November 20, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10715 

assuaged by your pride in Tim’s service 

to his country and by your knowledge 

that his country will never forget him. 

We are humbled by his service and his 

sacrifice. 

SERGEANT JON L. STILES

Mr. President, it is with a heavy 

heart that I rise today to honor the life 

and heroic service of Sergeant Jon L. 

Stiles. Sergeant Stiles, assigned to the 

927th Engineer Company, 769th Engineer Battalion, was killed on November 

13, 2008, when an improvised explosive 

device detonated near his patrol in 

Shubhuyan, Afghanistan. He was 38 

years old. 

Sergeant Stiles grew up in Highlands 

Ranch, CO, and after graduating from 

high school, spent nearly 13 years in 

the U.S. Marine Corps and 2 years in 

the Army. Two years following his discharge, he moved back to Colorado, 

joined the Colorado National Guard, 

and was deployed to Afghanistan, 

where he worked to clear transportation routes of IEDs and insurgents in 

support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

This past October, Sergeant Stiles 

saved the lives of three fellow soldiers 

when he rescued them from underneath 

a burning vehicle that was struck by a 

suicide bomber, an act of incredible 

bravery that earned him the Bronze 

Star. He suffered serious damage to his 

lungs and vocal chords as a result of 

this incident, but instead of taking 

medical leave, he insisted on returning 

to battle. He believed strongly in our 

mission in Afghanistan, cared deeply 

for his men, and wanted to make a difference. 

Sergeant Stiles’ friends and family 

remember him as a soldier’s soldier 

with a passion for military service in 

his DNA. He was an avid outdoorsman 

known to brave sub-zero temperatures 

to get in a day of fishing. He was generous with hugs and incredibly loyal to 

his friends. He was a loving husband 

who wanted to live peacefully with his 

wife in the mountains of Colorado. And 

he was a proud American willing to 

sacrifice everything in defense of the 

country he held dear. 

Adlai Stevenson once asked, ‘‘what 

do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times? I venture to suggest 

that what we mean is a sense of national responsibility . . . a patriotism 

which is not short, frenzied outbursts 

of emotion, but the tranquil and steady 

dedication of a lifetime.’’ Sergeant 

Stiles felt this sense of responsibility 

at a young age and served with the 

steady dedication that reminds us of 

what it is to be a true patriot. In his 

memory, and with his inspiration, may 

we all continue to work to make our 

union more perfect, and our world safer 

for all. 

To Sergeant Stiles’ mother Linda, 

his father Lynn, his wife Launa, his 

sister Natalie, his brother Charles, his 

grandparents Maxine and Kenney, and 

all his friends and family, I cannot 

imagine the sorrow you must be feeling. I hope that, in time, the pain of 

your loss is assuaged by your pride in 

Jon’s service to his country and by 

your knowledge that his country will 

never forget him. We are humbled by 

his service and his sacrifice. 

SPECIALIST JAMES CLAY

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, Arkansas 

is grieving for a young hero, a courageous soldier who was serving in Iraq 

as a member of the 224th Maintenance 

Company. This team keeps our troops 

safe and their equipment and vehicles 

running. It is a mission paramount to 

our soldiers’ success. 

A member of the National Guard for 

almost 7 years, SPC James Clay of 

Mountain Home, AR, showed great 

commitment and patriotism throughout his assignment with the 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th 

Brigade Combat team. Of his service, 

MG William Wofford, adjutant general 

of the Arkansas National Guard recalls, ‘‘He was called to serve, and he 

answered that call with valiant service. 

He was a true patriot and will not soon 

be forgotten.’’ 

Specialist Clay’s untimely death has 

brought me to the Senate floor today, 

but I want to take a minute to honor 

his life. He overcame major obstacles 

in his personal life, including the death 

of both his parents, yet he graduated 

from Cotter High School in 2002 where 

teachers describe him as outstanding, 

considerate, and spirited. Friends remember Specialist Clay as a role model 

who persevered with dignity and humanity. Everyone who knew this 

young hero recalled his great smile and 

his compassion for others. It is no surprise that he died fighting for the peace 

and security of others. 

My prayers go out to Specialist 

Clay’s family and friends, particularly 

his high school sweetheart and wife, 

Mellissa Clay. During his second Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln 

pledged, ‘‘to care for him who shall 

have borne the battle and for his widow 

and his orphans.’’ Mrs. Clay, we will 

never forget the sacrifice of your loved 

one, and we work to honor his memory, 

courage, and service to our great Nation. 

CORPORAL ADRIAN ROBLES

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Marine Cpl 

Adrian Robles, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on October 22, 2008. 

Corporal Robles, who was a native of 

Scottsbluff, NE, was assigned to the 

Second Battalion, 7th Regiment, 1st 

Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Twentynine 

Palms, CA. He had worked his whole 

life to become a marine. At age 16, Corporal Robles told his parents about his 

plans to enlist and, at 17, asked that 

they sign forms which would allow him 

to join before his 18th birthday. His 

parents told him to wait, so he finished 

high school and then enlisted immediately. 

