January 8, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S203 

Hampshire JUDD GREGG, and the entire 

Senate leadership for their warm welcome and support. 

On November 4, voters in my State of 

New Hampshire went to the polls and 

demanded a new direction, just as voters did across the country. I am eager 

to work with my fellow Senators and 

with our next President, Barack 

Obama, to fulfill that promise of 

change. The challenges before us are 

great. For 11 months in a row, the 

number of jobs in our Nation has declined. More and more families across 

the country are losing their homes to 

foreclosure, and too many Americans 

watched their retirement savings evaporate last year. 

It is no exaggeration to say that this 

111th Congress and President-elect 

Obama will face some of the most difficult challenges in our country’s history. These problems were created over 

many years, and they will not be 

solved quickly. But Americans have always united to meet great challenges, 

and I have no doubt that we will do so 

once more. 

Our first task is to get our economy 

back on track by putting middle-class 

families first again and creating good 

jobs. As the recession continues, it has 

become clear that a bold economic recovery package is necessary. This 

package must focus investment in 

areas of the economy that will provide 

the recovery we need and lay the foundation for long-term economic growth. 

Investing in our Nation’s infrastructure will both create needed jobs in the 

short term and foster economic development in the long term. There are 

critical capital projects throughout the 

State of New Hampshire and the country—projects such as repairing and upgrading our roads and bridges, modernizing our public schools and higher education facilities, and replacing outdated water treatment plants, and 

other municipal projects. These investments will create jobs and lay the 

groundwork for sustained economic 

growth. 

We also need a bold investment in energy efficiency and clean alternative 

energy. These investments in new energy will create millions of 21st century green-collar jobs, begin to reverse 

global warming, and start on the path 

to energy independence. 

New Hampshire small businesses already are leaders in the new energy 

economy, making everything from 

wood pellets to ethanol, from forest byproducts to solar panels and biofuels. 

We have seen firsthand how investment 

in clean energy creates good jobs up 

and down the economic ladder—advanced manufacturing jobs, highly 

skilled construction jobs, jobs installing solar panels and energy-efficiency 

systems, jobs selling and delivering 

new fuels. These are good jobs. They 

are jobs that cannot be outsourced 

overseas. I am honored I will be joining 

the Senate Committee on Energy and 

Natural Resources to work on these 

very issues as we develop a real energy 

policy for the future of this country. 

These investments are necessary to 

get our economy moving again. But as 

we must invest, we also must develop a 

comprehensive plan to address the Nation’s ballooning budget deficit and the 

enormous national debt we have inherited. Our Nation’s financial strength 

tomorrow depends on our careful planning and prudent investments today. 

In November, Americans cried out for 

a new way of doing business in Washington. I applaud President-elect 

Obama for leading the way with the 

most open and transparent transition 

process in our Nation’s history and believe we must continue that transparency. We must recommit to accountability and oversight, and we 

must end the partisan gridlock that 

has stymied progress for too long. I am 

committed to working across the aisle 

to make Washington work again for 

middle-class American families. 

Tuesday, when I took the oath of office as a Senator, I made a commitment to embrace the opportunities 

that lie ahead and to help lead our Nation in a new direction. I am eager to 

begin. 

Thank you, Mr. President. 

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

Mr. REID addressed the Chair. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized. 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, could I ask 

my friend from New Hampshire to 

withhold her request? 

Mrs. SHAHEEN. I say yes to the majority leader. I did not see the majority 

leader on the floor. I apologize for that. 

I withdraw my request. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The request is withdrawn. 

The majority leader is recognized. 

f 

CONGRATULATING SENATOR 

SHAHEEN 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I wanted to 

be here to listen to JEANNE SHAHEEN

give her maiden speech. Of course, it 

brings back a flood of memories of my 

maiden speech. I was so fortunate, I 

tell everyone, on that initial speech. I 

had served a couple terms in the House, 

and I had been trying to get something 

called the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights 

passed. The subcommittee chair in the 

House made fun of my legislation. I did 

not get anywhere with that. But I believed in it, so I marched over here— 

and I had the last seat way back in the 

corner over there—and I gave my first 

speech, and it was on the Taxpayers’ 

Bill of Rights. 

Fortunately, I say to the Presiding 

Officer, David Pryor—MARK PRYOR’s 

father—was presiding. He was a member of the Finance Committee and the 

chairman of the subcommittee that 

had jurisdiction over the IRS. CHARLES

GRASSLEY was listening to my speech. 

There were not many more people than 

there are right now on the floor. But 

David Pryor sent me a note saying: I 

like this. Let me help you. And CHUCK

GRASSLEY communicated with me saying he would help. 

That was a fortunate day in my life 

because even though I took credit for 

the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights passing, 

it would never have happened if not for 

David Pryor. He worked the last night 

of this session—I was in Nevada—he 

was on that Finance Committee, and 

they were trying to complete the conference. Anyway, he got it done. 

