January 15, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S411 

consent authority of Senators. JOE has 

seen how this part of the government— 

the people’s branch—lives. He will assume his new job fresh from membership in the world’s greatest deliberative body. Those Senate years will, I 

believe, serve him, the country, and 

the people, well. 

Senator BIDEN is moving on, and 

while I regret losing him as a colleague 

here, I am heartened by the experience 

and wisdom he takes to his new duties. 

I believe that he will be a great Vice 

President. My good friend and former 

colleague, President-elect Obama 

showed outstanding judgment when he 

selected Senator JOE BIDEN to be his 

running mate. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader is recognized. 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, the regular 

order is that HILLARY CLINTON was to 

be recognized at 11 o’clock. There are a 

lot of people who want to say some 

things about Senator BIDEN and HILLARY CLINTON. We have votes scheduled 

at noon. So I would ask the Chair, 

under the order, to recognize the Senator from New York, Mrs. CLINTON. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New York is 

recognized. 

f 

FAREWELL ADDRESS 

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I am 

once again, and, if confirmed, for the 

last time, honored, privileged, and 

proud to address you as a Senator from 

the great State of New York; to stand 

in this Chamber; to be amongst my colleagues with whom I have won legislative victories, suffered defeats, and 

made lasting friendships; to serve my 

fellow New Yorkers; to speak amidst 

the echoes of historic and fiery debates 

which have shaped the destiny and promoted the progress of this great Nation 

for more than two centuries. 

And I am gratified by the overwhelming support and vote of confidence from my colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and I 

look forward to working with them and 

continuing the conversation we began 

on Tuesday. And of course, I am so 

eager to continue working closely with 

my friend, and the Vice Presidentelect, JOE BIDEN. 

I have loved being part of the Senate, 

working alongside public servants of 

both parties who bring to bear their expertise and enthusiasm to the difficult, 

painstaking, and occasionally contentious work of turning principle into 

policy and policy into law. And I assure 

you I will be in frequent consultation 

and conversation with my colleagues 

here in the Senate. 

I also have been so fortunate to have 

what is, objectively, the best Senate 

staff, both in Washington and in New 

York that has ever been assembled, led 

and inspired by my Chief of Staff and 

friend, Tamera Luzzatto. 

In outlining the purpose of the 

world’s greatest deliberative body, the 

authors of the Federalist Papers wrote 

that in part the Senate’s role would be 

to avert the consequences of ‘‘sudden 

and violent passions’’ and ‘‘intemperate and pernicious resolutions.’’ 

Well, I think each of us at times has 

wished that the Senate would be ever 

so slightly less ‘‘temperate.’’ But it is 

to the lasting credit and everlasting 

wisdom of our Founders that we come 

together, representatives of every 

State, members of both parties and neither party, in the hopes of finding common ground on which to build a stronger, safer, smarter, fairer, and more 

prosperous country for our children 

and our grandchildren. 

As I look back on 8 years of service 

here, and as I have spoken with many 

of you in recent days about the challenges that lie ahead, I find myself reflecting on the work we have done as 

well as the work that remains at this 

moment of tumult and transformation. 

I asked the people of New York to 

take a chance on me. To grant me their 

trust and their votes. In the years 

since, as our economy has grown more 

interconnected and the world more 

interdependent, and as New York has 

faced challenges amongst the greatest 

in our State and Nation’s history, I 

have worked hard to keep faith with 

my fellow New Yorkers. 

I remember when I first arrived in 

the Senate. There were a few skeptics. 

Many wondered what kind of Senator I 

would be. I wondered where the elevators were. But I believed my charge 

on behalf of the people of New York 

and the Nation was to devote myself 

fully to the task at hand. So I got to 

work. 

No sooner had I taken office, 9 short 

months into my first term, the Nation 

was attacked on 9/11. The toll was devastating and New York would bear the 

heaviest burden. Nearly 3,000 lives were 

lost. The World Trade Center lay in 

ruins. A toxic cloud of debris and poison rained down over first responders, 

building and construction trades workers, residents, students, and others. 

We all remember as citizens and Senators the sense of common purpose 

that arose as if to extinguish the hate 

and violence that took so many innocent lives. In particular, I want to 

point out the many kindnesses of my 

fellow members who offered their 

words, and deeds, in support of the people of New York. 

In one moving gesture, Senators sent 

staff members to help answer the ringing phones in our office as New Yorkers 

struggled to track down family members and turned to our offices for help. 

I am also grateful to Senator ROBERT

BYRD who said at my State’s hour of 

need, ‘‘Think of me as the third Senator of New York.’’ 

I remember visiting Ground Zero on 

September 12th with my colleague, 

Senator SCHUMER, to personally survey 

the devastation and to thank the first 

responders who were working night and 

day, in danger and difficulty, on what 

would become known as ‘‘the Pile.’’ 

The air was acrid. Thick smoke made 

it hard to breath. 

We knew then that there would be 

lasting health problems for first responders, volunteers, workers, and others who rushed to provide assistance 

following the attacks. 

Two days later, Senator SCHUMER

and I went to the Oval Office and secured a commitment from President 

Bush for $20 billion in Federal aid for 

New York’s recovery. In the years that 

would follow, Senator SCHUMER and I 

would fight successfully to ensure that 

money was delivered as promised. 

In this and every instance, I have 

been grateful to have had Senator 

CHARLES SCHUMER as a partner and 

ally. New Yorkers could not ask for a 

more effective and determined Senator 

to fight for them. And I feel fortunate 

that if I miss seeing my friend CHUCK, 

I can turn on the television to catch 

his latest Sunday press conference. 

Over the past 7 years, in a fight that 

continues, we have worked to bring 

business back to downtown and to secure funding for programs to provide 

health screening, monitoring, and 

treatment for all those suffering health 

consequences as a result of the attacks. 

We have at times clashed with the 

administration while holding firm to 

our commitment to these efforts. 

And I have developed close and lasting relationships with many of the 

families of the victims of 9/11 who in 

their grief have come together to fight 

for health monitoring and for smarter 

policies to prevent future attacks. 

Together, we advocated for the creation of the 9/11 Commission and for 

the successful implementation of its 

findings, including funding based on 

threat assessments and better resources for first responders. 

These efforts would become a model 

for finding common ground where possible, and standing your ground where 

necessary. For coordinating between 

Federal, State and local governments. 

For forging new partnerships between 

Government, academia, labor, and the 

private sector, and between members of 

both parties. A model for decisions 

based on sound evidence and solid 

facts, and for achieving results. 

This is how we approached many of 

the economic challenges facing New 

York. So many New Yorkers have lost 

jobs, or have seen their jobs paying less 

and their benefits covering less than 

before. 

I have met many who have lost 

health care or seen their premiums 

double. Who are unable to afford a college education or find good work, or 

pay rising mortgage bills. Who feel as 

though the hardworking middle class 

in this country experience the risk but 

not the reward of a global economy. 

So I have worked hard to help make 

investments in New York’s economy, 

by coauthoring a law to expand renewal zone tax incentives for new jobs 

across upstate New York; helping to 

raise the minimum wage; working to 

extend unemployment insurance; securing $16.5 billion in transportation 


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S412 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 15, 2009 

funding; and increasing funds for Amtrak and high speed rail. 

We passed legislation to create training programs for green-collar jobs that 

will help New York workers fill 21st 

century jobs that will in turn help end 

our dependence on foreign oil and fight 

climate change. 

And we prevented the closure of military installations and facilities, including the Niagara Falls Air Reserve 

Station, Rome Labs, and the Defense 

Finances and Accounting Service in 

Rome, which keep our Nation safe and 

employ thousands in New York. 

Even when we have faced obstacles, 

we have never given up. We have often 

promoted what President Franklin 

Delano Roosevelt called ‘‘bold, persistent experimentation.’’ 

