 years than was 

ever created in the history of the country. I think we are 

really in danger of going over the precipice on the twin deficits with regard to fiscal management of this country. It 

seems grossly unfair that we are placing that burden on future generations the way we are. 

I can tell my colleagues, as it ripples down to our State 

levels, they are going to hear a former Senator hooting and 

hollering pretty loud about how we are crowding out and 

crowding in responsibilities that will be very difficult. 

The fact we haven’t raised the minimum wage in the years 

I have been in the Senate is hard to imagine. There is a 

study out this week that if you earn the minimum wage, 

there is not a county in this country where someone can afford a one-bedroom apartment. It is time to move on some 

of these issues. 

I know I am preaching to the choir, but it is time to move. 

We ought to ban racial profiling. There are a whole host of 

issues. 

Since I came to the Senate in 2001, the number of uninsured Americans has swelled to more than 45 million people. 

We have made some important strides in improving access 

to health care for certain populations, but these piecemeal 

attempts to address our health care crisis have fallen far 

short of providing all Americans with quality, affordable 

health care. I would like to see us come together as a Nation 

to guarantee health care to each and every American. 

Senator Lautenberg and I would like to see Bruce 

Springsteen honored, too. We think we ought to step up and 

acknowledge both the poetry and the majesty of his fights for 

the working men and women of this world. 

I wish to thank my colleagues and the people of New Jersey for this great opportunity. I leave the Senate with incredible excitement and optimism about the future. I am 

looking forward to my new job in a way I cannot even get 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ xiv ] 

my mind around half the time because it seems so profoundly interesting and applies to the day-to-day lives of 

folks. 

I have no serious regrets. I have sadness about not being 

able to walk onto this great floor, but I love this place and 

look forward to coming back and working together on those 

issues that matter. 

I close by especially thanking my colleague, Senator Frank 

Lautenberg, who has just been a gem to work with, and my 

leaders, Tom Daschle and Harry Reid, who have been extraordinary. 

Mr. President, I say to all of my colleagues, you have been 

great. 

I mentioned Robert Byrd, a giant on this floor. 

I cannot help but remember the man maybe I admired the 

most here, because he had the greatest courage. It was Paul 

Wellstone and his incredible fire and commitment to equality 

and justice in every possible way. 

It has been some run. I want to say thanks to my children, 

who supported me, Jennifer, Josh, and Jeffrey; an incredible 

staff who have worked hard. I have a list of the names of the 

staff who have served the people of New Jersey with me. I 

do not think I will read them all, but I ask unanimous consent that they be printed in the Record. 

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be 

printed in the Record, as follows: 

CURRENT DC AND NJ STAFF

Cynthia Alicea, Renee Ashe, Lucas Ballet, Vicky Beyerle, Elizabeth 

Brinkerhoff, Alison Brosnan, Sandra Caron George, Jason Cassese, Anthony 

Coley, Gwendolyn Cook, Deborah Curto, Christopher Donnelly, Karin Elkis, 

June Fischer, Jennifer Friedberg, Elizabeth Gilligan, Michael Goldblatt, 

Evan Gottesman, Heather H. Howard, Julie Kashen, Vanessa Lawson, Scott 

Kisch, Mada Liebman. 

Jose Lozano, Jonathan Luick, Anne Milgram, Jamaal Mobley, Emma 

Palmer, Dave Parano, Elizabeth Ritter, Keith Roachford, John Santana, 

Karen Slachetka, James Souder, Ellen Stein, Brooke Stolting, Jason Tuber, 

Margaret J. Van Tassell, Steven Van Zandt, David Wald, Barbara A. Wallace, Marilyn Washington, Sarah Wetherald, Benjamin Wilensky. 

FORMER DC AND NJ STAFF

Steven Adamske, Arlene Batista, Simon Brandler, Allyn Brooks-LaSure, 

Christine Buteas, Brian Chernoff, James Connell, Amanda Consovoy, Anthony Cruz, Arpan Dasgupta, Marilyn Davis, Lizette DelGado, Kevin 

Drennan, Erica Farrand, Enrique Fernandez-Roberts, Lauren Garsten, Jessica Goldstein, Hamlet Darius Goore. 

Derrick L. Green, Robert Helland, Roger Hollingsworth, Anne Hubert, 

Phillip Jackman, Christopher Jones, Grace Kim, Bruce King, Jarrod R. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ xv ] 

Koenig, Allison Kopicki, Mark Layl, Robert Levy, Jonathan Liou, Duncan 

Loughridge, Jonathan Lovett, Elizabeth Mattson, Shauna McGowan, Patricia E. McGuire, Lena McMahon. 

Hemen Mehta, Francis Meo, Maggie Moran, Michael Pagan, Sara Persky 

Foulkes, Carlos Polanco, Miguel Rodriguez, Julia Roginsky, Andrew 

Schwab, Thomas Shea, Amanda Steck, Lauren Sypek, Todd Tomich, Dan 

Utech, Wilson Bradley Woodhouse, David York, Muneera Zaineldeen. 

Mr. CORZINE. I would not be worth a darn without what 

they have been able to do. I want to say that the staff who 

works the floor has been remarkable. Without Lula Davis’

help and people such as Marty and other folks who guide us 

through how we get things done, none of us would be in the 

same place, as well as the Parliamentarians, the clerks, and 

others. I am extraordinarily grateful for their support. 

I would be remiss if I did not mention Jeri Thomson who 

has been so great. 

To all of you and to all of those who go unmentioned but 

not unthought of, let me say thank you. It has been a privilege of a lifetime and I look forward to serving the people of 

the State of New Jersey and our great country in the years 

ahead. 

I yield the floor. (Applause.) 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

TRIBUTES 

TO 

JON S. CORZINE 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 3 ] 

Proceedings in the Senate 

THURSDAY, December 15, 2005 

ORDER TO SUBMIT TRIBUTES 

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senators be permitted to submit tributes to Senator (Governor-elect) CORZINE for the Record until December 

29, 2005, and that they be printed as a Senate document. 

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

FRIDAY, December 16, 2005 

Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I wasn’t here when 

JON CORZINE arrived in the Senate 5 years ago. In fact, he 

actually took my place at the time. We met to share ideas 

on an agenda for New Jersey and America and I followed his 

progress closely. I was impressed by what I saw in JON’s 

service in the Senate, where he has earned respect and affection. JON came from great success in the world of finance 

and industry, but he is able to communicate with ordinary 

people as well. 

Some people arrive here and immediately head for the 

headlines. But that isn’t JON CORZINE’s style. JON is a committed workhorse, who works long hours with high intensity. 

He doesn’t have a lot of flash, but he is very effective. 

He came to Washington for one reason: to serve the people 

of New Jersey. Now, with some sorrow on my part, he is 

leaving us here for the same reason: to help New Jersey even 

more directly. 

Even before the terrorist attacks on 9/11, work had been 

done to strengthen security at our chemical plants. JON recognized the importance of that issue long before most people, 

so when he arrived here in the Senate, he took the ball and 

ran with it. JON introduced a plan to overhaul security at 

chemical plants, and many people were surprised when he 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 4 ] 

got it unanimously approved in committee. But those who 

know JON CORZINE weren’t surprised. Even when that bill 

was blocked by lobbyists, JON didn’t give up. He has continued to fight to make our chemical plants safer. He has raised 

awareness of the problem, which I will take up once again, 

because we are at risk across this Nation from the most horrible devastation to our people and communities. 

JON CORZINE carried an agenda here that was so appropriate for New Jersey that he established a place for himself 

in the history of the State even before he becomes Governor. 

I wasn’t a Member of the Senate on that fateful day of 

September 11, 2001, when my State lost almost 700 people. 

But I knew we would have a strong advocate in JON

CORZINE. And we did. JON listened to the families who had 

lost loved ones, and he knew they deserved answers. So he 

fought to establish the 9/11 Commission. I honestly don’t 

think it ever would have come to pass without his efforts. He 

has been a great ally in my fight to make New Jersey and 

our Nation safer by directing homeland security resources to 

where they are most needed. 

By the time I returned to the Senate almost 3 years ago, 

JON had earned a reputation as a hard worker who cares 

more about getting results than getting credit. People had 

learned that when you talk to JON CORZINE, he really listens. They had learned that he isn’t in love with the sound 

of his own voice. And they had learned that when JON

CORZINE does speak, he has something to say. 

Three years ago our Nation was rocked by the Enron scandal, and by other incidents that undermined public confidence in the integrity of major corporations. With his background as chairman and CEO of one of the largest financial 

services firms in the country, JON realized the importance of 

restoring public trust and confidence. Even though he 

worked mostly behind the scenes on the Sarbanes-Oxley 

bill—the most far-reaching corporate reform law since the 

Great Depression—he was recognized by the New York 

Times as the bill’s ‘‘primary architect.’’

Sarbanes-Oxley improved business accounting standards, 

helped restore investor confidence, and protected the savings 

of millions of Americans. JON’s name isn’t on that bill, but 

his influence is. 

JON has been a great teammate for me, working for New 

Jersey day in and day out. He has also worked with many 

of you, on both sides of the aisle. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 5 ] 

I know how hard he has worked with Senator Brownback, 

for instance, to stop genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. 

As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, JON offered the first Senate resolution to classify this horrific situation as ‘‘genocide.’’ The passage of this bipartisan resolution, 

coupled with other efforts to increase awareness of atrocities 

in Darfur, prompted then-Secretary of State Colin Powell to 

declare that genocide was in fact occurring. After traveling 

to Sudan personally, Senator CORZINE championed a successful bipartisan effort to provide $75 million for African Union 

peacekeeping troops. He also introduced a bill establishing 

sanctions against Sudan, which the Senate passed. 

JON served in the Marine Corps Reserves, and he understands the burdens on our men and women in uniform, especially the National Guard and Reserves, who have provided 

so many of the troops in Iraq. 

After I served in World War II, I went to college under the 

GI bill. JON CORZINE has worked to update the GI bill for the 

21st century, to meet rising education costs. He has fought 

for better health care for veterans and military families. And 

he sponsored a bill that will help 90,000 vets buy their own 

homes. For these reasons and many more, the Veterans of 

Foreign Wars gave JON their Congressional Award in 2004. 

Over the past 3 years I have been proud to call JON

CORZINE my friend and my colleague. Today I am equally 

proud to call him the next Governor of my home State of 

New Jersey. I will miss him here in the Senate. But I will 

take comfort in knowing that he will be leading New Jersey 

in the right direction. I hope all of my colleagues will join me 

today in wishing Senator CORZINE a fond farewell and great 

success in the future. 

I yield the floor. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts. 

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I think the Senator from 

California had a unanimous consent request? 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. If I may, and I thank the Senator from 

Massachusetts, I ask unanimous consent that I be recognized 

when the tributes to Senator CORZINE have concluded. 

