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John E. Sununu 

U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE 

TRIBUTES 

IN THE CONGRESS OF 

THE UNITED STATES 

UNUM

E PLURIBUS


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John E. Sununu 


47110.001
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U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 2010

S. DOC. 110–28 

Tributes 

Delivered in Congress 

John E. Sununu 

United States Congressman 

1997–2003 

United States Senator 

2003–2009 

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Compiled under the direction 

of the 

Joint Committee on Printing 

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CONTENTS 

Page 

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

Proceedings in the Senate: 

Tributes by Senators: 

Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee ............................................... 15 

Allard, Wayne, of Colorado ........................................................ 7 

Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky ....................................................... 14 

Collins, Susan M., of Maine ...................................................... 19 

Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota ................................................. 3 

Dorgan, Byron L., of North Dakota .......................................... 14 

Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming ................................................... 16 

Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin ............................................ 8 

Gregg, Judd, of New Hampshire ............................................... 8 

Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah ........................................................... 12 

Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas ............................................... 19 

Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana ............................................... 3 

McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky ................................................. 4, 7 

Snowe, Olympia J., of Maine .................................................... 15 

Specter, Arlen, of Pennsylvania ................................................ 10 

Sununu, John E., of New Hampshire ....................................... 6 

Warner, John, of Virginia .......................................................... 11 

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BIOGRAPHY 

JOHN SUNUNU first ran for public office in 1996, winning 

election in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District 

and serving three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2002, JOHN defeated both an incumbent Senator 

and an incumbent Governor to become the youngest Member 

of the U.S. Senate. 

At the age of 43, JOHN had already distinguished himself 

as an innovative legislator, bringing an extensive background in science, engineering, and small business to his 

work in Washington. He was the 61st person to serve New 

Hampshire as a Senator and occupied the Senate seat held 

by such distinguished individuals as Nicholas Gilman, a 

signer of the U.S. Constitution, and Styles Bridges, one of 

New Hampshire’s longest-serving Senators and minority 

leader of the Senate in 1952. 

During his 6 years in the House of Representatives, JOHN

rose to become vice chairman of the Budget Committee, taking a leading role in shaping the Nation’s annual budget priorities. He also served on the House Appropriations Committee and worked to pass legislation to protect New Hampshire’s Lamprey River, support the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, and strengthen funding for special education. 

In the Senate, JOHN’s key assignments included the Finance Committee, the Commerce Committee, and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. JOHN

also served on the Joint Economic Committee, and was the 

ranking member—senior Republican—on the Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance and Automotive 

Safety; the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs; and the Homeland Security Ad Hoc Subcommittee on 

State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration. He was nominated by President Bush to serve as one 

of two congressional Members in the U.S. delegation to the 

59th General Assembly of the United Nations. 

JOHN SUNUNU grew up in Salem, NH, and is one of eight 

children. He was first introduced to public service at a young 

age when his mother served as chairman of the local school 

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board. JOHN attended public schools, graduated from Salem 

High School, and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 

mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology. JOHN has also earned a master’s degree in business administration from the Harvard Graduate School of 

Business. 

JOHN and his wife Kitty have three children. 

In his first Senate term, JOHN earned national recognition 

for his legislative achievements in the areas of health care, 

fiscal responsibility, and energy policy—recognition that underscored his ability to effect policy that addresses the needs 

of New Hampshire residents and Americans nationwide. 

Nonpartisan taxpayer watchdog organizations—the National Taxpayers Union, the Council for Citizens Against 

Government Waste, and Americans for Tax Reform—have 

consistently honored JOHN for his commitment to cutting 

government spending, reducing taxes, and eliminating the 

debt. 

Some of JOHN’s other awards include the New Hampshire 

Timberland Owners ‘‘Outstanding Legislator of the Year’’ 

award for 2007; the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s ‘‘Certificate of Excellence’’ for 2007; the National Association of 

Community Health Centers ‘‘2008 Superhero Award’’; Consumer Electronics Association’s 2007 ‘‘Digital Patriot 

Award’’; Time magazine’s ‘‘Up And Comer’’; and the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s 2004 ‘‘Visionary Award.’’ 

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TRIBUTES 

TO 

JOHN E. SUNUNU 

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Proceedings in the Senate 

SATURDAY, September 27, 2008 

ORDER FOR PRINTING OF SENATE DOCUMENT 

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 

that the tributes to retiring Senators that appear in the Congressional Record be printed as a Senate document and that 

Senators be permitted to submit such tributes for inclusion 

until Friday, November 21, 2008. 

