October 2, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10401 

side, with respect to issues of guns and 

firearms. I recall a debate that was vigorous, robust but principled. I appreciate that effort and his service. 

WAYNE ALLARD

There are three Senators with whom 

I have had the opportunity to serve 

closely. They are people I respect immensely and wish the best to as they 

go forward. WAYNE ALLARD and I came 

to the Senate together. We were in the 

House of Representatives together. We 

have served on both the Armed Services Committee and the Banking Committee together. It seems, indeed, that 

on the Banking Committee, we were either the subcommittee chair or ranking member, depending on who has the 

majority, throughout our career in the 

Senate. In that effort, we worked closely with Senator ALLARD and his distinguished staff on issues with respect to 

homelessness, housing programs, many 

areas of endeavor. He has been a distinguished individual who has done a 

great deal, not only for the State of 

Colorado but for national housing policy and for many other areas of endeavor. 

On the Armed Services Committee, I 

had the privilege of working with him. 

He applied his energy and efforts to 

clean up the Rocky Flats plant, a nuclear facility in Colorado. He has made 

a lasting and extraordinary contribution to his State through those efforts. 

I commend him for all those. I wish 

him well as he goes forward. 

JOHN WARNER

Senator JOHN WARNER was my chairman on the Armed Services Committee. Frankly, he represents the 

model of a Senator. His integrity, judgment, and decency resonate throughout this Chamber and will make a lasting impression on this body. He has 

served Virginia with distinction. He 

has particularly served the men and 

women of our Armed Forces with distinction and unfailing dedication. Part 

of that comes from his own experience. 

As a young man he joined the Navy and 

then later was in the Marine Corps. His 

own experience, later amplified by his 

service as Secretary of the Navy, left 

an indelible impression upon him. That 

impression is the fact that all the great 

decisions made in Washington ultimately must be borne by young men 

and women who serve in uniform. He 

has never forgotten that. He has never 

forgotten that decisions we make play 

out in the lives of soldiers and sailors, 

marines, airmen, and their families. 

That unfailing sense of obligation to 

these young Americans is a profound 

contribution he has made. 

He is also someone who on many occasions has defied the current tides of 

popular opinion. I recall that when the 

deplorable incident surrounding Abu 

Ghraib broke, there was a sense in 

some quarters that we should try to 

avoid mention of that, that we should 

minimize the issue. Senator WARNER

recognized we couldn’t do that, that we 

owed it to the men and women in the 

Armed Forces to look at the issue carefully so it would not be repeated, to ensure that it was, as it truly was, an aberration in the otherwise extraordinary 

dedication of our forces, not just to the 

military profession but to the ideals of 

decency that have been the hallmark of 

the American fighting man and woman 

throughout our history. His efforts 

there will be ruled as a remarkable display of placing the needs of country 

and respect for the institution of the 

military above any partisan political 

concerns. He is someone who has made 

a huge contribution. Again, that contribution will resonate throughout the 

history of this country, particularly 

the history of the Senate. 

CHUCK HAGEL

Finally, let me pay tribute to a dear 

friend and colleague. We entered the 

Senate together 12 years ago. Senator 

CHUCK HAGEL has represented Nebraska 

with rare insight and extraordinarily 

good humor for 12 years. He is one of 

those individuals who is respected and 

liked by everyone because he is an extraordinarily decent person, someone 

who takes his job seriously but himself 

not so seriously. He is someone I have 

had the privilege to travel with across 

the globe—Russia, Afghanistan, Singapore, the Philippines, northern Africa, 

and back again to Afghanistan and 

Iraq. He, too, has a rare dedication to 

the men and women of the armed services, born of his own personal experiences. As a young man he chose not 

only to join the U.S. Army but to serve 

in Vietnam. He had the opportunity to 

be posted to Germany. He would have 

served out his time and left. But he decided he had to march to the sound of 

the guns. His brother was already 

there. Together in the same unit, he 

and his brother served the U.S. Army. 

He was wounded in action, received the 

Purple Heart. He came back as a veteran and continued his education and 

then built a very successful business 

career. But he never lost sight of those 

men and women who serve in uniform. 

He is very active in the USO. He is 

someone who was active in veterans affairs. Then, finally, when he was elected to the Senate, he took his learning, 

his experience and appreciation and 

played a major role on the Foreign Relations Committee. His commitment to 

a broad multinational policy of using 

our alliances, of building our power not 

just through our military power but 

through diplomatic and reputational 

power has made a significant contribution to the country, not just for the 

moment but for many years. He is leaving the Senate to pursue other endeavors. I wish him well. He has been a remarkable friend. He, Lilibet, and their 

children, Allyn and Ziller, are a remarkable family. I will miss him particularly. I salute him, thank him. He, 

to me, is the very model of a Senator 

who has served his country in different 

ways and now has chosen to continue 

to serve in other ways. I am sure he 

will continue to contribute to the 

country. 

