[Senate Document 109-28]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
From the Senate Documents Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
From the Senate Documents Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
S. Doc. 109-28
TRIBUTES TO HON. LINCOLN D. CHAFEE
Lincoln D. Chafee
U.S. SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND
TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
Lincoln D. Chafee
Tributes
Delivered in Congress
Lincoln D. Chafee
United States Senator
1999-2007
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 2007
Compiled under the direction
of the
Joint Committee on Printing
CONTENTS
Biography.............................................
v
Proceedings in the Senate:
Tributes by Senators:
Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
5
Allen, George, of Virginia.....................
6
Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky......................
22
Byrd, Robert C., of West Virginia..............
8
Clinton, Hillary Rodham, of New York...........
15
Collins, Susan M., of Maine....................
23
Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
14
DeWine, Mike, of Ohio..........................
16
Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
17
Dole, Elizabeth, of North Carolina.............
24
Durbin, Richard, of Illinois...................
7
Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin.............
10
Frist, William H., of Tennessee................
23
Hagel, Chuck, of Nebraska......................
3
Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
18
Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
22
Kyl, Jon, of Arizona...........................
16
Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................
15
Levin, Carl, of Michigan.......................
19
Mikulski, Barbara A., of Maryland..............
16
Nelson, Bill, of Florida.......................
6
Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
4
Salazar, Ken, of Colorado......................
3, 7
Snowe, Olympia J., of Maine....................
20
Stevens, Ted, of Alaska........................
23
Warner, John, of Virginia......................
11
Biography
Senator Lincoln Chafee represented Rhode Island with
dignity, integrity, and compassion and was an unwavering
advocate for Rhode Island's interests in the U.S. Senate.
He believes firmly in the bedrock Republican principles of
personal freedom, individual responsibility, fiscal
discipline, and a common sense approach to foreign policy.
Senator Chafee emerged as a leader on environmental issues
and foreign policy, and has promoted sensible economic and
energy policies. Senator Chafee fought to raise air
quality standards, strengthen our homeland security, and
ensure that Rhode Island got its fair share of Federal
funding. With 20 years of experience in Rhode Island
politics and a reputation for taking on the tough issues,
Lincoln Chafee demonstrated that great work is
accomplished when our leaders have the courage to govern
from the center.
Born in Providence, RI, on March 26, 1953, Lincoln
Chafee attended Warwick Public Schools and Phillips
Andover Academy. He earned a degree in classics from Brown
University in 1975. While there, he was captain of the
wrestling team and received the Francis M. Driscoll Award
for leadership, scholarship, and athletics.
Senator Chafee credits his independence, his traditional
Republican beliefs, and his focus on getting results to
the lessons he was taught by his parents, the late Senator
John H. Chafee and his mother Virginia. Growing up in the
Ocean State, he learned from his fellow Rhode Islanders
values such as honesty, hard work, and respect for people
of all backgrounds.
He established a reputation as the most electorally
successful leader in the State GOP. After working as a
blacksmith at harness race tracks in the United States and
Canada and in manufacturing management, Chafee entered
politics in 1985 as a delegate to the Rhode Island
Constitutional Convention. A year later he was elected to
the first of two successive terms on the Warwick City
Council.
In November 1992, Lincoln Chafee became the first
Republican elected mayor of Warwick in 32 years. As mayor,
he was praised for his fair-minded and sensible approach
to government. Believing that the best solutions come from
listening to all sides of an issue, Chafee worked with
colleagues in both parties to promote open space
development, raise the city's bond rating, and improve
Warwick's schools. Voters embraced his prudent fiscal
management, emphasis on environmental protection, and
positive vision, re-electing him to the post in 1994,
1996, and 1998. Chafee was appointed by Governor Lincoln
Almond in November 1999 to fill the unexpired Senate term
of his late father. In November 2000, he was
overwhelmingly elected to the U.S. Senate.
A fierce deficit hawk and traditional Republican,
Senator Chafee led the fight to promote responsible
government spending, while supporting the end to the
marriage tax penalty and an increase in the per child tax
credit. In addition to easing tax burdens, he promoted
business growth in Rhode Island and throughout the Nation.
Because of his work in championing economic development
and job growth, the United States Chamber of Commerce
awarded him the ``Spirit of Enterprise'' award. Lincoln
Chafee's efforts to promote fiscal responsibility through
a pay-as-you-go approach to the Federal budget and to cut
unnecessary government spending have brought him further
praise. His plan to secure our economic future is simple--
any tax cut or increase in government spending must be
accompanied by an equal spending cut or revenue increase.