Corporal Robles had previously 

served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 

2006, and was on a tour serving in Afghanistan at the time of his death. Corporal Robles received three good conduct medals—an unusual achievement 

for such a young marine—as well as 

medals for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. He served as a rifleman, the 

backbone of the Marine Corps. Originally deployed to help train Afghan 

Army recruits, his unit’s mission 

changed as the security situation deteriorated; and Corporal. Robles was ‘‘in 

the fight’’ right to the end. 

Fully aware of the dangers he faced, 

Corporal Robles made the courageous 

choice to serve his country and help 

the people of Iraq and Afghanistan 

achieve peace and security. He made 

the ultimate sacrifice so that others 

might enjoy the freedoms he had 

known all his life. 

Corporal Robles represents all that 

we have to be proud of in our Armed 

Forces. I commend his bravery and 

selflessness while offering my deepest 

condolences to the family members he 

left behind. It is small comfort for 

those who must now go on without one 

they loved so dearly, but they know 

that Corporal Robles gave his life for a 

noble goal. I join all Nebraskans—indeed, all Americans—in mourning the 

loss of such a fine young man. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO SENATORS 

GORDON SMITH

Mr. HATCH. Mr. President. I thank 

you for the opportunity today to pay 

tribute to a very special man, caring 

husband and father, and great Senator 

GORDON SMITH. 

Sadly, he will be leaving this august 

body soon and returning to private life. 

The United States Senate will be losing 

a great leader, a man of high integrity, 

and a true statesman. 

GORDON joined the United States 

Senate in January 1997, after winning 

an election as a rural conservative in a 

State defined by a more liberal landscape. After his election, Senator 

SMITH quickly made his mark as someone both sides of the aisle could work 

with for the good of his State and our 

Nation. He displayed the characteristics of what I believe makes a truly 

great Senator—someone who is willing 

to roll up his sleeves and battle for 

what he believes is right. 

His commitment to Oregon was exemplary. He focused on issues that 

were critical to the citizens of his 

State including education, health care, 

natural resources, and bridging the 

rural-urban divide. Along the way he 

displayed a true independent streak, 

bucking his party when he believed he 

needed to go a different direction for 

the good of those he represented. 

Senator SMITH’s leadership and abilities were greatly appreciated by the 

committee members he served with, 

and the positions he was asked to assume. As chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging he presided 

over critical issues facing our Nation’s 

aging population. In addition, he made 

tremendous contributions to four additional committees: Commerce, Science, 


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and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Indian Affairs; and the 

Finance Committee. 

He was also selected four times by 

the leadership of our party to become 

the Deputy Whip, an important position we could all look to for guidance 

and support. 

I had the distinct pleasure of traveling with Senator SMITH on two occasions to Iraq to assess the situation 

first-hand, visit with the troops, and 

become more intimately familiar with 

the challenges facing our country overseas. We shared a genuine interest and 

concern in the events taking place in 

that country, and I will forever be 

grateful to Senator SMITH for taking 

that journey with me. 

Before joining the Senate, GORDON

made his mark in the business world— 

assuming the helm of his family’s frozen vegetable processing company. His 

strength and commitment steered this 

company to new success, and established himself as a business leader with 

qualities to emulate. 

You can’t talk about GORDON SMITH

without talking about the love he has 

for people, especially his wonderful 

family. GORDON and his wife Sharon 

have raised three wonderful children: 

Brittany, Garrett, and Morgan. Even 

while meeting the demands of his job, 

you always knew his thoughts and actions centered on home. 

During his second term in office, 

GORDON and Sharon had to face a tragedy almost impossible to bear. Their 

son, Garrett, lost his battle with depression and grief. As I watched this 

deeply grieving father, I was so powerfully reminded that life isn’t always 

about what happens in the walls of the 

United States Capitol but it is about 

our families, our friends, and the love 

we share with those closest to our 

souls. 

Senator SMITH didn’t just let his 

grief consume him—he took action. 

Perhaps his proudest accomplishment 

in Senate service would be the passing 

of a suicide prevention law, named 

after his son. This law passed unanimously and has made a real difference 

in programs across the country that 

are designed to help those in critical 

emotional need. 

I am truly grateful that I have had 

the opportunity to serve with this 

great man for 12 years. In a town where 

true friendships can be rare, I have 

been blessed to find a true friend in 

GORDON SMITH. Although we didn’t always agree, our deepest fundamental 

beliefs were shaped in the same bedrock of less government, opportunities 

for all, and integrity in public service. 

I always knew that whether in times 

of trouble or success, I had found a true 

comrade in service, someone I could 

trust to do what is right and hold fast 

to the notion of public service for the 

people. 

Robert Louis Stevenson stated, ‘‘We 

are all travelers in the wilderness of 

this world, and the best we can find in 

our travels is an honest friend.’’ GORDON has been just that friend to me. 

I will miss working alongside this 

great Senator, and true American. 

However, I know that throughout his 

life he will continue to work for the 

good of others in whatever endeavors 

he chooses to follow. I want to wish 

GORDON and his wife Sharon and their 

children many years of continued success, happiness and peace as they travel life’s path together. Thank you for 

the opportunity to honor this extraordinary man. 

