December 10, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10843 

My dear brother John, 13 years my 

senior, who passed away earlier this 

year, was a role model I put on a pedestal. He encouraged me at every turn, 

providing me with invaluable counsel 

and infinite support. And there is no 

finer example of a beautiful, caring 

heart, a person who lives her faith, 

than John’s wife Bunny. 

Speaking of faith, I am so proud of 

my two nephews, John Hanford III, currently traveling the world as our U.S. 

Ambassador at Large for religious freedom, and Jody Hanford, his brother, 17 

years with Campus Crusade for Christ 

and 15 visits to work in Russia and 

Ukraine. 

I also wish I could thank teachers 

such as Agnes Weant, whose dedication 

to young people led her outside the 

classroom on more than one evening to 

discuss colleges and future opportunities with my parents, and Duke University’s dean, Florence Brinkley, who encouraged me to spend a summer in 

England studying at Oxford. 

Because of the support and encouragement I received from family, 

friends, and teachers, I ventured to 

Washington, seeking to be part of 

something greater than myself. As a 

young adult, I was incredibly fortunate 

to encounter several great mentors 

who offered me direction, opportunity, 

and encouragement, mentors such as 

Bill Cochrane, who was thought of by 

many as North Carolina’s third Senator. Bill served in the office of North 

Carolina Democratic Senator B. Everett Jordan, and he was like a one-man 

personnel office, assisting eager young 

people in finding jobs in Washington. 

During the summer of 1960, I worked in 

Senator Jordan’s office. Knowing that 

firsthand historical experiences are 

much treasured by young people, Bill 

helped me get a front-row ticket to my 

first national campaign on board Vice 

Presidential nominee Lyndon B. Johnson’s whistle stop tour of the South. 

Although my staunchly Republican father was concerned about my riding 

through the South, especially through 

Salisbury, my hometown, on LBJ’s 

train, I knew Bill Cochrane was giving 

me an unmatchable learning experience, and I was right. 

And how I wish I could hold out a 

hand of thanks to a remarkable woman 

who served in this Chamber for many 

years, Margaret Chase Smith of Maine. 

While working for Senator Jordan, I 

had the gall to request a meeting with 

Senator Smith. She didn’t know me 

from Adam, but not only did she agree 

to see me, she devoted an entire hour 

to sharing her thoughts and encouraging me to get a law degree so I could 

bring some additional skills to a public 

policy job. I took her advice and entered Harvard Law School 2 years 

later. Senator Smith’s example taught 

me the importance of having an open 

door for younger people who also seek 

public service as a noble endeavor and 

might need a little advice and mentoring along the way. 

I was privileged to have the best 

mentor imaginable in Virginia Knauer, 

special assistant to President Nixon for 

consumer affairs. Virginia, a truly unselfish boss, wanted me as her deputy 

to have every experience that she had— 

my first testimony before Congress, my 

first press conference, speeches across 

America. After working with her for 5 

years, Virginia wanted to support my 

nomination to the Federal Trade Commission. ‘‘Oh, no, Virginia,’’ I remember telling her. I said, ‘‘I love being 

your deputy’’ when she broached the 

subject. Virginia replied: 

Elizabeth, you have grown and learned as 

much as you can in this job. It is time for 

you to spread your wings. 

In other words, she nudged me out of 

the nest. To this day, Virginia, at age 

93, remains one of my most cherished 

friends, and I am grateful to President 

Nixon for my many years on the Federal Trade Commission. 

I am indebted to former President 

Ronald Reagan for asking me to serve 

as his Secretary of Transportation and 

to President George Herbert Walker 

Bush for the privilege of serving as 

Secretary of Labor. And I thank the 

Board of Governors of the American 

Red Cross and their army of millions of 

volunteers for allowing me to serve 8 

years as their president. At each of 

these positions, I have been fortunate, 

indeed, to be part of a team of extraordinary, hard-working men and women. 

I thank all those who have shared the 

mission fields with me over the years. 

My special thanks to my very talented and capable Senate staff. These 

incredible men and women understand 

what it means to be true servants of 

the public, to have a passion for what 

they do. Yes, we have shared a mission 

field. We have worked hard. We have 

had some fun along the way, too, and 

we made a positive difference for North 

Carolina and America. 

I thank all Members of the U.S. Senate. I knew many of you as friends long 

before becoming your colleague, and 

you will remain my friends after I depart the Senate. You will surely be in 

my thoughts and prayers as you steer 

our country through the challenging 

times ahead. 

Most especially, I thank my incredibly supportive husband Bob, who is a 

constant example—and probably for 

some of you as well—that a leader 

should have not only a strong backbone but also a funny bone. From 

armed service to public service, elected 

six times by his Republican colleagues 

to be their leader, Bob’s more than half 

a century of service to our country is a 

constant inspiration. Because of his 

leadership, we now have the beautiful 

memorial to the men and women of 

World War II. Bob’s compassion and 

caring for his fellow man, exhibited 

through his actions in both public and 

private life, are to me unparalleled. He 

remains the light of my life. For all 

that you have done for me and for 

countless others and for our country, I 

thank you, Bob, from the bottom of my 

heart. 