We helped expand broadband access 

across rural areas in the North Country. 

We secured into law funding to retrofit trucks, school buses and other 

heavy vehicles with new clean diesel 

technologies developed in Corning and 

Jamestown. 

In the Finger Lakes and North Country we partnered with eBay and local 

universities and companies to create 

21st century co-ops that help small 

businesses get the micro-loans and 

training to reach global, not just local, 

markets. 

In Rochester, we developed the firstever Greenprint: a blueprint for how 

the city can harness its research institutions, innovative businesses, 

proactive local leaders, and talented 

workforce to become an even stronger 

clean energy leader. 

We brought Artspace to Buffalo and 

secured funds for cultural centers like 

Proctors Theater in Schenectady, 

Stanley theater in Syracuse, and the 

Strand Theater in Plattsburgh, creating a model for urban revitalization 

and economic development centered on 

cultural projects. 

I have worked to promote heritage 

tourism in places like Seneca Falls, 

home of the National Women’s Hall of 

Fame and the site of the landmark 

Women’s Rights Convention of 1848. 

New Jobs for New York brought together more than 2,600 entrepreneurs, 

investors, and researchers across New 

York to obtain capital, share ideas, and 

grow New York businesses. 

Farm to Fork created new markets 

for New York’s agricultural producers 

in New York’s restaurants, schools, and 

colleges. And our annual Farm Day 

here in the Capitol showcased New 

York farmers and vintners. 

With investments in transportation 

to ease congestion and pollution on 

Long Island, in Westchester, and in the 

Hudson Valley, renewable energy and 

nanotechnology in the capital region’s 

‘‘Tech Valley,’’ biomedical research in 

Buffalo, Biotechnology in Syracuse, 

microcredit in the Finger Lakes, we 

have demonstrated to companies large 

and small that New York, with our talented workforce, world-class educational institutions, and affordable, 

safe communities, is a wonderful place 

to do business. In fact, as you know, I 

recently took a detour through many 

of my colleagues’ States where I had 

the opportunity to brag about New 

York and the kinds of innovative strategies we are putting into practice. 

Some 8 years ago, I first spoke on the 

Senate floor. The topic was, to no one’s 

surprise, health care. And in the years 

since, I have continued my commitment to achieving quality, affordable 

health care for all Americans, no exceptions, no excuses. I was proud to be 

part of the bipartisan coalition which 

passed the ‘‘Pediatric Rule’’ into law, 

ensuring that drugs are tested and labeled for safety and effectiveness in 

children. 

We have expanded newborn screening. We were able to thwart the Bush 

administration’s attempt to undercut 

community health clinics and broker a 

compromise to keep tens of millions of 

dollars in HIV/AIDS funding in New 

York through the Ryan White CARE 

Act. 

Because of our work, groundbreaking 

legislation now provides respite care 

for family caregivers; safety measures 

to prevent tragic injuries to children in 

and around cars; new resources for 

grandparents and other kinship caregivers raising children; and more affordable college for students, particularly nontraditional students who are 

studying while working or raising a 

family. 

I have also been proud to serve on the 

Senate Armed Services Committee, the 

first New York Senator to do so, and to 

be the only Member of the Senate 

asked to serve on the U.S. Joint Forces 

Command’s Transformation Advisory 

Group. 

With my fellow members of the committee, we have expanded access to 

TRICARE for all drilling members of 

the Guard and Reserve; improved 

health tracking for servicemembers, 

especially important in treating complex, invisible injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic 

brain injury; and we have passed the 

first ever expansion of the Family and 

Medical Leave Act so loved ones can 

take 6 months of leave to care for family members injured in service. 

I have visited with members of the 

Armed Forces at military facilities 

across the State, including 10 visits to 

Fort Drum, and I have met with our 

troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, 

as well as those recovering at Walter 

Reed and at the military hospital in 

Landstuhl, Germany. 

From the firefighters, police officers, 

and citizens who responded on September 11, to the men and women of 

the 10th Mountain Division, known as 

the most deployed division in the 

army, New Yorkers have answered the 

call to serve. I have worked hard to 

honor the principle that we should 

serve those who serve us. 

I am proud of the progress we have 

made, often against tough obstacles 

and even tougher odds, under the leadership of Senator HARRY REID who has 

led with intelligence and grit. 

But of course there remains a long 

way to go. 

The House has passed the Lilly 

Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as well as the 

Paycheck Fairness Act on behalf of 

women and others seeking equal pay 

for equal work. I hope we can pass 

these bills into law. We have moved 

Health IT ever closer to the finish line, 

which holds so much potential for reducing waste, errors, and costs while 

creating whole new data sets for research and avenues for innovation. 

I was dismayed when we were unable 

to expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program to millions of uninsured 

children under the current President, 

though I am hopeful we will do so 

under the leadership of President-elect 

Obama. Providing health care for every 

single child, as we work toward coverage for every single American, is in 

our duty and in our reach. 

There are so many other works in 

progress that I hope will be pursued by 

my fellow Senators. And I have spoken 

with many of you about taking on the 

mantle and continuing the work of legislation I have proposed over the past 8 

years. 

Finally, to my fellow New Yorkers, I 

want to express my profound gratitude. 

Thank you. I love being your Senator. 

Serving you has been the opportunity 

of a lifetime to continue the work of 

my life. To advocate on behalf of every 

single child’s chance to live up to his 

or her God- given potential. To fight so 

that no one feels as though they are 

facing life’s challenges alone, as if they 

were invisible. 

And we have had fun. 8 State fairs, 45 

parades, 62 counties, and more than 

4,600 events across the State. But who 

is counting? 

As I look back somewhat wistfully, 

and look forward hopefully, as I seek 

now to serve the country in a new role 

sustained by the same values that have 

motivated me for nearly four decades 

in public service, I am grateful to my 

colleagues in the Senate, to the superb 

Democratic staff, to my own staff here 

and across New York, to my supporters, and to the people of New York 

for this opportunity and responsibility 

that has meant the world to me. 

I may not have always been a New 

Yorker. But know that I will always be 

one. New York, its spirit and its people, will always be part of me and part 

of the work I do. 

I look forward to continuing to work 

with my colleagues in the Senate, albeit if confirmed, in a new capacity, 

through this challenging time, at this 

defining moment, always with faith in 

my fellow Americans and optimism for 

all that we can achieve by working together. 

Mr. President, I am so honored to be 

here at the same time with my friend 

and colleague whom I admire so much 

and have such great affection for, the 

Vice President-elect, JOE BIDEN. 

I listened with enthusiasm and a lot 

of sentiment to the speech he delivered 


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January 15, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S413 

a few minutes ago. And the way he 

evoked the Senate and the relationships that are developed here and the 

work that is done on behalf of our 

country was as good as I have ever 

heard it. 

So I am deeply honored and privileged to be here with him and to address this Chamber as a Senator from 

the great State of New York, perhaps, 

if I am confirmed, for the very last 

time, and particularly amongst colleagues whom I have come to respect 

and like so much, and whose work I believe is always in the best interests of 

their States and their country, even 

when we are not in agreement. 

I am gratified by the support and 

vote of confidence I received earlier 

this morning from the Senate Foreign 

Relations Committee. And I am eager, 

should I be confirmed, to get to work 

with the President-elect and with the 

Vice President-elect and with all of 

you. I have loved being in the Senate 

working alongside public servants of 

both parties who bring their expertise 

and enthusiasm to the difficult, painstaking, and occasionally contentious 

work of turning principles into policy 

and policy into law. 

I also have been fortunate during 

these past 8 years to have been served 

by what I objectively believe is the 

best Senate staff ever in Washington 

and throughout New York. This incredible group of people has been assembled, led, and inspired by my chief of 

staff and my friend, Tamera Luzzatto. 