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

MONDAY, November 17, 2008 

Mr. CONRAD. Madam President, I rise today to honor my 

colleague, Senator JOHN SUNUNU, who will be leaving the 

Senate at the end of this term. Senator SUNUNU has represented the great State of New Hampshire for 12 years in 

Congress, serving 6 of those years in the Senate. Senator 

SUNUNU and I both served on the Finance Committee. Although we did not always agree, I found JOHN to be willing 

to work in a bipartisan manner to confront the major challenges that our great Nation faces. 

Raised in Salem, NH, JOHN SUNUNU became interested in 

public service early in life when his mother served as chair 

of the local school board. JOHN attended public school in 

Salem and later earned advanced degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Harvard Graduate 

School of Business. 

JOHN SUNUNU was elected to represent New Hampshire’s 

First Electoral District in the House of Representatives in 

1996. In the House JOHN served on the Budget and Appropriations Committees. He quickly rose in rank on the Budget 

Committee, becoming its vice chairman. In 2002, he was 

elected to represent the Granite State in this Chamber, becoming its youngest Member. 

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JOHN and I worked together on numerous occasions. We 

both served on the Finance Committee. This summer, JOHN

joined the so-called ‘‘Gang of Ten’’ as it expanded from 10 to 

20 members. Together, we sought pragmatic, bipartisan solutions to our Nation’s energy crisis. Senator SUNUNU also 

joined me in standing up for our Nation’s senior citizens and 

opposing cuts to Medicare-financed nursing home care. 

JOHN will be remembered for his commitment to individual 

liberties and limited government. In the uncertainties of today’s world, Senator SUNUNU has been a voice for preserving 

civil liberties in the light of increased law enforcement 

needs. 

I thank Senator SUNUNU for his years of public service and 

wish him and his family the best in the future. 

WEDNESDAY, November 19, 2008 

Mr. MCCONNELL. I rise today to say farewell to the Senator from New Hampshire, JOHN SUNUNU. Although JOHN is 

the youngest Senator, he is one of our brightest. A reporter 

once wrote that one of JOHN’s fellow Senators said that if we 

were ever to lose JOHN, the rest of us would have to argue 

over who would be the smartest person in the Senate. But 

as long as we had JOHN around, there was no argument. 

JOHN impressed people at a young age, earning both a 

bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering 

from MIT and an MBA from Harvard. He received real-world 

experience working as an engineer in jobs I daresay few of 

our colleagues could try to explain, myself included. 

Then one day a seat from New Hampshire in the House 

of Representatives opened up, and JOHN took a good long 

look at it. JOHN has never been the kind of man who felt he 

deserved a job on the public payroll. He did not crave the 

power and respect that came with holding office. Yet we are 

certainly thankful his great State has sent him here. 

Now, 12 years later, I think we can say with confidence 

that New Hampshirites could not have had a more dedicated 

and principled public servant. 

After 6 years of service in the House, New Hampshire sent 

JOHN to this Chamber in 2002. To reach the Senate, he had 

to face an incumbent Senator in the primary and then a sitting Governor in the general election. Since then JOHN has 

compiled a record of which every citizen of the Granite State 

can be proud. 

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A student of the free market, JOHN strongly believes lower 

taxes promote growth and expand opportunities. That is why 

he fought so hard to extend the ban on taxes to access the 

Internet. That tax ban was signed into law, and it protects 

consumers from taxes on Internet access, e-mail, and instant 

messaging for 7 years. 

Just think, if online communications and commerce grow 

as rapidly over the next 7 years as they have over the past 

7, JOHN’s tax ban will not only have promoted economic 

growth, it will have spared countless small businesses and 

families from a tremendous burden. For that, he deserves all 

of our thanks. 

JOHN’s voice was one of the loudest to say that we must 

tackle tough issues now, such as entitlements and the future 

of Social Security. He stood up time and again, calling on 

Congress to reduce government spending, expand telecommunications service to rural areas, and clean up air pollution. 

He also learned first hand the principle that has made 

America great, our commitment to personal freedom. It is 

what this country was founded on. JOHN understands what 

makes America work is not what we do in this Chamber but 

what millions of Americans do every day for their families 

and communities. 

JOHN is a kind and compassionate man who is a joy to 

know. I remember well when the senior Senator from Pennsylvania underwent chemotherapy in 2005 as part of his 

treatment for Hodgkin’s disease. 

Like many chemotherapy recipients, the Senator from 

Pennsylvania’s hair fell out. In a generous act of solidarity 

with his colleague, JOHN shaved his head. That certainly 

took more commitment than sending a get well card. But 

that is JOHN SUNUNU. 

JOHN, I am going to miss you. It has been an honor to 

work by your side over these past 6 years. It has been a joy 

to know you, your lovely wife Kitty, and your family. 

I want them and you to know that we in the Senate admire the depth of your convictions and the strength of your 

heart. I am sure that whatever the future holds for you, you 

will be a huge success. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New 

Hampshire is recognized. 