This will put a stop to the dangerous deficit spending
that will only increase the tax burden on future
generations. For his work, the bipartisan Concord
Coalition named Chafee the most fiscally conservative
Member of the Senate.
From his key seat on the Senate Committee on Environment
and Public Works, Chafee secured more than $1 billion in
Federal funding for Rhode Island to significantly enhance
its transportation network, improve the safety of its
roadways for commuters, and bring good paying construction
jobs to the State. These transportation funds allowed for
the construction of projects such as the Warwick Station
and the Apponaug Bypass, enabling long-delayed
improvements to the Warren and Pawtucket Bridges, and
providing vital funding to tear down the former Jamestown
Bridge.
As a member of the Environment and Public Works
Committee and as chairman of the Subcommittee on Fish,
Wildlife and Water, Senator Chafee demonstrated that
environmental protection is compatible with economic
growth. He fought to strengthen air and water quality
standards and to make polluters pay to clean up their
industrial waste rather than relying on taxpayer funds.
Senator Chafee's ``Small Business Liability Relief and
Brownfields Revitalization Act,'' was a unique program
that combined business development with environmental
advocacy. Locally this legislation provided more than $6
million to clean up and redevelop contaminated land at the
former Louttit Laundry site in Providence's West End, at
Johnson and Wales' Harborside Campus, and at other sites.
Senator Chafee received numerous honors for his dedication
to environmental causes including the Environmental
Business Council of New England's Environmental Leadership
Award, the National Brownfield Association Leadership
Award, and the National Wetlands Inventory Congressional
Conservation Award.
Senator Chafee was committed to laying the groundwork so
that our legacy to our children will be one of prosperity
and promise. As Senator, Chafee led the way to expand
access to health care and to encourage research on the
causes of and cures for diseases such as cancer and heart
disease. He voted again and again to increase funding for
the National Institute of Health's research into cures for
diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and has
funded local projects at Brown University, the University
of Rhode Island, and other institutions. For his work on
behalf of health care and medical research, the Rhode
Island Breast Cancer Coalition honored Senator Chafee for
his leadership; he has also received the ``Leading Light
of Long Term Care'' award for working to preserve quality
nursing home care.
Senator Chafee applied the same forward-looking approach
to his work in crafting our Nation's foreign policy.
Respected for his broad and sensible views on foreign
affairs, Chafee worked tirelessly to promote a rational
and judicious approach to international relations as a
member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and as
chairman of the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South
Asian Affairs. He was a firm voice on issues ranging from
the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; to the need for
humanitarian intervention in Liberia; to reaffirming
America's commitment to the Road Map for Peace between
Israel and Palestine. He remained equally committed to
ensuring that our national defense remained strong. As a
member of the Committee on Homeland Security and
Government Affairs, the Senator was instrumental in
securing funding to strengthen and protect Rhode Island's
cities, towns, and ports.
A devoted conservationist, Senator Chafee enjoys all
outdoor activity. He is particularly fond of skiing,
spending time with his family, and trail riding on his
horse Trapper. The Senator and his wife Stephanie are the
proud parents of three children--Louisa, Caleb and Thea.
TRIBUTES
TO
LINCOLN D. CHAFEE
Proceedings in the Senate
Monday, November 13, 2006
Mr. SALAZAR. ... I will say this as well. In the days
ahead, we will hear many things about some of our
colleagues, some of whom are newcomers to our institution,
the U.S. Senate, and some of them who are leaving. For me,
it is a sad day that Senator Chafee and Senator DeWine,
who were members of the Gang of 14, will not be around to
be a part of that future bipartisan coalition that we are
going to have to have in the Senate. But I hope, on the
side of both the Democrats and the Republicans, that there
is a great number of Members of the Senate on both sides
of the aisle who will come together to address those
significant issues that face us as a country. ...
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President ... As we recognize, it is a
distinct privilege and high honor to serve our country in
any capacity, and certainly none higher than in uniform.
But it is especially important that we recognize those who
have given years of their lives, sacrificing their
families, their own time, to help make a better world for
all of us. I know of no capacity in which we serve our
country that has given those who have had this rare
opportunity to serve in the Senate anything more noble
than trying to shape a better world from this Senate.
These individuals who will leave the Senate, some on
their own terms, some on the terms of the election, but,
nonetheless, in their own specific way have contributed a
great deal to this country.
I take a few minutes to recognize each. ...
Senator Linc Chafee. Senator Chafee comes from a long
line of public servants from the State of Rhode Island.
The name ``Chafee'' is a famous name in this institution.
His father John Chafee was one of the great Senators in
this Senate in the 20th century. Linc picked up where his
father left off.