I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the RECORD at the conclusion of 

my remarks the names of all of those 

with whom I have worked over the last 

8 years, because I could not be standing 

here speaking to you were it not for 

them. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

(See exhibit 1.) 

Mrs. CLINTON. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the RECORD a 

catalog of the work and achievements 

which they have brought about. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

(See Exhibit 2.) 

Mrs. CLINTON. In the Federalist Papers, we often hear the reference to the 

Senate’s role, to avert the consequences of ‘‘sudden and violent passions’’ and ‘‘intemperate and pernicious resolutions.’’ 

Well, to the everlasting credit and 

wisdom of our Founders, we do come 

together in an effort to find common 

ground. 

As I look back on my 8 years of service, I find myself reflecting on this tiny 

piece of Senate and American history. 

Some 10 years ago, I asked the people 

of New York to take a chance on me, to 

grant me their trust and their votes. In 

the years since, as our economy has 

grown more interconnected and the 

world more interdependent, I have 

worked to keep faith with my fellow 

New Yorkers. 

I well remember, when I first arrived 

in the Senate, there were a few skeptics wondering what I would do and 

how I would do it. There were stalwart 

supporters and people such as my 

friend, Senator BARBARA MIKULSKI, 

who kind of read me the rules of the 

road and set me on my way. 

No sooner had I figured out the way 

around the Senate, actually had just 

moved into my office, which all of our 

new colleagues will eventually be able 

to enjoy, and had gone off on my first 

August recess. I never, when I was on 

the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, 

understood why the Senate went on recess all the time. But after the intensity of the workload and the extraordinary pressure of both the work here 

in Washington and the constituency 

work in our States, I was thrilled and 

relieved to see that August recess roll 

around. 

Shortly after we returned in 2001, our 

Nation was attacked on 9/11. The toll 

was devastating and New York bore the 

heaviest burden. Here I was, a very new 

Senator, and my city and my State had 

been devastated. Nearly 3,000 lives were 

lost, the World Trade Center in ruins, a 

toxic cloud of debris and poison raining 

down over our first responders and others. 

I well remember the rallying of support and sense of common purpose that 

all of my colleagues and the citizens of 

all of the States represented here 

showed toward me personally and toward New York. Many of you offered 

not only kind words but specific deeds. 

Senators sent staff members to help 

answer the ringing phones in our office 

as New Yorkers struggled to track 

down family members or to seek aid. 

I will never forget Senator ROBERT

BYRD telling me at my State’s hour of 

need, ‘‘Think of me as the third Senator from New York.’’ 

On September 12, my colleague 

CHUCK SCHUMER and I went to New 

York. As you recall, the roads were 

shut down, there was no way in or out 

of Manhattan other than by rail. The 

skies were clear. So CHUCK and I, in a 

plane provided by FEMA, were the only 

ones in the sky that day other than the 

fighters who were circling overhead. 

We landed at La Guardia. We got into 

a helicopter to fly to the heliport on 

the west side of Manhattan, on the 

west side of the Hudson River. And 

then we proceeded, with the Governor, 

the mayor, and Federal officials to go 

toward the horror. 

When we were circling in the helicopter above the World Trade Center 

site, we could see the smoke still coming up, because it was, of course, burning. And we could see the very fragile 

piles of scrap and steel teetering as 

firefighters, construction workers, 

tried to continue their search and rescue effort. That site was as close as I 

have ever seen to what Dante describes 

as hell. 

It became known as ‘‘the Pile.’’ 

CHUCK and I and our Government colleagues walked along one of the 

streets, and could not even see beyond 

the curtain of blackness, and occasionally breaking through would come a 

firefighter, totally exhausted after 

having been on duty for 24 hours, dragging an axe, knowing already that 

friends and even family members had 

been lost. 

The air was acrid. The thick smoke 

made it hard to breath. It burned your 

throat and your lungs. I knew then 

there would be lasting health problems 

for everyone who was exposed over any 

period of time to that air that carried 

so much death and destruction. 

Two days later, Senator SCHUMER

and I went to the Oval Office and secured a commitment from President 

Bush for $20 billion in national aid for 

New York’s recovery. In the years that 

would follow, he and I have stood side 

by side to fight for the successful delivery of that money as promised. In this 

and every instance, I am grateful to 

have had Senator SCHUMER as my partner and my ally. No one fights harder 

or is more determined, and even 

though I am leaving the Senate and we 

will no longer serve together, I know 

that whenever I am missing CHUCK, all 

I have to do is turn on the television, 

especially on Sunday in New York. 

Over the past 7 years, thanks to so 

many of you, Senator INOUYE, Senator 

COCHRAN, and others on the Appropriations Committee—I see Senator HARKIN

and Senator MURRAY—you have been 

there with us as we have worked to recover. 

I am very proud of the progress that 

has been made bringing New York back 

and securing funding for the essential 

programs to provide health screening 

and monitoring and treatment for all 

of those who still are suffering. 

I have developed close and lasting relationships with many of the victims 

and the families of the victims of 9/11. 

I applaud and thank them for their 

courage and their fortitude in not only 

fighting for the health benefits that 

were so desperately needed but for the 

creation of the 9/11 Commission, for 

trying to do better on threat assessments, more resources for first responders, committed, despite their 

grief, to smarter policies to prevent future attacks on our Nation. 

I see what we did together, and then 

quickly followed by that the anthrax 

attacks, and I remember with such incredible gratitude how we all came together. We should not only come together with that level of connection 

and commitment in time of disaster. 

This is an opportunity for us to pull together, with the new administration, 

to make a real difference, a lasting difference for our Nation. That is what I 

have tried to do as a Senator from New 

York. 

It has been a privilege working to improve the upstate economy, working on 

behalf of the farmers of New York. I remember a short conversation one day 

with KENT CONRAD, BYRON DORGAN, 

TOM HARKIN, and MAX BAUCUS early 

after my arrival about how I wanted to 

help agriculture in New York. 


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They looked at me so quizzically and 

said, you have farmers in New York? I 

said, yes, in fact we do, about 30, 40 

thousand family farms. 

KENT CONRAD looked at me and he 

goes, you know, I do not believe that at 

all. So I gave a speech one day with a 

picture of a cow and said that this is a 

cow that lives on a farm, and the farm 

is in New York. We had a lot of fun kidding each other but working hard together. 

I am grateful for the incredible efforts we made to support the people 

who do the hard work in New York and 

America, who get up every day and do 

the very best they can. 

In the Finger Lakes region in the 

North Country, we helped to expand 

broadband access and partnered with 

eBay to create a way for people to have 

a global marketplace, when before the 

market was limited to a very small region of our State. 

We looked for ways to retrofit trucks 

and schoolbuses and other heavy vehicles with new clean diesel technologies 

developed by two great companies in 

New York, in Corning and Jamestown, 

to clean up our environment. 

We created the first ever greenprint 

for Rochester—a blueprint, really, for 

how the city can harness its extraordinary research institutions and their 

business leadership and others to come 

up with a way to be a clean energy 

leader. 

We worked across the State to target 

investments from Bioinformatics in 

Buffalo to cultural icons such as the 

Stanley Theater in Utica. I took special pleasure in working with tourism 

because New York is such a great place 

of historic culture that I believed it 

needed to be given more support. For 

me, going to Seneca Falls, the home of 

the National Women’s Hall of Fame 

and site of the landmark Women’s 

Rights Convention, the first in the 

world in 1848, was a labor of love. 

There is a lot to look back on with 

great nostalgia and a lot of excitement, 

but I want to look forward now because 

we are at a turning point. I know that 

very well, as all of you do. Our challenge will be to come together, putting 

aside partisan differences and even, insofar as we can, geographic differences 

to meet the challenges of our time. I 

know our two leaders are struggling to 

do that as we speak. But I think this 

could be one of the golden eras of the 

history of the Senate. This could be a 

time when people will look back and 

say: You know, you never can count 

America out. Whenever the chips are 

down, we always rise to the occasion. 