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Mr. SUNUNU. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for a few minutes in response to the very kind 

remarks of the Republican leader. 

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

Mr. SUNUNU. First, it is probably appropriate for me to 

note that the haircut that I now sport is an echo of that summer a couple of years ago when I cut my hair, or cut all of 

my hair, in tribute to the sacrifice and the celebration of the 

final chemotherapy treatment of Senator Specter. 

He underwent another round of chemo this past summer. 

In the middle of the campaign, I did not think it was appropriate to shave my head. So the day after the election, 2 

weeks ago, I thought there was some pent-up demand in my 

own heart to remember those tough weeks for Arlen Specter. 

So I was happy to go out and shave my head again. That is 

why it looks a little bit different than it might have during 

the campaign. 

The Republican leader has been very kind in his remarks. 

And I cannot help but note that I am a little bit too young 

to have anyone paying tribute to my career, as it were, in 

public service. I believe very strongly that you go out, you 

find work that you love, a job that teaches you great things, 

and if you have some opportunity to serve your community, 

your State, your country in public service, then you think seriously about that opportunity. 

That is how I came to the House and even my work in the 

Senate. I am going to have the opportunity to go back and 

do things that I find challenging being an engineer, coming 

out of a small business community. I know there are a lot 

of great challenges and opportunities that await. But I also 

know there may come another time when there is an opportunity to serve, and I will always take those opportunities 

very seriously. 

On election night, whether you win or lose, you always 

thank the people who matter most to you. You thank your 

family, you thank the people of the State of New Hampshire 

who have been good enough to give you the privilege to 

serve, but you also thank the people who made your work 

possible in the Senate, your colleagues. I cannot think of any 

colleague who has been more supportive and more helpful to 

me over the 6 years I have been in the Senate than Senator 

Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. 

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The Senator mentioned my work on the Internet tax ban, 

but the Senator from Kentucky did not mention his own 

work. This was a case where it helped to have someone with 

Senator McConnell’s leadership and experience because 

while I waited patiently in the midst of a reauthorization of 

the Amtrak bill, once we had the opportunity to offer amendments, I happened to be prepared with an amendment that 

would ban taxes on Internet access. And the leader from 

Kentucky just happened to be prepared with a motion to 

close debate on that amendment so we could finally get a 

vote. 

While that procedure may sound very arcane to people 

who may be listening to the Senate debate at home, it was 

absolutely essential in bringing that issue to a successful 

completion. So only by working closely with the Senator from 

Kentucky were we able to get that work done on the Internet 

tax ban. And it is perhaps the work that I am most proud 

of. I think it is the work I have been able to do in the Senate 

that will probably have the most lasting economic impact. It 

is important to leave behind a record that you are proud of, 

but it is also maybe even more important to leave behind 

many fond memories of that work, fond memories of colleagues with whom you were able to spend time and, of 

course, fond memories of the friendships you were able to 

form, both with members of your own party and with those 

on the other side of the aisle. 

Perhaps what I am most proud of overall is that the pieces 

of legislation I was able to sponsor and pass, whether it was 

the Internet tax ban, civil liberties protection that we added 

under the PATRIOT Act, or the Wilderness Act that protects 

35,000 acres of the White Mountain National Forest, were 

all bipartisan pieces of legislation. That means a lot to me. 

I think it will serve me well in any future endeavors I undertake in public service. I thank Senator McConnell, the 

Republican leader. 

Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, let me just say to 

my friend from New Hampshire, it has been a real privilege 

to serve with somebody of your intellect and ability. I know 

you are going to be a huge success. You have, as we discussed, a lot of your life left. I know you are going to be a 

huge success in the coming years, and I am looking forward 

to seeing more of you in the future. 

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, first, I wish to thank the 

Senator from New Hampshire [Mr. SUNUNU] who just spoke 

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for his leadership in the Congress, and it has been a pleasure serving with him. I also will be retiring, but one of the 

people I will miss is JOHN SUNUNU from New Hampshire, because I think he has contributed a lot to the process. 

Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I want to take a moment to recognize the service of Senator JOHN SUNUNU during his time here in the Senate. It has been a pleasure to 

work with him on a wide range of issues, from protecting the 

rights of law-abiding Americans to strengthening our foreign 

policy toward Africa. 

Senator SUNUNU has made many important contributions 

during his time in this body, but his work to protect the constitutional rights of innocent Americans is certainly among 

the most important. He recognizes that our government can 

wage an effective fight against terrorism that still respects 

our basic freedoms. Senator SUNUNU has been a crucial voice 

on civil liberties issues like reforming the PATRIOT Act and 

keeping tabs on government data mining efforts. I am proud 

that we worked together on a number of bills. Most recently, 

we introduced legislation addressing the serious misuse of 

the FBI’s national security letter authorities to obtain information about innocent people without judicial review. We 

also successfully passed legislation last year requiring Federal agencies to inform Congress about the use and development of the kind of government data mining technologies 

that raise the most serious privacy and efficacy concerns. I 

will miss his voice on these issues here in the Senate. 