JOHN WARNER

Mr. President, I wish to speak today 

in honor of my good friend, the senior 

Senator from Virginia. As you know, 

Senator WARNER is retiring at the conclusion of this the 110th Congress, and 

I wanted to take a moment to express 

my appreciation for his friendship and 

his years of public service. 

Senator WARNER’s retirement marks 

the end of a career in the service of the 

United States that has spanned more 

than 6 decades. JOHN, having been born 

in 1927 and raised right here in Washington, DC, enlisted in the Navy during 

World War II in January 1945. After the 

conclusion of the war, he left the military to pursue a legal education at the 

University of Virginia, only to rejoin 

the Navy, this time with the Marines, 

to serve in the Korean War. 

In 1953, he finished his legal studies 

while still serving in the Marine Corps 

Reserves and spent the next 7 years as 

a government attorney, first as a clerk 

for a U.S. appeals court judge, then as 

an assistant U.S. attorney. Senator 

WARNER left the public sector in 1960 to 

pursue a career in private legal practice, though it would not be long until 

he was called into service again. 

In 1969, he was appointed by President Richard Nixon to serve as the 

Under Secretary of the Navy. Just over 

3 years later, he succeeded John H. 

Chafee as the Secretary of the Navy. 

This, of course, was a unique era in the 

history of U.S. diplomacy and, as Naval 

Secretary, JOHN was involved in a number of diplomatic efforts involving the 

Soviet Union, most notably the Sea 

Executive Agreement. 

JOHN’s political career began in 1978 

when he was elected to represent the 

State of Virginia in the Senate. He is 

the second longest serving Senator in 

Virginia’s history and, by a margin of 

many years, the longest serving Republican from the State. Of course, JOHN

and I have crossed paths many times 

during our years in the Senate. We 

served together on the HELP Committee and the Select Committee on 

Intelligence. But, for me, one of the 

most memorable times I shared with 

JOHN took place outside the Halls of 

the Senate. 

During the August recess of 1985, my 

son Jess and I were joined by JOHN and 

his son on a fishing and boating trip in 

Utah. During one day of the trip, after 

returning from a hike, I was surprised 

to see a ghostly-looking creature sitting in our campsite. As it turned out, 

JOHN and some of the others had 

formed a mud hole down near the river, 

and he had been diving in and out of it. 

By the time I had returned to the 

campsite, JOHN was covered head to toe 

in pumice mud. Apparently, the mud 

was good for the skin, but at the time 

I was unaware of this fact. 

On the last day of the trip, JOHN and 

I were fishing on Lake Powell and I 

was lucky enough to catch an 8 pound 

60 striped bass. He was impressed with 

my catch and he asked if he could keep 

it, apparently he wanted it as a trophy. 

That evening, we flew up north to an 

event in Deer Valley, UT, but because 

we didn’t have time to change after the 

flight, we showed up in our fishing 

clothes. JOHN strode into the fancy ski 

lodge to meet the shirt-and-tied crowd 

sporting his jeans and carrying my fish 

around with him! Though I can’t be 

certain, it sure seemed like he was 

proud of it. 

But, seriously, Mr. President, Senator WARNER will always be remembered for his even-tempered nature and 

for his work on behalf of our men and 

women in the military. He has never 

been one to follow the crowd for partisanship’s sake, always choosing to 

follow his own conscience. I must 

admit that, over the years, JOHN and I 

have found ourselves in disagreement 

over issues that I believed to be of vital 

importance. But he was always one to 

respect the views of his colleagues in 

either party, even if he went a different 

way in the end. 

I wish JOHN and his wife Jeanne the 

best of luck in all their future endeavors. I think I speak for all my Senate 

colleagues when I say that the Senate 

will be a lesser place without JOHN in 

it. 

ELIZABETH DOLE

Mr. President, I wish to speak today 

regarding Senator ELIZABETH DOLE, 

who will be departing from the United 

States Senate. I have known Senator 

DOLE well and I am sure I am joined by 

many of my colleagues in saying that 

she will be missed. 

Senator DOLE has shown her enthusiasm and commitment firsthand 

through her vast contributions over 

the last 6 years. Her true courage is the 

powerful force behind her remarkable 

public service career. Most important, 

Senator DOLE can conceive and articulate goals that lift people and unite 

them in the pursuit of objectives worthy of their best efforts. 

As we look back on the challenges of 

our economy, Senator DOLE has become a robust leader in helping our 

country focus on creating jobs, 

strengthening national security, improving education, and making quality 

health care more affordable and accessible. Her initial determination was 

demonstrated as she graduated from 

Duke University and Harvard Law 

School, then entering her public career 

by serving under multiple U.S. Presidents, including Ronald Regan and 

George H.W. Bush. Throughout her career, she served as Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Labor, and 

head of the American Red Cross. She 


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continued her public service by bringing her zeal to the Senate as the first 

female U.S. Senator from North Carolina. 

As a fellow Senator, ELIZABETH displays qualities of a true southern belle. 

She is a powerful role model. Her efforts to make North Carolina and 

America safer, stronger, and healthier 

have not gone unnoticed. Most importantly, she has played a key role in 

serving on the Senate Armed Services, 

Banking, Small Business and Aging 

Committees. 

