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Home , Everett Dirksen, Lamar Alexander, Mark Kelly, Tim Kaine

December 2, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7145 From daily conversations to com- About 6 years ago, it fell to LAMAR to my friend and the mittee business, to the most dramatic eulogize his friend and mentor, Howard touching moment between the leader moments on the floor, whether in the Baker. Here on the floor, he quoted an- and the senior Senator from , minority or the majority, LAMAR has other Senator who had said that when which is moving to all of us. taken pains to treat his colleagues ex- it came to the Senate, there was How- Now, Senator ALEXANDER and I have actly as he would hope to be treated in ard Baker, and then there was the rest not always agreed, but what an amaz- their shoes. He has worked to build of us. ing and capable legislator and true consensus in a consensus-based body. Well, my friend, for 18 years, there statesman he has been. He has been in He has cherished and defended the Sen- has been LAMAR ALEXANDER, and there the middle of things for much of his 18 ate the Framers designed. has been the rest of us. So I am sorry years in the Senate. That is because he It is no exaggeration to say LAMAR that in a few more weeks, it will be is not some ideologue who stood alone ALEXANDER is one of the most brilliant just the rest of us left. But you are in his corner. It is because he is some- people I have met in my life. His mind leaving this body and those of us in it one who has been always willing and is a steel trap. I understand he likes to and the Nation it exists to serve insistent on reaching across the aisle, keep his staff experts locked around a stronger and better because you were on hearing another Senator’s perspec- conference table for long sessions, here. tive, and on searching for common turning a complex issue over and over f ground, however narrow it may be. He until they have arrived at the best searches to do the right thing. path forward for the country and the NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- I remember when we did the immi- most precise, concise way to commu- TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 gration bill. There was a lot of pressure nicate it. He has a mastery of policy, Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I on Senator ALEXANDER to vote against mastery of the English language, and I ask unanimous consent that the Chair it, and I watched him wrestle with it can’t forget to mention my friend’s lay before the Senate the House mes- and churn and churn, and I sort of good cheer. sage accompanying H.R. 6395. knew in my heart he would do the LAMAR really does live by the motto The Presiding Officer laid before the right thing, in my judgment, and vote he inherited from his good friend and Senate the following message from the for that bill, as he did, at some real po- fellow Tennesseean, the late author House of Representatives: litical consequence to himself. And Alex Haley: ‘‘Find the good and praise Resolved, That the bill from the House of that is who he was and is—a man of it.’’ Representatives (H.R. 6395) entitled ‘‘An Act principle. I myself have leaned on LAMAR’s wis- to authorize appropriations for fiscal year We often would talk in the Senate dom for many years, but I think I have 2021 for military activities of the Depart- gym almost every morning for a pro- learned just as much from his opti- ment of Defense, for military construction, longed period of time—I don’t go to the mism, his can-do spirit, and his ability and for defense activities of the Department Senate gym post-COVID—and more to look on the bright side and then dis- of Energy, to prescribe military personnel often than not, we found each other on cern how some more hard work can strengths for such fiscal year, and for other opposite sides of the Senate gym. We purposes.’’, do pass with an amendment. make it brighter still. So I am going to helped open up the amendment process miss our regular dinners, even with our COMPOUND MOTION on childcare legislation. Together, we weeknight scheduling and official one- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I led the Rules Committee for a number drink limit. Like I said, we weren’t ex- ask consent that the Senate insist on of years, and we come from very dif- actly party animals in our twenties ei- its amendment, agree to the request of ferent backgrounds. But I will never ther. the House for conference, and appoint forget the weekend that Iris and I But here is something else that never the following conferees on the part of spent with Honey and LAMAR at Black- changes: How reassuring it is to be the Senate, the list of whom is at the berry Farms, and it was a beautiful weighing a thorny question and see desk. weekend for us that we will always, al- LAMAR ALEXANDER seated across the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there ways cherish and remember. table. You know, the Senate can be all- objection? Given the opportunity to put a stamp consuming. It is not only our col- Without objection, it is so ordered. on the Presidential inauguration, leagues but their spouses and loved APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES LAMAR and I said whoever is in the ma- ones who all get folded into the ex- The following conferees were ap- jority—we didn’t know—we would give tended family around here. So I am ex- pointed: each other time to speak, and it served tremely grateful that it turned out James M. Inhofe, of