These maiden speeches are meaningful because you will never forget the 

speech you have given. 

Now, for JEANNE SHAHEEN, I have had 

such admiration for her for such a long 

time. We all watched as she presided 

over the State of New Hampshire as 

Governor. She did a remarkably good 

job. When I learned she wanted to run 

for the Senate, I was excited because 

this great statesperson, with this engaging smile and her ability to work 

hard, which everyone knows about, is 

going to leave her in good standing 

here in the Senate. 

I say to my friend from New Hampshire, the junior Senator from New 

Hampshire, I appreciate the Senator 

running for the Senate. The people of 

the State of New Hampshire are going 

to reap benefits from that decision for 

many years to come. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO SENATOR ROBERT 

BYRD 

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I join 

Senators on both sides of the aisle in 

paying tribute to our dear colleague 

and dear friend from West Virginia on 

this historic occasion of his 50th anniversary in the Senate. On January 7, 

1959, ROBERT C. BYRD was sworn in as a 

Senator for the people of his beloved 

West Virginia, and in the years since 

then, he is become truly one of the 

greatest Senators ever to serve in this 

Chamber. 

I have served with BOB for 46 of those 

years. I have immense respect for him, 

and I am proud to say that we have become close friends. I love ROBERT C. 

BYRD. 

It wasn’t always this way. There was 

a time that Senator BYRD and I were 

rivals, each with eyes on the position 

of majority whip. I was elected to that 

position after the 1968 election, but as 

I have often said, BOB taught me how 

to count votes in 1970 when he defeated 

me for reelection. It turned out to be a 

blessing for both of us. 

BOB would go on to become one of the 

finest majority leaders in the history 

of the Senate, and the defeat freed me 

to concentrate on my legislative passions of health care, education, labor, 

and civil rights. In a very real sense 

BOB liberated me, and as our leader in 

many of those years he was especially 

helpful in accomplishing my goals. 

The BOB BYRD I have come to know is 

a patriot, a passionate defender of the 

Constitution and the special role of the 

Senate, and an eloquent historian of 

the Senate, who has brilliantly served 

the people of his State. 

I have so many wonderful memories 

of our relationship, but there are two 

recent ones I want to mention here. 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with SENATE
S204 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 8, 2009 

The first has to do with the Iraq war. 

When President Bush set us on this 

course, few had the courage and 

strength to question, let alone oppose, 

this rush to war, but BOB BYRD stood 

strong against it. Facing enormous 

pressure, he led the opposition. He was 

in the minority—a lonely minority— 

but he was unbowed. He was right, and 

I am sure that history will judge his 

courageous leadership well. 

The second memory is of a campaign 

trip I took to West Virginia in the fall 

of 2004 to support our candidate JOHN

KERRY. We crisscrossed the State from 

Charleston to Mingo County, and what 

I saw everywhere was the extraordinary love and affection the people of 

West Virginia have for BOB and that he 

has for them. It was an amazing and 

touching thing to sense the deep bond 

between this great man and the people 

he has so ably represented in Washington for so long. It is an experience I 

will never forget. 

Now, as we reflect on his unparalleled career in the Senate on this special 50th anniversary, I congratulate 

our friend. I thank him for all he has 

done so well for so many for so long. 

On this golden anniversary of his arrival in the Senate, I think of the famous lines of A. E. Housman about the 

‘‘golden friends’’ the poet had. BOB

BYRD is our golden friend, and we are 

all deeply honored to have the privilege of serving with him. 

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I would 

like to add my congratulations to Senator ROBERT C. BYRD for his historic 

achievement today. Senator BYRD arrived in the Senate 50 years ago. For 

decades, he has defended the Constitution and the principles upon which it 

stands. Senator BYRD is truly a statesman, a patriot, a proud son of West 

Virginia, and an important voice in the 

history of this country. 

The people of West Virginia definitely know that they have a champion 

who will stand up for them. Senator 

BYRD has never forgotten the hard life 

that he had as a boy growing up in poverty in the southern West Virginia 

coalfields. He has always remained true 

to his faith and his family and has 

worked to build a better future for 

West Virginia and the Nation. 

In the history of our great Nation, 

Senator BYRD has served longer than 

all but one Member of Congress and has 

been a committed public servant. Senator BYRD first came to Washington in 

1953 as a Congressman and served three 

terms in the House before being elected 

to the Senate. Senator BYRD quickly 

learned the rules and procedures that 

make the Senate run. He used these to 

his advantage while serving as the Senate majority leader and in other key 

leadership positions. On June 11, 2006, 

Senator BYRD became the longest serving U.S. Senator in history, and in November 2006, he was elected to an unprecedented ninth full term. 

During his tenure, his colleagues 

have elected him to more leadership 

positions than any other Senator in 

history. This includes Senate majority 

whip, chairman of the Democratic Conference, Senate minority leader, and 

Senate majority leader. Currently, 

BYRD is the President pro tempore. 

