October 2, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10417 

many of our Members of Congress have 

about locking it up in the name of 

something. 

I would hope Congress got real and 

recognized the reality of the world we 

live in. Just as we live in a worldwide 

economic market, we also live in a 

worldwide energy market. The great 

tragedy of today has created, in part, 

the economic crisis we are in. While it 

was at the gas pump for the average 

citizen every day, at least when oil was 

$140 a barrel, we were sending upwards 

of $1.2 billion offshore to buy oil. 

America cannot continue to do that 

and remain a wealthy and prosperous 

nation. We simply are draining our 

Treasury dry. Yet we have oil all 

around us. Consumers are now seeing 

ads on television talking about the 

great shale pools of natural gas the 

new technology is bringing. Yet very 

quietly we are trying to keep a lot of 

that out of reach, all in the name of 

the environment. 

We have all other kinds of energy resources we ought to be going after and 

developing. I believe the next decade in 

front of us is the decade of energy. I 

think as a Congress we are awakening. 

I know the consumers have awakened 

and they are going to demand that 

Congress do what is right, all in the 

name of new production, new technologies, diverse kinds of energy portfolios for our country. 

We will not be a wealthy nation 20 

years from now. We will not be a nation that allows our citizens and our 

young people to pursue the American 

dream as we and our parents before us 

and our grandparents before them. 

We need to recognize the next 20 

years ought to be and must be dedicated to the production of energy; all 

forms, clean, diverse. That is our challenge. So let’s connect the dots. 

Last night we talked about a credit 

crunch and a credit crisis. I believe it 

was worsened by an energy crunch and 

an energy crisis we have lived through 

and are currently continuing to live 

through. 

If the Congress does not bring that 

together, then we will fail, or at least 

we will not allow the greatest hope and 

the greatest expectation of our country, this great country, to see its natural level. Those are our challenges. 

Bold votes last night, bold and necessary steps were taken. Can this Senate as a policymaking body be as bold 

in energy as we were with the economy? That is the challenge we face. I 

will not face it anymore. But everybody who serves here will. I hope they 

can meet that challenge. Because if 

they fail, then our great Nation is 

weakened and the opportunities many 

of us have worked for, for our children 

and our grandchildren over the years, 

simply cannot be realized. 

So Senate, Congress, connect the 

dots. Work at getting the economy 

right, work at getting energy production back online, work at giving this 

great enterprising country of ours the 

opportunity to create and to be what it 

can be. That is a necessary and important challenge. I am confident, if the 

citizens of our country demand it, the 

Congress will rise to that occasion. 

I yield the floor. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado is recognized. 

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THANKING SENATORS 

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, while 

the Senator from Idaho is on the floor, 

I made some comments earlier about 

the pleasure of being able to work with 

him in the Senate. I wish to also recognize the fine work he has done on energy. We certainly appreciate his work 

on that. 

Colorado is an energy-rich State. We 

have all forms of energy, not only fossil fuels but also wind and solar and 

geothermal. I think Senator CRAIG has 

been very sensitive to those. 

When working with the Senator from 

Idaho I felt like he truly had the Nation’s interest in mind. It has been a 

pleasure for me to serve with Senator 

CRAIG, particularly on the Appropriations Committee. The Senator brought 

in a very competent staff and was himself extremely knowledgeable. 

As we leave this institution, I wish to 

thank the Senator from Idaho for all 

the work he did to help me along with 

legislation. What a privilege it has 

been to be able to know Senator CRAIG

and work with him in the Senate. Also, 

I wish to recognize the Senator’s hard 

work in the Senate. 

Senator SALAZAR was making some 

comments earlier on, talking about my 

retirement. I happened to have gone 

downstairs and grabbed a lunch and 

there he was. I also want the people of 

Colorado to know I have enjoyed working with Senator SALAZAR. We have not 

agreed on some of the national issues, 

but I think generally one thing we 

have agreed on is we need to work for 

Colorado. 

I think we have truly been partners 

in that effort. I appreciated the opportunity to get to know you. I’m reminded that when Colorado came into 

the Union, in 1876—we are known as 

the Centennial State—the Republicans 

were pretty much in control of everything. You see, Colorado is a State that 

is recognized as a swing State, it 

swings back and forth between the Republican and Democratic Parties. 