I had the opportunity to serve with Senator Chafee on
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. We sat next to
each other for many years. He had a keen ability to cut
through the fog, the nonsense, the superficial, the
obsequious, and get to the real issues. We will miss that
ability. We will miss that laser. I am sorry to see
Senator Chafee leave. He will continue to serve his
country in many areas as he has done before his service in
the Senate. ...
Mr. President, in conclusion, it is not easy to put
one's self on the firing line and offer one's self as a
candidate for any office. It takes a certain amount of
courage and, I suspect, a little dose of insanity. But
nonetheless individuals who believe deeply enough to
commit themselves to a cause greater than their own self-
interests need to be recognized. Having nothing to do with
me or you or any one individual, but it is the essence of
our country, it is the very fabric of our democracy that
makes it all work and probably gives rise to, more than
any one reason, why we have been such a successful nation
for over 200 years--because people from all walks of life,
in every community, in every State, offer themselves for
office. Whether it is a mayor, a Governor, city
councilman, county official, a sheriff, these individuals
deserve recognition.
We all make mistakes. That is who we are. But in the
end, it is not unlike what Teddy Roosevelt once referred
to in his magnificent quote about the man in the arena.
And it is the man and the woman in the arena who change
our lives. It makes a better world that shapes history,
that defines our destiny. And for these individuals who
will no longer have that opportunity to serve our country
in the Senate, we wish them well, we thank them, and we
tell them we are proud of them and their families and wish
them Godspeed.
Mr. President, I thank you for the time and yield the
floor.
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Mr. REED. Mr. President, this is an opportunity to
recognize the service of several of our colleagues who are
departing from the Senate. To Senator Jeffords, Senator
Frist, Senator DeWine, Senator Talent, Senator Santorum,
Senator Burns, and Senator Allen, let me express my
appreciation for their service to their States and their
service to the Nation and wish them well. I particularly
want to comment, though, on three colleagues with whom I
have had the privilege of working very closely. ...
Let me also recognize my colleague from Rhode Island,
Senator Lincoln Chafee. Senator Chafee is an individual
both with character and sincere devotion to our State and
Nation, an honest, decent man who is always respectful,
thoughtful, and fair-minded. He is someone with whom we
are all proud to have served. He is someone in this House
respected for his integrity and for his determination.
He came to the Senate upon the passing of his father,
Senator John H. Chafee, and picked up that tradition of
service from his father. He was a great model to emulate,
and Senator Lincoln Chafee has done that. Like his father,
he has concerned himself with issues of the environment
through service on the Environment and Public Works
Committee. He sought to improve our Nation's water and air
quality standards. His pivotal work to provide for the
cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields is a commitment
and accomplishment that I think will be recognized for
many years to come.
He has also tried to preserve our State of Rhode
Island's industrial, natural, and cultural history, and he
has done it persistently. Let me applaud him for his
dedicated service and wish him and his family well in the
days ahead. ...
To all my colleagues who served and conclude their
service, let me once again express deep appreciation for
their friendship and for their service to the Nation.
I yield the floor.
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, we are coming to the end
of the session and 10 of our colleagues are retiring. I
want to say a word about them ...
Or Senator Linc Chafee, also retiring, was a wrestler in
college. He spent several years in the United States and
Canada as a professional blacksmith before he got into
politics. ...
When the most recent class of Senators was sworn into
office nearly 2 years ago, in the gallery were three
women. One was the grandmother of Barack Obama. She was
from Kenya. One was the mother of Senator Salazar, a 10th
generation American. One was the mother of Mel Martinez,
the new Republican National Committee chairman, who, with
her husband, put her son on an airplane when he was 14
years old and sent him from Cuba to the United States, not
knowing if she would ever see him again.
In a way, each one of us who is here is an accident.
None of us knew we would be here. Each of us is privileged
to serve, and one of the greatest privileges is to serve
with our colleagues. We will miss them and we are grateful
for their service.
I yield the floor.
Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, as the time for my departure
from the Senate draws near, on behalf of the greatest
blessing in my life, my wife Susan, and on behalf of
myself, I thank all of my colleagues for their many
courtesies and friendships that have been forged during
the past 6 years. I offer a few concluding reflections
about our time here together, as well as about the future
of our Republic. ...
Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I see others who
wish to speak, and I will make a couple of brief comments.
In the comments of the Senator from Virginia [Mr.
Allen], his final couple of comments recalled for me a
statement made in the closing of the Constitutional
Convention in Philadelphia, when on the back of the chair
of the presiding officer was a sunburst. Someone opined in
that Constitutional Convention: Dr. Franklin, is that a
rising sun or is it a setting sun? And Franklin ventured
to say that with the birth of the new Nation, with the
creation of the new Constitution, that he thought it was a
rising sun.