We figure out a way forward and then 

we make life better for our people. We 

extend peace and prosperity and 

progress throughout the world. I am 

very excited about what can happen in 

the next 4 years. There is a lot of work 

ahead of us, but I know the people in 

this Chamber are more than up to it. 

Finally, to my fellow New Yorkers, I 

wish to express my profound gratitude. 

I loved being your Senator. Serving 

you has been the opportunity of a lifetime. It gave me the chance to continue the work of my life, to advocate 

on behalf of every single child’s chance 

to live up to his or her God-given potential, to fight hard for those who too 

often do feel invisible, to remedy 

wrongs, as I hope we will do either 

today or in the next few days to pass 

the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as 

well as the Paycheck Fairness Act, to 

do what we know will give our fellow 

Americans a better shot at the kind of 

future that is within their grasp. 

I have had a lot of fun: 8 State fairs, 

45 parades, 62 counties, more than 4,600 

events across the State. I look back 

wistfully, and I look forward hopefully. 

I now, if confirmed, will have the high 

honor of serving our country in a new 

role, but I will be sustained and directed by the same values that have 

motivated me for nearly four decades 

in public service. 

So to my colleagues in the Senate, 

thank you. You have been wonderful 

teachers and mentors and very good 

friends. And to the superb Democratic 

staff and their Republican counterparts 

who keep this Chamber going day-in 

and day-out no matter how late we are 

here and how long the workload turns 

out to be and to my own staff here and 

across New York, to my supporters, 

and, most of all, to the people of the 

great Empire State, I may not have always been a New Yorker, but I know I 

always will be one. New York, its spirit, and its people will always be part of 

me and of the work I do. 

I look forward to continuing my association with this body. We have 

much to do over in Foggy Bottom. We 

need your help to kind of clear up the 

fog, to give us a chance to operate on 

all cylinders with the direction and the 

resources and the improved management techniques I hope to bring to the 

job. 

This is a challenging and defining 

moment, but I will always keep faith in 

this body and in my fellow Americans. 

I remain an optimist, that America’s 

best days are still ahead of us. 

(Applause, Members rising.) 

EXHIBIT 1 

LIST OF SENATOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON’S

STAFF, PAST AND PRESENT

Huma Abedin, Barbara Adair, Joshua Albert, Amanda Alcott, David Alexander, Lily 

Alpert, Karl Alvarez, Erin Ashwell, Kris 

Balderston, Brendan Ballard, Mary Catherine Beach, Kathleen Beale, Eric Bederman, 

Yael Belkind, Suzanne Bennett Johnson, 

John Biba, Nina Blackwell, Swathi Bojedla, 

Amy Bonitatibus Crowley, Victoria Brescoll. 

M. Tracey Brooks, Catherine Brown, Colleen Burns, Daniel Burton, W. Case Button, 

Wendy Button, Gloria Cadavid, Emily Cain, 

Cathleen Calhoun, Jonathan Cardinal, Brian 

Carter, Joseph Caruso, Robin Chappelle, 

Dana Chasin, Bradford Cheney, Pamela 

Cicetti, James Clancy, Sarah Clark, Jennell 

Cofer Lynch, Elizabeth Condon. 

Sean Conway, Sam Cooper, Theresia Cooper, Julie Dade Howard, Heather Davis, 

Jenny Davis, Samuel Davis, Trevor Dean, 

James Delapp, Amitabh Desai, Allison 

DiRienzo, Paula Domenici, Karen Dunn, Eleanore Edson, Cleon Edwards, Diane Elmore, 

Sarah England, Leecia Eve, Christine Falvo, 

Rebecca Fertig. 

David Garten, Ann Gavaghan, Sarah 

Gegenheimer, Gigi Georges, Kate Geyer, 

Dayna Gibbons, Robyn Golden, Rebecca 

Goldenberg, Stacey Gordon, Jennifer Hanley, 

Monica Hanley, Beth Harkavy, Jennifer 

Harper, Jennifer Heater, David Helfenbein, 

Luis Hernandez, Eric Hersey, Christina Ho, 

Melissa Ho, Joe Householder. 

Kara Hughes, Jehmal Hudson, Lucy Walker Irving, Lindsey Katherine Jack, Kelly 

James, Tiffany JeanBaptiste, Irene Jefferson, Lauren Jiloty, Keren Johnson, LaToya 

Johnson, Michael Kanick, Jody Kaplan, 

Wendy Katz, Peter Kauffmann, Jim Keane, 

Elizabeth Kelley, Michelle Kessler, Yekyu 

Kim, Heather King, Joshua Kirshner. 

Danielle Kline, Kathleen Klink, Benjamin 

Kobren, Justin Krebs, Jennifer Kritz, 

Michelle Krohn-Friedson, Laura Krolczyk, 

Grant Kevin Lane, Elizabeth Lee, Joyce 

Lenard, Alexandra Lewin, Andrew Lewis, Rachel Alice Lewis, Susan Lisagor, Eric 

Lovecchio, Jonathan Lovett, Frank Luk, 

Tamera Luzzatto, Ken Mackintosh, Sharyn 

Magarian. 

Mickie Mailey, Jamie Mannina, Jaime 

Martinez, Ramon Martinez, Shalini Matani, 

Chelsea Maughan, Corinne McGown, Lorraine McHugh-Wytkind, Michelle Dianne 

McIntyre, Luz Mendez, Sheila Menz, Susan 

Merrell, Noah Messing, Lauren Montes, 

Gillian Mueller, Timothy Mulvey, David 

Mustra, Matthew Nelson, Ray Ocasio, Ellen 

Ochs. 

Ann O’Leary, Alexis O’Brien, Kevin O’Neal, 

Sean O’Shea, Mildred Otero, Erica Pagel, Andrea Palm, Costas Panagopolous, Paul 

Paolozzi, Kathryn Parker, Mira Patel, 

Charles Perham, Karen Persichilli Keogh, 

Joshua Picker, Kyla Pollack, Tyson 

Pratcher, Alice Pushkar, Murali Raju, Jeffrey Ratner, Kathy Read. 

Philippe Reines, Robyn Rimmer, Brenda 

Ritson, Joleen Rivera, Melissa Rochester, 

Miguel Rodriguez, Rose Rodriguez, William 

Rom, Tracey Ross, Laurie Rubiner, 

Courtenay Ruddy, Mark Saavedra, Susie 

Saavedra, Joshua Schank, Daniel Schwerin, 

Kelly Severance Nelson, Ruby Shamir, Andrew Shapiro, Geraldine Shapiro, Jessica 

Shapiro. 

Jyoti Sharma, Debra Simpson, Basil 

Smikle, Jake Smiles, Sarah Smith, Benjamin Souede, Phillip Spector, Joanna 

Spilker, Aprill Springfield, Dileep Srihari, 

Anjuli Srivastava, Warren Stern, Deborah 

Swacker, Elise Sweeney, Sean Sweeney, Michael Szymanski, Neera Tanden, Lee Telega, 

Gabrielle Tenzer, Megan Thompson. 

Carrie Torres, Tam Tran-Viet, Leo 

Trasande, Lacey Tucker, Dan Utech, Lona 

Valmoro, James Vigil, Lorraine Voles, 

Kristen Walsh, Greg Walton, Enid Weishaus, 

Nicole Wilett, Joshua Williams, Jeanne Wilson, Erica Woodard, Yajaira Yepez, Maryana 

Zubok. 