Finally, I want to recognize Senator SUNUNU’s work on the 

Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Africa Subcommittee. 

I had the privilege of working side by side with him when 

he was ranking member of that subcommittee, and I saw 

first hand his commitment to ending devastating conflicts in 

Africa. I deeply appreciate his commitment to his work on 

Africa, and to so many other issues during his service in the 

Senate. I wish him all the best in the future. 

THURSDAY, November 20, 2008 

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, a large number of very special 

and extraordinary individuals will be leaving the Senate at 

the end of this session, many friends and many people I have 

admired for a number of years and had the privilege to serve 

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with. I wish to speak specifically to one, and that is my colleague from New Hampshire, JOHN SUNUNU. 

JOHN is the youngest Member of the Senate. He came here 

as the youngest Member, and he is still the youngest Member after 6 years, but he is one of the most accomplished and 

capable people in the Senate, one of the brightest, as we all 

know, and also one of the people who brings the most common sense to issues. Time and time again, I would come to 

the floor, and this was throughout his term but especially 

during the last few months when he was in a very challenging election, and there would be votes cast that were 

very difficult political votes, votes which, when you cast 

these votes, most people knew they were not going to be understood and, in many instances, they were going to be misinterpreted or subject to misrepresentation but votes which 

were necessary to cast in order to preserve especially the fiscal responsibility of this government. JOHN SUNUNU never 

backed away from any of those votes. He always cast the difficult vote, knowing in many instances that politically it was 

going to be characterized in a way that might hurt him; 

votes, the basic purpose of which, in most instances, were to 

protect the taxpayer, keep the size of government under control, and be a force for a better country and for more individual rights. He understands as well as anyone in this body 

the basic values of making government live within its means, 

of having a government that people can afford but is still 

compassionate and accomplishes the goals of delivering adequate services. He has worked very hard in order to pursue 

those goals. 

He also brought to the body a unique sense of humor, New 

Hampshire humor, quiet, witty, and comfortable with himself but also willing to make fun of himself, and an essential 

common sense, which I like to think is characteristic of New 

Hampshire, and also an integrity, a commitment to public 

service for the purposes of public service—the fact that he 

was here not to benefit himself in any way but simply to do 

what he felt was right in order to make our Nation better 

and make New Hampshire better. He served New Hampshire for 12 years, both in Congress and in the Senate. 

As I mentioned, he is the youngest Member of the Senate 

and his service is hardly completed, I hope. His opportunities 

are virtually limitless because his abilities are limitless. He 

has talent and capability, intelligence, drive, the personality 

to pretty much do whatever he wants as he moves forward. 

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He also has one other resource which is very special and 

that is his wife and family. Kitty is an exceptional individual. Kathy and I have come to enjoy not only working 

with JOHN and Kitty but getting to know them as friends, 

as fellow travelers. Kathy has been through many years 

being a political wife, and she has put up with a lot of ups 

and downs. She and Kitty naturally bonded, as they understood the importance of what we do. Kitty is an individual 

who brings a smile whenever you see her because she is a 

person filled with good will to everyone. Their children, 

Grace and Charlotte, John Hayes, great kids, very enthusiastic people, a wonderful family. That family is a tremendous 

support to JOHN, and he is a tremendous support to them. 

That unit, as it moves forward, will always be successful. 

It is obviously with great regret that I look on JOHN’s leaving the Senate. His talent will be lost here, and it will be a 

loss to the body. He is a special individual who had a special 

group of skills that uniquely worked for the benefit of New 

Hampshire and the people of New Hampshire. I hope he will 

stay engaged. 

Kathy and I wish him and Kitty and their children the 

best of luck as they go forward and that the road always 

rises to meet them. 

I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. 

Mr. SPECTER. Madam President, I wish to pay tribute to 

my friend Senator JOHN SUNUNU for his service to the country and his contributions to the U.S. Senate. Senator 

SUNUNU’s departure from the Senate will be a great loss to 

this body, as well as to the State of New Hampshire. 

I have known Senator SUNUNU since he joined the Senate 

in 2002. I have always found him to be an intelligent, engaged, and capable legislator who cares deeply for the wellbeing of his constituents and does what is right for the Nation, regardless of the political cost. 

Senator SUNUNU followed his father and mother into public service when he ran for public office in 1996 and won the 

election in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District. 

JOHN served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives where he quickly established a reputation as an innovative legislator. JOHN effectively applied his extensive background in science, engineering, and small business during 

his 6 years in the House of Representatives where he rose 

to become vice chairman of the Budget Committee and took 

a leading role in shaping our Nation’s annual budget priorities. 

