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Congressional Record—Senate S14 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 7, 1997 demand that we move forward. I do not Minnesota for his cooperation this Resolved, that the U.S. Senate congratu- think there is any doubt about it. afternoon. He feels very, very strongly lates the Honorable Robert C. Byrd, the sen- I urge my friend from Minnesota to about this issue and has confirmed that ior Senator from West Virginia, for his 50 let the Senate move forward on this years of public service to the people of West again in a colloquy over the last half Virginia and to the United States of Amer- day, this very important day, before we hour. I appreciate very much his re- ica. have to start calling people back here solve and intend to work with him very SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall and going into quorum calls and that carefully and closely to see that we ex- transmit a copy of this resolution to Senator kind of thing. This is, if I may say in peditiously consider this very impor- Robert C. Byrd. all due respect to my friend from Min- tant legislation. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without nesota, not appropriate on this day. I Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, did the objection, the resolution is agreed to. urge my friend from Minnesota allow Chair rule that the unanimous-consent The resolution (S. Res. 7) was agreed the Senate to move forward, again, re- request was approved? to. emphasizing my commitment to him The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I want to that we will move forward in a bipar- unanimous-consent request has been heartily endorse this resolution. I tisan fashion on this compelling issue. approved. thank the people of West Virginia for Mr. DASCHLE. I suggest the absence The concurrent resolution (S. Con. electing Senator ROBERT C. BYRD to of a quorum. Res. 3) was agreed to, as follows: these many offices, both in West Vir- Mr. WELLSTONE. Could I ask my ginia and here in the U.S. Senate. He is S. CON. RES. 3 colleague from Arizona—I do not think truly a monumental Senator in terms Resolved by the Senate (the House of Rep- it puts him on the spot—I have no resentatives concurring), That when the Sen- of importance and perspective in the question about his commitment or the ate recesses or adjourns on Thursday, Janu- history of the Senate. I sat here in my commitment of any number of other ary 9, 1997, pursuant to a motion made by the chair a month ago and listened to Sen- Senators. I find it puzzling that the Majority Leader or his designee, in accord- ator BYRD speak to the new Senators only thing I asked for today—because I ance with the provisions of this resolution, it about this institution, about its his- do have a real fear this is just going to stand recessed or adjourned until 12:00 noon tory and the importance of it and the get put off and we are not going to on Tuesday, January 21, 1997, or until such significance that it has played in the take action—the only thing I asked for, time on that day as may be specified by the role of this country. It was extremely Majority Leader or his designee in the mo- interesting and, also, in some respects, and maybe my colleague did not hear tion to recess or adjourn, or until 12:00 noon this, was a commitment from the lead- on the second day after Members are notified intimidating because he made us aware ership to do everything possible, I used to reassemble pursuant to section 2 of this of what an awesome responsibility we that word, and I started with 100 days, concurrent resolution; and that when the have here in the U.S. Senate. I enjoyed within 4 months, and get a bill on the House adjourns on Thursday, January 9, 1997, it thoroughly. floor. That is all I ask for. it stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Mon- I appreciate his friendship. I have I think it would be very important to day, January 20, 1997; that when the House found that he is one that you can go to get that kind of a leadership commit- adjourns on Monday, January 20, 1997, it for counsel and for advice. Even some- ment. stand adjourned until 12:00 noon on Tuesday, times when he does not agree with Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I had January 21, 1997; and that when the House what you are trying to do, he will give adjourns on Tuesday, January 21, 1997, it you a straight answer as to what you suggested the absence of quorum. I stand adjourned until 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, think we need to have the oppor- February 4, 1997, or until 12:00 noon on the could do under the rules. He has a tunity—— second day after Members are notified to re- lighter side you don’t always see here, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the assemble pursuant to section 2 of this con- but we know he has been seen playing majority leader yield? current resolution. a little fiddle and talking about Billy Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I join the SEC. 2. The Majority Leader of the Senate Byrd, his dog. He is quite a Senator. distinguished Democratic leader in and the Speaker of the House, acting jointly We appreciate so much his contribu- suggesting the absence of a quorum. after consultation with the Minority Leader tion to this institution. I am delighted The PRESIDING OFFICER. The of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the that we are doing this resolution recog- clerk will call the roll. House, shall notify the Members of the Sen- ate and the House, respectively, to reassem- nizing his 50 years of outstanding serv- The assistant legislative clerk called ble whenever, in their opinion, the public in- ice to West Virginia and the United the roll. terest shall warrant it. States. Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unan- Mr. DASCHLE addressed the Chair. imous consent that the order for the f The PRESIDING OFFICER. The quorum call be rescinded. COMMENDING SENATOR ROBERT C. Democratic leader is recognized. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without BYRD FOR HIS YEARS OF PUB- Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, tomor- objection, it is so ordered. LIC SERVICE row marks the momentous day in the Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I send life and career of one of this Chamber’s have listened to my three colleagues, a resolution to the desk commending most esteemed and respected Members. and having been sworn in today I un- Senator ROBERT C. BYRD for his years Fifty years ago, on January 8, 1947, derstand their point about the occa- of public service, that the clerk read ROBERT C. BYRD took his seat in the sion. So what I want to do, in the spirit the resolution, that upon its reading, it West Virginia State Legislature, thus of the special day today, I withdraw be agreed to and the motion to recon- beginning a remarkable half century of my objection, but I want to go on sider be laid upon the table. public service. I have quite an exten- record, I am going on record today that The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. sive statement that I wish to make fol- I am going to have the same amend- KYL). The clerk will report. lowing the completion of our resolu- ment dealing with our recess in Feb- The legislative clerk read as follows: tion and consideration. I must again ruary if we do not get to work on this. congratulate our distinguished Senator S. RES. 7 We should not be taking a recess in for a remarkable career. We saw an- Whereas, the Honorable Robert C. Byrd has other demonstration of his intellect February if we are not going to take up dutifully and faithfully served the people of this piece of legislation of reform as West Virginia since January 8, 1947; and his institutional memory and the soon as possible, that we are dragging Whereas, for 50 years, he had dedicated remarkable contribution he makes to it out, and I can see what is going to himself to improving the lives and welfare of that just this afternoon as he talked happen. the people of West Virginia and the United about the early days of this Senate and So today I will not object, but I will States, how the President pro tempore was se- come out with a similar initiative, I Whereas, his 50-year commitment to public lected and the length of time it took say to my colleague from Arizona, and service has been one of total dedication to and the degree to which we followed serving the people of his beloved state and to procedure in ensuring that we notify maybe we should be working today and the highest ideals of public service, saying we should not be in recess in Whereas, he has held more legislative of- both the President and the House of February. fices than anyone else in the history of his Representatives in proper order. It was Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, let me state, and is the longest serving Senator in a small yet very significant contribu- thank the distinguished Senator from the history of his state: Now, therefore, be it tion to our dialog this morning and, VerDate Mar 15 2010 21:58 Oct 24, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\1997SENATE\S07JA7.REC S07JA7 mmaher on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with SOCIALSECURITY January 7, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S15 again, a reminder of what an invalu- stand back because they know he is the point where he has such accolades able and remarkable Senator ROBERT right.
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