Senate MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2016
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 114 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 162 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2016 No. 27 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2016, at 2 p.m. Senate MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2016 The Senate met at 3 p.m. and was READING OF WASHINGTON’S been a uniform sacrifice of inclination called to order by the President pro FAREWELL ADDRESS to the opinion of duty and to a def- tempore (Mr. HATCH). The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant erence for what appeared to be your de- f to the order of the Senate of January sire. I constantly hoped that it would have been much earlier in my power, PRAYER 24, 1901, the Senator from Delaware, Mr. COONS, will now read Washington’s consistently with motives which I was The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- Farewell Address. not at liberty to disregard, to return to fered the following prayer: that retirement from which I had been Let us pray. Mr. COONS, at the rostrum, read the Farewell Address, as follows: reluctantly drawn. The strength of my Our Father in Heaven, Your counsel inclination to do this, previous to the stands firm and sure. Fashion the To the people of the United States last election, had even led to the prepa- hearts of our lawmakers so that they FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS: The ration of an address to declare it to desire to do Your will. Today, as we re- period for a new election of a citizen to you; but mature reflection on the then member George Washington’s Farewell administer the executive government perplexed and critical posture of our Address, may we not forget that our of the United States being not far dis- affairs with foreign nations, and the Nation is not strong merely because of tant, and the time actually arrived unanimous advice of persons entitled military might, but that integrity and when your thoughts must be employed to my confidence, impelled me to aban- righteousness are also critical to na- in designating the person who is to be don the idea. tional security. Lord, keep our Sen- clothed with that important trust, it I rejoice that the state of your con- ators from forgetting Your promise to appears to me proper, especially as it cerns, external as well as internal, no surround the righteous with the shield may conduce to a more distinct expres- longer renders the pursuit of inclina- of Your Divine favor. Help us all to sion of the public voice, that I should tion incompatible with the sentiment continue to find hope in Your loving now apprise you of the resolution I of duty or propriety and am persuaded, kindness, for we trust in Your Holy have formed, to decline being consid- whatever partiality may be retained Name. May we take refuge in the un- ered among the number of those out of for my services, that in the present cir- folding of Your loving providence. whom a choice is to be made. cumstances of our country you will not And, Lord, thank You for the life and I beg you at the same time to do me disapprove my determination to retire. integrity of Justice Antonin Scalia. the justice to be assured that this reso- The impressions with which I first We pray in Your sacred Name. Amen. lution has not been taken without a undertook the arduous trust were ex- f strict regard to all the considerations plained on the proper occasion. In the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE appertaining to the relation which discharge of this trust, I will only say binds a dutiful citizen to his country— that I have, with good intentions, con- The President pro tempore led the and that, in withdrawing the tender of tributed towards the organization and Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: service which silence in my situation administration of the government the I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the might imply, I am influenced by no United States of America, and to the Repub- best exertions of which a very fallible lic for which it stands, one nation under God, diminution of zeal for your future in- judgment was capable. Not unconscious indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. terest, no deficiency of grateful respect in the outset of the inferiority of my f for your past kindness, but am sup- qualifications, experience in my own ported by a full conviction that the eyes, perhaps still more in the eyes of RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME step is compatible with both. others, has strengthened the motives The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. The acceptance of, and continuance to diffidence of myself, and every day ERNST). Under the previous order, the hitherto in, the office to which your the increasing weight of years admon- leadership time is reserved. suffrages have twice called me have ishes me more and more that the shade ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S889 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Feb 22, 2016 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A22FE6.000 S22FEPT1 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with SENATE S890 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 22, 2016 of retirement is as necessary to me as Interwoven as is the love of liberty and its commerce expand. Turning it will be welcome. Satisfied that if with every ligament of your hearts, no partly into its own channels the sea- any circumstances have given peculiar recommendation of mine is necessary men of the North, it finds its particular value to my services, they were tem- to fortify or confirm the attachment. navigation invigorated; and while it porary, I have the consolation to be- The unity of government which con- contributes, in different ways, to nour- lieve that, while choice and prudence stitutes you one people is also now ish and increase the general mass of invite me to quit the political scene, dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a the national navigation, it looks for- patriotism does not forbid it. main pillar in the edifice of your real ward to the protection of a maritime In looking forward to the moment independence, the support of your tran- strength to which itself is unequally which is intended to terminate the ca- quility at home, your peace abroad, of adapted. The East, in a like intercourse reer of my public life, my feelings do your safety, of your prosperity, of that with the West, already finds, and in the not permit me to suspend the deep ac- very liberty which you so highly prize. progressive improvement of interior knowledgment of that debt of gratitude But as it is easy to foresee that, from communications by land and water will which I owe to my beloved country for different causes and from different more and more find a valuable vent for the many honors it has conferred upon quarters, much pains will be taken, the commodities which it brings from me, still more for the steadfast con- many artifices employed, to weaken in abroad or manufactures at home. The fidence with which it has supported me your minds the conviction of this West derives from the East supplies and for the opportunities I have thence truth; as this is the point in your polit- requisite to its growth and comfort— enjoyed of manifesting my inviolable ical fortress against which the bat- and what is perhaps of still greater attachment by services faithful and teries of internal and external enemies consequence, it must of necessity owe persevering, though in usefulness un- will be most constantly and actively the secure enjoyment of indispensable equal to my zeal. If benefits have re- (though often covertly and insidiously) outlets for its own productions to the sulted to our country from these serv- directed, it is of infinite moment that weight, influence, and the future mari- ices, let it always be remembered to you should properly estimate the im- time strength of the Atlantic side of your praise and as an instructive exam- mense value of your national Union to the Union, directed by an indissoluble ple in our annals that, under cir- your collective and individual happi- community of interest as one nation. cumstances in which the passions agi- ness; that you should cherish a cordial, Any other tenure by which the West tated in every direction were liable to habitual, and immovable attachment can hold this essential advantage, mislead, amidst appearances some- to it; accustoming yourselves to think whether derived from its own separate times dubious, vicissitudes of fortune and speak of it as of the palladium of strength or from an apostate and un- often discouraging, in situations in your political safety and prosperity; natural connection with any foreign which not unfrequently want of success watching for its preservation with jeal- power, must be intrinsically precar- has countenanced the spirit of criti- ous anxiety; discountenancing what- ious. cism, the constancy of your support ever may suggest even a suspicion that While then every part of our country was the essential prop of the efforts it can in any event be abandoned; and thus feels an immediate and particular and a guarantee of the plans by which indignantly frowning upon the first interest in union, all the parts com- they were effected. Profoundly pene- dawning of every attempt to alienate bined cannot fail to find in the united trated with this idea, I shall carry it any portion of our country from the mass of means and efforts greater with me to my grave as a strong incite- rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties strength, greater resource, proportion- ment to unceasing vows that Heaven which now link together the various ably greater security from external may continue to you the choicest to- parts.