EXHIBIT 2 

SENATOR CLINTON: CHAMPION FOR NEW YORK

For eight years in the United States Senate, Hillary Rodham Clinton has been a 

champion for the people of New York, 

achieving results often in the face of tough 

challenges and tougher odds. That has been 

the hallmark of her tenure: Senator Clinton 

has fought to solve problems, working with 

Democrats and Republicans, forging new 

state and local partnerships, proposing creative and common-sense legislative solutions, and drawing national attention to 

challenges and opportunities in New York 

State. 

Senator Clinton has fought for New York 

when New York has needed a fighter most. 

These past eight years, New Yorkers have 


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faced challenges among the toughest in our 

state’s history and tragedy among the most 

devastating in our nation’s history. 

From the time of her election in 2000, and 

following her landslide reelection in 2006, 

Senator Clinton continued the work she’s 

pursued for more than 35 years in public 

service as an advocate for children and families, a champion for women’s rights and 

human rights, a leader on health care, and a 

voice on behalf of all those who have felt invisible. 

Standing up for New York after 9/11 

Creating Economic Opportunity 

Meeting Our Responsibility to Servicemembers and Veterans 

Driving Change in Health Care 

Standing Up for Women’s Health 

Advocating for Children and Families 

Leading the Way to a New Energy Future 

Addressing Infrastructure Challenges 

STANDING UP FOR NEW YORK AFTER 9/11

In the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001, Senator Clinton worked tirelessly on behalf of the victims and their families and New Yorkers who needed a strong 

voice in Washington. 

Just three days after the attacks, Senator 

Clinton and Senator Charles Schumer went 

to the Oval Office and secured a commitment 

from President Bush for $20 billion in federal 

aid for New York’s recovery. In the years 

that followed, they fought successfully to 

make sure that all of the funding promised 

to New York was delivered. 

Senator Clinton’s first visit to Ground 

Zero was on September 12, 2001, and she 

quickly recognized that there would be lasting health problems for first responders and 

others who rushed to provide assistance after 

the World Trade Center attacks as well as 

for workers, residents, students and others 

exposed to the toxic cloud of debris and 

chemicals around Ground Zero. She fought 

for the establishment of, and secured $335 

million in funding for, programs to provide 

health screening, monitoring and treatment 

for first responders, building and construction trades workers, volunteers, residents, 

office workers, and students suffering health 

effects and stood up again and again to stop 

the Bush Administration’s efforts to slash 

funding for this critical care. 

The attacks of September 11 also underscored serious gaps in our homeland security, and Senator Clinton worked with the 

families who were tragically affected by 9/11 

to demand the creation of the 9/11 Commission and then to implement its findings, including making sure our first responders 

have the resources and support they need to 

meet our crucial homeland security demands 

and pressing for threat-based homeland security funding. 

CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Senator Clinton worked across the aisle to 

address the economic downturn facing New 

York and harness the state’s talent and resources. To help struggling New York workers, she successfully extended unemployment 

insurance. She was a driving force behind 

raising the minimum wage and helped secure 

in law the first increase in a decade. 

Senator Clinton co-authored a law that expanded Renewal Zones with incentives for 

job creation across Upstate New York. And 

when efforts to push additional legislative 

change hit roadblocks in the Republicancontrolled Congress, Senator Clinton rolled 

up her sleeves and developed creative strategies to stimulate economic development, expand markets for New York businesses and 

producers and create jobs. 

In the Finger Lakes and the North Country, she partnered with eBay, local universities and local companies to organize public-private trading cooperatives which provide small businesses with technological support, microloans, and training programs to 

sell goods online and improve their sales. 

Senator Clinton saw that New York City’s 

restaurants were buying produce out of state 

at the same time that upstate farmers and 

producers were struggling, so she launched 

Farm-to-Fork, an initiative that has helped 

New York farmers and producers sell their 

products to New York’s restaurants, schools, 

colleges and universities. 

She brought Artspace to Buffalo, creating 

a thriving model for urban revitalization and 

economic development centered on cultural 

projects, and secured funds to renovate 

downtown cultural centers like Proctors 

Theater in Schenectady, the Stanley Theater 

in Utica and the Strand Theater in Plattsburgh. 

She helped secure the funds needed to expand broadband access to rural and underserved areas in the North Country and championed an agenda that would create new investments in broadband infrastructure 

throughout the State. 

Senator Clinton also saw the need to better showcase Upstate innovation to potential 

investors. She helped launch New Jobs for 

New York, a non-profit organization that 

brought together more than 2,600 entrepreneurs, investors and researchers across 

New York and shined a spotlight on over 200 

companies across New York, helping them to 

obtain the investment capital, strategic 

partnerships and joint ventures they need to 

grow their businesses and create jobs. 

She has also intervened to prevent jobs 

from leaving New York and was instrumental in several large employers maintaining their presence and their workforce in the 

state. 

Senator Clinton advocated for New York 

businesses and research institutions, securing more than $837 million in funding for 

cutting edge defense projects throughout the 

state and millions more for alternative energy, nanotechnology and other innovation. 

She championed creating a business environment that encourages investments in research and development and has been instrumental in the renewal of the R&D tax credit 

that supports thousands of high skill jobs in 

New York. 

MEETING OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO

SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS

As New York’s first Senator to serve on 

the Senate Armed Services Committee and 

as the only member of the Senate to serve on 

the U.S. Joint Forces Command’s Transformation Advisory Group, Senator Clinton 

served as a leading advocate for our men and 

women in uniform, military families, and 

veterans. 

When the Bush Administration targeted 

several New York military bases for closure, 

Senator Clinton fought back, working with 

base communities to prevent all of the proposed closures. Together, they ensured that 

Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Rome 

Laboratories and the Defense Finance and 

Accounting Service (DFAS) in Rome remained open and that the C–130 mission remained at Stratton Air National Guard Base. 

Her efforts actually turned a potential loss 

of thousands of jobs into a gain of hundreds 

of new jobs and helped to preserve and 

strengthen New York’s vital role in our national security. 

Senator Clinton was one of the first to recognize and address troubling gaps in health 

care and health monitoring for our 

servicemembers. Continuing work she began 

as First Lady, she secured in law health 

tracking for all servicemembers after it was 

revealed that there was no baseline health 

history to evaluate them, ensuring that all 

active duty personnel and reservists receive 

regular health screenings. 

Senator Clinton worked across the aisle to 

secure in law access to TRICARE military 

health care benefits for all drilling members 

of the guard and reserve. 

Senator Clinton also secured in law the 

first ever expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act to enable military family 

members to take up to six months of leave to 

care for their injured loved ones, often suffering from serious injuries affecting their 

bodies and minds that require care from family who work full time. 

Senator Clinton fought to make sure our 

government lives up to its responsibility to 

our veterans after they leave service. She 

successfully changed the law to streamline 

the VA disability benefits claim system to 

cut red tape and help wounded 

servicemembers receive the benefits they 

have earned. She also secured in law assistance for family members caring for loved 

ones suffering from traumatic brain injury 

(TBI), the signature wound of the wars in 

Iraq and Afghanistan, and established a Department of Defense Task Force to assess 

the mental health challenges facing wounded 

warriors, including post-traumatic stress 

disorder (PTSD). She also fought and succeeded in stopping the VA’s plan to close the 

Canandaigua VA hospital. 

DRIVING CHANGE IN HEALTH CARE

Senator Clinton distinguished herself in 

the Senate as a leading advocate for fixing 

our broken health care system and ensuring 

that all Americans have access to quality, 

affordable health care. 

She worked with members on both sides of 

the aisle and with health providers across 

New York to press for needed change to improve quality, reduce costs and expand access. 

Senator Clinton saw that all too often family caregivers are the ones who struggle, 

largely unnoticed and unaided by our health 

care system, to provide care to chronically 

ill loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other debilitating conditions. She became their 

champion, authoring and successfully passing a groundbreaking law to expand access 

to desperately needed respite care. 

She pushed to bring the delivery of health 

care into the 21st century, pressing for Congress to enact national standards for incorporating information technology into the 

practice of medicine to reduce medical errors, improve quality and reduce costs. 