Mr. President, I extend my deepest 

gratitude to Senator DOLE. I can say, 

without reservation, that she is a dedicated public servant and friend. 

JOHN SUNUNU

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 1996 in the 

House of Representatives and then in 

the Senate since 2002. 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 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 of 

which 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 of which 

all of us could always gain a little 

something from. 

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 Senator 

SUNUNU’s track record, I am certain 

that we will be hearing more about him 

for many years to come. 

WAYNE ALLARD

Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, when the 

final gavel brings an end to the current 

session of Congress, my good friend 

WAYNE ALLARD has chosen to retire 

from the U.S. Senate. I know we will 

all miss him and the strong and powerful voice he has been for Colorado and 

the West. His eye for detail and focus 

on the issues that are of such great importance to his constituents and mine 

will be very difficult to replace. 

WAYNE is quite a remarkable guy. He 

knew at a very young age that he 

wanted to be a veterinarian and so he 

directed all his efforts to pursuing that 

calling. He graduated from Colorado 

State University with a degree in veterinary medicine and opened a veterinary practice in Loveland, CO, with his 

wife Joan. 

As he worked at the profession he 

loved he got to know the people of the 

area and the problems they faced every 

day. He wanted to do more than just 

take care of their animals and livestock, so he started to branch out to a 

career in politics. He knew he could 

find the time for both his practice and 

for politics and the challenge of learning something new interested him. 

WAYNE had one great advantage as he 

began—his family’s deep Colorado 

roots. WAYNE’s great-great-grandfather 

was a trapper and an explorer and he 

was one of the first permanent settlers 

of northern Colorado. His family was 

among the first to move into the area 

and establish a home there. 

WAYNE grew up on the family ranch. 

He learned at an early age the importance of a hard day’s work and of always doing your best. His days were 

spent baling hay and helping out with 

whatever needed to be done around the 

ranch from dawn to dusk. Life on the 

ranch taught him a lot and instilled in 

him the values and principles that have 

served him well throughout his life and 

his political career. 

WAYNE is a strong believer in the 

idea of a citizen-politician. He believes 

that the more experience we have in 

the workforce, the better we are able 

to find legislative solutions to address 

the problems faced by families across 

the Nation. 

That philosophy guided WAYNE’s efforts in the House and helped him win 

his present seat in the Senate in 1997. 

That was the same year that I came to 

Washington and WAYNE was one of the 

first people I met. Our shared commitment to the people of the West made us 

natural allies. 

It was soon after we were sworn in as 

freshman Senators that WAYNE told me 

about his plans to hold an annual conference to get his constituents more involved in the day-to-day operations of 

the Government. His dream took shape 

as the Allard Capital Conference. This 

annual event gives those who attend an 

opportunity to learn more about how 

their Government works, and to share 

their good ideas about how to change 

things. When it is over, it sends all 

those who attend back home to Colorado with a hefty dose of encouragement to continue the dialogue they 

began here. It has been a great success 

and WAYNE has been able to attract 

many of Washington’s leaders to participate along with an impressive list 

of Senators from both sides of the 

aisle. 

History will show that WAYNE has 

been so successful in the Senate because he is committed to getting 

things done—and not in making sure 

he gets the credit. It is another philosophy we share. You can get just about 

anything done if you don’t care who 

gets the credit for it. WAYNE has been 

a workhorse more than a showhorse 

and that has always pleased his constituents. 

Over the years, WAYNE’s commitment 

to fiscal sanity has been so strong and 

so compelling that it drove him to give 

up his seats on the Armed Services and 

Environmental and Public Works Committees to join the Appropriations 

Committee. From there he took the 

reins of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee and began the difficult and 

demanding task of overseeing the construction of the Capitol Visitor Center. 

Up till then, the project had been the 

center of a lot of attention because 

there were so many cost overruns, 

delays in its construction, and questions about how the project was being 

managed. WAYNE brought some sanity 

to the process. He started checking in 

on the work being done on a regular 

basis and his oversight brought a much 

needed sense of accountability to the 

project which is now about to open its 

doors to the people who come to visit 

our Nation’s Capitol every year. In the 


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years to come, the Capitol Visitor Center will be part of the legacy of 

WAYNE’s service to the people of our 

Nation. 

There is another area of achievement 

that WAYNE is probably more proud 

of—and that is his work on the Great 

Sand Dunes National Park, his successful effort to convert Rocky Flats, 

which was formerly a nuclear weapons 

facility, to a national wildlife refuge, 

and his determination to protect and 

preserve the area around the Rio 

Grande River. All these projects were 

important to him because they enabled 

him to make a difference back home in 

Colorado. 

Now that his Washington years are 

drawing to a close, WAYNE would be the 

first to give a lion’s share of the credit 

for all he has accomplished to his wife 

Joan. She was there from the start, 

working alongside him in his veterinary clinic and she is still by his side, 

the most important part of his work in 

the Senate. They have long been a remarkable team and it can truly be said 

that he and I both overmarried. Joan 

has been his best friend, his most trusted adviser, and his wisest political adviser and counselor. 