To these Members, I wish them well. 

I thank them personally for their kindness to me and their thoughtfulness on 

so many other occasions. 

f 

EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT 

BENEFITS 

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise also 

to speak about a very important topic, 

and that is the need to enact legislation to help unemployed Americans 

amid the current economic downturn. 

Yesterday, we passed an unprecedented 

package of support for the financial 

markets. There are many Americans 

who are suffering as grievously as our 

financial markets and those who work 

in the financial markets. There are an 

estimated 800,000 unemployed workers 

who will begin to run out of emergency 

unemployment compensation because 

jobs are too scarce in the current economic climate. We cannot turn our 

back on these 800,000 Americans. We 

need to help them. In June, I was 

pleased by the inclusion of 13 weeks of 

emergency unemployment compensation to all States in the war supplemental spending bill. This help was 

critical and something I had advocated 

for a very long time. 

Too many individuals in our States 

who have been unemployed are still 

looking for work, but they can’t find it 

and they are running out of benefits. 

The labor market continues to deteriorate. This impact is becoming magnified as a result of the continued unravelling of the financial marketplace. 

We are seeing—in fact, one of the reasons we acted last evening—credit markets seize up. We are seeing auto sales 

lots not able to finance the acquisition 

of cars and buyers not able to buy 

automobiles. We are seeing a host of 

problems that manifest themselves in 

GDP statistics, unemployment statistics, and in the lives of ordinary Americans it is manifested in the stark reality of no work and a family to support. We have experienced the eighth 

straight month of job declines. Unemployment has soared to a 5-year high of 

6.1 percent; 16 States now have an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent or 

greater. New national unemployment 

numbers for September will be released 

tomorrow morning. It is expected that 

these numbers will continue the downward trend, given the sustained notices 

of plant closings, mass layoffs, and cutbacks for small businesses trying to 

survive in this environment. In my 

State of Rhode Island, the situation is 

more bleak: 8.5 percent are jobless 

right now. It is the second highest level 

in the Nation, a jump of over 3.4 percent in the course of the last year 

alone. We are hemorrhaging jobs in 

Rhode Island. It is the highest unemployment rate in Rhode Island since 

November 1992. 

In addition to this evaporation of 

jobs is the acceleration of prices. Gasoline, food, and health care costs are all 

accelerating. Families are caught in a 

tremendous squeeze. That is why I am 

pleased to have introduced bipartisan 

legislation, which has been cosponsored 


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S10402 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 2, 2008 

by more than 20 of my colleagues, including the chairman of the Senate 

HELP Committee and the Finance 

Committee, Senators KENNEDY and 

BAUCUS, to extend unemployment insurance benefits so people can pay 

their bills while they look for work. 

This measure provides 7 weeks of federally funded unemployment insurance 

for individuals who have exhausted 

their benefits, and it provides 13 additional weeks of benefits to unemployed 

workers in States that have been hit 

particularly hard by this economic 

downturn, States that have unemployment rates above 6 percent. Right now 

17 States would qualify for this high 

unemployment figure. 

The bill also includes a provision to 

help qualifying States, such as Rhode 

Island, replenish their unemployment 

insurance trust funds which help cover 

a portion of unemployment insurance 

benefits. The Senate stimulus package 

that failed last week included these 

same provisions to extend unemployment insurance. We need to take aggressive steps to help these families 

who are struggling to make ends meet. 

I ask that my colleagues join me in 

supporting this legislation. 

I was prepared to ask consent to pass 

this legislation, S. 3507, today, but I 

understand there is an objection by the 

minority. Passage of this legislation is 

vital. Since it appears there will be a 

lameduck session after the election, I 

will work with my colleagues to bring 

this legislation, if possible, to that 

lameduck session to get it passed. We 

have to help these Americans. 

In summary, if we could afford to authorize $700 billion last evening to assist financial forces to unclog credit 

markets, to begin to provide support 

for the economy, then we certainly can 

afford to help individuals who are looking for work and can’t find it and are 

desperate. It is only right. I hope we 

can do that when we return. 

I yield the floor. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. 

BROWN). The senior Senator from Colorado is recognized. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO SENATORS 

JACK REED

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I wish 

to make a comment about the Senator 

from Rhode Island before he leaves the 

floor. I have had the distinct privilege 

of serving with my colleague on a number of committees during my tenure in 

the Senate. I want the people of Rhode 

Island to know what a class act he is in 

representing their State in the Senate. 