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In 2002, JOHN joined the Senate after defeating both an 

incumbent Senator and an incumbent Governor to become 

the youngest Member of the U.S. Senate. I have admired 

JOHN’s work on committees: the Finance Committee, the 

Commerce Committee, and the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. On these committees Senator 

SUNUNU played a major role on the lobbying reform legislation, and he got the Bush administration to make some crucial changes in the PATRIOT Act before he voted to reauthorize it. 

JOHN SUNUNU has also gained a reputation as a well respected fiscal conservative. 

On a personal note, Senator SUNUNU has been a very good 

friend to me. When I underwent chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s 

disease and lost my hair, Senator SUNUNU showed up one 

day on the Senate floor with a shaved head. He said that he 

had shaved his head as a sign of solidarity for what I was 

going through. 

I wish JOHN, his wife Kitty, and his three lovely children 

the best of luck as they move forward. I have no doubt that 

Senator SUNUNU has a bright future and will continue to 

make important contributions to New Hampshire and the 

entire Nation. 

Mr. WARNER. JOHN SUNUNU. I confess not to have known 

him very well. I had met him when he came from the House 

of Representatives to the Senate. I suppose all of us who 

have been here for a period of time, having been given that 

marvelous accolade of an old bull, presume we can judge others quickly. I saw in JOHN SUNUNU a man who would take 

charge from the day he came, and that he did. From the very 

moment he walked on the floor of the Senate, he was possessed of his own self-confidence, his own driving, almost a 

fierce desire to be a leader—a leader in the sense of advocating as a true fighter, advocating for those issues in which 

he had a belief in the principles that were dear to his heart. 

The field of economics is quite a challenge, and with little 

provocation he would give you a tutorial on the most complex 

issues as they relate to economics. Indeed, in the weeks before the election, as this body was coming to a close and we 

voted on such measures as the rescue package and so forth, 

he frequently stood. When he spoke, our caucus and those 

around him listened very carefully. I mention this because 

he exhibited real academic strength at both MIT and Harvard. He did a lot of interesting things in his short life before 

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he came to the Senate, not the least of which was being in 

the House of Representatives. 

JOHN also had a special niche for his interest in education. 

He wanted to make sure people less fortunate than we would 

have an opportunity to get an education and that those in 

the system and struggling are given any help possible to succeed in their own goals of educating themselves. He also 

held—very unusual—a special regard for the families of law 

enforcement officers, men or women in uniform, and particularly those families who lost a spouse or loved one in the line 

of duty. 

He is an extraordinary man, JOHN SUNUNU—very sensitive, very thoughtful, a man who loves his State, particularly the rivers of his State. He commended me for leading 

the charge in my State to remove an old dam that, for 80 

years, blocked the migration of a fish from the Atlantic 

Ocean to the Blue Ridge Mountains. He was challenged to 

try to remedy a similar situation that existed in his State. 

I will miss JOHN, his wife Kitty, and his lovely family. Kitty 

and my wife shared a few words on our departure last night 

from the dinner. 

I am not one who makes many predictions, but I predict 

this man continues to not walk but run down that road of 

life, one who makes those twists and turns, climbs those 

mountains, and crosses those rivers. He will leave his mark 

on many successful ventures. We will hear from this man not 

once, not twice but many times again. I wish him well. 

Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to speak today regarding the departure of my esteemed colleague from New 

Hampshire, Senator JOHN SUNUNU. I have known Senator 

SUNUNU and his family for many years now, and I have 

worked closely with Senator SUNUNU since he first joined 

Congress in 1997 in the House of Representatives and then 

in the Senate since 2003. Today, I am sure that I am joined 

by many of my colleagues in saying that his service, his 

thoughtfulness, and his friendship in this institution will be 

missed. 

Often referred to as one of the smartest people in Congress, Senator SUNUNU earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in mechanical engineering from the 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Setting the bar 

even higher, he also went on to earn a master of business 

administration from Harvard University. Armed with that 

kind of education, it would have been easy for Senator 

SUNUNU to spend the rest of his days on a career track that 

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would have compensated him and his family in ways that 

most of us only dream about. Instead, after only a few short 

years in the private sector, Senator SUNUNU chose to put his 

mind to work in Congress at solving some of the most pressing problems and issues of our day. It is for that dedication 

of service to his country to which I pay tribute today. 

In addition to being one of the smartest people in Congress, Senator SUNUNU also holds the well-known title of 

being the youngest Senator currently serving in our legislative body. While that feat alone is impressive in its own 

right, I also like to think of Senator SUNUNU as one of the 

most thoughtful Senators currently serving in the Senate. 