I could never have dreamed of the 

people I have been privileged to meet, 

the jobs I have been privileged to hold, 

or the issues I have been privileged to 

influence. Perhaps Theodore Roosevelt 

said it best with these words: 

Far and away, the best prize life has to 

offer is the chance to work hard at work 

worth doing. 

I am so very fortunate to have found 

that best prize as a servant of the public. While I don’t know what awaits me 

in life’s journey, what will come next, 

I pray that I will find a way to continue to work hard at work worth 

doing. 

May God bless America, and may God 

bless the United States Senate. 

I yield the floor. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Louisiana. 

f 

BAILOUT DECISION 

Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I rise to 

discuss the very important issue before 

the Congress this week: the proposed 

bailout of the three major U.S. auto 

manufacturers. Of course, I have 

looked at this issue and the proposals 

that have been put forward very carefully because this is such a serious 

issue. I have studied the draft language 

that was released on Monday that certainly constitutes the proposal as we 

have known it for the last few days. I 

have followed all of the discussions and 

ongoing negotiations and ongoing 

changes to that language proposed 

Monday. In fact, I have offered concrete—hopefully helpful—suggestions 

of movements that could possibly garner my support. Based on all of that, 

after very careful thought and consideration, I have reached two inescapable 

conclusions for me. First, I cannot support this proposed bailout of the three 

U.S. auto manufacturers. Second, because I believe this proposal actually 

dooms those companies to failure, 

doesn’t save them from it, I will use 

every procedural tool available to demand an amendment process on the 

floor of the Senate and to delay and 

block the measure as it presently 

stands. 

I don’t come to this conclusion lightly. I certainly realize that the failure 

of these companies, should they go 

under, would be devastating, first for 

millions of individuals and fine American families and secondly for our 

economy as a whole. In reaching this 

decision, I don’t trivialize or minimize 

in any way the impact of that sort of 

failure. Certainly that has been 

brought home to bear in my State, particularly in northwest Louisiana. We 

have a significant GM plant in Shreveport. I am very aware of the positive 

impact of that plant. I am very aware 

of the workers there, the families, the 

suppliers who are affected. And, of 

course, all across our State, I am very 

aware of auto dealers and other folks 

who are tied so closely to this industry. I oppose this bailout plan, not in 

spite of the suffering to all those folks 

and our economy that failure of these 

companies would bring, I oppose this 

S10844 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 10, 2008 

bailout plan because of that level of 

suffering, because of that significance 

to individual workers and families and 

the economy as a whole. 

That may seem a bit of an odd statement to some folks. Why do I say that? 

Well, for two reasons. No. 1, this proposal, at its core, is about giving these 

companies $15 billion of loans, $15 billion on the promise of a detailed restructuring plan yet to come. So we 

give them significant amounts of 

money—$15 billion—so that they go 

through that process, so that they 

start that discussion, so that they 

come back to us months later with a 

detailed restructuring plan. 

Well, my reaction to that is pretty 

simple. I think the average American 

would say: What? Isn’t that putting the 

cart before the horse? $15 billion, and 

then later, after that is out the door, 

we will see a detailed restructuring 

plan? Secondly, even more important 

than that, it means that the impetus, 

the pressure to make that restructuring truly fundamental, truly to the 

core, which is absolutely necessary for 

these companies to survive, that pressure is not nearly as great as if we held 

the money until that detailed restructuring plan was presented. 

The second reason I will vote against 

this bailout plan, the second reason I 

believe it actually would doom these 

companies to failure is that I believe it 

politicizes the management of these 

companies right at a time where they 

need to move in the opposite direction 

so that business and engineering considerations alone guide their company’s futures. 

Let me say bluntly, I have no confidence—absolutely no confidence—in 

the present management of these three 

companies. But let me also say, if there 

is a way for that to go from bad to 

worse, it is by injecting into the process politics and a political appointee 

such as this so-called car czar. That 

would make a very bad situation very 

much worse. It would politicize further 

the management of these companies, 

again, when they need to move to a situation where business and engineering 

considerations alone guide their decisions. 

Another good, specific example of 

this politicization is language which 

has been in the proposal so far to actually prohibit these companies from legally challenging various moves for individual States to impose onerous, 

complicated, different environmental 

standards on them. Again, we are 

bringing political mandates, political 

pressure, political decisions to bear 

right at a time when these companies 

need to move in the opposite direction, 

get away from all of that, which has 

been a part of the reason they are 

where they are today, and base their 

future decisions on business and engineering considerations alone. 

For these companies to survive, no 

matter what taxpayer dollars are involved, they need truly core fundamental restructuring. They need to revamp and revisit all their obligations, 

all their business models, all their 

labor contracts, all their dealership associations—everything that constitutes them as they presently are. 