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

The Senator from Massachusetts. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 6 ] 

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to join my 

Senate colleagues in paying tribute to JON CORZINE, congratulating him on his election as Governor of New Jersey, 

and commending him for his skillful service to the people of 

New Jersey and to the Nation as a Senator. 

For the past 5 years in the Senate, Senator CORZINE has 

stood up for working families, for affordable health care, for 

pension security, and on many other challenges. Again and 

again, he has demonstrated his commitment to the fundamental principle of fairness—that government should represent the interests of all Americans, regardless of race, income, or disability. It has been an honor to work with him. 

JON is committed to helping others achieve the American 

dream. He believes very deeply that through hard work and 

determination, people can make better lives for themselves 

and their families. He believes this so deeply, because he has 

lived it himself. 

Growing up on a small farm in Illinois, JON dedicated himself to his studies and graduated from the University of Illinois. He then joined the Marine Corps Reserve and began 

his impressive career in business and banking. 

His talents helped him rise in the business world too—

from a bond trader at Goldman Sachs to chairman and CEO 

of the firm. 

Once his hard work and talent helped him reach the pinnacle of his profession, JON decided to give something back 

by helping all Americans achieve their full potential. 

When he came to the Senate in 2001, he made an immediate impact, bringing the same talents and commitment in 

the business world to his work for New Jersey and the country. 

We could all see that JON was a committed and progressive public servant, motivated by a strong sense of what’s 

right and what’s fair. 

Not long after he was elected, the Nation faced a sudden 

challenge of massive corporate fraud involving Enron, 

WorldCom, and others. Families’ pensions were lost. Workers’ savings went up in smoke because of cooked books and 

insider deals. 

The administration dragged its feet, but JON stood up for 

those workers and sent a clear message to those executives 

that if they defraud the American people, they must pay. 

JON’s compassion and invaluable business experience 

helped persuade Congress to pass the most sweeping corporate reforms since the Great Depression. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 7 ] 

He brought that same knowledge of the financial markets 

and securities industry and that same sense of fairness to 

the battle to protect Social Security. When others tried to 

frighten the American people into undermining the most important social safety net program the Nation has ever had, 

JON stood firm, and the so-called reforms were not passed. 

I was especially impressed by the way Senator CORZINE

rose to the challenge of 9/11 and rallied the people of New 

Jersey after the terrorist attacks. He was only 9 months into 

his term, but he stepped up and provided real leadership at 

a time of enormous crisis and uncertainty. 

He did his best to ease the grief of the survivor’s families, 

and he did everything he could to see that the Federal Government lived up to its responsibility to provide relief to 

those families. 

Month after month, year after year, JON also insisted that 

the 9/11 Commission get answers to their tough questions, 

no matter how entrenched the opposition. 

For 5 years he has been a driving force to improve homeland security, by making sure that our Nation’s ports receive 

the resources they need, and by pressing the administration 

to protect chemical plants in New Jersey and across the Nation. 

We will miss JON’s leadership and eloquence here in the 

Senate. The people of New Jersey are fortunate to have him 

as their new Governor, and I know he will continue the outstanding leadership we have all come to know and admire. 

New Jersey is in good hands, and I wish him continuing success in the years ahead. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland. 

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

that following my comments, Senator Stabenow be recognized, then Senator Salazar and Senator Reed be recognized. 

All of us seek to speak about our colleague, Senator CORZINE. 

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

Mr. SARBANES. I thank the Chair. 

Mr. President, in a few weeks our good friend, JON

CORZINE, will leave the Senate, where he so effectively represented New Jersey and its people over the past 5 years, to 

become Governor of his State. I have been privileged to serve 

with Senator CORZINE on the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, to whose work he has brought an exVerDate jan 13 2004 15:19 Mar 26, 2008 Jkt 025161 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\PRINTED\25161.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 8 ] 

traordinary combination of principle, vision, intelligence, and 

solid common sense. I wish to say a few words today about 

his spectacular work on that committee. For a while I was 

privileged to serve as chairman of the committee, and I can 

tell you that no chairman could have a better fate than to 

have JON CORZINE as one of his members. 

Prior to entering the U.S. Senate, JON CORZINE spent 

nearly a quarter of a century with Goldman Sachs, the New 

York investment bank, including 5 years as its chairman and 

CEO. His long- and wide-ranging experience in the financial 

markets made him especially well-qualified to deal with the 

issues that came within the Banking Committee’s jurisdiction. In very short order, it was apparent that whenever JON

CORZINE’s turn in a committee meeting came to put questions to witnesses, even the most confident and sophisticated 

among them listened more intently and responded more 

carefully. 

Senator CORZINE’s contribution to the accounting reform 

and investor protection legislation known as Sarbanes-Oxley 

was invaluable. Along with Senator Dodd, who also serves on 

the committee, JON CORZINE was among the first Members 

of the Senate to call for hearings on investor protection in 

the wake of the collapse of Enron Corporation. Those hearings took place in February and March 2002, and Senator 

CORZINE, along with Senator Dodd and others on the committee, played a critical role in shaping the reform legislation enacted 4 months later. I have done it before and I wish 

to acknowledge again the very substantial and significant 

contributions JON CORZINE made in helping to shape and develop that legislation. His work was invaluable. 

Consistently in the work of the committee, JON CORZINE

played a critical role in efforts to strengthen protections for 

investors in our capital markets. BusinessWeek, in fact, 

noted that his work in this area gave him ‘‘an unusually 

high profile for a junior Senator.’’

His contributions to the work of the committee were by no 

means focused only on these issues. Indeed, he touched virtually every issue in the committee’s jurisdiction. He has 

worked vigorously to expand housing opportunities and the 

effectiveness of Federal housing programs. He has been a 

forceful spokesman for full funding for critical programs of 

the Department of Housing and Urban Development—Section 8 vouchers, housing for the elderly, improved public 

housing, and other efforts to assist low-income homeowners 

and renters. It is indicative of his commitment, and in his 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 9 ] 

statement here in the Chamber only a few minutes ago he 

again was making reference to how people who work at minimum wage can’t afford an apartment in county after county 

across the country. 

He led efforts to expand coverage of FHA insurance for 

multifamily housing, something especially relevant in States 

such as New Jersey where inflated housing costs affected 

previous program ceilings. He pressed for energy efficiency 

requirements in public and assisted housing, and he has remained committed to Federal action to assure secondary 

mortgage market liquidity and affordable housing. 

JON CORZINE was an original co-sponsor of the legislation 

to stop predatory lending practices and spoke forcefully in 

the committee’s deliberation about the harsh and cynical 

techniques predatory lenders used to exploit vulnerable borrowers seeking mortgages and other credit. He has been one 

of the leaders in the Senate in the fight against Federal preemption of State consumer protection laws which are designed to protect our citizens against these practices. 

He has been among the Senate’s most outspoken advocates 

for public and private financial literacy programs to ensure 

that all Americans of all ages and all backgrounds have the 

skills to grasp the financial implications of the often complex 

credit card loans and other financial arrangements they are 

offered. 

He has obtained Federal funding for financial education 

programs in elementary and secondary schools and was the 

leader in the ultimately successful efforts in 2003 to pass the 

Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act, which 

incorporates many of his ideas. For his work on this issue, 

the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy 

named him ‘‘Federal Financial Literacy and Education Legislator of the Year.’’

Throughout his tenure, Senator CORZINE has been among 

our most articulate advocates for public transportation, 

whose importance in the day-to-day lives of his constituents 

he knows first-hand since he represents the most densely 

populated State in the Nation. He fought to preserve and enhance the Federal transit program as the new surface transportation authorization legislation was developed. As a result 

of his efforts, New Jersey will receive nearly $2.5 billion in 

transit formula funds from 2004 through 2009, a 50-percent 

increase over the amount the State received in the preceding 

legislation. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 10 ] 

He also succeeded in assuring priority treatment in terms 

of planning, funding, and execution under this new legislation for a new commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River. 

This project, the Trans-Hudson Midtown Corridor, has been 

identified as a crucial investment for the region’s mobility 

and security. As a result of his efforts, the National Transit 

Institute, which provides training, education, and clearinghouse services to support public transportation, will be maintained at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. 

Senator CORZINE was a leader in the effort to develop a 

Federal backstop for terrorism insurance after the attacks of 

September 11, 2001. Those attacks left such insurance widely unavailable and put businesses and commercial property 

owners at risk of future losses from terrorism without having 

insurance coverage. He recognized immediately this situation 

would create a drag on economic activity and again brought 

his expertise to bear in helping to develop the legislation 

under which the Federal Government would share the risk 

of future terrorism losses with the industry. 

Senator CORZINE was one of the first to recognize the 

threat that identity theft poses both to consumers and to the 

integrity of the Nation’s payment system. He has been a 

leader in the fight for safeguards on personal information, on 

protecting the privacy of our citizens. 

Many of these things I have spoken about reflect a common theme, and that is JON CORZINE’s concern for those left 

out and left behind. It has been a hallmark of his service in 

the Senate that he has sought to bring into the mainstream 

of American life those who have been left out of it. This concern for those, in a sense, who have been forgotten, was reflected in his work in the international arena, particularly 

the emphasis he placed on the situation in Darfur. Again 

and again, JON CORZINE took to the floor of the Senate to 

bring to our attention the terrible things that were happening there and to push for measures to help alleviate that 

situation. 

Finally, let me say what has distinguished Senator 

CORZINE’s service in the Senate over and above his many 

specific accomplishments is the dedication and vision and 

principles that underlie all his work. Before coming to the 

Senate, he spent much of his professional life as an investment banker. But he brought to his responsibilities certain 

fundamental convictions about the nature of American society, a hopeful and optimistic vision of American life that first 

took place as he was growing up in a small farming commuVerDate jan 13 2004 15:19 Mar 26, 2008 Jkt 025161 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\PRINTED\25161.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 11 ] 

nity in central Illinois. It was there he has said he learned 

‘‘the meaning of hard work and the opportunities afforded by 

a strong education system.’’

JON CORZINE went on to earn his B.A. and Phi Beta Kappa 

at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve where he served for 6 

years. He attended the University of Chicago Business 

School at night, and not too much later he joined Goldman 

Sachs. 

His many years in the financial markets have not dimmed 

JON CORZINE’s vision of America as a Nation grounded in opportunity—opportunity for a good education, for a decent job, 

a place to raise one’s family and someday to retire with dignity, security, and self-respect. He has dedicated his efforts 

to advance programs that can make this vision a reality for 

all his fellow Americans. 

When he announced his candidacy for Governor of New 

Jersey last December, Senator CORZINE pledged he would 

‘‘fight like crazy to make sure that there is a view that government can be a partner in lifting up the lives of the rest 

of America.’’ This is surely what he has done in the Senate. 

In just 5 short years, notwithstanding his junior status in 

a body that sets a high premium on seniority—when I first 

came here I was very critical of the seniority system, but I 

have to admit that as time has gone by I have come to see 

the virtues of the system. JON CORZINE has had an impressive record of accomplishment. He has demonstrated the astute and principled leadership in the Senate that will most 

assuredly make him a distinguished Governor of the State of 

New Jersey in the service of all its people. 