She was a driving force in efforts to expand 

the Children’s Health Insurance Program, an 

initiative she helped launch as First Lady 

and which has provided access to health care 

for thousands of children who otherwise 

would be uninsured, including nearly 400,000 

children in New York. 

She used her unique public platform to 

spotlight the upside down incentives in our 

health care system, calling for an emphasis 

on wellness and prevention of chronic diseases that are driving up health care costs. 

And she was vigilant against Bush Administration efforts to roll back health care for 

New York’s most vulnerable, stopping a 

short-sighted attempt to cut community 

health clinics that are the primary source of 

health care for many low-income New Yorkers and brokering a compromise that prevented the loss of tens of millions of dollars 

in Ryan White CARE Act HIV/AIDS funding 

for New York. 

STANDING UP FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH

Senator Clinton served as a steadfast defender of women’s health and a leading voice 

against the Bush Administration’s efforts to 

put ideology before science. She successfully 

pressed the Bush Administration for a decision on Plan B emergency contraception, 

after more than three years of delay. She 

spoke out against administration efforts to 


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restrict access to contraception and family 

planning and raised the alarm against the 

administration’s last minute plan to undermine women’s health by putting in place new 

rules to allow any employee of a health provider to refuse to participate in any way in 

health care they find objectionable. 

ADVOCATING FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Senator Clinton has also continued her 

life-long advocacy on behalf of children and 

families. 

She saw significant barriers facing grandparents and other family members raising 

children who would otherwise end up in foster care. So she fought for and secured in law 

landmark legislation to keep families together and remove obstacles facing grandparents, uncles, aunts, and other family 

members trying to enroll children in school, 

sign them up for health care or access other 

needed services, information and referrals. 

Following the tragic death of Cameron 

Gulbransen of Long Island, Senator Clinton 

joined with families and safety advocates to 

pass into law legislation requiring that all 

new vehicles produced in the United States 

include safety features to protect children 

against preventable injuries and death from 

non-traffic accidents in and around cars. 

Senator Clinton partnered with former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelley to secure 

in law expanded access to newborn screening 

and increase groundbreaking research at the 

National Institutes of Health. 

And as chair of the Senate Superfund and 

Environmental Health subcommittee, Senator Clinton held hearings and fought to address environmental health hazards, like 

child lead poisoning and asthma, that disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities. 

When the Bush Administration stopped enforcing the ‘‘Pediatric Rule,’’ a Clinton Administration regulation requiring that drugs 

prescribed to children be tested and labeled 

for safety and effectiveness specifically in 

children, Senator Clinton forged a bipartisan 

coalition to restore the rule and secure it in 

law. And when President Bush nominated an 

opponent of basic safety regulations for children’s products to head the Consumer Products Safety Commission, Senator Clinton led 

an alliance of consumer groups and safety 

advocates to successfully block the nomination. 

EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

Senator Clinton pushed successfully for 

more funding for Head Start programs that 

benefit nearly 50,000 low-income New York 

families and pushed for the expansion of 

Early Head Start, bringing national attention to the importance of a comprehensive 

zero to five early childhood system. She also 

secured in law legislation to place additional 

teachers and principals in the schools where 

they are most needed. 

Senator Clinton fought for and succeeded 

in expanding access to affordable college 

loans and Pell Grants, including year-round 

Pell for non-traditional students, so that 

more students who want to attend college 

will have that opportunity, regardless of 

their background or circumstances. Senator 

Clinton also championed public service, securing the funding needed to maintain 

AmeriCorps and enable more Americans to 

serve our communities in exchange for assistance with college costs. 

LEADING THE WAY TO A NEW ENERGY FUTURE

From her first days in office, Senator Clinton made it a priority to protect New York’s 

natural resources and develop New York’s 

potential as a leader in alternative energy. 

She secured in law environmental protection 

for Long Island Sound and the Great Lakes. 

Senator Clinton also helped pass a new law 

to clean up polluted land known as 

brownfields, and worked to bring together 

developers, environmentalists, and local 

leaders from across New York to redevelop 

blighted properties. 

Senator Clinton was an early advocate for 

harnessing alternative energy as an engine 

of economic growth, working with public and 

private partners across New York to pioneer 

new green strategies. She secured in law 

major federal funding for New York to retrofit trucks, school buses and other heavy 

vehicles with new clean diesel technologies 

developed in Corning and cleaner engines 

manufactured in Jamestown. In Rochester, 

Senator Clinton worked with local leaders to 

develop the first in the nation urban ‘‘green 

print,’’ a plan for environmentally sustainable growth and alternative energy development. She also secured passage of laws to 

create ‘‘green jobs’’ training programs, and 

to push the federal government to install 

green building technologies. 

ADDRESSING INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES

As a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Clinton in 

2005 helped craft major transportation legislation reauthorized every five years that sets 

the nation’s investment in our highways and 

mass transit. In her role as a key negotiator, 

Senator Clinton secured over $16.5 billion in 

transportation funding for New York, a substantial increase of approximately $3 billion 

over the previous bill. She also succeeded in 

including in the law new pollution controls 

for construction equipment and creation of a 

commission to chart the nation’s transportation future. 

In the wake of the tragic Minnesota bridge 

collapse in 2007, which dramatically underscored the urgency of our infrastructure 

needs, Senator Clinton helped secure in law 

legislation to address the deteriorating condition of our nation’s roads, bridges, drinking water systems, dams and other public 

works. She also successfully pressed for increased funding for Amtrak and high speed 

rail and to reduce flight delays and ease congestion in New York’s crowded airspace. 

For nearly four decades, Hillary Rodham 

Clinton has dedicated herself to public service, as an attorney twice voted one of the 

most influential in America, a First Lady of 

Arkansas who helped transform the state’s 

health care and education systems, a First 

Lady of the United States who fought for 

families at home and women’s rights around 

the world, a renowned expert and advocate 

for quality affordable health care for all 

Americans, and as a twice-elected United 

States Senator who was a tireless champion 

for the people of New York and a voice for 

the voiceless everywhere. This document is a 

snapshot of Senator Clinton’s efforts and accomplishments for New York in the Senate, 

but she has also worked across the Empire 

State to help communities tackle local challenges and capitalize on their unique opportunities. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New York. 

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I 

thank the Chair for the opportunity to 

speak today about the wonderful 

record of our esteemed colleague, Senator HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON. 

For 8 years, Senator CLINTON and I 

have served jointly as New York Senators, and I have seen, better than anyone, her unwavering commitment to 

her constituents and her country. 

Through all this time, HILLARY has 

demonstrated the equanimity, the prudence, and the fortitude that have 

made her an exceptional leader and a 

great public servant. 

HILLARY’s career has been defined by 

her unflagging desire to improve the 

lives of the least fortunate among us. 

Even before finishing school, she was 

working to protect children at the 

Children’s Defense Fund and the Carnegie Defense Fund on Children. Turning down a promising career in Washington, HILLARY moved to Arkansas 

and directed the legal aid clinic at the 

University of Arkansas Law School. 

During her tenure as First Lady, HILLARY made it her priority to fight for 

justice around the world, advocating 

for women’s rights and democracy 

worldwide. She made huge gains in protecting women and families. She 

helped create the Office of Violence 

Against Women at the Justice Department and was instrumental in the passage of the Foster Care Independence 

Act and the Adoption and Safe Families Act. 

After serving her country 8 years as 

First Lady, when most people would retire, HILLARY stepped up and has served 

as a vital and powerful advocate on behalf of the people of New York. Going 

from the White House to White Plains, 

HILLARY has continued to show as 

much acumen in her dealings with national and global leaders as she shows 

empathy and interest in the needs of 

private individuals around New York. 