Throughout his career, Senator BYRD

has cast more than 18,100 roll call votes 

in five decades of service in the Senate. 

Senator BYRD is also the longest 

serving member of the esteemed Appropriations Committee. He has served as 

its chairman or ranking member since 

1989. After many distinguished years of 

service, he has stepped down from his 

leadership position but will remain an 

important voice on this committee. I 

have enjoyed serving with him on the 

Appropriations Committee and have 

learned a tremendous amount under 

his leadership. 

There are other sides to Senator 

BYRD that have contributed to his life’s 

accomplishments, his achievements as 

a musician and author. Senator BYRD

learned to play the fiddle at a young 

age and carried it with him everywhere 

he went. His skill with the instrument 

led to performances at the Kennedy 

Center and on a national television appearance on ‘‘Hee Haw.’’ He even recorded his own album, ‘‘Mountain Fiddler.’’ He is also the author of a magisterial four volume set about this 

body entitled ‘‘The Senate, 1789–1989’’ 

and other works. 

No tribute to Senator BYRD would be 

complete without mentioning his life’s 

love, Erma Ora James. For nearly 69 

years, the Byrds were inseparable, 

traveling throughout their native West 

Virginia and crossing the globe together. Sadly, Mrs. Byrd passed away 

on March 25, 2006, but Senator BYRD

speaks lovingly of her and their life together each day. 

The times have changed considerably 

since Senator BYRD was first elected to 

the West Virginia House of Delegates 

and eventually the U.S. Senate. We 

have seen a man walk on the Moon. We 

have mapped the human genome, and 

we have seen unbelievable technological advances that have changed the 

way we live, work and communicate. 

But through it all, the one constant is 

Senator BYRD’s steadfast championing 

of our Constitution and the people of 

West Virginia. I join my colleagues in 

offering my hardy congratulations to 

him on this important day. 

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today 

marks the 50th anniversary of Senator 

ROBERT BYRD’s service to this most 

American of institutions: the United 

States Senate. 

‘‘Service to the Senate’’—I have chosen these words intentionally, and with 

care. To serve in this hallowed chamber is to meld service to home and 

community with service to the Nation 

as a whole. It is a distinction that we 

are all privileged to share. 

But through his five decades in this 

Chamber, ROBERT BYRD’s service has 

transcended the ordinary to rise to the 

absolute allegiance our country has 

only rarely received over her long history. 

Senator BYRD was born and raised in 

humble circumstances. The loss of his 

mother at the age of 1 left him a virtual orphan, and he grew up in West 

Virginia’s coal country. The Great Depression postponed the young ROBERT

BYRD’s education, but it did nothing to 

hold back his lively and agile mind or 

his passion to seize on America’s promise of equal opportunity. In 1946, he entered West Virginia’s House of Delegates, and sought progressively higher 

offices. Finally, in 1958, he arrived in 

the Senate and found his ‘‘home.’’ 

It is said that education opens doors, 

but in Senator BYRD’s case, we learn 

that the doors it opens may not be the 

ones that we expect. For him, he was 

already a Member of the House of Representatives when he began work to 

earn his J.D. Ten years of night school 

finally earned him the degree as a sitting Senator. 

So what doors did his studies open? 

After all, he was already one of the Nation’s highest officials. 

Education, a love of history, the discipline of rigorous study, the independence of thought. If you think about it, 

these are the very qualities that our 

American democracy most depends on. 

And by cultivating them, Senator 

BYRD grew in his capacity to serve his 

home, serve his Nation, and to serve 

the Senate. 

Mr. BYRD served as the Senate majority leader from 1977 to 1981, and many 

believe it is in recognition of that time 

that I continue to call him ‘‘Mr. Leader.’’ But I would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight. 

Mr. Leader. My dear friend. Protocol 

dictates that anyone who served as majority leader should retain the title for 

life. Even in the absence of protocol, 

however, my heart would demand that 

I rise and salute you as leader of this 

institution. Congratulations on this 

milestone, Mr. Leader. We have worked 

together for many years, and it will be 

a distinct honor to continue working 

with you on the Appropriations Committee and in the Senate. 

f 

WORKING FAMILY CHILD 

ASSISTANCE ACT 

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, yesterday, I joined Senator LINCOLN to introduce legislation to make permanent 

the tremendous change Congress enacted last October to enhance the refundable child tax credit. To assist 

working families, Congress reduced the 

amount of earnings a family must have 

to qualify for the refundable child tax 

credit to $8,500 for 2008 from the $12,050 

that prevailed prior to passage of the 

Act. Unfortunately, because Congress 

did not make the incentive permanent, 

families will have to earn at least 

$12,550—$4,050 more—this year to take 

advantage of the incentive. 

At a time in which the economy is in 

recession and many have to work two 

or even three jobs to put food on the 

table, it would be unconscionable to 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with SENATE