If I may be so bold as to address a word to the people of 

New Jersey, I simply say they have an extraordinary leader 

about to take over as the Governor of their State. I urge 

them to give JON CORZINE their backing and support so he 

can bring his vision to bear in the State of New Jersey. 

When Woodrow Wilson became Governor of the State of 

New Jersey, he introduced a progressive agenda which became the model for the Nation. New Jersey went to the very 

forefront of the 50 States in addressing fairness and opportunity for its citizens and enhancing their quality of life. I 

say today, as we bid our dear colleague a fond farewell, JON

CORZINE can provide that kind of leadership for New Jersey. 

He can move that State to the very forefront of the 50 States 

and make it a shining example of what can be accomplished 

when all of us pull together in order to enhance opportunity 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 12 ] 

for each and every one. I wish him the very best as he leaves 

this body and in the years ahead. 

I yield the floor. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan. 

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to join my 

colleagues in honoring a man I have come to know as a colleague, a dedicated public servant, and a friend. 

JON CORZINE is a shining example of the American 

dream—of what one can accomplish with hard work and the 

opportunity to obtain a good education. 

Growing up in rural Illinois as the son of a corn and soybean farmer and a public school teacher, JON CORZINE

learned early in life the importance of family, responsibility 

and service to his community. 

These are the values that led him to serve his country as 

a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves—and over the 

years, his strong values have guided his career both in private industry and public service. 

JON CORZINE started his career on the ground floor of 

American business. And even as he worked hard and 

achieved extraordinary success, he never lost sight of his values. 

When he served as chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, 

he led that company from a private partnership to a public 

offering. At the same time, he expanded the company’s philanthropic outreach efforts to better serve people in need. 

He continued that important work here in the U.S. Senate, 

where he used his political power to fight for people without 

political influence. For the last 5 years, he has been a tireless advocate for veterans, seniors, students, women, children and families in New Jersey and across our Nation. 

Senator CORZINE and I were sworn into the Senate on the 

same day—and I served with him on both the Budget Committee and the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. There we worked together to preserve funding for 

programs that help our Nation’s most vulnerable citizens—

programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, veterans health 

care, and education. 

We also worked together to lead the fight to keep the security in Social Security. 

His business expertise made him a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility. He fought to get the national debt under 

control so we could preserve and create opportunities for our 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 13 ] 

Nation’s young people—rather than saddle them with the 

burden of our Government’s debts. 

He has lived the American dream and continues to work 

hard to ensure that others have a chance to live it too. 

JON CORZINE is a thoughtful, hard-working man who 

worked with his colleagues from both sides of the political 

spectrum to do the right thing for the people of New Jersey 

and this Nation. 

I am honored to have him as a friend and a colleague—

and I wish him well in his new role as Governor of New Jersey. 

I add my comments, along with my friends and colleagues 

in the Senate, for someone who has become a personal 

friend, as well as someone I admire greatly and that we are 

going to greatly miss. New Jersey is very lucky to have JON

CORZINE coming in as Governor of that great State. 

Senator CORZINE and I have worked together both on the 

Committee on the Budget and on the Committee on Banking. 

I can say what Senator Sarbanes said is true, that even 

though he sat at the end of the table at the Committee on 

Banking and we were squeezed in with our staff trying to 

make sure we did not fall off the end of the platform, I always knew when the person at the end was about to speak 

and ask his questions, there was going to be silence in the 

room and tremendous respect for what he was going to say 

and concern about whether they would be able to answer his 

questions effectively, as the witnesses were answering various questions concerning finances. 

To watch Senator CORZINE work has been to watch an example of what we want in public service. To see someone 

who grew up in a small town—like I did in Michigan—growing up in a small town, serve his country in the Marines, as 

so many of my colleagues have. I am particularly proud of 

the people on the Democrat side of the aisle who have served 

in public service as it relates to our Armed Services and continue to bring that perspective and support today. 

But certainly Senator CORZINE is one of them. And to go 

on to be so incredibly successful in business, and then to 

bring that expertise here on behalf of the people of New Jersey to work with all of us I think is an example of a tremendously great American success story. I am proud to have 

worked with Senator CORZINE and look forward to working 

with him as the Governor of New Jersey. 

I will simply echo my colleagues in saying when we talk 

about corporate responsibility and accountability, Senator 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 14 ] 

CORZINE and his expertise have been there. Housing, public 

transit, homeland security, his passion for Social Security, 

addressing so many different issues that are important to 

people, important to communities, important to our democracy, have had the voice of JON CORZINE. 

So I congratulate you on your service. I congratulate the 

people of New Jersey on the public service that is to come. 

And mostly I thank JON CORZINE for his generosity of heart 

and for his willingness to invest in so many ways to better 

the community with his own resources. This is someone who 

has been incredibly generous and caring and smart and compassionate and dedicated to the right values that we all care 

about deeply. 

I know he is going to do an outstanding job as Governor 

and that we will all be better off for his public service. With 

that, I yield the floor. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado. 

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I stand here today not only 

to say thank you but to congratulate the Senator from New 

Jersey, the Governor-elect of New Jersey, JON CORZINE. 

For me, my whole life has been touched by many people 

who have helped me live the American dream. But it is an 

American dream, too, that has come with challenges in dealing with the issues of poverty and in dealing with the issues 

of racism. 

There was a time in my life when I thought anything was 

possible for anyone in America. There was also a time in my 

life when I thought there were limitations placed on myself 

personally that I could never overcome because of the history 

of racism and the effects of poverty within my own life. 

Notwithstanding the fact that I was a proud son of that 

great generation of soldiers who fought in World War II, and 

steeped in the history of New Mexico and southern Colorado, 

there were many people who, when I decided to seek this position in the Senate, thought that it could not be done. There 

were many people who brought up reason after reason why 

this was not a place where I could serve. 

One of the people who disagreed with those conclusions 

was JON CORZINE. JON CORZINE told me that, yes, it was 

possible to still believe in the American dream, that no matter what your background is and no matter what your economic circumstance might be, everything is still possible 

here in America. His inspiration and his vision and his leadership contributed to my serving today in the Senate. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 15 ] 

When I characterize my friendship with JON CORZINE and 

look at him as a person and as a leader, the words that come 

to my mind are ‘‘an authentic leader.’’ He is who he is. He 

is a very successful businessperson, but he is the kind of person whom we ought to have in the Senate all of the time; 

that is, people who care about our Nation and the people 

whom we represent here every day. He has put them and 

our Nation ahead of his own self-interest. That is the legacy 

that we now pass on to New Jersey, the legacy that New Jersey has grabbed for itself, as they take him as the next Governor of New Jersey. 

I know he will continue to do great things in New Jersey 

as the Governor of that State, in the same way he has done 

great things in the Senate—those things my colleagues have 

spoken about on the floor of the Senate today. 

I wish him well, and I know his continued leadership is 

something we will continue to see in the days and years 

ahead. 

Mr. President, I yield the floor. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island. 

Mr. REED. Mr. President, it is a privilege to be here today 

to say a few words about my colleague and friend, JON

CORZINE. He has honored this Senate and he has honored 

the people of New Jersey with his service. 

I did not know JON before he came here. I heard about his 

campaign. I heard about his success on Wall Street. I frankly 

must confess I did not know quite what to expect. Having 

seen the movie ‘‘Wall Street,’’ I almost thought that Michael 

Douglas would walk in the door in a $3,000 suit and with 

expensive accoutrements. 

JON surprised us all because he is not like that. He might 

have found his success on Wall Street, but his values were 

formed in the heartland of America and in the U.S. Marine 

Corps. He believes very deeply in values that are important 

and central to our party and to the people of this country: 

the notion of opportunity for all and the notion that this is 

a community, not just a collection of individuals. 

His service in this body has exemplified those values and 

made us all extraordinarily proud. I served with JON on the 

Senate Banking Committee. As the chairman and ranking 

member at various times of the Housing and Transportation 

Subcommittee, I was familiar with all of JON’s efforts in 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 16 ] 

making real progress on issues of importance to the people 

of New Jersey and the people of this country. 

My friend and colleague, Senator Sarbanes, has pointed 

out some of these, and I would like to, for the Record, amplify again what JON has done. 

The Federal Housing Administration Multifamily Housing 

Program provides insurance to those seeking to build multifamily rental housing. The program has played a critical role 

in the development of affordable multifamily rental housing. 

However, as the cost of building new housing has dramatically increased in recent years, Federal multifamily mortgage insurance loan limits have failed to keep pace with inflation. 

In 2002 Senator CORZINE led the way to secure passage of 

a provision to raise FHA multifamily loan limits by indexing 

them to the annual construction cost index to ensure that 

the program keeps pace with inflation. 

In 2003 Senator CORZINE further improved the FHA multifamily loan program by securing passage of legislation to 

boost those limits in high-cost communities around the country. 

Specifically, his legislation raised the loan limits in highcost areas to 140 percent of the statutory base limit and by 

170 percent on a project-by-project basis. 

These increases have been vitally important in the construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing in 

high-cost States such as New Jersey and my own State of 

Rhode Island where the shortage of affordable housing has 

become a crisis. 

JON recognizes that at the heart of every family’s efforts 

to educate their children, to find work, to hold work, is the 

need for safe and affordable housing. Senator CORZINE has 

been on the vanguard of that effort. I salute him for that. 

He has also been particularly concerned about housing for 

veterans. The Veterans’ Administration Home Loan Program 

provides access to home financing for veterans who often, because of their time spent serving our Nation, have not had 

the opportunity to build up the credit they need to qualify 

for a conventional mortgage. Senator CORZINE’s legislation to 

increase veterans’ home purchasing power, which became 

law as part of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 

2004, raised the loan limits available under the VA Home 

Loan Program to allow veterans to obtain mortgages of up 

to $333,700, the same level available in the traditional mortgage market. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 17 ] 

Finally, the Senator from New Jersey has been a fierce advocate for mass transit funding, not only in his home State 

of New Jersey but across this country. He has been particularly effective, though, in helping his home State. 

Senator CORZINE was instrumental in providing legislation 

to help build a commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River 

as part of the recently passed Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. The 

language that Senator CORZINE included will expedite the 

proposed rail tunnel under the Hudson River and require the 

Federal Transit Administration to sign a full-funding grant 

agreement with New Jersey Transit that will provide the 

Federal funding needed to complete the tunnel, and in so 

doing not only will he assist the people of New Jersey, but 

he will assist the economy of this Nation, since so much is 

dependent upon transit access through New Jersey to the 

Eastern Seaboard, Boston, New York and down to Washington, DC. 