Oklahoma, Chairman; us both well. This is the kind of person that MITCH MCCONNELL was not the Roger F. Wicker, of Mississippi; , he has been: someone who is willing to most important young person LAMAR of Nebraska; , of Arkansas; Mike reach out; someone who is willing to ALEXANDER met during his stint in Rounds, of South Dakota; , of see the other side; and someone, above Iowa; , of North Carolina; Dan Washington—not by a mile. all, in tumultuous and very difficult Honey Alexander is a remarkable Sullivan, of Alaska; David Perdue, of Geor- gia; , of North Dakota; John times for all of us, who is a man of woman. She is a force of nature and in- Thune, of South Dakota; , of Flor- principle and conscience. credible partner for LAMAR. She raised ida; , of Tennessee; Josh Senator ALEXANDER will leave this a young family in the Governor’s man- Hawley, of Missouri; Jack Reed, of Rhode Is- Chamber with a legacy that every Sen- sion for 8 years. She charmed and im- land; , of New Hampshire; ator would be proud of. I wish him and pressed more voters during LAMAR’s Kirsten E. Gillibrand, of New York; Richard his family the very best. Blumenthal, of Connecticut; Mazie K. various campaigns than LAMAR him- f self, and she has devoted her own ca- Hirono, of Hawaii; , of ; reer to public health and philanthropy. Angus S. King, Jr., of Maine; Martin Hein- TRIBUTE TO Their shared love and mutual respect rich, of New Mexico; , of Mr. SCHUMER. Now a few other re- Massachusetts; Gary C. Peters, of ; marks. We have a going and we have a inspire everyone. Honey is just about III, of West Virginia; Tammy the finest ‘‘in-law’’ the U.S. Senate Duckworth, of ; , of Ala- coming, and our coming is of a new could have ever had, so Elaine and I are bama. Senator who will be installed today, grateful to call her our friend as well. f and that is CAPT Mark Kelly, who will So as much as I am dreading life in be sworn in as the next Senator from the Senate without my brilliant friend, RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY . even I can’t begrudge him the silver LEADER It may not be the role he expected for lining. The most distinguished public The PRESIDING OFFICER. The himself earlier in his life as a U.S. servant has more than earned the right Democratic leader is recognized. Navy captain and then an astronaut to spend more days fly-fishing or walk- f aboard the International Space Sta- ing trails in the Smokies, more morn- tion. As Mark likes to say, his wife ings waking up on Blackberry Farm, TRIBUTE TO LAMAR ALEXANDER Gabby was already the member of the and a much larger share of his time Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, first, family in Congress. But tragedy upend- with Honey and their family. let me add my words of fond farewell to ed both their lives and changed so

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:41 Dec 02, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02DE6.003 S02DEPT1 rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with SENATE S7146 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 2, 2020 many of their plans. Everyone con- write, and I will say what I want to fices. That bill ran off the track every tinues to be inspired by Gabby’s recov- say. 2 or 3 days. On one of those days, I ery, by Mark’s devotion, and by the I learned a couple of other things called the Vice President, . I courage it took for their family to re- about ‘‘saying what I want to say.’’ said: Joe, I am stuck in the White enter public life and public service. But One came from Alex Haley, the author House. I have the President’s personal- that is who Mark Kelly is—a devoted of ‘‘Roots,’’ who heard me speak once ized medicine in this. I have your Can- and honorable man—and we are de- and called me aside afterward and said: cer MoonShot. Senator MCCONNELL’s lighted to welcome him to the Senate May I make a suggestion? He said: If, regenerative medical proposal is in it. Democratic caucus and the wider Sen- when you begin a speech, you would Speaker Ryan has worked out a way to ate family. start by saying, ‘‘Instead of making a pay for it. But I can’t get the White So a fond adieu to my friend LAMAR, speech, let me tell you a story,’’ some- House to move. I feel like the butler and a fond welcome to my new friend one might actually listen to what you standing outside the Oval Office with a Mark Kelly. have to say. silver platter, and nobody will open the I have some more remarks on the And then, from David Broder, who door and take the order. topics, but I think I will defer those, gave this advice to Ruth Marcus when And Joe Biden said: If you want to with unanimous consent that I could she got her column for the Washington feel like the butler, try being Vice talk about those later, so we can get Post: one idea per column. President. Well, in the next few weeks, the Sen- right to Senator ALEXANDER’s remarks So here is a story about my one idea ate rules literally forced us to come to at the 10:30 scheduled time. for this speech. an agreement, and, in the end, we al- f In August of 1968, Senator Baker was in the Republican leader’s office, where most all voted for it. Senator MCCON- RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME Senator MCCONNELL is today. He over- NELL said then, as he said today, it was The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. heard this conversation. Senator Dirk- ‘‘the most important legislation’’ of CRUZ). Under the previous order, the sen was saying: that Congress. And, today, it is helping to create vaccines