Now they will return to Colorado and 

to the life that they love. I don’t know 

what WAYNE’s plans are for the future, 

but I hope and expect I will continue to 

hear from him whenever he thinks that 

we just aren’t getting it right when it 

comes to the budget, the environment, 

or any of the other issues that have 

driven him during his service in the 

Senate. Whatever he decides to do, I 

know we will continue to hear from 

him and that is something that can 

only continue to serve us all well. 

WAYNE is a special guy who loves Colorado and his country and he has dedicated his life to making them better 

places for us and for future generations 

to live. He can retire secure in the 

knowledge that he has succeeded because he cared enough to serve. 

Thank you, WAYNE, for your heartfelt commitment to Colorado and the 

Nation, for your willingness to serve 

the people in the Senate and most of 

all, thank you for your friendship. 

Diana joins in sending all the best for 

a continued rich and rewarding life to 

you and Joan. And WAYNE, for me, 

please keep track of and share the good 

fishing spots. I know most of them will 

be in Wyoming. 

LARRY CRAIG

Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I appreciate 

having this opportunity to wish LARRY

CRAIG all the best as he retires and returns home to his beloved Idaho. I have 

enjoyed having a chance to work with 

him on issues of concern to the people 

of our States. He has been an important part of the work we have done on 

many of the issues that have come to 

the floor of the Senate and he will be 

difficult to replace. 

Ever since he first arrived in the Senate, LARRY has been a champion for the 

West and a strong and powerful voice 

on the issues that concern the people of 

Wyoming and Idaho. His dedication to 

making his home State a better place 

to live and his determination to make 

a difference in the Nation through his 

service in the Senate has made him a 

force to be reckoned with for many 

years. 

LARRY has long Idaho roots that date 

back to his family’s arrival in Idaho 

more than a century ago. He was born 

on the family ranch that his grandfather had homesteaded back in 1899. 

The ranch has been the proud home of 

the Craig family ever since. 

Sometime during the days when 

LARRY was a young man growing up in 

Idaho, he was bitten by the political 

bug. It got him started on the path toward what would be a career of public 

service. Then, in 1974, LARRY was elected to the Idaho State Senate. It set 

him on a path that would take him to 

the United States Senate. 

Because of his background as a 

rancher and a farmer, LARRY knows the 

importance of the land and the need for 

us to be good stewards of all the resources under our control. After all, as 

we have heard so very often, when it 

comes to the land, they aren’t making 

any more of it. That is why LARRY has 

always been determined to ensure that 

Idaho’s natural treasures were well 

taken care of. It is not an exaggeration 

to say that LARRY has been the guardian at the gate to ensure the Federal 

Government didn’t overstep its boundaries and overregulate the land in 

Idaho during his watch. 

His commitment to the land and to 

the people of Idaho who rely on it for 

their livelihood particularly showed 

itself during his service on the Energy 

and Natural Resources Committee. He 

took full advantage of the opportunity 

to work against any effort that would 

adversely affect the ability of the people of Idaho to make good use of their 

State’s land. Also on his agenda was 

the Endangered Species Act and the 

problems that had come with its application. It was a fight LARRY was determined to win and he did more than just 

express his concern. He rolled up his 

sleeves and got to work. The new law 

he helped to write is not only more effective, but it is also designed to minimize its impact on property rights, employment and our State and local 

economies. 

In the years to come I will most remember LARRY for his ability to 

present his case with power and emotion whenever he would speak in committee or on the floor. LARRY’s speaking and his debating skills are second 

to none. He has been called one of the 

most influential of all the western Senators and his conservative style has 

proven to be one of his greatest 

strengths. 

LARRY is probably best known for his 

work on immigration and his support 

for the ability of seasonal workers to 

come to the United States to work on 

our farms. He knows the importance of 

developing solutions to tough problems 

like immigration that do not hurt 

State economies or make life harder 

for our family farms and ranches. 

The habits that he learned on the 

family ranch have been with him his 

entire life and that is why you will 

usually find him hard at work in his 

garden. It is his favorite activity when 

he is away from his office and it is one 

he can share with his grandchildren. As 

the grandfather of three children myself, I can identify with his interest 

and the time he sets aside to be with 

his eight grandchildren. 

Speaking of his favorite hobby, he 

once said, ‘‘My wife knows she’s not a 

golf widow or a skiing or a hunting 

widow. She’s a gardening widow.’’ 

LARRY is also a tremendous artist. His 

‘‘works’’ are widely prized and collected. 

LARRY, I will be sorry to see you and 

Suzanne leave, saddlebags flapping in 

the wind as you ride off into the sunset. Now there will be time for all the 

things you have been putting off for 

some day, for now there will be plenty 

of some days for you to share with Suzanne. Diana and I wish you all the 

best in whatever you choose to do in 

the coming years. As we have found, 

the end of one great adventure is only 

the beginning of the next. So it will be 

for you. Good luck and God bless. 

PETE DOMENICI

Mr. President, it is always a bittersweet moment in time for me when we 

come to the close of a session of Congress. As the clock counts down the 

final hours of our legislative activities, 

it also signals the day when several of 

our colleagues will be retiring and ending their service in the United States 

Senate. When the current session ends, 

one of my good friends and great allies 

in the Senate will be returning home to 

his beloved New Mexico. He is Senator 

PETE DOMENICI and I know we will all 

miss him and his powerful presence in 

the Senate. 