It has been a thrill to be able to work 

with him on issues. We were on a couple subcommittees together and actually shared the chairmanship and ranking position depending on who was in 

control of the Congress at that time, 

whether it was Republicans or Democrats: the Personnel Subcommittee and 

the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, 

both very important subcommittees in 

the Armed Services Committee. Then 

we found ourselves on the Banking 

Committee. We found ourselves again 

working as the top Republican and top 

Democrat on housing and mass transit 

issues. We worked together on transit 

security issues. And now we are together on the Securities, Insurance and 

Investment subcommittee. 

Senator JACK REED from Rhode Island comes from a different part of the 

country. He has different issues that 

are important to him. I come from the 

West. I have different issues that are 

important to me. But we were able to 

find a lot of commonality and work together in a professional way. I attribute a lot of that to the high moral 

standards, dedication, and ability to 

work with others of my good friend 

from Rhode Island, JACK REED. 

I want him to know what a pleasure 

it has been for me to be able to serve 

on the various committees with him 

through my tenure in the Senate. 

I am getting ready to retire with the 

close of this session. So I wished to 

make a few comments and to recognize 

a few people whom I have appreciated 

working with, and particularly I wish 

to recognize Senator JACK REED from 

Rhode Island because he is a topnotch 

Senator and somebody I have enjoyed 

working with. 

Mr. REED. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, I say to him, thank you 

very much. Let me express my appreciation for your extraordinary assistance and help and collegiality. I wish 

you well. You represent the very highest traditions of integrity, dedication 

and decency and I wish you well. 

Thank you. 

Mr. ALLARD. I thank the Senator 

very much. The Senator from Rhode Island is one individual I am going to 

miss being able to work with. 

Mr. President, I wish to make some 

remarks about leaving the Senate, but 

I do see the top Republican is here. 

Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, will 

my friend yield for a question? 

Mr. ALLARD. Yes. 

Mr. MCCONNELL. I was wondering: I 

came to speak on behalf of my good 

friend, our senior Senator from Colorado. I wonder if he would object to my 

going ahead and making my comments 

about him prior to his speech? Or 

would that create a scheduling problem 

for the Senator from Colorado? 

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, that 

does not create a problem for me and, 

I say to the Senator, I appreciate your 

willingness to come down and say a few 

words. When you are finished, I also 

would like to say how much I have appreciated your leadership on the Republican side. I think you have been a 

superb leader. I think we have been fortunate to have your leadership in the 

Senate during some very tough times. 

A lot of leaders have come and gone. I 

have always felt comfortable in supporting you all along. Sometimes I can 

be frustrating because of my commitments to my constituents and maybe 

my commitment to my issues, but you 

have been very tolerant of me, and I 

appreciate that very much. 

I yield the floor to the top Republican. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader is recognized. 

Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I 

thank my good friend from Colorado. I 

am here to talk about his distinguished 

career. 

WAYNE ALLARD

Mr. President, as the 110th Congress 

draws to a close, we must reluctantly 

say goodbye to some friends who will 

be leaving us. That includes, as we 

have been discussing, my good friend, 

the senior Senator from Colorado. 

As the Republican leader, I get to 

work closely with each and every one 

of our colleagues on this side of the 

aisle. The thing that has always impressed me the most about Senator ALLARD is the fact that he is a true citizen legislator in the model our Founding Fathers envisioned. 

The Founders favored ordinary citizens of extraordinary wisdom. Those 

who step forward from among the people they represent and return to them 

when their time here is done. 

So it is with WAYNE ALLARD. He is retiring from the Senate because he is 

following a two-term pledge he set for 

himself when he was first elected in 

1996. In the spirit of George Washington, he voluntarily retires ‘‘from 

the great theatre of Action’’ to return 

to the people and the place he has so 

ably represented. 

Anyone who knows Senator ALLARD

knows he is a big believer in keeping 

close contact with the people he represents. As a member of the Colorado 

State senate, he passed legislation limiting the length of legislative sessions 

to 120 days to better ensure that State 

lawmakers stayed in touch with their 

constituents. 

After election to the Senate, he made 

a promise to Coloradans that he would 

visit every one of the State’s counties 

every year—a promise he kept, keeping 

him in sync with Colorado sympathies 

and values. 

Even more impressive are the 700 

town meetings across Colorado that 

Senator ALLARD has held since his election to the Senate. 

As a Senator, he has hosted the Allard Capital Conference, which brings 

Colorado community leaders to Washington to see the workings of the Federal Government up close—and to keep 

the Federal Government accountable 

to the people who elected them. 

If I may add, I have had the pleasure 

of speaking to the Allard Capital Conference attendees on more than one occasion, and I have always admired how 

Senator ALLARD has stayed tied to 

communities across Colorado. He is always seeking to bring them closer to 

their elected representatives. 

For 12 years, Senator ALLARD has 

been a strong voice for returning power 

from Washington back to the people 

and to the States. He has been a strong 

voice for lower taxes and lower Federal 

spending. Hailing from the Rockies, he 

has been a strong defender and protector of our environment. 


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