We all are going to miss Senator CORZINE immensely in 

the Senate, but he is going forth now to a mission that is 

equally important; that is, to serve the people of New Jersey 

as their Governor. I know he will be successful. And I know 

those values of opportunity and community and fairness and 

tolerance and decency that exemplified his service in the 

Senate will mark him as a remarkable Governor for the 

State of New Jersey. 

I yield the floor. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts. 

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, knowing JON CORZINE as I 

think I do, if he had known he was going to have to sit 

through all these speeches after he spoke, he would have 

come down here a lot later at night, I suspect, or certainly 

waited until we got out of town, because that is the nature 

of this Senator, Governor to be. 

I have listened to my colleagues and I listened to his 

speech. He left us with some important warnings, some important pleas, which I hope my colleagues will take seriously. I would incorporate into my comments about JON all 

of the things Senator Sarbanes said. They were a wonderful 

summary of what he did and how he did it, his accomplishments. 

He helped veterans, and he has been a passionate advocate for public transportation. He was instrumental in housVerDate jan 13 2004 15:19 Mar 26, 2008 Jkt 025161 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\PRINTED\25161.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 18 ] 

ing. These are the sorts of signal accomplishments you can 

measure, which he can point to and my colleagues have, that 

define the few years he has been here. 

I will say a word or two about the things that helped push 

him in the direction of accomplishing those goals. What has 

always struck me about JON CORZINE and the thing that has 

been singled out in a number of comments made by my colleagues is the quality of the person, almost an improbable 

quality when you measure it against the profession he chose 

for so many years. 

Maybe I’ll offer a comment about Wall Street, certainly a 

comment that I know JON CORZINE would articulate any 

number of different times in different ways, that we don’t 

think of people traditionally, with the obvious exceptions, a 

Bob Rubin, some others. JON CORZINE always kept, first, a 

great sense of idealism; second, a very strong moral compass 

that led him to always distinguish between right and wrong; 

and third, an integrity about the approach to public life that 

willingly disclosed great wealth, willingly submitted himself 

to unbelievable attacks in order to pursue a greater good. 

Most people would shy away from that today. When you talk 

to people in the private sector today about running for office, 

they are quick to say: Do that? Why would I want to do that? 

Why would I want to subject myself to that? Why would I 

want to put myself through that scrutiny? 

JON CORZINE has always been driven by his sense that 

there is too much missing in governance today, that there is 

a bigger purpose than all of us individually, a noble purpose 

in what we are trying to achieve. He believes unabashedly 

that government can be part of the solution, that government actually helps people. And unlike so much of the rhetoric of the last years that has attacked everything government does until you have a Katrina, when you understand 

why you need it, or until you see the potholes in the streets 

and the bridges falling apart and you begrudgingly acknowledge you need it, JON always believes you need it 

proactively. He understands the good it can do. 

Every one of us who has had the privilege of being here 

for awhile was impressed by that passion and moral compass 

he brought to some of the issues. When business people in 

America were abusing their trust, JON brought this extraordinary credibility to that debate. There are huge provisions, 

as Senator Sarbanes will tell us, and a great deal of guidance through that process that came from this freshman 

Senator. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 19 ] 

Likewise, with respect to Darfur, an issue where the country ought to be providing a sense of moral outrage, JON doggedly and tenaciously pursued that issue without 

grandstanding, without trying to do it in a way that was sort 

of hit and run. He stayed at it and got the Senate ultimately 

to take some measures, though never what we ought to be 

doing, and this country has yet to do what he knows and understands we ought to be doing. 

He always had a sense of right and wrong, and he always 

fought for the minimum wage. He understood that there is 

a different set of priorities, a sense of outrage that we would 

be cutting children off Medicaid, and so on down the list. 

I am thrilled, and I know when I was privileged to be in 

New Jersey, I could feel it in the people of New Jersey who 

obviously were inundated with an onslaught of confusing and 

reprehensible kinds of claims in the context of a campaign, 

which we have seen too often. He plowed through that, because of that idealism and his sense of purpose for the State. 

Those folks are anticipating the same kind of excitement 

that he said in his comments he will bring to this new challenge. 

The people of New Jersey have chosen wisely. They are 

going to have a leader who will do exactly what Senator Sarbanes talked about. He has the opportunity to make that 

State one of the great laboratories in the country, to do what 

we are unsuccessful and unwilling to do too often at this moment in our history here in Washington. I almost envy him 

that opportunity to grab the executive reins and go out and 

do it. He is going to be an exceptional Governor. He is going 

to continue to have an impact on what Congress chooses to 

do because of those priorities that he sets in the State. 

There is no question in my mind that our caucus, which 

has looked to him regularly as sort of the resident expert on 

issues of fiscal, trade, and Wall Street matters, is going to 

miss that expertise enormously. 

I thank this Senator for his service to us, to the country, 

and we look forward to the service he will provide as Governor of New Jersey. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota. 

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise to wish Senator JON

CORZINE the very best as he goes from service in this body 

to become the next Governor of the State of New Jersey. I 

have had the privilege of serving with Senator CORZINE on 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 20 ] 

the Budget Committee. He has been a valued member of 

that committee. He has made an extraordinary contribution 

there, always thoughtful and well-informed. Senator 

CORZINE is deeply respected by colleagues on both sides. It 

is fair to say that no one on the Senate Budget Committee 

and no one in this Chamber has a better understanding of 

financial markets or economic issues than Senator JON

CORZINE. 

On the Budget Committee, Senator CORZINE has warned 

repeatedly of the risks of exploding deficits and debt. As 

someone who has been extraordinarily successful in the private sector, and as someone who has displayed in the real 

world a profound understanding of what moves markets, 

Senator CORZINE’s words have weight, especially when he 

says to the members on the committee and here on the Senate floor that we are running unacceptable risks as we run 

up the deficit and debt of the United States. Senator 

CORZINE has time after time alerted us to the risks to the 

economy of higher interest rates as a result of burgeoning 

deficits and debt. 

Senator CORZINE has told this body and told the country 

that it is unsustainable to double the foreign holdings of our 

debt in 5 years. It is remarkable and terribly unfortunate 

that in 5 years we have taken the external debt of the 

United States, which was $1 trillion 5 years ago, to $2 trillion today. 

Mr. President, it took, as Senator CORZINE has pointed 

out, 224 years to run up a trillion dollars of external debt, 

and that amount has been exceeded in the last 5 years. Senator CORZINE has said consistently and firmly that these are 

risks that have the potential to lead to a dramatic increase 

in interest rates, which would have negative consequences—

extremely negative consequences for the American economy. 

It would threaten economic growth and has the potential to 

put us into recession. 

Mr. President, we have been fortunate to have someone of 

JON CORZINE’s character and wisdom serving with us in the 

Senate. I am going to miss Senator CORZINE very much. He 

has been such a strong member of the Budget Committee—

someone to whom we could look for expertise that is highly 

regarded by all Members of this Chamber. 

I know JON CORZINE will do a remarkable job as Governor 

of the State of New Jersey. As he leaves here, we wish him 

well. I thank the Chair. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 21 ] 

Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, I also want to join with my 

colleagues in paying tribute to our departing Senator from 

New Jersey, Senator JON CORZINE. I met him for the first 

time when we were both sworn in on January 3, 2001. 

Even before that time I knew of his success but also his 

high caliber by virtue of the fact that he was chairman and 

CEO of a great firm, Goldman Sachs, whose previous contributions to the U.S. Government included John Whitehead, 

Deputy Secretary of State under President Reagan, and Robert Rubin, the Secretary of the Treasury under President 

Clinton. Senator CORZINE followed in that tradition of very 

successful men who could do anything they wanted for the 

rest of their lives, but had chosen to commit themselves to 

public service. 

It has been an honor, a privilege, and a pleasure to serve 

with Senator CORZINE these last 5 years, to learn from his 

own wisdom and experience as it relates to so many matters 

affecting the betterment of our country, and then to watch 

him forgo what would have been a safe track and a relatively 

easy re-election next year as a Senator because he felt he 

could be of better service to his fellow citizens from New Jersey by acting as their Governor, going through the rigors and 

ordeals of another campaign, a challenging endeavor but 

where he sacrificed himself and his own resources in order 

to give greater service to the people of New Jersey. 

Our loss in the Senate with his departure will be a gain 

for his fellow citizens from that State as he devotes his full 

time to New Jersey to their better interests. I wish him well. 

We will miss him. He will carry out even further the great 

talents he has and his ability to improve his State and our 

country. 

I yield the floor. 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, when the Senate returns in January, we unfortunately will be without one of the finest Senators in this body. Senator JON CORZINE will be moving to 

New Jersey to serve as its Governor. I want to publicly congratulate Senator CORZINE on an impressive victory and congratulate the people of New Jersey for making an outstanding choice. Their gain is the Senate’s loss. 

JON CORZINE has been an exceptional Senator largely because he is an exceptional person. It didn’t take Senator 

CORZINE long to demonstrate to his colleagues his intelligence and his impressive knowledge of a broad range of political and economic issues. But perhaps even more imporVerDate jan 13 2004 15:19 Mar 26, 2008 Jkt 025161 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\PRINTED\25161.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 22 ] 

tant, he quickly convinced Members on both sides of the aisle 

that he possessed a genuine decency and humility. 

JON CORZINE surely has one of the most impressive resumes of any American anywhere. He has a remarkable 

record of accomplishment, both in business and public service. But success never went to his head. And if you are fortunate enough to meet him—no matter who you are or what 

your place in society—you can be sure that Senator CORZINE

will treat you with respect. He is sincere. He listens. And 

he’s humble. Its almost impossible not to like JON CORZINE. 

When Senator CORZINE came to Washington just 5 years 

ago, it didn’t take him long to earn both the admiration and 

the affection of his colleagues. But he wasn’t just a nice, 

smart guy. He also worked on behalf of the citizens of New 

Jersey and the Nation like there was no tomorrow. And it 

didn’t take long for him to make his mark. 

Soon after coming to the Senate, Senator CORZINE played 

a critical role in efforts to respond to widespread abuses at 

corporations like Enron. At the time, Congress needed someone who understood corporate America and who could help 

find balanced solutions that made sense. JON CORZINE

stepped up to the plate and helped develop one of the most 

important corporate reforms in American history. That legislation, known as Sarbanes-Oxley, may not bear his name, 

but it surely bears his mark, and all Americans owe him a 

great debt of gratitude for his contribution. 

Senator CORZINE’s economic expertise also helped him become a real leader on budget and fiscal issues. Since coming 

to office, he has been an outspoken advocate for fiscal responsibility and a leading defender of Social Security. In the 

last Congress, he headed the Senate Democratic Task Force 

on Social Security, where he developed the case against privatization long before the issue was in the headlines. Democrats stopped the administration’s misguided attempt to privatize Social Security dead in its tracks this year. Senator 

CORZINE’s efforts last year laid the groundwork for much of 

what we were able to accomplish. 