But at that particular time, there 

was a big effort to have a Senator from 

the north and a Senator from the south 

of our State. Similarly, today, I grew 

up about as far north as you can get in 

Colorado, Senator SALAZAR grew up 

about as far south as you can get in the 

State of Colorado. I think, at least in 

the spirit, and certainly in geographic 

location, we have been able to represent all of the State of Colorado and 

deal with those issues in a civil and responsible way. 

I wish to thank Senator SALAZAR

publicly for his service to the State of 

Colorado and also want the people of 

Colorado to know I highly respect Senator KEN SALAZAR, who is sitting in the 

chair right now, for his dedication and 

the rich heritage he has in the State of 

Colorado. I have appreciated the opportunity to serve with Senator SALAZAR

in the State of Colorado and I wish the 

Senator well in future years. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho. 

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, before the 

senior retiring Senator from the State 

of Colorado leaves, let me thank him 

for his gracious comments. We have 

been a very good team and have 

partnered on a lot of issues over the 

years because we have such common 

interests in mind. Our States are very 

similar in so many ways. 

The State of Colorado happens to 

have the hydrocarbons we do not have, 

when it comes to gas and oil. But at 

the same time, agriculture, water and 

timber, tourism, and all the great 

things many people attribute to the 

West are embodied in the State of Colorado and certainly in the State of 

Idaho. 

But a very special thanks to Senator 

ALLARD for your fine comments. The 

work the Senator has done on behalf of 

his State is precedent setting. I hope— 

I know—the Senator will be continually recognized for that. 

But let me also say the Senator and 

his wife Joan have become good friends 

of both my wife Suzanne and I. Those 

are the kinds of friendships that build 

partnerships in the Senate. I hope 

other Senators recognize the Senate 

works well when Senators are friends 

and partners. 

Now, we may have our disagreements 

along the way, and there may be some 

disagreements between Democrats and 

Republicans, but when the collegiality 

of the Senate leaves, the Senate no 

longer works or works as well as it 

should on behalf of our citizens. Certainly, the collegiality between the 

Craigs and the Allards has been longstanding and greatly appreciated. 

Thank you. 

Mr. ALLARD. I suggest the absence 

of a quorum. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will call the roll. 

The legislative clerk proceeded to 

call the roll. 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the order for the quorum call be 

rescinded. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

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UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST— 

S. 3150 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce 

Committee be discharged from further 

consideration of S. 3150, the Access to 

Air Travel Act, that the bill be read a 

third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table with no 

intervening action or debate, and that 

any statements relating to this matter 

appear at the appropriate place in the 

RECORD as if given. 


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S10418 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 2, 2008 

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. NELSON of Nebraska). Is there objection? 

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I object. There is objection on the Republican side. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. 

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UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST— 

H.R. 7112 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 7112, which is at the 

desk; that the Dodd-Shelby amendment 

which is also at the desk be agreed to, 

the bill, as amended, be read a third 

time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that 

any statements relating to this matter 

be printed in the RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there 

objection? 

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I object. The Banking Committee is working on new language which has not yet 

been cleared. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. 

Mr. REID. I want the record to reflect that this is very important legislation to impose sanctions with respect 

to Iran, to provide for the divestment 

of assets in Iran by State and local 

governments and other entities, and to 

identify locations of concern with respect to transshipment, reexportation, 

or diversion of certain sensitive items 

to Iran. We have tried to get this done. 

It is very important. There has been 

objection by the Republicans. That is 

unfortunate. 

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UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST— 

S. 3644 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent, on behalf of Senator 

LANDRIEU and others, that the Agriculture Committee be discharged from 

further consideration of S. 3644, a bill 

to provide crop disaster assistance, and 

the Senate proceed to its consideration, that the bill be read three times 

and passed, the motion to reconsider be 

laid on the table, there be no intervening action or debate, and that any 

statements relating to this matter be 

printed in the RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there 

objection? 

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I object. I understand Senator COBURN has 

a hold. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. 

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UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, the news 

from Nevada about those unemployed 

is that it is going up every day. Nevada 

now has an extremely high unemployment rate, over 7 percent. But Nevada 

is not the most unemployed State. 