We are the only Federal position 

where two people serve the exact same 

job, so you get to know your colleague 

almost better than anyone else. I have 

seen firsthand HILLARY’s dedication 

and tenacity. Let me tell you all, tell 

the people of New York, HILLARY looks 

great from far away, but the closer you 

get, the better she looks. 

I just want to say this, HILLARY: It is 

a day, as you said so well, of looking 

back wistfully but to the future with 

anticipation. That is how I feel. I look 

back wistfully at the many experiences 

we shared, working together, getting 

to know one another, and learning to 

work and respect and love one another. 

It has been an amazing part of my experience. I am so thankful for the 8 

years we worked together for the people of New York and America. I know 

our friendship, as we have said to one 

another, will continue no matter what 

corner of the globe you are in. And 

maybe I will try to get some international presence on those Sunday 

press conferences so you can see them 

over there. They are mainly aimed at 

local New York stuff. 

Let me just say, as HILLARY said, we 

traveled the State together. We taught 

each other about agriculture and 

worked side by side on those horrible 

days after 9/11. We have worked for the 

benefit of aging nuclear weapons and 

helping the onion farmers in the Hudson Valley. What a great experience it 

has been. 

Of course, as my colleagues know, for 

all the time she focused and spent on 

the people of New York—and it was an 

enormous and successful effort—she 

also at the same time has been one of 

our most active and engaged colleagues 


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in the Senate, working on issues of national policy and international importance, from national security to early 

childhood education. In all of her many 

roles as a public servant, HILLARY has 

always shown the insight to see the 

heart of a problem. She has had the 

courage to tackle it and the talent to 

solve it. That is the trademark of HILLARY CLINTON—insight, courage, talent, all applied for the betterment of 

the people of New York, the people of 

America, and now the people of the 

world. No matter how abstract the 

problem, no matter how esoteric the 

question, HILLARY has never once forgotten the people whose lives and happiness depend on her work. 

So HILLARY, yes, it is a bittersweet 

day, but I am so joyful about the excitement—it is palpable—that you 

exude going on to this new challenge. I 

am also—and I know every one of the 

people of New York is as well—grateful 

for the wonderful job you have done 

serving them and us. It has been a 

great ride. I am so grateful, again, for 

the opportunity to work alongside of 

you. 

I yield the floor. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Maryland. 

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I join 

with the Senator from New York, Mr. 

SCHUMER, in giving a tribute to our 

dear friend, Senator HILLARY RODHAM

CLINTON. How special it is today that, 

as she gave her farewell speech, we are 

literally within minutes on the brink 

of a vote to proceed to the Lilly 

Ledbetter bill. Senator CLINTON has 

been a champion for women, a champion for the opportunity of women, and 

was the lead on introducing the Lilly 

Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. How terrific it 

is that as she gives her last speech on 

the Senate floor, we will be voting on 

something for which she has been a 

champion. 

She has been a champion for women 

both here and around the country, for 

their economic security, their health 

security, and also for women around 

the world, both in her work as First 

Lady and here in the Senate, whether 

it was to make sure to work with our 

current administration to have access 

to education for Afghan girls, but also 

as First Lady with the women of the 

world to make sure, through her 

project, Vital Voices, women had those 

voices. 

She has been a champion all of her 

career. Whether it was at the Legal Defense Fund, as First Lady, or now as a 

Senator of the United States, she has 

always made sure she has stood up for 

those who had no voice, and she has 

used her voice to speak for them. That 

is what we know she will continue to 

do. 

But I think what we also admire 

about Senator CLINTON is, she is not 

only at home with world leaders with 

whom she will certainly work in her 

new job but with community leaders as 

well. 

She spoke eloquently about her challenge and Senator SCHUMER’s challenge 

on that despicable and horrible day of 

9/11. But I also want to talk just very 

quickly about September 10 because 

while we know Senator CLINTON is a 

woman of great integrity, keen intellect, and is a can-do person, many do 

not realize the wonderful bipartisanship in which she has tried to engage in 

this body. So let me tell you as one of 

the women of the Senate where we 

were on September 10. 

The night before that terrible day, 

we were at Senator CLINTON’s house, 

affectionately calling her HILLARY. All 

of the women, on a bipartisan basis, 

were there because, guess what we were 

doing, Mr. President. We were throwing 

Senator KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON a shower. Senator KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON had 

just adopted a child. We were so enthusiastic, and we, the women of the Senate, do what women do all over America, we threw Senator KAY a shower, 

and we gathered at HILLARY’s house. 

We had great food, a couple of drinks 

that made us feel even better. We told 

stories. We teased KAY. I volunteered 

to be Aunt BARB, and she knew I had 

many talents, but baby-sitting would 

not be one. We had such a wonderful 

time. But that was not the only time, 

as she has worked with all of us. But it 

shows the warmth and the way she 

goes about that. 

We will always cherish where we 

were that night because it was special 

because the next day was so stunning. 

I could give many examples about it, 

but we know she has been a tenacious 

advocate for the people of New York, a 

leader on crucial issues, a respected 

colleague, and a dear friend. We are 

going to miss her, but we know as the 

Secretary of State she will be a new 

voice of America. And America does 

need a new voice. 

Senator CLINTON, we know you are 

going to get us back on track. You are 

going to work with President Obama to 

restore our national honor, to repair 

those friendships around the world 

which we desperately need. And as you 

have been in so many things, we know 

you will be unflinching on human 

rights and unflagging in strengthening 

America’s alliances abroad. We will 

work together on those issues, and we 

know you will be a great Secretary of 

State. You have been a spectacular 

Senator, and it is because you are just 

simply a wonderful human being. 

Mr. President, I yield the floor. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Republican leader is recognized. 

Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I 

say to my good friend from New York, 

through the Chair, I believe the new 

President could not have made a better 

selection for Secretary of State. Senator CLINTON has had a unique career 

in the Senate, actually having only 

been here 8 years, but nevertheless a 

candidate for President of the United 

States who came very close. She had 

fabulous public service before that as 

First Lady for 8 years. She has clearly 

made a difference throughout her life, 

and I expect she will do the same 

again. 

I told her on the floor privately, I am 

particularly enthusiastic about her selection as Secretary of State because I 

think she will be the first Secretary of 

State in the history of the United 

States who has actually been to Hazard 

and Pikeville, KY. That should give her 

an extra edge in this new responsibility 

which she is about to assume. 

I say to the Senator from New York, 

we will be anxious to work with her on 

some of the issues for which we shared 

a passion during her years as Secretary 

of State. I know she will do an outstanding job. She has been a credit to 

the Senate and will be one of the Nation’s outstanding Secretaries of State. 

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, as I think 

about Senator CLINTON’s leaving the 

Senate to become Secretary of State, I 

am reminded of the words of the great 

English bard William Shakespeare, 

who wrote that ‘‘parting is such sweet 

sorrow.’’ 

Senator CLINTON’s departure from 

this chamber is a time for joy as well 

as sorrow. HILLARY CLINTON has been 

an effective, hard-working Senator. 

When Senator CLINTON first came to 

the Senate in 2001, she asked my advice. Although Mrs. CLINTON had been 

an accomplished and graceful First 

Lady, she told me that she wanted to 

excel at working for the State of New 

York. 

I advised her to be a work horse 

about her new role as a Senator and a 

work horse she has been, and the people of her State have benefitted. 

Following the terrorists attacks of 

September 11, 2001, she and I worked 

with Senator SCHUMER to secure financial aid for New York City to help the 

city to recover from that terrible tragedy. For that, she has since referred to 

me as the ‘‘third Senator from New 

York,’’ and I am very proud of that designation. 

Senator CLINTON and I have worked 

together on legislation for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, 

served on the Budget Committee together, and worked on several important appropriations issues. 

Senator CLINTON has been an active 

and aggressive Senator, always mindful 

of the traditions of this great Chamber. 