Indeed, it is that hope of which the Senator from
Virginia has just spoken that motivates this Senator from
Florida to get up and go to work every day, and to look at
this Nation's challenges, not as a Democratic problem or a
Republican problem, but as an American problem, that needs
to be solved in an American way instead of a partisan way.
We have had far too much partisanship over the last
several years across this land, and, indeed, in this
Chamber itself. And of the Senators who are leaving this
Chamber, I think they represent the very best of America,
and on occasion have risen in a bipartisan way. It has
been this Senator's great privilege to work with these
Senators: Allen of Virginia, Burns of Montana, Chafee of
Rhode Island, Dayton of Minnesota, DeWine of Ohio, Frist
of Tennessee, Jeffords of Vermont, Santorum of
Pennsylvania, Sarbanes of Maryland, Talent of Missouri.
As the Good Book in Ecclesiastes says: There is a time
to be born and a time to die. There is a time to get up,
and a time to go to bed. There is a time for a beginning,
and there is a time of ending.
For these Senators who are leaving, it is clearly not an
ending. It is an ending of this chapter in their lives,
but this Senator from Florida wanted to come and express
his appreciation for their public service, to admonish
those where admonishment is needed when this Chamber,
indeed, this Government, has gotten too partisan, but to
express this Senator's appreciation for the quiet moments
of friendship and reflection and respect in working
together, which is the glue that makes this Government
run.
Whether you call it bipartisanship, whether you call it
friendship, whether you call it mutual respect, whatever
you call it, the way you govern a nation as large and as
complicated and as diverse as our Nation is--as the Good
Book says: Come, let us reason together--that is what this
Senator tries to be about. And that is what this Senator
will try to continue to do in the new dawn of a new
Congress. So I wanted to come and express my appreciation
for those Senators who will not be here, for the great
public service they have rendered.
Mr. President, I am truly grateful for their personal
friendship and for their public service.
I yield the floor.
Mr. DURBIN. ... Senator Lincoln Chafee, a quiet voice of
moderation from the State of Rhode Island, followed in the
footsteps of his great father, John Chafee, with whom I
was honored to serve. Senator Lincoln Chafee time and
again would stand independently and express his views and
his conscience. He was the only Republican of the 23
Senators who voted against the Iraqi war resolution. ...
I wish all of my colleagues who are retiring well as
they begin the next chapters of their careers.
Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise today to bid farewell
to several of my friends here in Washington. Too often we
get caught up here in the back-and-forth of politics and
lose sight of the contributions of those with whom we work
every day. It is only at moments such as these, at the end
of a cycle, that we have a moment to reflect on the
contributions of our colleagues. And while we may not
always see eye to eye, this Senate is losing several
admirable contributors who have made many sacrifices to
serve our democracy. ...
A number of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle
will be departing in January, as well. There is our
colleague from Virginia, Senator Allen, who wears, in my
opinion, the second best pair of boots in the Senate.
There is Senator Santorum of Pennsylvania, whose passion
is admirable and whose energy is always enviable. Also
leaving us is my colleague in the centrist Gang of 14 that
helped bring this Senate back from the abyss; Senator
DeWine of Ohio, who will head back to the Buckeye State
with my respect and admiration; and my friend Senator
Talent from Missouri, with whom I spent many hours in the
Agriculture Committee working to level the playing field
for America's farmers and ranchers. We will miss Senator
Chafee of Rhode Island's independence and his clear voice
for fiscal discipline in Washington. And we will miss
Senator Burns of Montana, who shares my passion for rural
America and who is headed home to Big Sky Country, back to
the Rockies that I know we both miss so much. ...
America, when held to its finest ideals, is more than a
place on the globe or a work in progress. It is the
inspiration to those around the world and here at home to
seek out excellence within themselves and their beliefs.
It has been a pleasure to work alongside each of these
gentlemen, who have helped me as I have found my way,
sometimes literally, through the halls of the Senate, in
the pursuit of these greater ideals that we all share:
security, prosperity, and an America that we leave better
than when we arrived. These ideals will resonate here long
after we all are gone and another generation stands in our
place making the decisions of its day.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, in his Pulitzer Prize winning
book, ``Profiles in Courage,'' Senator John F. Kennedy
extolled the virtues of political courage. ``Surely, in
the United States of America, where brother once fought
brother,'' Senator Kennedy wrote, ``we do not judge a
man's bravery under fire by examining the banner under
which he fought.''