Senator CORZINE also has taken up another important 

cause that still fails to attract sufficient attention: the genocide in Darfur. After prior mass murders abroad, such as the 

situation in Rwanda, many Americans looked back with regret at our Nation’s failure to act. Yet today, in the midst of 

another terrible genocide, the U.S. response is again woefully 

and tragically inadequate. JON CORZINE has personally gone 

to Darfur and has worked hard to focus the Nation’s attenVerDate jan 13 2004 15:19 Mar 26, 2008 Jkt 025161 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\PRINTED\25161.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 23 ] 

tion on this crisis. It has been a thankless task with no apparent political benefits. For his willingness to pursue this 

moral cause, he deserves real credit from every American. It 

will be incumbent on all of us to remain focused on this terrible tragedy after he leaves. 

Another cause of great importance on which Senator 

CORZINE took the lead was the effort to prevent terrorism at 

chemical plants. As Senator CORZINE has told us repeatedly, 

there are more than 100 chemical facilities around our Nation where a terrorist attack could endanger more than a 

million people. Unfortunately, security at too many of our 

plants is grossly inadequate. Senator CORZINE recognized the 

importance of addressing these security risks now before a 

catastrophe occurs. Each of us has a responsibility to push 

forward on this issue that he has pushed so tirelessly. 

I could go on about the many other issues on which Senator CORZINE has taken a lead—from protecting prescription 

drug benefits of New Jersey seniors, to promoting financial 

literacy, to preserving our environment, blocking cuts in student aid and protecting workers against unsafe conditions. 

In his relatively short time in the Senate, Senator CORZINE

has been one of our most active Senators, and he has had an 

impact on a surprisingly broad range of issues. 

I also want to take a moment on behalf of the Senate 

Democratic Caucus to publicly thank Senator CORZINE for 

his work in the last Congress as head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Senator CORZINE had a tough 

job and was dealt a tough hand. But he worked extremely 

hard, as he always does, and he did an excellent job. 

Let me also express my appreciation to Senator CORZINE

as Governor for selecting an outstanding Member of Congress to replace him. While we will miss Senator CORZINE

greatly, Bob Menendez is going to be an excellent Senator for 

New Jersey. It is a credit to Senator CORZINE to have chosen 

such a talented and committed public servant, who I am confident will not only represent New Jersey well, but will also 

help this body better represent the great diversity of our Nation. 

Now Senator CORZINE moves from Washington to Trenton, 

where he will take on some very difficult challenges. But nobody should ever underestimate JON CORZINE. The people of 

New Jersey have selected a man who not only has extraordinary talent but someone who always gives it everything he 

has. I know he will serve them well and I know at the end 

of the day, he will remain what he is today: a kind, humble, 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 24 ] 

and principled person who represents the very best of our 

Nation. 

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I just left a small farewell 

party for my colleague, JON CORZINE of New Jersey. He is, 

of course, leaving the Senate in a few days to become Governor of the State of New Jersey. Congressman Bob Menendez will be appointed to fill his vacancy and stand for election in about a year. 

I am going to miss JON CORZINE for a lot of reasons. First, 

we have a lot in common. JON was born and raised in the 

small town of Willey’s Station, which is just a few miles 

away from the bustling metropolis of Taylorville in Christian 

County, IL, just a few miles from where I live. I know a little 

about the Corzine family today, and I sense what his upbringing was all about. He grew up on a farm, with a dad 

who raised corn and soybeans. It was not a comfortable and 

wealthy existence, but it was a great upbringing. He was 

raised in the Midwestern tradition of working hard. He 

started at age 13 with his first job. He worked his way 

through college, going to the University of Illinois where he 

was a walk-on on the basketball team. He has assured me 

time and again he was no superstar. But the fact that he did 

that and served in the Marine Corps and went on to the University of Chicago for a master’s degree in business tells me 

he is a person who had a good work ethic—not only that but 

a great deal of talent. 

JON’s career took him to the highest levels in the business 

world. He was a partner at Goldman Sachs at the age of 33. 

He was chairman and CEO of that investment banking giant 

at the age of 50. He started there fetching coffee for his superiors. He came up not only quickly but the right way. 

When he was first running, I remember reading accounts in 

the New York Times about what kind of a CEO he was. He 

knew the elevator operator’s name, and he would go to the 

mailroom and talk to the workers there and try to provide 

financial assistance so that workers could go on to earn a 

college degree. 

That is the same JON CORZINE I came to know in the Senate, a very caring and compassionate individual in so many 

different ways. He would fight tooth and nail for things he 

believed in, and he would also pick causes that were not 

quite that popular and put all of his energy and skill at work 

on them as well. 

I can recall the terrible genocide in Darfur and how he 

made that his issue. Time and again, he came to the floor 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 25 ] 

of the Senate to remind all of us about that tiny country on 

the other side of the world and the people being oppressed 

there. That is JON CORZINE. Time and again, he showed us 

that you could be both financially successful in life and not 

lose your bearings when it came to good moral conduct and 

good values. 

When I think about his heroes in life, I share many of 

them. He used to talk about Paul Douglas, the first man I 

worked for in the Senate as a college intern. Paul Douglas 

was from the University of Chicago faculty, and he was a 

person who inspired many of us, not only because he worked 

hard and did his best to speak for the common man, but because he was all over the State appreciating the variety of 

life you can find in Illinois. Then, of course, was his successor and protege, Paul Simon, whom I was honored to succeed in the Senate, also a friend of JON CORZINE’s. So we had 

the Paul Douglas and Paul Simon connection. And, of course, 

the admiration JON CORZINE had for them said it all. 

When I look back at these heroes of JON CORZINE, I realize 

that we have that much in common—our Illinois roots and 

a lot more. We come from the same place. We share many 

of the same values. We fought on the same side of many of 

the same battles. We share many of the same heroes. Like 

JON CORZINE, I admired Senators Douglas and Simon. I had 

the privilege to know and work with them. Paul Douglas 

helped design Social Security. JON CORZINE helped to save it. 

Like Paul Douglas, JON CORZINE is a brave champion of civil 

rights, economic justice, and the environment. Like Paul 

Douglas, JON CORZINE is unafraid to speak his mind for the 

good of the country. 

All in all, I am certain that Paul Douglas and Paul Simon 

would approve of the short, though important, Senate career 

of JON CORZINE. They would thank him, as we all do, for 

fighting hard and well for people and values of this great 

Nation. I will miss JON CORZINE. The people of New Jersey 

have made a wise choice. He will be a good, thoughtful, compassionate leader of their great State. I look forward to 

working with him for many years to come for the values that 

we share. 

I yield the floor. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama is 

recognized. 

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I want to share my 

thoughts about JON CORZINE. He had a great record at GoldVerDate jan 13 2004 15:19 Mar 26, 2008 Jkt 025161 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\PRINTED\25161.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 26 ] 

man Sachs. I didn’t really know he was a farm boy. That is 

something Senator Durbin added to the mix. I think I had 

heard that but had forgotten it. He was successful in the financial world in an extraordinary way. He was a marine. Of 

course, every marine I have known has been shaped by that, 

and I believe Senator Zell Miller wrote a book saying that 

everything he ever needed to know he learned in the Marine 

Corps, or something to that effect. 

JON CORZINE has been an active Member of the Senate. I 

remember the time we spent together in Montgomery, AL, on 

a civil rights trip. We were at the church that Martin Luther 

King preached in on Dexter Avenue, the Dexter Avenue 

Church. We had a discussion at that time about Rosa Parks, 

whom we have just honored and who recently passed away. 

At that very site, Martin Luther King led the efforts of the 

bus boycott that ended the concept that people must go to 

the back of the bus because of the color of their skin. JON

CORZINE didn’t have to go to Montgomery, but he was interested in those issues and he believed strongly in equality 

and civil rights. 

Senator CORZINE has been a strong advocate for the Democratic Party and its principles, heading its campaign committee. We didn’t agree on those issues, but he was always 

courteous and professional. I cannot remember a single 

harsh word that we have had. In fact, I cannot remember 

him having a harsh word with any other Senators. 

I have enjoyed the opportunity to know JON CORZINE and 

have gained respect for him. I wish him every success as 

Governor of the important State of New Jersey. That will be 

a challenge, but he has the gift and ability necessary to be 

successful in that job. 

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate 

and bid farewell to my friend and colleague, JON CORZINE. 

Our world has changed quite drastically since JON first 

joined the Senate. It has been an honor to work with him on 

the many issues we were forced to confront following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We will miss JON’s 

leadership and determination on behalf of his constituents in 

New Jersey and the American people. 

While JON has served in the Senate for a relatively short 

period of time, he leaves an important legacy of leadership 

on issues ranging from protecting our homeland to crafting 

legislation that stabilized our financial markets. 

Rarely in this body does one Senator see the enactment of 

one of their first bills introduced as a freshman Member. But 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 27 ] 

JON did just that when he called for mandatory Federal 

standards to protect our Nation’s chemical plants and saw 

that become law. 

When the entire corporate and financial community was 

rocked by pervasive accounting scandals, JON was instrumental in crafting extraordinary changes to accounting oversight that stabilized confidence in our markets when they 

were teetering. He recognized that Americans were at risk, 

and he worked tirelessly on their behalf, a legacy that will 

last well past his last day here in the Capitol. 

JON also brought to the Senate an appreciation of open 

and accountable government. He saw security and accountability as going hand in hand, a way for citizens to know 

what their chosen representatives are doing to ensure the 

health and safety of their own neighborhoods and communities. He recognized that the ever-changing need for security had to be balanced with the everlasting principles of 

openness that make our democracy the strongest in the 

world. I was pleased to work with him to protect the Freedom of Information Act which the current administration has 

sought to weaken at every turn of the road. 

As further testament to JON’s leadership and determination, he will certainly be remembered for his work to secure 

an end to the terrible genocide that the world has witnessed 

in western Sudan. As the ranking member of the Foreign 

Operations Subcommittee, I can personally attest that JON

repeatedly brought the reality of this terrible tragedy to the 

attention of all of us. He knew that the solution would not 

be Democratic or Republican. Instead, he reached across the 

aisle, demanded a call for action, and spoke eloquently for 

those without a voice. 

I will miss my friend JON CORZINE here in the Senate. I 

have enjoyed the time we shared working together in this 

body. Marcelle and I wish him all the best as he moves on 

to the new and exciting challenges that await him in Trenton. His service to the American people in the U.S. Senate 

has been selfless. His departure is a loss for the U.S. Senate, 

but a great gain for the citizens of New Jersey. 

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

to my colleague, Senator JON CORZINE, who is leaving the 

Senate and will be sworn in as the Governor of New Jersey 

on January 17, 2006. 

I have greatly appreciated working with Senator CORZINE

during his time in the Senate. We have served together on 

the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, the 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 28 ] 

Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Budget 

Committee. His depth of knowledge and experience will be 

missed on these committees, and in the Senate as a whole. 

While Senator CORZINE will be continuing in public service, he has already had a long and distinguished career. 