In the months to come, PETE may no 

longer be serving with us, but he will 

not be forgotten. He has left his mark 

on the Senate and on us all in too 

many ways for us not to remember him 

and how hard he has been working for 

the people of New Mexico, the West, 

and the Nation over the years. Every 

day he came to the Senate he was focused on what he could do today to 

make our tomorrows better for us all. 

The leadership he provided on so many 

issues will be very difficult to replace. 

PETE began his career right out of 

college when he was deemed to be a 

good enough pitcher to be signed by a 

Brooklyn Dodgers farm team. It was a 

good life, but it wasn’t the one for 

PETE. He decided after the season was 

over that baseball wasn’t what he 

wanted to do and so he decided instead 

to do a different kind of pitching—to 

the people of the city he lived in. That 

pitch helped launch him on his true 

life’s work—serving the people of his 

State and helping to make New Mexico 

a better place to live. 

When PETE decided to get involved in 

politics his friends told him he was 


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making a big mistake. They warned 

him that it was a tough way to make a 

living and that it would be a rough life. 

Politics is a harsh affair, they told 

him, and they warned him that people 

would attack him and his reputation. 

They wondered why a guy who had 

such great gifts wanted to take on 

what would be a very difficult challenge. 

We are very fortunate that PETE

didn’t take their advice. Instead, he decided to run for the Senate and to 

bring his case to the people. To no 

one’s surprise they liked what they 

heard and PETE came to Washington 

after the 1972 elections. They have been 

sending him back here with enthusiasm ever since. 

It is not an easy thing to sum up a 

career in the Senate that has spanned 

four decades. That is the mark of an individual who has dared to try to 

achieve great things—and succeeded. 

He came to the Senate with a great 

awareness of what needed to be done 

and with a combination of his own 

brand of style and substance he has 

been part of a great effort to make 

those goals a reality. 

Looking over his record in the Senate, it shows that PETE has been a key 

player in our work to achieve energy 

independence. Together with his New 

Mexico colleague, JEFF BINGAMAN, 

PETE worked to bring a national energy bill that seemed doomed to be 

stalled forever to the floor for a vote 

and on to the President’s desk for his 

signature. PETE was always willing to 

work with any Member, no matter 

their place on the political spectrum, if 

it meant making progress on a key 

issue. That is why I would sum up 

PETE’s career in one word—success. 

PETE has a knack of finding a way to 

make things happen and we have all 

benefited from his abilities. 

For my part, I also worked with him 

on the Mental Health Parity bill. For 

too long the provisions of our health 

care system provided unequally for 

physical health and mental health 

problems. PETE knew that was unfair, 

and he was determined to do something 

about it. Working together with me 

and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor 

and Pensions, Senator EDWARD KENNEDY, PETE was able to help bring a bill 

to the floor that required health insurance plans that offer mental health 

coverage to provide it on an equal level 

with that afforded to physical illnesses. 

It is a major change in health care coverage that will make life better for 

millions and millions of Americans. It 

is a major accomplishment and it will 

serve as a special part of his legacy of 

achievements in the Senate. 

In the months to come we will also 

miss PETE’s leadership and his wise 

counsel as we continue to work on the 

economic problems facing the Nation. 

PETE is an expert on budget issues and 

he has served as our Budget Committee 

chairman. As I have served alongside 

him over the years, I have appreciated 

having the opportunity to observe him 

in action and work with him on measures of concern to us both. He has been 

a tireless worker in the effort to bring 

the Nation’s expense account to a biennial budget. He has also fought long 

and hard to try to put a rein on runaway Federal spending. He was willing 

to do whatever was necessary to reach 

an agreement that would balance the 

budget. He got that done by once again 

working with Members of both sides of 

the aisle and a Democrat administration. That was just like him. If there 

was a way to get something done, PETE

usually found it, and the new way he 

helped develop usually got the bill 

passed and signed into law. 

For me and for most of us, what I 

will most remember is PETE’s personality and his great warmth. He is a 

genuine good guy who is very down to 

Earth. He is a gentle man and a gentleman in every sense of the word. He 

is a man of great faith who believes 

that public service is the rent we pay 

for the space we occupy on God’s green 

Earth. Simply put, he is the kind of 

person you would want to have for a 

friend. That is why so many of us 

treasure his friendship. He is loyal and 

close to other Members and to all his 

staff. He treats his staff like Members 

of his extended family and not like 

staff. I think that is why they work so 

hard for him. They love him like a father because he treats them, as he 

treats everyone he knows, with kindness and respect. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention 

his wife, Nancy. She has been a pillar 

of strength and a source of great support and encouragement to him in his 

life. I like to say that PETE and I both 

overmarried. She has been an essential 

member of his team since they met and 

I know he would say that whatever success has come to him in his life he owes 

in great degree to her influence. She is 

his greatest friend, his wisest counselor 

and his closest confidante. Together 

they have done a tremendous job for 

the people of New Mexico and the influence they have had on it can be seen 

from one corner of the State to the 

other. She has been a partner in the 

fight for mental health parity. 