For 7 years I have watched and admired the courage of
Senator Lincoln Chafee, who sits on the other side of the
aisle, and who will be leaving us at the end of the 109th
Congress.
I have watched and admired his firm stands against his
own political party, the Senate leadership, and the
Presidential administration as he followed the dictates of
his conscience. ``A man does what he must,'' wrote Senator
Kennedy, ``in spite of personal consequences, in spite of
obstacles and dangers and pressures--and that is the basis
of all human morality.'' This was the basis of Senator
Chafee's tenure in the Senate.
Senator Chafee was appointed to the Senate in 1999 upon
the death of his father, the beloved and respected Senator
John Chafee. He immediately proved himself to be, to use
an old cliche, a ``chip off the old block.'' Senator
Lincoln Chafee proved himself to be a Senator of immense
integrity, great dignity, and high principle. And, like
his father, he proved himself a Senator of incredible
courage.
He was the first Senate Republican to oppose the Bush
tax cuts in 2001.
He was a Senator who helped preserve the Senate as the
institution that was planned and handed down to us by the
Framers of our Constitution, and all the great lawmakers
who served in this Chamber before us. Senator Chafee was
one of the seven Republicans who composed the so-called
Gang of 14 that was ready to block the majority leader's
use of the ``nuclear option'' that would have destroyed
the U.S. Senate as a unique and sacred institution by
curtailing the ability of the minority to filibuster.
I, of course, will always remember, admire, and
appreciate Senator Chafee as the only Senate Republican to
vote against the Iraqi war resolution. He was one of the
immortal 23 Members of this Chamber who stood against
popular opinion, stood up to the President of the United
States, and threw himself against the forces of war in
voting against the resolution to launch an unprecedented
military assault on Iraq. If only there had been more
Senators like him, we would not find ourselves in a bloody
quagmire in Iraq.
In voting against the war resolution, Senator Chafee was
determined not to hand over to President Bush, or any
President, the power to declare war. That power, according
to our Constitution, belongs to the Congress. With his
firm belief in our constitutional doctrines of the
separation of powers and checks and balances, Senator
Chafee opposed many of the worst provisions of President
Bush's efforts to create an all powerful Department of
Homeland Security. He opposed, for example, the
administration's plan to reduce the civil service
protections and dissolve the collective bargaining rights
of Federal employees in the newly created agency.
Although he will soon be leaving Congress, there is a
bright side. Senator Chafee will now have more time to
spend with his wife Stephanie and their three children and
to ride his horse Trapper. I wish all of them happiness
and success in their future endeavors, and many happy
hours in the saddle. ...
Mr. FEINGOLD. ... Mr. President, today I wish to thank
Lincoln Chafee for his 7 years of service in the Senate
and to recognize the many contributions he has made during
his time in this body. Senator Chafee is a soft-spoken
man, but he has not been afraid to take courageous stands,
even when that meant standing alone in his own party. From
the moment he arrived in the Senate, it was clear that
Senator Chafee would not only honor his father's
outstanding legacy but that he would become a respected
leader in his own right.
Working with him on so many issues over the last several
years, I have come to know Senator Chafee well and to
appreciate just how dedicated he is to serving the people
of Rhode Island and the people of this great Nation.
I don't know anyone in this body more committed to
fiscal responsibility than Lincoln Chafee. He is
absolutely as tough as they come on that issue, and he was
tireless about holding Congress's feet to the fire. On
pay-as-you-go legislation, on the congressional pay raise,
and on so many issues, Senator Chafee demanded that
Congress take fiscal responsibility seriously when it
counted and not simply pay lip service to the issue when
it is convenient. It has been a pleasure to work with him
on this issue, and I am grateful for his efforts.
Senator Chafee has been a strong supporter of campaign
finance reform and of environmental protection and
conservation, and I appreciate his work on those critical
issues. Before I close, I also want to recognize Senator
Chafee's vote against the war in Iraq, which is one of the
most courageous votes I have seen cast during my time here
in the Senate. That was a hard vote for many Members of
this body, but to be the only Member of his party to
oppose the war must have been especially difficult. But,
as always, Senator Chafee did what he thought was right,
and we have seen just how right he was to vote against
this war, which has been so harmful to our national
security.
With every vote he has cast and every position he has
taken, Senator Chafee has conducted himself with the
utmost integrity and earned his colleagues' utmost
respect. While he and I certainly haven't agreed on every
issue, I always appreciate his thoughtful approach to our
work here and his strong commitment to the highest ideals
in public service. I know that the work he has done here
has made a lasting mark on our Nation for many years to
come. I will miss serving with him in the Senate, and I
wish him all the best. ...