They need to do that; if not in a bankruptcy process, they need to do that 

through a process which is the equivalent of bankruptcy, just by another 

name. 

This plan which is being worked on 

and will be presented before us is not 

that. What is worse, it is not only not 

that, I believe it will prevent that from 

ever happening and will, therefore, 

doom these companies to failure, no 

matter what taxpayer dollars are 

thrown at them. 

Again, for this reason, I have reached 

what is for me a clear and inescapable 

conclusion. No. 1, I cannot support this 

general bailout plan. No. 2, because I 

believe this plan will actually doom 

the companies to failure, I will use 

every procedural tool available to demand a fair and open amendment process on the floor of the Senate and to 

delay and block the measure as it presently stands. 

Mr. President, with that, I yield back 

the floor. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Pennsylvania. 

Mr. CASEY. Thank you, Mr. President. 

f 

HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES 

FALLEN PENNSYLVANIANS

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, yesterday, I came before the Senate to pay 

tribute to Pennsylvanians who gave, as 

Abraham Lincoln said, ‘‘the last full 

measure of devotion’’ to their country 

serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Therefore, today, I would like to take 

this opportunity to honor the men and 

women of Pennsylvania who have 

served in Operation Enduring Freedom 

in Afghanistan. This struggle began in 

the weeks following the gravest attack 

on American soil; it was a direct response to eliminate the sanctuary of 

those who plotted the horrific events of 

9/11. 

The men and women who have served 

in Afghanistan have faced extreme danger but have persevered with a can-do 

spirit. Our men and women of the U.S. 

Armed Forces are indeed in a class of 

their own—all their own, I should say. 

And, like their brothers and sisters 

serving in Iraq, they mourn the sacrifices of their own. 

So today in the Senate, I would also 

like to enter into the CONGRESSIONAL

RECORD the names of those 25 Pennsylvanian heroes who may have fallen 

in the battles of Afghanistan but who 

have only risen in our appreciation for 

their service and sacrifice. I list them 

now: 

CWO Michael Slebodnik of Gibsonia, PA; 

PFC Michael Dinterman of Littlestown, PA; 

LTC Richard Berrettini of Wilcox, PA; 

SPC Jonathan L. Luscher of Scranton, PA; 

SPC Derek Holland of Wind Gap, PA; 

PV2 Matthew Brown of Zelienople, PA; 

1LT Jeffrey Deprimo of Pittston, PA; 

2LT Michael Girdano of Apollo, PA; 

SGT Douglas Bull of Wilkes-Barre, PA; 

SSG Troy Ezernack of Lancaster, PA; 

Po3 John Fralish of New Kingstown, PA; 

CPT Bryan Willard of Hummelstown, PA; 

SGT Jonathan McColley of Gettysburg, PA; 

SGT James Fordyce of Newtown Square, PA; 

SGT Brett Hershey of State College, PA; 

PFC James Dillon, Jr., of Grove City, PA; 

SSG Paul Sweeney of Lakeville, PA; 

SGT Christopher Geiger of Allentown, PA; 

SFC Scott Ball of Mount Holly Springs, PA; 

SGT Jan Argonish of Peckville, PA; 

SSG Patrick Kutschbach of McKees Rocks, 

PA; 

CPT David Boris of Pottsville, PA; 

MSG Arthur Lilley of Smithfield, PA; 

1SG Christopher Rafferty of Brownsville, PA; 

MSG Thomas Maholic of Bradford, PA. 

To the families of these brave Americans, please know your son’s or daughter’s service will always be remembered and appreciated. Every time a 

child is able to go to school in America 

without fear, that service is appreciated. Every time a graduate looks 

positively toward their future, to live 

in a land of freedom and liberty, those 

who have served are appreciated and 

their sacrifice is appreciated. 

The response of these men and 

women—whether it was in Afghanistan 

or anywhere in the world that they 

served—their response to the ultimate 

call to service ensures that each of us 

may live in freedom. 

As Benjamin Disraeli once said: 

The legacy of heroes is the memory of a 

great name and the inheritance of a great example. 

During this holiday season, when 

thoughts of our families and loved ones 

are on our minds, I wish to express my 

condolences and gratitude to those 

families who have loved and lost someone dear to them and also to express 

gratitude to those whose loved ones are 

now serving in a war theater far from 

home. Please know you are in our 

prayers. 

Mr. President, I yield the floor and 

suggest the absence of a quorum. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. 

The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. 

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the order for 

the quorum call be rescinded. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. 

CASEY). Without objection, it is so ordered. 

f 

PERSEVERANCE IN TOUGH TIMES 

Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I rise 

during this Christmas season to share 

with the Senate and the Nation an inspirational story from my home State 

of Montana. As a former public school 

teacher myself, I have known for a long 

time how amazing Montana’s young 

people can be. This story is a story of 

triumph over tragedy that serves as 

the latest reminder. 

Early on the morning of September 

18, Montanans in and around Yellowstone County woke up to learn the 

tragic news that the Huntley Project