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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October 2, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10403 

Senator ALLARD has a different background than most of his colleagues. 

Born and raised in Colorado, the son of 

a cattle rancher, he had a successful 

career as a veterinarian. He and his 

wife Joan started their own animal 

hospital. He maintained his successful 

practice while serving as a State senator, and was elected to the House of 

Representatives for three terms starting in 1990. 

I have had the pleasure of working 

alongside WAYNE on many issues over 

the years. We have been allies in pushing the Department of Defense to safely and efficiently dispose of deadly 

chemical weapons stored in the Blue 

Grass Army Depot in Kentucky and the 

Pueblo Depot in Colorado. 

I have watched with admiration as he 

fought to establish the Rocky Flats 

National Wildlife Refuge, which is crucial to preserving the natural habitats 

of so many diverse species in Colorado. 

That success came after he successfully pushed, as a Member of the 

House, legislation to make the Rocky 

Mountain Arsenal site a wildlife refuge, turning a site that was once a 

manufacturing center for nerve gas and 

other chemical weapons into what is 

now one of the largest urban wildlife 

refuges in the Nation. 

WAYNE has fought to get aid for 

workers in Colorado who were exposed 

to unhealthy amounts of radiation at 

nuclear weapons facilities. He has also 

taken the lead on passing legislation to 

preserve the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Colorado’s Spanish 

Peaks mountain area. With his retirement, Colorado is losing a longtime 

champion of conservation and environmental protection. 

Senator ALLARD has been a consistent and strong supporter of our 

military and our national security interests. He led the debate on establishing a system to protect America 

from ballistic missile attacks, and he 

has supported funding and rigorous 

testing for such programs. 

He has passed legislation multiple 

times to improve the system of voting 

for our men and women in uniform 

serving overseas, making sure the 

brave warriors who protect America 

are heard when it is time to elect 

America’s leaders. 

With all these accomplishments, and 

many more, the senior Senator from 

Colorado is going to leave some very 

big shoes—maybe it is better to say 

boots—to fill come next January. 

He is also going to leave behind many 

friends. I am proud to call myself one 

of them. Elaine and I have enjoyed getting to know WAYNE and Joan and 

their family over the years. We have 

had a chance to have dinner together 

from time to time, just the four of us. 

We will miss the common sense and 

grace they have brought to our Nation’s Capital. 

We are sorry to lose such a fine Senator. But as WAYNE has said himself 

about his pledge on term limits: A 

promise made should be a promise 

kept. 

The people of Colorado should be 

proud that their Senator ends his tenure with integrity, with honor, with 

humility—the same integrity, honor, 

and humility he brought when he came 

to the Capitol. 

WAYNE, we all wish you the best of 

luck for whatever the future holds. You 

will always have friends in the Capitol. 

We look forward to seeing you and 

Joan in the coming years. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from Colorado. 

MITCH MC CONNELL

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I thank 

the Senator from Kentucky for his 

more than generous remarks. Joan and 

I have been thrilled to have been able 

to work with you and your lovely wife 

on many issues. The people of Colorado 

need to know I got things done in this 

body because of your help and your assistance. Many times we shared common issues that we wanted to see move 

forward. But lots of times you were 

more than generous in giving me an opportunity to put forth my bills and my 

arguments on various bills, and I will 

forever be thankful for that. 

I think the country needs to know 

that in your wife and you we have two 

great leaders in this country. I brag 

about both of you when I get back to 

Colorado and talk about those people 

who I think have made a huge influence on this country and have set a 

great example for Americans. 

So I thank you. I thank you for your 

continued leadership. I look forward to 

your continuing to serve in this body. 

America needs you, and the people of 

Kentucky ought to be thankful they 

have such a fine Senator. 

Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I 

thank my good friend from Colorado. 

Mr. ALLARD. I thank the Republican 

leader. 

f 

FAREWELL TO THE SENATE 

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I would 

like to now wrap up with a few comments. I have now spent 12 years in the 

Senate, 18 years in the Congress all together, when you consider the 6 years I 

served in the House of Representatives. 

I can say it has been a great experience. In my view, I have represented 

the best State in the Union. We refer to 

it as the ‘‘Centennial State’’ because it 

joined the Union exactly 100 years after 

we became the United States. 

It has always been enjoyable to talk 

to my colleagues and talk to visitors to 

the Capitol about my State of Colorado 

because they have usually had great 

experiences when they have visited my 

State. It is a tourist attraction. We 

have a lot of things that bring people 

to Colorado. It is a beautiful State. 

People have great vacations when they 

go there, and they are more than anxious to share their wonderful experiences with me, share the wonderful and 

welcoming attitude they experienced 

from the people of Colorado, and share 

with me how much they have enjoyed 

visiting the great State of Colorado. 

And, when people get tired of talking 

about the great State of Colorado, we 

have always been able to talk about 

their favorite cat or their favorite dog 

because, as a veterinarian, it has always been a common interest among 

many of my colleagues in the Senate, 

as well as visitors to our office, to talk 

to me about their favorite pet. So it 

has been a wonderful experience. 

This is the greatest legislative body 

in the world. It is an honor to serve 

here. There are a lot of dedicated employees who have helped me get things 

done in this body. They put their own 

political preferences aside and thought 

of the well-being of the institution. 

They have always been very polite and 

most supportive and helpful. I wish to 

thank them. 

I have had great employees in my office. I wish to mention that you get 

things done because of the people with 

whom you surround yourself. I have 

two members who are currently on my 

staff who have served with me since I 

was first elected to the Congress. I was 

elected to the House of Representatives 

in 1990. They came in with me and 

worked with me on the House side for 

6 years and then they came over here 

and continued to work in my office for 

the last 12 years. I appreciate their 

dedication. Those kinds of people don’t 

come along everyday. They spent 18 

years with me, bless their souls. The 

two I speak of are Sean Conway and 

Doris Morgan. Both of them have been 

dedicated staff people who have helped 

to make my service to the people of 

Colorado successful. 

There are also some staffers who 

joined me after I became a Senator in 

1997, in addition to the two I mentioned, including Andy Merritt, who is 

now my State director; Dick Poole, 

who is one of my top staff people; 

Tewana Wilkerson, who has helped me 

on the Banking Committee; and Kris 

Hanisch, who has helped us balance our 

books as well as helping us to move 

through the maze here in the Senate. 

We do have our own little bureaucracy 

in the Senate. She knows it and understands it and has helped us move 

through it. She has been my office 

manager and has kept us on the 

straight and narrow. I appreciate the 

dedication of all of the employees who 

have worked with me. 

I have a great group of employees 

currently serving me in my office. We 

have had a number of people who have 

come and gone, but I never felt it was 

because they were disappointed in having to work in our office. When I talked 

to people who came to work as employees in my office, I would say: If your 

ultimate goal is to work in a Senate office, I want you to rethink your goals. 

I want you to get an experience here 

that will help you grow once you leave 

the Senate, so you can be a better citizen, so you can contribute more fully 

to whatever path you decide to assume 

once you leave this great body and 

leave our office. So I have always tried 

to encourage them to think about 


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