The story is told that when PETE was 

accepted into law school his father 

made him a deal. I will finance your 

law school education, he told him, but 

only if you agree to my terms. If you 

do well, I will be proud to pay your 

way. If you bring home an ‘‘F’’ I will 

expect to be repaid. 

Well, my friend, as you return home, 

your father would be very proud of the 

report card you will take with you 

from the Senate and from the people of 

New Mexico. You have done a great job 

and everything you have done in your 

life and in your career you have done 

very well. You take with us our great 

praise and an ‘‘A’’ from us all for effort, for the work you have done and 

for the results you have achieved. God 

bless and be with you, PETE and Nancy. 

I know we will all miss you and think 

of you often. Make sure you leave your 

number with us for I know we will be 

reaching out to you for your advice and 

thoughtful suggestions in the days to 

come. That is one thing that will never 

change. 

JOHN WARNER

Mr. President, I appreciate having 

this opportunity to join with my colleagues in wishing JOHN WARNER all 

the best as he retires from the United 

States Senate after 30 years of service 

to the people of Virginia. JOHN has had 

a long and distinguished career and he 

will be greatly missed. 

Like so many of us, JOHN’s early 

years had a great influence on his life 

and helped to shape his character and 

mold his destiny. JOHN’s father was a 

surgeon and he saw to it that JOHN’s 

education began at an early age and included samples of just about everything there was to learn. JOHN was 

soon picking up on a course of study 

that included math, music, science, 

Latin and much, much more. 

During those early years, JOHN felt 

the call to serve his country, so he 

joined the Navy when he was 17 years 

old so he could be part of our Nation’s 

heroic effort in World War II. He then 

joined the Marines in 1950 to be part of 

our forces fighting the Korean war. 

JOHN’s service in our Armed Forces 

and his tenure as our Secretary of the 

Navy has made him one of the Senate’s 

strongest and most knowledgeable 

voices on the use of our Nation’s military. He has been one of the Congress’ 

most respected and most sought after 

experts on our actions in Iraq, the war 

against terrorism, and our efforts in 

Iraq and Afghanistan. His experience 

has also made him a leader in the Senate’s oversight on defense spending. 

Through the years, JOHN has been an 

important part of the debate on global 

warming. His concern about the issue 

and the future of our Nation led him to 

ask us for our good ideas and common 

sense proposals, regardless of our party 

affiliation, in an effort to reach a consensus on the issue that would ultimately lead us to a workable solution. 

There are two important reasons why 

JOHN has been such a tireless worker 

on this and other similar issues. JOHN

shares my love of the great outdoors 

and all that it has to offer. He enjoys 

taking time from his busy schedule to 

hunt and fish with his grandchildren. 

He remembers the days he spent with 

his father taking part in those great 

activities and he wants to give his 

grandchildren the same gift. So do I. I 

think that shows JOHN WARNER has a 

streak of Wyoming in him and has 

fished there. 

In the years that I have served with 

JOHN I have always been impressed 

with his unique style and his ability to 

present his positions on the issues with 

great power and force. JOHN has always 

been one to reach out to members on 

both sides of the aisle, and his ability 

to bring us together on the issues has 

helped us to develop answers to problems that seemed to elude us. I don’t 


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S10720 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 20, 2008 

think anyone has a better grasp of the 

importance of finding a third way to do 

things than JOHN. He knows that there 

are always three ways of beginning our 

work on the issues. The first two lead 

to gridlock as they are the extreme positions on the issue. The third way is 

closer to the middle and has elements 

in it that everyone can agree on. That 

is usually what gets things done. 

That has always been JOHN’s measure 

of success. He has never been one who 

was concerned about making points, he 

has always been interested in making 

progress. 

JOHN will always be remembered for 

the leadership he brought to the Senate on a number of issues that concerned him. As he worked on them all 

he showed his independence and his 

willingness to consider all viewpoints 

to find the one that he thought stood 

the best chance of succeeding, on the 

floor and in the field. JOHN would be an 

excellent diplomat because he knows 

how to disagree without being disagreeable. He has forged good working 

relationships with us all and that is 

why he has so many friends in the Senate. 

JOHN has been a great public servant 

and his career shows the results he has 

been able to achieve in every area of 

his life. I am proud of his service in the 

Senate on behalf of the people of Virginia, his service in our Armed Forces, 

and especially, I am proud to call him 

my friend. 

It is always difficult at the end of the 

session to say goodbye to our colleagues who are retiring. We have 

worked together for so many years 

that we will miss their thoughtful suggestions, their well chosen words and 

their commitment to the issues we 

have worked on together. 

For JOHN, the good part of goodbye is 

the knowledge that we will meet again 

and, I am sure, we will work together 

again, laugh again, and continue to 

enjoy all that life has to offer again. 

This is not a time to say goodbye, just 

a reminder to be well until we see each 

other again. 

Diana joins in sending our best wishes to you, JOHN and to Jeanne. You deserve nothing but the best life has to 

offer and you shall have it. I look forward to the days ahead and a time 

when we can get out our fishing poles 

and explore some of Virginia’s best rivers and streams. Good luck and God 

bless. 

