Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2009 No. 6 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, at 12:30 p.m. Senate MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2009 The Senate met at 2 p.m. and was The legislative clerk read the fol- was represented in the Senate of the called to order by the Honorable JIM lowing letter: United States by a terrific man and a WEBB, a Senator from the Common- U.S. SENATE, great legislator, Wendell Ford. wealth of Virginia. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Senator Ford was known by all as a Washington, DC, January 12, 2009. moderate, deeply respected by both PRAYER To the Senate: sides of the aisle for putting progress The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, ahead of politics. Senator Ford, some of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby fered the following prayer: appoint the Honorable JIM WEBB, a Senator said, was not flashy. He did not seek Let us pray. from the Commonwealth of Virginia, to per- the limelight. He was quietly effective Almighty God, from whom, through form the duties of the Chair. and calmly deliberative. whom, and to whom all things exist, ROBERT C. BYRD, In 1991, Senator Ford was elected by shower Your blessings upon our Sen- President pro tempore. his colleagues to serve as Democratic ators. Give them special wisdom, Mr. WEBB thereupon assumed the whip, the No. 2 position in the caucus. strength, and clarity to meet today’s chair as Acting President pro tempore. For 8 years, he struck the perfect bal- daunting challenges. Enable them to f ance as an advocate for Kentuckians hear with objectivity and respond with and also a national Democratic leader. integrity as they comprehend their in- RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER When Senator Ford retired from the dividual and collective responsibility. Senate in 1998, I had the honor of re- Keep them uncluttered by selfish inter- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- placing him as the Democratic whip. ests and parochial concerns as they pore. The majority leader is recog- Wendell Ford is not only a genuine strive to serve You and country. Lord, nized. Kentucky legend, he is a wonderful make them exemplary models of the f man, and I continue to enjoy his visits highest and finest in faithful, loyal, SCHEDULE back to Washington, DC. and dedicated leadership. Mr. REID. Mr. President, following Until this week, Senator Ford was We pray in the name of Him who is the longest serving Senator in the his- Lord of history. Amen. leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business for up to 1 hour, tory of the State of Kentucky. We have f with the time designated for tributes had some outstanding Senators from PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE to the Republican leader. the State of Kentucky. Now that honor belongs to my friend, The Honorable JIM WEBB led the Following morning business, the Sen- the Republican leader, MITCH MCCON- Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: ate will resume consideration of the NELL. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the motion to proceed to S. 22. This is United States of America, and to the Repub- postcloture. A rollcall vote will not be Senator MCCONNELL came to the Sen- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, necessary to adopt the motion to pro- ate 2 years after I came to Congress. In indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. ceed. I appreciate Dr. COBURN allowing 1984, he was elected to the Senate in a f us to do that. There will be no votes historic election still famous for its ad- during today’s session of the Senate. vertising—the most memorable of the APPOINTMENT OF ACTING f spots featuring some real bloodhounds, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE always in search of the opponent of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The TRIBUTE TO SENATOR MITCH MITCH MCCONNELL, the incumbent Sen- clerk will please read a communication MCCONNELL ator from Kentucky. Today, if you go to the Senate from the President pro Mr. REID. Mr. President, for more to a seminar on politics, almost always tempore (Mr. BYRD). than 25 years, the State of Kentucky they will show that ad as being one of ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S275 . VerDate Nov 24 2008 03:19 Jan 13, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A12JA6.000 S12JAPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with SENATE S276 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 12, 2009 the classic political ads in the history told the students an old story about whether you are leading the Repub- of our country. President Lincoln that has been told licans or leading the Democrats. Senator MCCONNELL won that first many times, but it is always important I wish to thank the majority leader race by a razor-thin margin, but he because he sets the standard for what for his very kind remarks not only quickly became a leader among his Re- politics is all about as far as getting about me but about my wife’s public publican colleagues in the Senate in along with people, as finely written service as Secretary of Labor, which general. about in some detail in the ‘‘Team of will be coming to an end at noon on Senator MCCONNELL chaired the Re- Rivals,’’ this best-selling book. What January 20, along with the current ad- publican Senatorial Campaign Com- President Lincoln said, when he was ministration. I also wish to express my mittee during the 1998 and 2000 election being criticized for being solicitous of gratitude to the majority leader for cycles, served as Republican whip fol- members of the Confederacy, was: ‘‘Am coming down to the University of Lou- lowing the 2002 midterm elections, and I not destroying my enemies by mak- isville back in 2007. The students en- now has served as the Republican lead- ing friends of them?’’ joyed it immensely. In fact, their last er since 2006. Well, Senator MCCONNELL and I both magazine about the program of the I became the Democratic whip in 1998 understand that through friendship and center has a very large picture of the and have been the Democratic leader mutual respect we can find common majority leader and a lengthy article since 2004. Our careers in the Senate ground to achieve common goals and to including a Q and A session he had have been very similar. During this pe- reach for the common good of the with the students. riod of time I was majority whip; he American people—common ground, So I am grateful for his friendship was. Back and forth, there was a lot of common goals, common good. and look forward to working with him changing going on. So I have had a lot My wife Landra and I are pleased to in this Congress to advance the inter- of interaction with Senator MCCON- call him and his lovely wife—and that, ests of our Nation. NELL because of our respective jobs. certainly, is an understatement— A few months prior to this body’s It is well known that in our positions Elaine Chao our friends. Elaine, of convening last week, I was grateful to as minority and majority leaders—both course, is a national leader in her own be chosen by my colleagues to serve as whips and as the leaders—he and I right, having served for 8 years as our once again as the Senate Republican have had disagreements at various Nation’s Labor Secretary and also for- leader. times. Behind the scenes, though, it is merly as the Director of the Peace I would also like to thank the people a different situation. In places where Corps. I have such great respect for of Kentucky for giving me another the cameras do not record our discus- Peace Corpsmen and especially some- term in the Senate. I am certainly sions, in private conversations, as we one who is able to lead that very elite privileged Kentucky has sent me to the have to have, we are not only friends group. So I have only high regard for Senate five times now to speak for but determined partners in the legisla- MITCH and Elaine. They are a wonder- them and for their interests, and I in- tive process. We get a lot of work done ful couple and do so many good things tend to work harder than I ever have very quickly. for our country. over the next 6 years to justify their We just completed a meeting that So I congratulate the Republican confidence. took about 20 minutes, where I think leader, a Kentuckian whose love of his At such a time as this, after the peo- the record will ultimately reflect that State and its university athletic pro- ple of Kentucky have spoken, I cannot 20 minutes was truly well spent work- grams is well known and who now adds help but think of great Kentuckians in ing out some of the problems of this the distinction of being the longest the past who the people of my State Senate. serving Senator from the State of Ken- have selected to represent their inter- So I say, we are not only friends but tucky to his long and impressive ca- ests.