She has won the respect and admiration of everyone. 

In her 2008 Presidential bid, HILLARY

CLINTON broke down barriers for 

women all across this country, and inspired many of them to pursue their 

own hopes and dreams of a future in 

politics. 

I will miss Senator CLINTON. This 

Chamber has been graced by her eloquence, intelligence, and her natural 

leadership. 

Mrs. Clinton’s 8 years as our country’s First Lady, and her 8 years in the 

U.S. Senate, where she served on five 

different Senate committees, including 

the Senate Armed Services Committee, 

certainly qualify her for the high honor 

of being Secretary of State. She will 


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S418 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 15, 2009 

shine in that office because of her 

sound judgement, keen intellect, sharp 

wit, infectious charm, and powerful 

commitment to making this world a 

better place. 

I congratulate Senator CLINTON on 

her new position and wish her the best 

of luck and success. These are troubled 

times and she will have a most difficult 

job in the years ahead. Speaking at her 

graduation at Wellesley College, HILLARY CLINTON declared that, ‘‘the challenge now is to practice politics as the 

art of making what appears to be impossible, possible.’’ 

I say go to it Secretary of State-designate CLINTON. If anyone can make 

‘‘what appears to be impossible, possible,’’ Secretary of State HILLARY

RODHAM CLINTON can and will. 

Mr. REID. Mr. President. I have 

known HILLARY CLINTON for many 

years, but for the past 8 years I have 

had the pleasure of working with her as 

a colleague in the U.S. Senate. 

People on all points of the political 

spectrum agree that Senator CLINTON

is one of the brightest, most highly accomplished U.S. Senators. 

Born in the hometown of our President-elect—Chicago—HILLARY CLINTON

graduated from Wellesley College, 

where she was the first student in the 

school’s history to deliver her own 

commencement address—not a Governor, a U.S. Senator, dean, or the university president. 

She then attended Yale Law School, 

where she met her future husband and 

our future President, Bill Clinton. 

After law school, she worked for the 

Children’s Defense Fund and served as 

a member of the Watergate inquiry 

staff in the House of Representatives. 

When the Clintons moved to Arkansas, HILLARY became a successful attorney in private practice and served 

as the State’s First Lady. 

We all know that she was a remarkable First Lady, leading the way on 

health care reform, helping create the 

State Children’s Health Insurance Program, as well as the Violence Against 

Women Act. 

We also know that she was not just a 

leader for domestic policy, but also became an admired and effective diplomat throughout the world, especially 

in her call for human rights. 

When Senator CLINTON came to the 

Senate 8 years ago, some expected her 

to have trouble fitting in. Those concerns quickly disappeared—she was a 

natural. She has proven in her time 

here to be exceptionally adept at the 

give-and-take of the legislative process. 

As a result, in just 8 years, she has 

left an indelible mark, especially 

through her seats on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, 

the Environment and Public Works 

Committee, the Special Committee on 

Aging and the Armed Services Committee. 

As with Senator BIDEN, the departure 

of Senator CLINTON is bittersweet. She 

brought a wealth of knowledge, skill 

and wisdom here, and she will be sorely 

missed. 

But after the last 8 years—with so 

much work ahead to repair our country’s once-lofty stature in the world, I 

can think of no one better suited for 

the challenges ahead than the Senator 

from New York, HILLARY CLINTON, our 

next Secretary of State. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Texas. 

f 

LILLY LEDBETTER ACT 

Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I, too, 

would like to congratulate Senator 

CLINTON on her nomination to be Secretary of State; and, alas, there is 

other work left to do in the Senate, as 

the Senator from Maryland alluded to, 

the Lilly Ledbetter Act, for which we 

will be voting on cloture in a minute. 

So I have a few words I would like to 

add specifically on that topic. 

We will be voting for the so-called 

Lilly Ledbetter Act, and I think it is 

important to reflect a little bit on 

what that bill would actually do because, honestly, I think it has been 

characterized as a bill that will protect 

women’s rights, which as a father of 

two daughters I am all in favor of not 

just cracking the glass ceiling but 

breaking it altogether. 

But, actually, this bill, has a much 

broader impact and perhaps unintended 

by those who believe it is only about 

protecting women’s rights. Indeed, 

what the Lilly Ledbetter Act would do 

is eliminate the statute of limitations. 

That sounds like an arcane topic for 

lawyers that only lawyers could love, 

but basically what it would do in the 

case of Ms. Ledbetter—who had waited 

almost two decades before she raised 

her discrimination claim, long after 

the principal witness who could have 

testified in opposition to that claim 

had died—indeed, the purpose of the 

statute of limitations, as the lawyers 

in this body well know, is to be fair 

both to the plaintiff who brings the 

claim and to the defendant who has to 

defend against that claim, to make 

sure the documents and the memories 

and, indeed, the very existence of those 

who might be able to give testimony 

can be preserved so the jury can make 

a good decision. But, indeed, if you 

wait 20 years before you assert your 

rights, and after the principal witness 

who could testify in opposition to your 

claim has died, that is not exactly fair 

either. 

So, Senator HUTCHISON, my distinguished senior Senator from Texas, 

will have an alternative which I hope 

will be offered. I expect it will be offered as an alternative and substitute, 

which I believe is fair to both those 

who bring a claim of discrimination 

and those who have to defend against 

it. 

Indeed, I mentioned a moment ago I 

am the father of two daughters, now 27 

and 26. Many small businesses that are 

created in America today are headed 

up by women. Indeed, we need to make 

sure those small businesses have some 

certainty, have some rules they can 

rely on in terms of knowing when they 

are likely going to be sued. 

I think the Ledbetter Act could more 

appropriately be called a trial lawyer 

bailout because, of course, it is premised on the idea that one can slumber 

on their rights and never have to assert 

them and, indeed, fight an uneven fight 

because those who have to defend 

against them can no longer defend 

against them because the witnesses are 

no longer available. 

Indeed, at a time when this country 

is in a recession, I think it is appropriate to point out that no country has 

ever sued its way out of a recession. 

Yet the bill that comes to the floor on 

which we are called upon to vote—the 

very second bill that is presented to 

this Senate in the midst of this economic crisis—is one that would effectively, as I said, eliminate the statute 

of limitations in employment litigation so trial lawyers can bring multimillion-dollar lawsuits over decadesold workplace disputes. 

There are many good policy reasons, 

as I mentioned, why it is important to 

have those statutes of limitations, but 

it is particularly true in employment 

cases where a person’s subjective intent can be the decisive issue that the 

factfinder has to decide, where memories of the past can be colored by decades of subsequent workplace experience. 

Another important policy behind the 

statute of limitations is called repose. 

That is a fancy word that represents 

the idea that people should be allowed 

to move on with their lives without the 

constant fear of being sued for something that happened 20 years previously. 

Again, during times of economic uncertainty, the Ledbetter bill would create not more certainty but more uncertainty. As I suggested earlier, small 

businesses would suddenly be exposed 

to new liability for acts that may have 

occurred years or decades ago, even if 

those acts occurred under a previous 

ownership before the current management was even in place. 

There will be no way for small businesses and large businesses alike to 

quantify this risk because there is no 

way to know which of the employees 

may have had a secret grievance they 

have been harboring for many years 

just waiting for the opportunity to 

present the claim at a time when it 

cannot be adequately defended. 

Worst yet, this bill would actually 

encourage plaintiffs and their lawyers 

to strategically lie in wait, delaying 

their employment lawsuits for years 

while damages accumulate. 

Now, this does not help anybody except for perhaps the lawyers and the 

clients who can take advantage of this 

one-sided equation. Why sue promptly 

and limit your damages to a few 

months of back wages when you can 

wait 5 years and sue for 5 years of back 

wages? This can be especially rewarding to a plaintiff who strategically sues 


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