CHUCK HAGEL

Mr. President, soon the last remaining items of business on the legislative 

calendar will be taken up and the current session of Congress will draw to a 

close. When it does, several of our colleagues will be returning home and 

leaving public service. We will miss 

them, their good ideas and the touch of 

creativity they brought to our work in 

the Senate during their years of service 

to the people of their home States. 

When I am asked about the members 

with whom I have had the privilege to 

serve during my Senate career, CHUCK

HAGEL will certainly come to mind. I 

don’t think anyone has a more interesting life story to tell than CHUCK and 

certainly few have achieved the level of 

success he has been able to attain in 

his public life and in the business 

world. 

CHUCK grew up in a small Nebraska 

town where he learned the value of a 

day’s work at an earlier than usual 

age. CHUCK found his first job when he 

was only nine and he’s been hard at 

work ever since. When he lost his father at the age of 16 it fell to him, as 

the oldest child, to help raise the 

younger ones of his family. 

That was also about the time that 

CHUCK made his first run for office. 

When he was in high school he decided 

to run for Student Council President. 

He knew he would have to do something different in his campaign to separate himself from the others who were 

running, so he tied a chicken to the 

hood of his car and drove around the 

school announcing the reasons why he 

was in the race. No one had ever seen 

anything quite like that before and he 

won quite easily I am sure. 

After his high school years, CHUCK

heard the call to serve his country and 

he and his brother joined the Army and 

served in Vietnam. He was seriously 

wounded twice and received two Purple 

Hearts during his military service. 

During one of his missions, he and his 

brother were trapped in their armored 

personnel carrier when an enemy mine 

exploded beneath them. CHUCK pulled 

his unconscious brother to safety and 

probably saved his life. It took 10 years 

for him to fully heal from the effects of 

the injuries he suffered that day. 

When he graduated from the University of Nebraska he began his political 

career in earnest. He joined the staff of 

a Republican congressman from Nebraska and impressed him and his staff 

so much that he steadily rose in responsibility to be his top aide. 

Equally impressive has been CHUCK’s 

success as a businessman. He sold almost all he had to begin a cellular 

phone company with two partners. His 

hard work and determination to succeed paid off and his investment was 

multiplied many times over. 

That kind of success would have been 

enough for most people, but not for 

CHUCK. CHUCK felt the call to bigger 

things and he set his sights on going to 

Washington to make life a little better 

for the people back home in Nebraska. 

That was his platform when CHUCK

ran for the Senate in 1996. The experts 

thought he was a long shot and a lot of 

people said he didn’t stand a chance. 

Once again, CHUCK defied the odds and 

relied on the judgment of the people of 

Nebraska instead of the predictions of 

the experts. The people of Nebraska 

knew a good thing when they saw it 

and CHUCK was sent to the Senate to 

represent them. 

CHUCK and I were part of the same 

freshman class and when we arrived we 

both looked forward to being named to 

the committees on which we would 

serve so we could make a difference for 

our States and the Nation. CHUCK was 

very pleased and proud when Senator 

LUGAR offered him an invitation to join 

the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 

CHUCK took full advantage of the opportunity and made it the focus of his 

efforts in the Senate. He made a point 

of visiting other countries and meeting 

with foreign leaders to increase his expertise on foreign policy. Working 

closely with Senator LUGAR and Senator BIDEN, he has been a voice on the 

committee that is sought after for his 

perspective on the issues that involve 

our relations with other countries. 

Over the years I have enjoyed serving 

with CHUCK and working with him on 

two of his top priorities, cutting Federal spending and making our tax system more workable and more responsive to the needs of our national economy. He can be very proud of all he has 

achieved, especially his support of fast 

track authority so the President could 

negotiate trade deals that cannot be 

changed by the Congress. His work in 

the area of international trade has 

made a great difference throughout the 

United States and helped improve our 

relationship with our trading partners. 

Now CHUCK’s Washington years are 

coming to a close and he will be moving on together with Lilibet to something new and different in their lives. 

Diana and I have always found that 

when one great adventure ends another 

one takes its place. That is our wish 

for you. Whatever the future holds for 

you and Lilibet we wish you all the 

best. The only good part about saying 

goodbye is the knowledge that you will 

keep in touch with us and continue to 

offer your good advice and the unique 

brand of common sense that you 

learned from your service in Washington, your success in your business, 

and your years growing up in Nebraska, Wyoming’s neighbor to the 

East. 

f 

FURTHER CHANGES TO S. CON. 

RES. 70 

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, pursuant to section 223 of S. Con. Res. 70, I 

previously filed adjustments to the 2009 

budget resolution for H.R. 2095, the 

Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. 

Those adjustments reflected the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate at 

that time of the budgetary effects of 

H.R. 2095. 

CBO has since revised that estimate, 

increasing the amount of net savings 

over both 5 and 10 years. As such, H.R. 

2095 still meets the conditions required 

for the release of the reserve fund 

under section 223, including being fully 

paid for over both the 6- and 11-year 

time periods. 

Consequently, I am revising the adjustments made on September 29 pursuant to section 223 to reflect CBO’s 

updated estimate. This adjustment affects both the budgetary aggregates 


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