and treatments in leadership time is reserved. [No,] Mr. President, I cannot come down record time. Then, in 2018, there was a f and have a drink with you tonight. I did that last night and Louella is very unhappy with once-in-a-generation change in the CONCLUSION OF MORNING me. copyright laws to help songwriters be BUSINESS About 30 minutes later, there was a fairly paid; this year, the Great Amer- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning commotion out in the hall, and in the ican Outdoors Act. Everyone agrees business is closed. door of the Republican leader’s office that it is the most important outdoor and environmental bill in 50 years. f came two beagles, three Secret Service men, and the President of the United All of that took a long time, a lot of EXECUTIVE SESSION palavering, many amendments, many States. And Lyndon Johnson said to years. Too many years, civil rights ad- Everett Dirksen: ‘‘Everett, if you won’t vocates, students, patients, song- come down and have a drink with me, EXECUTIVE CALENDAR writers, and conservationists would I’m here to have one with you.’’ And say. But the point was that those bills The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under they disappeared into the back room. didn’t just pass. They passed by big the previous order, the Senate will pro- Later that same year, around a long margins. The country accepted them, ceed to executive session to resume table, in that same office, the Demo- and they are going to be there for a consideration of the following nomina- cratic President and the Republican long time, and most of them were en- tion, which the clerk will report. leader worked out the Civil Rights Act acted during divided government, when The senior assistant legislative clerk of 1968. It took 67 votes to break a fili- the Presidency and at least one body of read the nomination of Kyle buster, but when the bill passed and Congress was of different political par- Hauptman, of Maine, to be a Member of Johnson signed it, the Senators who the National Administra- ties. voted no went home and said: It is the That offers an opportunity to share tion Board for a term expiring August law. We have to accept it. 2, 2025. the responsibility or the blame for And it still is today, along with doing hard things, like controlling the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- many other civil rights laws. ator from Tennessee. Federal debt. That is why our country So that is the one idea I have for this needs a U.S. Senate, to thoughtfully FAREWELL TO THE SENATE speech. Our country needs a U.S. Sen- and carefully and intentionally put Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ate to work across party lines to force country before partisanship and per- thank my friend Mitch, and I thank my broad agreements on hard issues, cre- sonal politics, to force broad agree- friend Chuck for their remarks. I will ating laws that most of us have voted ments on controversial issues that be- have more to say to them later. for and that a diverse country will ac- come laws that most of us will vote for On March 9, 1967, Senator Howard H. cept. and that a diverse country will accept. Baker, Jr., the newly elected Senator In the 1930s, we needed a Senate to Nearly 60 years ago, I had traveled from Tennessee, made his maiden ad- create Social Security; after World from my home in the mountains of dress, his first speech on the floor of War II, the United Nations; in the Tennessee to ’s the U.S. Senate. He spoke for too long. 1960s, ; in 1978, to ratify the Law School in Manhattan, on Wash- The Republican leader of the Senate, Panama Canal Treaty; in 2013, more re- ington Square. It was my first trip ever who was also Baker’s father-in-law, cently, to tie interest rates for student to New York City, and I had asked for Senator Everett M. Dirksen, walked loans to the market rates, saving stu- a roommate whose background was as over to congratulate him and then dent borrowers hundreds of billions of different from mine as possible. One of said, ‘‘Howard, occasionally, you might dollars in the last several years; in those roommates turned out to be a enjoy the luxury of an unexpressed 2015, to fix No Child Left Behind. tall skinny guy from . When thought,’’ which is good advice for a That bill had 100 alligators in the I would go to his home in New Jersey farewell address as well. swamp. said, and spend the night—his mother was a As Senator Baker’s legislative assist- when we finished, that it was the larg- seamstress and his dad was a con- ant, I was also his speech writer for est evolution of power from Wash- tractor; they were Italian immi- that maiden address, or at least I ington to the States in 25 years. When grants—his mother would become so thought I was. He had developed a bad President Obama signed it, he said it concerned about my frayed collar on habit of not saying what I wrote for his was ‘‘a Christmas miracle’’ because, in my one white dress shirt that she speech. So I asked to see him, and I the end, 85 Senators voted for it. In would turn it while I slept. said: Do we have a problem with our re- 2016, as Senator MCCONNELL men- Years later, that roommate, Paul lationship? tioned, there was the 21st Century Tagliabue, invited me to go to the He said: No, we have a perfect rela- Cures Act, moving medical miracles Italian American Dinner here in Wash- tionship. You write what you want to faster to patients and into doctors’ of- ington. They were bursting with pride

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