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I have had the privilege of
being here for the 28th year beginning shortly. I
calculated not long ago that I have served with 261
individuals. I am not about to try and review all of the
many magnificent friendships I am privileged to have
through these years. Indeed, if one looks at the rewards,
of which there are many serving in this historic
institution, the Senate, it is the personal bonds, the
friendships that we so firmly cement and that will last a
lifetime as a consequence of our duties of serving the
United States of America and in our respective States.
We are called ``United States'' Senators. I often
believe it is the first obligation, our Nation, the
Republic for which it stands. ...
I would also like to pay tribute to nine other U.S.
Senators who will retire from the Senate in the coming
days. ...
Now, I would like to take a few moments to salute our
majority leader, Senator Frist, as well as Senators
Chafee, Burns, Santorum, DeWine, Jeffords, Talent, and
Dayton. Each and every one of these U.S. Senators has
served his State and his country with great distinction.
Without a doubt, I could speak at-length in honor of
each of these outstanding individuals. In light of time
constraints, however, and the fact that so many of my
colleagues wish to similarly pay tribute, I shall endeavor
to keep my remarks brief. ...
Now, I will speak a few words about our colleague
Lincoln Chafee. I have known the Chafee family for many
years, and count the late John Chafee and his wife
Virginia as my dearest friends.
The year was 1969, this country was engulfed in a war in
Vietnam, and I was privileged to be asked to serve as
Under Secretary of the Navy. I was told that the Secretary
of the Navy, who would be my boss one step up, would be a
man named John Chafee, former Governor of the State of
Rhode Island.
I will never forget. We both served in the Marines, at
different times. He was a captain and I was a captain in
the Marine Corps Reserve, and we met on a cold day in
February outside the Pentagon, shook hands, and walked
upstairs. And there we were greeted by the Commandant of
the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval Operations.
Chafee turned to me, and he said: You know, the Navy and
the Marine Corps constitute almost a million uniformed men
and women. It was that large in the height of the war in
Vietnam. And he said: Here we are, a couple of lowly
captains, and now it is our responsibility. Let's square
our jaws and stick out our chins, get this job done, and
provide the leadership that these men and women of the
Armed Forces so richly deserve.
John Chafee was an absolute teacher and mentor of mine
in every way during those years we worked together in the
Department of Defense. He would take his trip to Vietnam.
I would stay back and man the store. He would return, and
I would take my trip. We had problems throughout the
world. It was in the middle of the cold war with the
Soviet Union. John Chafee was a magnificent man. He had
been Governor of the State of Rhode Island three times,
and he was a magnificent leader of the men and women of
the Armed Forces.
He decided that he was going to move on and consider
running for the Senate, and resigned, and I succeeded him
then as Secretary. But I never lost the feeling that he
was right there, should I need him to help carry out my
duties. And then, as luck and good fortune would have it,
he came to the Senate, and not too many years thereafter I
came to the Senate and once again joined him.
I will never forget my first day in the Senate he came
up to me and said: Do you remember I was Secretary and you
were Under Secretary? I said: Yes, sir. He said: Well,
that's the way it's going to be here for a while. You
listen to what I say and what I do, and I will give you
some advice as we go along.
That was the kind of man he was. I never heard him speak
a harsh word about any other colleague. But he achieved
his special niche in this institution through his absolute
love for the environment as well as the men and women of
the Armed Forces. Those were the two things on which he
worked. And as luck would have it, his son came to join
us, and he has so many of those magnificent attributes of
his father and his mother. An absolutely magnificent human
being, his mother, and all his family, as a matter of
fact.
It is my honor to share with my colleagues some of the
important accomplishments of Lincoln Chafee during his 7
years as a Member of this body, and to personally express
my appreciation for his service to our country.
Senator Linc Chafee came to the Senate from local
government serving on the city council and later as mayor
of Warwick. I believe it is this experience of leading a
major city that solidified his commitment to fiscal
responsibility. In his service in the Senate he was
steadfast in his belief to restore controls on the Federal
budget and to promote responsible Government spending.
We were privileged to serve together on the Committee on
Environment and Public Works where he quickly became a
skilled legislator. He successfully authored legislation
to stimulate the redevelopment of brownfield areas
previously contaminated by hazardous waste, that plague
our urban areas. This law is already producing results in
improving neighborhoods and bringing new industries back
to urban areas.