Specifically, Mr. President, I mention Senator SUNUNU’s act 

of friendship and solidarity in 2005 when he shaved his own 

hair and stood alongside our mutual friend, Senator Arlen 

Specter, as he underwent chemotherapy treatment. A simple 

act, indeed, but it is one that has not gone unnoticed and it 

is one that illustrates the thoughtfulness of a man and a 

Senator who stood by his colleague in a time of great need. 

It is that compassionate thoughtfulness that we will all miss. 

From his thoughtful work on energy and climate change 

legislation to his valued friendship while working together 

on the Finance Committee, Senator SUNUNU has done a tremendous job for the people of New Hampshire and our Nation. As a colleague, I appreciate his instrumental support of 

the Flag Desecration Amendment in 2006. As a friend, I convey my highest admiration and respect for what he has been 

able to accomplish while here in the Senate. It is that spirit 

of friendship from which all of us could always gain a little 

something. 

I wish Senator SUNUNU and his lovely family the best and 

thank them for the years of service Senator SUNUNU has 

been able to provide to this body as a result of their sacrifice. 

Senator SUNUNU’s journey in the U.S. Senate would not be 

complete without their support, and I am sure that they will 

all be happy to have their loving husband and father around 

the house a little more often. Without hesitation, Mr. President, I can say that our loss is their gain. To Senator 

SUNUNU and his family, I extend my deepest gratitude for 

the countless hours of service, the simple acts of thoughtfulness, and the years of friendship they have extended to me, 

my colleagues, and the people of the United States. Given 

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Senator SUNUNU’s track record, I am certain that we will be 

hearing more about him for many years to come. 

THURSDAY, November 20, 2008 

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

that the order from September 27 regarding tributes to retiring Senators be modified so that Senators be permitted to 

submit such tributes for inclusion in a Senate document 

until Friday, December 12, 2008. 

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

MONDAY, December 8, 2008 

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I wish to join my fellow 

Senators to honor a colleague and a friend, Senator JOHN E. 

SUNUNU, who is departing the Senate at the close of this 

Congress. I have enjoyed working with Senator SUNUNU over 

the years—first in the House of Representatives and later in 

the Senate. 

While in the Senate I have had the great fortune of serving with JOHN on the Senate Finance Committee. He is a revered advocate of fiscal discipline, personal responsibility, 

and free markets. The two of us have stood together on numerous issues—most notably tax—and I have always believed that we could accomplish any goal because I had his 

voice of conviction and intellect on my side. 

Representing New Hampshire, Senator SUNUNU has proven to all Granite Staters that he will fight for the simple 

motto that reads on their State license plate: Live Free or 

Die. Whether the item of the day was Social Security, trade, 

or any other topical issue, including the original intent of the 

Constitution, Senator SUNUNU has proven that he is up for 

any debate. 

The U.S. Senate will not be the same without Senator 

JOHN SUNUNU. In a time when many politicians try to increase the role of government in American life, Senator JOHN

SUNUNU has always bet on the American people rather than 

government. I will miss JOHN SUNUNU. 

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Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, four of our most valuable Senators will not return next year and we will miss 

them. . . . 

I met JOHN SUNUNU when he was a college student and 

his father and I were Governors of our respective States. He 

arrived and leaves as the youngest Member of the Senate. 

But, in our caucus, his voice is one of the voices most carefully listened to. His intelligence, his philosophical integrity, 

and his persistence have made him a most valuable player 

in our Republican Conference. He has a bright career ahead 

of him. 

FRIDAY, December 12, 2008 

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to 

Senator JOHN SUNUNU, an outstanding public servant and 

fellow New Englander whose commonsense approach to governance and dedication to problem solving have well served 

both his constituents of the Granite State of New Hampshire 

as well as his country. 

It is impossible not to like and respect someone of Senator 

SUNUNU’s tremendous affability and enormous capability. 

Personable and analytical, JOHN brought to the U.S. Senate 

what he exhibited during his accomplished tenure in the 

U.S. House—a welcomed engineer’s perspective. So we are 

losing more than a colleague of undeniable skill and integrity. We are going to miss his vital and refreshing contribution to this Chamber’s national conversation. 

And so, let me just say, it’s been my good fortune to serve 

with JOHN on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, 

and Transportation—specifically, the Subcommittee on 

Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard as ranking 

member, and the Senate Committee on Finance. 

Particularly as a member of the Oceans Subcommittee, 

and former chair of the Subcommittee on the National Ocean 

Policy Study, Senator SUNUNU advocated for New England’s 

fishermen and fishing communities through several difficult 

years. Moreover, as Maine’s groundfishery continued to suffer under ever more stringent catch limits, and our lobster 

industry faced increasingly strict regulations, JOHN’s help 

was instrumental in keeping these issues at the fore and 

protecting one of our region’s and our Nation’s most historic 

professions. For his tireless leadership on these crucial 

issues, we are forever grateful. 