After serving in the Marine Corps, he received an MBA from 

the University of Chicago and began working in the private 

sector, rising to be the chairman and CEO at Goldman 

Sachs. He decided to enter public service and was elected to 

the Senate in 2000, where he has worked tirelessly on behalf 

of the people of New Jersey. In November, Senator CORZINE

was elected to be Governor of New Jersey and I am confident 

he will continue his outstanding public service work in this 

new position. 

I am very pleased that while he served in the Senate, Senator CORZINE had the opportunity to visit my home State of 

South Dakota in 2002 during my re-election campaign. The 

trip gave him the opportunity to experience the beauty and 

friendliness of South Dakota, and I know that those who met 

Senator CORZINE were very impressed with him and pleased 

that he had visited the State. 

Once again, I would like to thank Senator CORZINE for his 

extraordinary service in the Senate and wish him the very 

best on his new challenges and opportunities as Governor of 

New Jersey. 

Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I rise to say a word or two 

about our good friend Senator CORZINE, who will be leaving 

the Senate to assume the governorship of New Jersey. 

What I would like to do—because I have heard a lot about 

Senator CORZINE and his background in Illinois today—is to 

talk about when I saw him in action for the first time. It was 

when the Senate was working on the post-9/11 airline relief 

legislation. A lot of us were very troubled about how that 

ought to be done. We were sympathetic to the needs of the 

airlines after 9/11 but concerned about the very large sums 

of money that were going to be directed to one sector of our 

economy when many of our important economic sectors were 

hurt after 9/11. In that period our country suffered tragically 

in New York but there were economic ramifications across 

the country. 

That legislation would not have passed if Senator 

CORZINE, along with help from our former colleague, Senator 

Fitzgerald, had not stepped in and figured out how to deal 

with the financing in a responsible way that protected taxpayers while providing some help to the airlines. Senator 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 29 ] 

CORZINE took out a sharp pencil, using the expertise he had 

acquired in his years at Goldman Sachs and throughout his 

training in finance, and figured out how to make sure there 

was not a bailout in effect for just one sector that would have 

taxpayers holding the bag and was sensitive to the needs of 

all concerned. 

I was struck, as I watched him deal with that airline legislation, by his combination of compassion, fairness, and intelligence and how he worked in a very quiet and dignified way 

to bring together different parties, different Senators who 

had widely diverse views, and tackled an issue of great importance. 

I think that is exactly what he is going to do when he assumes the governorship of New Jersey. He is going to bring 

exactly that combination of fairness, compassion, and brains, 

always done in a kind of low-key, understated way. I believe 

the people of New Jersey will benefit as they have in his 

service here in the U.S. Senate. 

We hope Governor CORZINE will come to Oregon because 

he has expressed an interest in looking at some of our innovative approaches, particularly in the area of health care and 

the environment. We wish him well and know he is going to 

have a very distinguished career as the new Governor of 

New Jersey. 

I yield the floor. 

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

the career of my colleague Senator JON CORZINE of New Jersey. This institution has benefited greatly from his presence, 

and the people of New Jersey can be proud that such an energetic and compassionate man will continue to serve them 

as their new Governor. 

Senator CORZINE is a man who knows how to be successful, whether as a leader in the field of investment banking 

or as a champion on behalf of the interests of working families as a U.S. Senator. His commitment to public service is 

commendable, and he has set a positive example for his fellow lawmakers when it comes to establishing the right priorities for government. His philosophy is one of inclusion, 

which seeks to ensure that no American is left out of the enterprise of this great Nation. 

I am particularly grateful for Senator CORZINE’s work on 

the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. His 

was an early voice for revamping the laws governing corporate accounting practices, long before the events of 

WorldCom and other accounting scandals destroyed the savVerDate jan 13 2004 15:19 Mar 26, 2008 Jkt 025161 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\PRINTED\25161.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 30 ] 

ings of thousands of loyal employees and shareholders, tarnishing the reputation of corporate America. Before, during, 

and after the debates that produced the landmark SarbanesOxley corporate accountability legislation, Senator CORZINE

was there with the knowledge and energy to provide muchneeded solutions to a serious problem. He has also championed many other inventive policies to tackle our Nation’s 

problems, including his ‘‘kid’s account’’ lifetime savings plan, 

his work to protect individuals from identity theft, and his 

initiatives to promote financial literacy for all Americans. 

In addition to finding creative solutions to the financial 

problems that our country faces, Senator CORZINE has also 

been a reliable defender of public education, affordable 

health care and prescription drugs, and support for our men 

and women in uniform. As a member of the Senate Budget 

Committee, he has championed the priorities of everyday, 

working Americans time and again. He consistently opposed 

the fiscal policies that have led our Nation to such a dangerous budget deficit, choosing instead to vote for sound economic and social policies that would keep America strong 

and healthy. 

I wish my colleague from New Jersey the best of luck as 

he enters into this new chapter in his public life. His presence will be missed, but his work on behalf of working Americans will not be forgotten. 

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute 

to a great Senator and the Governor-elect of New Jersey, 

JON CORZINE. While Senator CORZINE has only been in the 

Senate for 5 short years, he has made an indelible mark on 

our Nation and on his Senate colleagues, myself included. I 

have had the opportunity and pleasure of serving with Senator CORZINE on the Senate Intelligence Committee, seeing 

firsthand his patriotism, his dedication to our Nation, and 

his work ethic. 

Senator CORZINE has been an invaluable resource here in 

the Senate, especially as we confronted the corporate scandals of recent years. With his expertise as the former chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, we looked to Senator 

CORZINE during the reform process. He stepped up to the 

challenge, helping push through sweeping changes in our 

Nation’s corporate governance. I know that he is proud of 

this accomplishment, and our Nation is better for his efforts. 

While Senators come to Washington to represent their 

States, their actions have consequences for every American 

citizen. America has been well-served by having JON

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 31 ] 

CORZINE in the Senate and I know that the citizens of New 

Jersey could not have chosen a better man to serve as their 

Governor. He will bring not only his work ethic and intellect, 

but a unique blend of government and corporate experience 

to bear on the challenges facing New Jersey. 

I have been proud to call Senator CORZINE my colleague, 

and I congratulate him on his election. I also want to wish 

him luck on the new responsibilities he takes on and the new 

challenges he will face. Senator CORZINE, you will be missed. 

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleagues in 

thanking the gentleman from New Jersey, Senator JON

CORZINE, for his service to the people of the Garden State 

and the rest of our country. My colleague and friend brought 

his extensive experience from corporate America to bear on 

the business that we conduct here, and our country greatly 

benefited from his expertise. 

I enjoyed working with Senator CORZINE during the time 

when I served on the Banking Committee. Under the leadership of Ranking Member Sarbanes, we shored up corporate 

governance through the enactment of Sarbanes-Oxley—the 

influence of which has been felt in corporate boardrooms, 

and even nonprofit boardrooms, across America. 

The Senate and the Congress will especially miss the dedication of our colleague in the effort to promote economic and 

financial literacy. Senator CORZINE has been a stalwart in 

working with me, and Senators Sarbanes, Stabenow, Enzi, 

Allen, and others, to bring to light the need to reverse economic and financial illiteracy in our country. 

Senator CORZINE has been an important ally in supporting 

several of my initiatives in this area, including annual efforts to secure and increase funding for the Excellence in 

Economic Education Act for grades K through 12; efforts to 

work on college campuses through the College Literacy in Finance and Economics or LIFE Act, S. 468; and annual resolutions designating April as the month for highlighting the 

need for financial literacy. 

I have been a proud co-sponsor of his initiatives in this 

area, S. 923, S. 924, and S. 925. The TANF Financial Education Promotion Act, S. 923, requires a State to specify how 

it intends to establish goals and take action to promote financial education among parents and caretakers receiving 

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families assistance. The 

Education for Retirement Security Act, S. 924, authorizes 

grants for financial education programs targeted toward midlife and older Americans, including striving to increase fiVerDate jan 13 2004 15:19 Mar 26, 2008 Jkt 025161 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\PRINTED\25161.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 32 ] 

nancial and retirement knowledge and reducing individuals’

vulnerability to financial abuse and fraud. Finally, the Youth 

Financial Education Act, S. 925, authorizes grants to State 

educational agencies for the development and integration of 

youth financial education programs for students in elementary and secondary schools, as well as a grant to establish 

and operate a national clearinghouse for instructional materials and information regarding model financial education 

programs and best practices. 

It is clear that my colleague from New Jersey cares about 

giving people access to additional tools that can help them 

make decisions about credit and debt management, spending 

and saving, and essential choices in a world of limited resources, in addition to helping increase their financial acumen so as to avoid being taken in by predatory credit offers 

and unscrupulous marketing. I commend him for taking this 

broad view, and wish him and his family well as he goes on 

to lead the Garden State as its Governor. 

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute 

to my friend and colleague Senator and now Governor-elect 

JON CORZINE. With his election to the Senate in 2000, JON

CORZINE has been a source of wisdom and a great friend to 

me and to many of my colleagues. 

JON CORZINE was elected to the Senate after serving as 

chairman and CEO of the investment company Goldman 

Sachs. During his time in the Senate, he has focused on 

serving the State of New Jersey, applying his financial expertise to major economic and regulatory issues and pushing 

a forward-looking, progressive agenda. 

Senator CORZINE has pursued new safeguards to protect 

chemical facilities against terrorist attacks, introduced legislation to improve access to education and health care, fought 

for stronger environmental policies, and led the effort in 

Congress to crack down on corporate abuse. 

The Senate recently adopted Senator CORZINE’s resolution 

declaring the need for new safeguards at the Nation’s vulnerable chemical plants. He also secured Federal funding toward the construction of a second railroad tunnel underneath the Hudson River, long sought by New Jersey’s congressional delegation, and won Federal support for a wide 

variety of community and economic development projects 

throughout the State of New Jersey. 

On a more personal note, it has been a great pleasure for 

me to work with such a gifted and dedicated public servant. 

He has never hesitated to put the people of New Jersey and 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 33 ] 

the people of this Nation first. The people of New Jersey 

have made a wise choice in selecting Senator CORZINE to be 

the chief executive of their great State. He will take the 

same enthusiasm and professionalism to the Governor’s 

mansion that he has exhibited here in the Senate. 

I wish him well in his new responsibilities. I know that he 

will be a benefit to the people of his home State of New Jersey. We will miss his passion and insight here in the Senate. 

But our loss will be the people of New Jersey’s gain. Farewell and Godspeed. 

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, although we will miss him 

greatly in the Senate, I join my colleagues in congratulating 

Senator Jon CORZINE on his election as Governor of New Jersey. It has been a pleasure to serve with JON on the Intelligence Committee and to work with him on issues of corporate accountability. He has been a strong and determined 

leader here, and I know he will continue to make the people 

of New Jersey proud in his new position. 