Senator Chafee was also a leading voice in fostering
bipartisanship in the Senate, and was an active member of
our informal group of Senators known as the Gang of 14. We
were a group of seven Republicans and seven Democrats, but
we had no formal standing in the Senate. We would meet
regularly to share our thoughts on judicial nominees
pending on the Senate calendar to ensure that the Senate
could continue its responsibilities under article II,
section 2, of the U.S. Constitution--the advice and
consent clause. Senator Chafee was an integral part of
this effort which allowed candid and respectful
discussions of the qualifications of individuals to serve
in the Federal judiciary and prevented the continued use
of party-led filibusters on judicial nominees except in
extraordinary circumstances.
Linc Chafee will be remembered in this institution for
his independence. We all fight to try to maintain that
independence. We are respectful of our party leadership.
We are respectful of our party affiliations. We know the
demands of our State. But there are times when we feel we
must act and make decisions that reflect our own innermost
feelings of independence, and Lincoln Chafee will be
remembered for that.
As Senator Chafee prepares to depart the Senate, I thank
him for his meaningful contributions to the Senate, and
wish him, his wife Stephanie, and his children, Louisa,
Caleb and Thea, ``fair winds and following seas.'' ...
In conclusion, over the years I have served with each of
these 10 Senators, each has not only been a trusted
colleague, each has also been my friend. I will miss
serving with each of them in the Senate but know that each
will continue in public service in some capacity. I wish
each and every one of them well in the years ahead.
Mr. President, I see a number of colleagues here anxious
to speak, and I have taken generously of the time the
Presiding Officer has allowed me to speak.
I yield the floor.
Mr. CONRAD. ... Mr. President, I would like to pay
tribute to Senator Lincoln Chafee. Senator Chafee has
served the people of Rhode Island well. He has
distinguished himself in a number of important policy
areas, including strengthening environmental protections
and strengthening our national security.
I most appreciated his efforts to promote fiscal
responsibility. Senator Chafee has been steadfastly
committed to sound government budget policies. While he
supported easing tax burdens for families by ending the
marriage tax penalty and increasing the child tax credit,
he had the courage to oppose irresponsible, budget-busting
measures that, while politically popular, have resulted in
huge fiscal deficits and an unsustainable increase in the
Federal debt.
Senator Chafee has also been an unwavering supporter of
reinstating pay-as-you-go constraints on the Federal
budget first implemented by President Bush's father in
1990. Under those rules, any tax cut or increase in
Government spending must be accompanied by an equal
spending cut or revenue increase.
I also appreciated Senator Chafee's commitment to
bipartisanship. He understands that reaching across the
aisle and working together more often than not results in
better decisions and better, longer lasting policy
solutions. His efforts were not always appreciated by
those in charge over the last couple of years. But those
of us who worked closely with him know his commitment is
genuine and his word is good.
I was pleased to welcome Senator Chafee to the Senate in
1999 when he was appointed to fill the seat of his late
father. I had the pleasure of working often with John
Chafee. We were both members of the Senate Finance
Committee. I was not surprised to find that the son, like
his father, was tough but fair-minded and a man of strong
principle.
Senator Chafee brought a unique set of skills to the
Senate. A native Rhode Islander, he earned a B.A. in
classics from Brown University and was captain of the
wrestling team. Instead of following immediately in his
father's footsteps, however, he initially worked as a
blacksmith at harness racetracks in the United States and
Canada and later in manufacturing management. These
experiences gave him a great deal of respect for working
people and helped him build a strong sense of independence
and plain old common sense.
It is also clear that Senator Chafee never forgets his
other important job. As a father of three school-aged
children, he often reminds his colleagues to consider the
impact of our decisions on the next generation. Whether he
is working to preserve fragile wetlands in his beloved
home State, helping strengthen our homeland security, or
preventing massive debts from accruing, he talks often
about our responsibility to our children.
Senator Chafee has served the State of Rhode Island with
integrity and compassion. He will be missed. ...
Mrs. CLINTON. ... Finally, I also wish the very best to
my Republican colleagues who will leave the Senate at the
conclusion of this Congress. The Senate, at its best, is a
body that promotes bipartisanship, deliberation, and
cooperation, and the dedication to shared values. It has
been a privilege to work with my departing colleagues on
the other side of the aisle.
Friday, December 8, 2006
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I have a few more minutes
before the 10:30 vote, and I take this time to say a few
words about some of my colleagues who are retiring. We had
a good bit of time yesterday devoted to their tremendous
contributions, and as each of us, the 100 of us, do know
each other pretty well, I have come to the floor to say a
few things about several of the colleagues I have had the
distinct pleasure of working with very closely. ...
Mr. President, Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island
has been an independent voice for his State and the issues
he believes in, regardless of partisan consideration. He
will be missed by all of us. ...