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On two additional topics that are also profoundly critical 

not only to my State of Maine, but also to the entire New 

England region—the vitality of Kittery-Portsmouth Naval 

Shipyard and the protection of the pivotal Low Income Home 

Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP, JOHN and I have 

been vigilant, working hand in glove to ensure the continued 

viability of these indispensable mainstays of our neighboring 

States. 

In fact, in the 110th Congress, we—as part of both the 

New Hampshire and Maine delegations—working with the 

Kittery-Portsmouth community, union leaders, and Captain 

Mazzone and his world class team—fought vigorously and 

successfully to secure $20.7 million in full funding for the 

construction of the Waterfront Support Facility at drydock 

#3—and $9.9 million for the first phase of a new consolidated 

global submarine component facility. As a much-admired, 

‘‘best in Navy performance’’ shipyard that delivers the best 

work consistently on time and under budget, Kittery-Portsmouth Naval Shipyard—the oldest naval shipyard in the Nation—unquestionably deserved no less. 

When it comes to the life-or-death matter of LIHEAP, 

since coming to Congress in 1997, JOHN has, time and again, 

battled on behalf of thousands of families in New Hampshire 

who require fuel assistance to stay warm in their homes during the winter months. Senator SUNUNU was a stalwart addition to the chorus of those championing LIHEAP from New 

England and other affected regions around the country. 

Although there are truly serious subjects of public policy 

that bind us as New Englanders, nothing brings us together 

more than our beloved Boston Red Sox. And I dare say, one 

of JOHN’s fondest memories over the last 6 years likely has 

nothing to do with the U.S. Senate and everything to do with 

being from New England and a Red Sox fan—as Boston won 

not one but two World Series Championships, shattering the 

much-ballyhooed curse for good. 

In the end, Mr. President, the true measure of a person is 

not making a living by what you get—but rather by what 

you give, and JOHN SUNUNU, during his entire time in Congress, has given his State of New Hampshire remarkable 

public service worthy of its venerable heritage. By entering 

the family business of politics, JOHN has indeed been a steward of the country’s business, and we, and his State of New 

Hampshire, owe him a debt of great thanks. 

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

close the 110th Congress and we will say goodbye to several 

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good friends who will be leaving the Senate and returning to 

their home States. We will miss them all. 

JOHN SUNUNU will be heading home at the end of the current session, and I know I will miss him when the next session of Congress is called to order on the Senate floor. I have 

enjoyed having an opportunity to come to know him during 

his service in the Senate and on the Senate Banking Committee. He has always impressed me with his knowledge of 

the intricacies of our Federal mortgage system. It is clear he 

has always had the tools and the talent to be an effective 

representative for the people of his State and he has always 

been a strong and effective voice for the people of New 

Hampshire. 

JOHN learned about politics and public service at a young 

age as he watched both of his parents pursue their careers 

in their chosen fields. JOHN’s mother was a school board 

member, which explains his aptitude for science and math. 

He soon turned his talent for numbers into a degree from the 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his interest in 

business into a degree from Harvard. 

As the old adage says so well, he comes from good stock 

and a great political family. His father served as the Governor of New Hampshire and later as President Bush’s Chief 

of Staff. He learned a great deal from his father about politics and what mattered to the people of his home State as 

he traveled around New Hampshire with his dad. He then 

put those lessons into practice when he made his own run 

for office. 

JOHN’s initial run for the House led to three successful 

terms. He then launched a successful campaign for the Senate. 

As soon as he arrived, he made it clear he was going to 

follow his own path and he had his own way of doing things. 

He had spent years working with the people of his home 

State and he had a clear view of those issues that were of 

great concern to them. 

When he was asked, he had a ready explanation for the 

reason why he had such a unique perspective on things. It 

was all due, he would say, to his long New Hampshire roots. 

He knew that the people of New Hampshire are known for 

their independence and they have a long tradition of great 

respect for the rights and freedoms of this country. That, he 

would say, has drawn my focus and sparked my interest in 

these issues. 

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JOHN has been a welcome and spirited presence on the 

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. 

His educational background has helped him stay on top of 

the latest technological advances and developments and that 

has helped him in the effort to keep our regulations on the 

latest technologies up to date, current, and effective. 

Yogi Berra used to say that you can observe a lot just by 

watching. I hope JOHN will forgive me for quoting the words 

of a Yankee legend to a Red Sox fan, but as I have watched 

him in action, it is clear from his style that he has a bit of 

Wyoming in him. Never one to look for opportunities to 

speak to the press or make lengthy speeches to get noticed, 

JOHN has always been focused on what he could do that 

would help to get things done. In my home State we like to 

say that you can get anything done if you don’t care who gets 

the credit. JOHN is like that. He has been working to get 

things done for New Hampshire and he has earned the credit 

he has received back home. 