Michigan is over 9 percent. We Democrats are deeply concerned with the 

continued rise in unemployment and 

the fact that many unemployed workers have exhausted or soon will exhaust 

their benefits. We hope our Republican 

colleagues will allow the Senate to 

move legislation forward and extend 

unemployment compensation benefits 

and do it now before we recess. 

f 

UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST— 

S. 3507 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the Finance Committee be discharged from further consideration of 

S. 3507 and that the Senate proceed to 

its immediate consideration, that the 

Reed of Rhode Island amendment at 

the desk be considered and agreed to, 

the bill, as amended, be read a third 

time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and there be 

no intervening action or debate. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there 

objection? 

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I object. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. 

Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a 

quorum. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will call the roll. 

The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. 

Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the order for 

the quorum call be rescinded. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that I be allowed to 

speak—I assume we are in morning 

business. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are in 

morning business. 

Mr. HAGEL. For up to 20 minutes. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, thank 

you. I am very pleased you are in the 

chair this afternoon. For those who are 

not aware of the fact that Nebraska’s 

entire Senate delegation is on the Senate floor today, one who will soon become the senior Senator is presiding. 

So, thank you, Mr. President. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO SENATORS 

Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I would 

like to begin my remarks this afternoon acknowledging four of our colleagues who will be leaving the Senate 

along with me at the end of this Congress, the 110th Congress, and then 

make some additional comments. 

PETE DOMENICI AND JOHN WARNER

Mr. President, this body will lose two 

of the most respected, highly regarded 

consensus builders in the history of 

this body. I speak of the senior Senator 

from New Mexico, Mr. DOMENICI, and 

the senior Senator from Virginia, Mr. 

WARNER. Between the two of these distinguished national leaders, they have 

given the Senate and this country 70 

years of service. 

Most Americans are aware of Senators DOMENICI and WARNER and the 

contributions they have made. Those of 

us who have had the privilege of serving with these two individuals know 

what they have meant to our country. 

They have been role models, leaders, 

men of conscience, of vision, of integrity, of courage. And all of those mostvalued human characteristics have 

been evident when America has needed 

them most. 

For their voice and their courage and 

their vision, we thank them. For the 

kind of men they are, and the Senators 

they have been, we thank them. We are 

all much enriched by our association 

with Senators WARNER and DOMENICI, 

and this country will miss them greatly. 

But they leave strong legacies. They 

leave men and women who have been 

touched by their leadership and their 

values who will carry on behind them, 

emulating their leadership and their 

vision. 

WAYNE ALLARD

Mr. President, I wish also to recognize one of my classmates with whom I 

came to the Senate 12 years ago. He is 

our neighbor from the West, the senior 

Senator from Colorado, WAYNE ALLARD. Aside from Senator ALLARD and 

Colorado usually taking Nebraska’s 

water, we find little to quarrel with in 

the kind of work that Senator ALLARD

has done for his State and our country. 

I have had an opportunity to serve 12 

years with Senator ALLARD on the 

Banking Committee. His very steady 

performance and leadership will be 

missed on that committee, as well as 

on the other committees he has served 

and has been very active, as my colleague in the chair knows, who served 

with him as well on the Armed Services Committee. His leadership on the 

Budget Committee in particular will be 

missed. I wish to acknowledge that 

friendship and that leadership of Senator ALLARD. 

LARRY CRAIG

Mr. President, the fourth Member of 

the Senate who will be leaving along 

with me will be the senior Senator 

from Idaho, LARRY CRAIG. I have had 

an opportunity to work with Senator 

CRAIG over the years on environmental 

issues, energy issues, trade issues, agricultural issues. There have been few 

who have been as forceful and important a voice on behalf of those critical 

challenges to our country. 

Senator CRAIG, Senator ALLARD, Senator WARNER, and Senator DOMENICI all 

leave the Senate a better institution 

for their service. 

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FAREWELL TO THE SENATE 

Mr. HAGEL. On January 7, 1997, I 

took an oath of office in the Senate, an 

oath to the Constitution, and I became 

the 1,841st person who has ever served 

in the Senate. That number struck me 


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