JON CORZINE has led a distinctly American life. He grew 

up on a family farm. He served his country in the Marine 

Corps Reserves. He had extraordinary success in business as 

a self-made man. And he has continued to serve his country 

in public life, first as a Senator and soon as a Governor. JON

loves America and fights for what he believes is best for our 

people. 

In the Senate, JON has used the financial expertise he 

gained at Goldman Sachs to become a singularly credible 

voice for corporate reform. He was a driving force on the 

landmark Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, which cracked down 

on corporate abuses such as those that led to the Enron and 

WorldCom scandals. He has been a leader on strengthening 

oversight of the mutual fund industry and on protecting the 

financial privacy of Americans. JON has also been at the 

forefront of promoting financial literacy, so that Americans 

can manage their personal finances wisely. 

Working with JON on the Intelligence Committee, I have 

seen his piercing mental acumen and commitment to protecting our country. Following the September 11 attacks, 

which took a heavy toll on his State, JON recognized the 

weakness of our system of chemical plant security. He seized 

that issue and did not let go. In October, Congress finally 

passed mandatory security requirements at chemical plants 

based on JON’s work. That this necessary improvement in 

our security will be substantially improved is due to his tenacity. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 34 ] 

On every issue, JON has been outspoken in support of policies that benefit working Americans. He has fought for universal health care, for expanded student aid, and for full 

funding for education programs. JON has also been a passionate voice for human rights around the world. Just last 

month, the Senate approved the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, which JON sponsored with Senator Brownback, to 

help stop the genocide in the Sudan. 

During his short time in the Senate, JON CORZINE has 

made a big impact. His is a unique voice that will be personally missed. I join my colleagues in saluting JON on his election as Governor and in wishing him well in his new position. 

Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am proud today to join 

in honoring JON CORZINE and congratulating him on his outstanding service here in the Senate. I have had the pleasure 

of working with him for 5 years and have found him to be 

a tremendous ally on a number of issues, as well as a great 

friend and colleague. 

This Senate has benefited enormously from his hard work 

and commitment since he came to this body in 2001. I have 

served with him on both the Foreign Relations and the 

Budget Committees, and I have seen him work diligently 

and effectively with Members from both sides of the aisle, 

and always in the best interests of the American people. 

Senator CORZINE has led the effort to stop the ongoing violence in Darfur with the bipartisan Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2005, of which I am a co-sponsor. I applaud his efforts in this area, as well as his work to reaffirm 

support for the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This is a critically important 

legacy as the world faces the tragedy in Sudan. There has 

never been a more important time for the United States to 

recommit itself to ending the crime of genocide, and Senator 

CORZINE has taken a lead role in that effort. 

We have also worked together on issues of great concern 

to us both—racial profiling and the death penalty. On both 

these issues, Senator CORZINE has been a courageous voice 

for justice and fairness. He has been steadfast in his efforts 

to ban racial profiling, a practice that runs contrary to the 

fundamental American value of equal treatment under the 

law. And he has been just as dedicated in focusing attention 

on the glaring flaws in the administration of capital punishment, and in calling for a thorough, nationwide review of the 

death penalty. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 35 ] 

Finally, I want to say that I am deeply grateful for Senator 

CORZINE’s support for the amendments I offered during the 

Senate’s consideration of the PATRIOT Act in October 2001. 

I was proud to have his support that night, and I have been 

proud to work with him as a co-sponsor of the SAFE Act. I 

can’t think of a better time to thank him for his work to protect Americans’ freedoms than today, in the midst of a fight 

to make reasonable changes to the PATRIOT Act. 

JON CORZINE has earned the utmost admiration and respect during his time in the Senate. I will miss him as a colleague and friend, but I am so glad that he will continue to 

serve the people of New Jersey with such dedication and integrity. I have no doubt that he will be an outstanding Governor, and that he will continue to be a national leader on 

the issues to which he was so committed in the Senate. 

So today I join my colleagues in thanking Senator CORZINE

for his work in this body. He is a great public servant and 

a good friend. I wish him all the best. 

Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, it is my honor today to 

pay tribute and bid a fond farewell to my colleague and 

friend Senator JON S. CORZINE of New Jersey. Senator 

CORZINE, as we know, will be leaving the Senate next month 

to serve as New Jersey’s Governor, and before he leaves us 

to begin what I can only be certain will be a wildly successful and innovative tenure as New Jersey’s chief executive, I 

thought it appropriate to take the time to celebrate not only 

Mr. CORZINE’s fine service in the Senate, but his inspiring 

life story as well. 

In many ways, JON CORZINE’s life is an example of the 

American dream fulfilled. Mr. CORZINE was born on New 

Year’s Day, 1947, and grew up on his family’s farm in Willey’s Station, IL. His father ran the farm and sold insurance; 

his mother was a public school teacher. Through his own 

hard work and that of his family, Mr. CORZINE attended the 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1969. After graduating college, Mr. 

CORZINE served his country by enlisting in the U.S. Marine 

Corps Reserves, and he continued in the Reserves until 1975, 

rising to the rank of sergeant in his infantry unit. 

After Senator CORZINE’s active duty was finished, he 

began what would become a long and successful career in the 

finance sector. His first job was with the Continental Illinois 

National Bank in Chicago, where he worked as a portfolio 

analyst. At the same time, Mr. CORZINE began taking night 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 36 ] 

classes at the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of 

Business, where he received his MBA in 1973. 

In 1975, after working briefly at a regional bank in Ohio, 

Mr. CORZINE was recruited to go to work for the New York 

investment firm Goldman Sachs as a bond trader, beginning 

what would be a meteoric rise through the company’s ranks. 

After only 5 years, Mr. CORZINE was named a partner in the 

firm. In 1994, Mr. CORZINE became both the firm’s chairman 

and CEO. Through hard work, Senator CORZINE rose from 

his family’s farm in rural Illinois to being the chairman and 

CEO of a New York investment firm. 

But the story doesn’t end there for Mr. CORZINE had a very 

successful tenure at the helm of Goldman Sachs. When he 

took over in 1994, the proud and respected firm was in a period of some decline. But Mr. CORZINE and his team turned 

the company’s fortunes upward. During his 5 years as chief 

executive, Mr. CORZINE also oversaw the firm’s successful 

transition from a private partnership to a public company. 

While serving as chief executive, Mr. CORZINE also demonstrated a passion for public service. Under his leadership, 

Goldman Sachs was a strong corporate citizen, expanding its 

community outreach and philanthropic programs. Mr. 

CORZINE also chaired a Presidential commission that studied 

how capital budgeting could be used to increase Federal investment in education. 

It is this commitment to public service that I saw JON

CORZINE bring to his work in the Senate every day. Elected 

in 2000 by the people of New Jersey, Senator CORZINE has 

been a tireless advocate for corporate accountability, helping 

co-author the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and has worked to protect 

our environment, where he has been a steadfast ally in the 

fights to prevent drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and to tackle climate change. On the international front, 

Senator CORZINE has sponsored the Darfur Accountability 

Act, an act I am proud to co-sponsor, which seeks to address 

the terrible genocide currently occurring in the Darfur region 

of Sudan. 

What I will remember most about Senator CORZINE’s tenure is his commitment to strengthening our Nation’s homeland security. Having worked with Senator CORZINE on several homeland security issues, I know firsthand that he was 

determined to do everything in his power to protect the 

American people from another terrorist attack. Senator 

CORZINE and I worked together in passing legislation that 

created the 9/11 Commission, and we are all well aware of 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 37 ] 

its service to the American people. In addition, Senator 

CORZINE has been a leader in legislative efforts to increase 

security at our Nation’s chemical plants, which remain vulnerable to attack. Senator CORZINE crafted strong legislation 

aimed at protecting these facilities, and I remain hopeful 

that Congress will act on this area of great vulnerability. I 

will continue to be inspired by the dedication Senator 

CORZINE applied to this critical issue. 

Let me end my statement, Mr. President, by taking the 

time to thank JON CORZINE for his service in the Senate. I 

wish him, his daughter Jennifer, and his two sons, Josh and 

Jeffrey, nothing but the best for the future, and I look forward to seeing the fine things I know he will continue to do 

for the people of New Jersey, now as their Governor. Once 

again, thank you, JON CORZINE. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico. 

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise to speak briefly 

about our colleague Senator JON CORZINE, to congratulate 

him on his recent election as Governor of New Jersey, and 

also to thank him for his great contribution to the Senate 

and to the entire country during the time he served here. 

JON came to the Senate from a very successful career on 

Wall Street. We are all aware of that. He came here for the 

best of reasons: his desire to make a difference, to improve 

the situation of average Americans in this country, to see 

that this country pursued an economic course that created 

opportunity and jobs for the people he represented in New 

Jersey and throughout this country. 

On economic issues, I think all of us in the Senate came 

to believe—I certainly did—that no one was better able to 

read the tea leaves about what was happening economically 

in this country, what was happening in the various economic 

statistics which come out each week, than JON CORZINE. He 

could understand the economic circumstance we continue to 

struggle with in this country and the impact it is having on 

the lives of average Americans. 

While he has been here, he has demonstrated a passion for 

fairness to all in our society. He has not been a representative of Wall Street. He has been a representative of the great 

mass of the American people. He has looked to raise the 

standard of living of all Americans and lift all boats. We all 

owe him a debt of gratitude for that passion he has brought 

to this job. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 38 ] 

I serve as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and 

Natural Resources Committee. We have been very fortunate 

that JON has served on that committee as well. He has been 

an active participant in the writing of energy legislation 

which we passed earlier this year. He made a great contribution in that legislation. In short, JON has had a very distinguished career in the Senate. I am confident he will have a 

very distinguished career as Governor of New Jersey and 

will have a very long and successful career in public life. 

Again I congratulate him on his victory. I thank him for 

his service and his friendship, and I look forward to opportunities to work with him again in his new capacity as Governor of New Jersey. 

I yield the floor. 

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity to say farewell to the distinguished Senator from New 

Jersey, Mr. JON S. CORZINE. In January, he will resign his 

seat, bound for greener pastures. While he will be missed 

tremendously in this Chamber, I know that, as Governor, he 

will serve the people of New Jersey well. 

Senator CORZINE and I were elected to the Senate in the 

same year, and I have since been glad to have his friendship 

and advice. I would also like to say how fortunate New Jersey has been to be represented by Senator CORZINE. I am 

proud of the work that we did together in the time we 

shared in the Senate and am sad to see him go. 

Along with his dedication to building a practical, progressive government, Senator CORZINE always brought a fresh 

and original perspective to this body. His previous career as 

chairman and CEO at Goldman Sachs allowed him the benefit of invaluable experience in helping to solve the problems 

that face our economy and our financial sector. His combination of principle and practice, are, more than anything, what 

the Senate will sorely miss. 