One of the issues that has always drawn JOHN’s interest 

has been the environment, especially the quality of our air. 

It is a sensitive issue for him, and he has always shown himself up to the task of fighting for cleaner air for the folks 

back home. His long list of achievements on this and many 

other issues will be his legacy, a record of which he can be 

very proud. 

In the years to come, I will remember JOHN for his unique 

sense of style, his determination to get things done for his 

State, and his willingness to stand up for those things he believed in with that remarkable intellect of his. He’s not just 

a smart guy. There are a lot of very gifted individuals who 

knew what had to be done but could just never do it. JOHN

is a thoughtful man of action who has an indepth understanding of the problems that face the Nation and a unique 

insight into what will work and what won’t. Simply put, 

JOHN knows how to make the right things happen. 

Now JOHN and Kitty will be returning home to New 

Hampshire to begin a new and exciting chapter in their 

lives. I don’t know what they will decide to do, but I do know 

that JOHN will stay active and involved in the issues that 

concern him that carried him to Washington for these past 

12 years to serve in the House and the Senate. He would be 

the first to tell you that it has been a pleasure and an honor 

to work for the people of New Hampshire, and I am certain 

we haven’t heard the last from him. For my part, I appreciate all his help on the issues we worked on together, but 

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most of all, I appreciate his friendship and his willingness to 

play such an important part in the history of New Hampshire and the United States. He can be very proud of the difference he has made. He has been a good and effective Senator, and the people of New Hampshire will always be proud 

of him and that they had the good sense to send him to 

Washington. 

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I have really enjoyed 

working with JOHN SUNUNU. 

JOHN SUNUNU grew up in Salem, NH, and is one of eight 

children. He was first introduced to public service at a young 

age, when his mother served as chairman of the local school 

board. 

JOHN attended public schools, graduated from Salem High 

School, and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology. 

JOHN also earned a master’s degree in business administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. 

JOHN SUNUNU first ran for public office in 1996, winning 

election in New Hampshire’s First District and serving three 

terms in the U.S. House. 

In 2002, JOHN defeated both an incumbent Senator and an 

incumbent Governor to become the youngest Member of the 

U.S. Senate. 

As a Senator, JOHN distinguished himself as an innovative 

legislator, bringing his extensive background in science, engineering, and small business to his work in Washington. 

Senator SUNUNU has been a staunch advocate for low 

taxes, smarter regulation, and civil liberties. 

Senator SUNUNU is also a man of heart. 

I will never forget that in July 2005, to show solidarity 

with Senator Specter, who had lost his hair due to chemotherapy, Senator SUNUNU shaved his head. 

Since he is still a young man at the age of 44, I suspect 

that we will be hearing a lot more from JOHN SUNUNU in the 

years to come. 

I wish him well in his future endeavors. 

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, Maine and New Hampshire 

have much in common. When JOHN SUNUNU came to the 

Senate 6 years ago, I immediately saw in him those traits 

shared by the people of our two States: a strong work ethic 

combined with a great sense of humor, traditional values 

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ways tempered by compassion. He quickly became not only 

a valued colleague but also a trusted friend. 

JOHN’s extraordinary intellect, wisdom, and experience 

belied his young age and benefited this Chamber and Nation. 

His upbringing in a family devoted to public service, his education in science, engineering, and business, and his experience in the House of Representatives made him a veteran 

from day one. His ability to analyze challenges and devise 

creative solutions made him an esteemed colleague. 

In the best tradition of the Senate, JOHN brought his 

knowledge and experience to bear on some of the most pressing issues we face. In technology, he has been a leader committed to growth and advancement. He has been a devoted 

advocate for special education and rural health care. He has 

been a strong voice for our forest products industry and for 

a sound energy policy that would reduce our dangerous reliance on foreign oil. 

It has been an honor to work with him on the Homeland 

Security Committee. His diligence and commitment have 

helped make America safer. His tireless leadership to reform 

the PATRIOT Act demonstrated his unwavering commitment 

to safeguard the civil liberties Americans cherish. 

In addition to his leadership on national issues like the 

PATRIOT Act and tax policy, JOHN has been an effective advocate for projects of special concern to New Hampshire, 

whether it is low-income heating assistance and weatherization programs or the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. We recently worked closely together with our two colleagues to secure $20 billion for the shipyard’s new drydock to help secure its future. 

Above all, Senator JOHN SUNUNU has distinguished himself as a champion of good government. He is an independent 

thinker who stands up—always—for what he believes to be 

right for New Hampshire and right for our country. He has 

a sharp eye for wasteful spending and is a resolute fighter 

for fiscal responsibility. 

It has been an honor to serve with JOHN, and I wish him 

and his family all the best. I will miss serving with him day 

to day, but I know that he will continue to accomplish a 

great deal. 

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