Consider Senator CORZINE’s role in crafting the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002. His work on this bipartisan legislation 

helped produce reforms that, in the wake of corporate abuse 

scandals, restored confidence in the markets, protected 

shareholders, and ensured that additional and more impartial oversight would act to prevent the damage to our economy that might flow from unchecked corporate malfeasance. 

Senator CORZINE stood by his principles, worked with Democrats and Republicans, and used his expertise to help craft 

legislation to promote ethics, accountability, and economic 

growth. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 39 ] 

We can also look to Senator CORZINE’s efforts to end the 

crisis ravaging Darfur, Sudan. I was proud to co-sponsor the 

legislation by Senator CORZINE and Senator Sam Brownback 

to expand aid to the African Union and provide a framework 

for tackling the ongoing violence. We can all be proud that 

Senator CORZINE was able to help usher the Darfur Peace 

and Accountability Act through the Senate. His dedication to 

the issue and commitment to stopping the genocide is admirable to say the least. Senator CORZINE has stood by his values, and worked hard to see those values reflected in the 

work of the Senate, the Congress, and the Nation. 

Recently I joined Senator CORZINE in introducing legislation to help the victims of sexual assault receive the medical 

treatment they need and deserve. Senator CORZINE believes 

as I do that we have a duty to these women; a woman who 

has already suffered so much should not have to worry about 

whether she will be offered emergency contraception to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Senator CORZINE’s passion for 

protecting and improving access to health care and medical 

treatment, and to protecting the rights of patients, is truly 

exemplary. 

Finally, Senator CORZINE served New Jersey and his constituents with compassion and dedication in the days, weeks, 

months, and years following the attacks on September 11, 

2001. New Jersey and New York shared in so much grief and 

loss that day, and Senator CORZINE was tireless in his commitment to the citizens of New Jersey who bore the burden 

of that loss. 

In the years since, he has remained steadfast in fighting 

for the families of 9/11 and fighting to strengthen our Nation 

to prevent future acts of terrorism. His hard work to secure 

our Nation’s vulnerable chemical facilities serves as a noteworthy example. I was proud to co-sponsor his legislation to 

safeguard our Nation’s chemical plants, the Chemical Security Act, and share in his commitment to doing all we can 

to strengthen America’s homeland security. 

I would also acknowledge Senator CORZINE’s tenure at the 

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In his leadership at the DSCC and throughout his time in office, Senator 

CORZINE served with honesty, integrity, and a passion for 

improving the lives of all Americans. 

JON CORZINE’s absence will long be felt in the Senate, as 

will his good work. He brought his expertise and values to 

bear on the challenges facing our economy, our security, and 

our country. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 40 ] 

To the great benefit of the citizens of New Jersey, JON

CORZINE—while retiring from the Senate, will bring his values, his expertise, his passion, and his dedication with him 

to the governorship of the Garden State. The citizens of New 

Jersey will no doubt continue to be fortunate to have JON

CORZINE in their corner. 

Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, as Senator CORZINE

spends his final days representing the people of New Jersey 

in the Senate, I wish to spend a few moments speaking 

about his commitment to human rights and the pressing crisis of genocide in Darfur, Sudan. 

I have worked on the issue of war and humanitarian disaster in Sudan for several years. But nearly 2 years ago, as 

the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for Sudan was in its 

final negotiations, we became aware of the unfolding crisis in 

Sudan’s western region of Darfur. It was Senator CORZINE

who came to me to work together and champion this issue. 

We joined each other on the Senate floor in countless speeches showing photos of the anguish in Darfur. We joined each 

other in seeing the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act 

through the Senate. We joined each other to secure funding 

for the security and humanitarian needs of the people. 

I have had the opportunity to work with many Members 

across party lines on human rights and humanitarian issues. 

I remember partnering with Paul Wellstone on the Trafficking Victims’ Protection Act. Some called us strange bedfellows since we were at opposite ends of the political spectrum. But I have learned an important lesson: these issues 

are sufficiently urgent that ideological and partisan differences should not be allowed to impede cooperation, especially where lives and basic freedoms are at stake. And such 

has been true in the case of Darfur. I have no doubt that 

Senator CORZINE’s commitment and perseverance to raise 

this issue to the highest levels has made a difference to the 

people of Darfur. I also saw firsthand his sincere compassion 

and commitment to the suffering of the world when we traveled to tsunami-ravaged South Asia together earlier this 

year. 

I will always consider Senator CORZINE an ally and a 

friend on one of the greatest moral issues in foreign policy 

today. In his absence, I will look to my other colleagues to 

ensure that this crisis is not easily forgotten. 

As we close out 2005, I urge my colleagues to secure additional funding for the African Union in the defense appropriations conference and I urge my colleagues in the House 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 41 ] 

to pass the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. Without 

continued action by the United States and the international 

community, more lives will be lost. 

I would like to take this opportunity to formally and publicly thank Senator CORZINE for his partnership and his commitment to the people of Darfur. I express my very best 

wishes as he leaves this body to become the next Governor 

of New Jersey. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California 

is recognized. 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I believe I am to be recognized by unanimous consent directly following the tributes 

to Senator CORZINE. I would like to give my heartfelt thanks 

to the Senator from New Jersey. He has been indeed a good 

Senator. His tenure here has distinguished him. That is 

clearly recognized by the people of New Jersey. I believe he 

is going to be a great Governor for that great State. 

Mr. SARBANES. Will the Senator yield me 30 seconds? 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Certainly. 

Mr. SARBANES. I thank the very able Senator from California for her yielding to allow these tributes to be paid to 

Senator CORZINE. I know she has been waiting here quite a 

while to speak on another issue. It was extremely gracious 

of her to do that. I wanted to recognize that and thank her 

very much. 

Mr. CORZINE. Will the Senator yield for my last word? 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I certainly will. 

Mr. CORZINE. I am appreciative of the Senator’s gracious 

and kind words as well. I follow with great interest her 

views and visions on a lot of major issues of the day. I know 

she is going to speak on one of the more important ones in 

a few minutes. I am particularly appreciative of her kindness. 

MONDAY, December 19, 2005 

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

one of our most remarkable Members, Senator JON CORZINE, 

who leaves us this year to continue his work on behalf of the 

people of New Jersey in a new capacity. Experience and 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 42 ] 

leadership qualities like his are rare, and with them, he has 

set himself apart as a champion of the environment, a safe 

homeland, affordable health care, and working men and 

women everywhere. 

After managing one of the most successful businesses in 

the world, JON arrived in the Senate 5 years ago with the 

negotiating skills and leadership experience that allowed 

him to succeed so admirably here. Most notably, JON came 

to Washington with an unusual and important perspective. 

He understands the bottom line. He understands that it is 

not right for our children to inherit our unpaid bills and that 

we have a responsibility to ensure that we leave them a 

safer, more secure and more compassionate America. 

In pursuit of these goals and never shying from a challenge, JON CORZINE was a leader in the fight to protect Social Security from privatization and helped lead the charge 

to secure our chemical facilities from terrorist attacks. 

However, while tackling those critical national challenges, 

it was obvious that his heart was with New Jersey. Over the 

past 5 years, JON fought hard to improve the quality of life 

for all of the people of his State by investing in the local 

economy and protecting New Jersey’s natural resources. 

Last month, New Jersey residents showed their gratitude 

and admiration for JON’s service and elected him Governor 

of their State. With their votes, they showed that they believed in Jon’s quest to make New Jersey one of the best 

places to live, work, and raise a family. As a former Governor, I know the challenges and the rewards of running a 

State. And from working with JON in the Senate, I know 

that he will help move New Jersey forward and will make 

sure that the State government provides people with value 

for their hard-earned tax dollars, while respecting the values 

that unite us all. 

Today the Senate loses a valued colleague. However, today 

New Jersey gains a great Governor. 

JON, we will miss you. Susan joins me in wishing you all 

the best in the future. New Jersey is lucky to have you. 

Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate my good friend, Senator JON CORZINE, on his election to the governorship of New Jersey. The Senator from 

New Jersey and I joined this body in the same year, 2001, 

and in that time, he has worked for New Jersey and the 

country with skill and determination. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 43 ] 

He is a man who believes in security, whether it is securing our homeland, securing our financial future or securing 

our world from genocide. 

Senator CORZINE recognized the deadly risk posed by lackluster protection of our Nation’s chemical plants. As we debated this year’s homeland security appropriations bill, his 

amendment let everyone know that we must take steps to 

protect against a terrorist attack on chemical facilities within the United States. 

He has doggedly fought for retirement security for all 

Americans, helping to protect Social Security from deep benefit cuts and preventing a substantial increase in the national debt. Senator CORZINE knows that we made a promise 

to our seniors that they can retire with safety and dignity, 

and he is helping to keep that promise. 

By introducing the Sudan Accountability Act, Senator 

CORZINE put this body on record that we cannot allow the 

genocide in Darfur to continue. Hundreds of thousands are 

already dead, and millions have been displaced by the atrocities in Sudan. He has helped push for sanctions against 

those committing these crimes and to put money into our efforts to stop them. 

Over the past 5 years, I have had the pleasure of working 

closely with Senator CORZINE on important issues. 

We recognized a gaping hole in benefits provided to widows of our service members, and he joined me in introducing 

the Military Retiree Survivor Benefit Equity Act. The bill 

has attracted bipartisan support based on its fundamental 

fairness and because it is the right thing to do for America’s 

military retirees and their survivors. 

Florida and New Jersey both have beautiful shorelines 

that serve important economic needs for our States, and Senator CORZINE has helped me in the fight to protect these 

shorelines from the devastation of oil drilling. I look forward 

to continuing this fight with his successor, Congressman 

Menendez. 

I expect that as Governor of New Jersey, he will take with 

him to Trenton the same passion to protect our homeland, to 

protect our environment, and to protect our future that he 

had here in the Senate. I thank him for his service in Washington, DC. I congratulate him on his victory, and I wish him 

well as he continues his service for the people of New Jersey. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 44 ] 

WEDNESDAY, December 21, 2005 

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise to wish Senator JON

CORZINE the very best as he leaves his service in the Senate 

to become the next Governor of the State of New Jersey. Although we didn’t always agree on all the issues, it has been 

an honor to work with him. He has always been courteous 

and professional, and I have enjoyed the opportunity to know 

him. 

Senator CORZINE’s career has taken him to the uppermost 

levels in the business world. He was a partner at Goldman 

Sachs at the age of 33 and he became CEO of that prestigious firm at the age of 50. As someone who has been extraordinarily successful in the private sector, I am sure Senator CORZINE has had many life opportunities offered to him. 

The fact that he has chosen a career in public service speaks 

a great deal to the type of person that he is. 

Senator CORZINE’s economic expertise helped him become 

a leader on budget and fiscal issues in the Senate. I had the 

privilege of serving with Senator CORZINE on the Budget 

Committee. His knowledge and understanding of financial 

markets and economic issues will be missed. 

JON CORZINE has been a good Senator, and I wish him success as he leaves here to become Governor of the State of 

New Jersey. 

Æ