To all of our retiring Members, I say thank you. Thank
you for your efforts on behalf of my State when you were
needed and thank you for your service to America.
Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I also will say a word about a
couple of my colleagues who are leaving, and I will be
brief. ...
Finally, Lincoln Chafee. Although I mentioned
Republicans in this list, I certainly don't want to
forget, of course, Paul Sarbanes, who will be leaving at
the end of this year, and others in the House of
Representatives with whom I served as well. I know we all
move on at some time and that none of us is irreplaceable.
But by the same token, these colleagues of ours who will
be leaving will be missed and they will be remembered for
their great service to the Senate, to their States, and to
the United States of America.
I yield the floor.
Mr. DeWINE. ... I appreciate all the help Finance
Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has given me--a dear
friend--especially when it came to passing my bills to
improve the foster care and adoption system. I have worked
with many Members of the Senate on this very important
issue, foster care and adoption, including Senators Jay
Rockefeller, Mary Landrieu, Larry Craig, Daniel Patrick
Moynihan, John Chafee, Jesse Helms, Bill Roth, Jim
Jeffords, Dan Coats. They all shared a passion for foster
care children. They all shared a passion for the adoption
issue. ...
Last year, I was extremely proud to be one of 14
bipartisan Members of this great body who decided to work
together to break what had become a gridlock in the Senate
over judicial nominations. In the grand tradition of the
Senate, individuals from both political parties came
together that time to solve a problem which threatened not
only the judicial nomination process but was threatening
to shut the Senate down completely. I want to thank my
friends with whom I was proud to stand in that effort:
John McCain, John Warner, Lindsey Graham, Olympia Snowe,
Susan Collins, Lincoln Chafee, Joe Lieberman, Senator
Byrd, Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, Daniel Inouye, Mark
Pryor, and Ken Salazar. They got it done. ...
Mr. President, I want to wish the best to all of my
fellow Senators who were defeated this fall or who are
retiring this year--Senators Frist, Santorum, Talent,
Burns, Allen, Chafee, Dayton, and Jeffords. They are all
good people and all good friends. I wish them well. ...
Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I want to say something
about my departing colleagues on the other side of the
aisle.
To my colleague from Rhode Island, I thank the Senator.
In all actions it has been a tone of civility. We have
always sought common ground. I express my gratitude for
the Senator's service to Rhode Island. ...
A lot is said about changing the tone, but when we hit
the right tone we also hit some pretty high notes. I thank
my colleagues and wish them well and Godspeed until we
meet again.
Mr. DODD. ... Mr. President, today I pay tribute to my
departing colleagues who have, for a time, lent their
talents, their convictions, and their hard work to this
distinguished body. I may have had my disagreements with
them, but the end of a term is a time for seeing
colleagues not simply as politicians, but as partners who
have ``toiled, and wrought, and thought with me.'' Each,
in his own way, was distinctive; and each, in his own way,
will be sorely missed. ...
Next, I would like to send my best wishes to Senator
Lincoln Chafee. Senator Chafee and I have a fair bit in
common: we are both lifelong New Englanders, and we both
had Senators for fathers. After completing his
undergraduate studies at Brown University, and while many
of his colleagues were busy studying law or political
science, Lincoln Chafee studied horseshoeing. I imagine he
is the only modern Senator to have worked as a
professional farrier for 7 years. And while Senator Chafee
eventually took up the family business and went into
politics, he has always retained the humility and good
humor that so often come to those who spend time working
with their hands.
Senator Chafee was a popular mayor of Warwick, RI, and
on the death of his father, Senator John Chafee, was
appointed to fill out the remainder of the term. He was
elected in his own right in 2000, and has served a total
of 7 years in the upper House, cementing a reputation as
an independent thinker and one of his State's most popular
politicians.
I especially enjoyed serving alongside Senator Chafee on
the Foreign Relations Committee. He was a welcome travel
partner. On trips to Latin America, it was always
reassuring to have a familiar New England accent at my
side. On a more serious note, I have come to respect
Senator Chafee's courage and principle, especially on the
matter of John Bolton's nomination as U.N. Ambassador.
Senator Chafee spoke out in favor of competent diplomatic
representation at the United Nations. Because of his
efforts, we are closer to the day when our representative
at the world body will work to win respect from the world,
not alienation.
On that issue and many others, Senator Chafee was never
afraid to put his beliefs ahead of party pressure. He has
voted to support stem cell research and a responsible exit
strategy in Iraq; and his strong environmental record,
including opposition to oil drilling in the Alaska
National Wildlife Reserve, has earned him the endorsement
of prominent conservationist groups.
We will miss his independent mind and his true Yankee
spirit. I wish all the best to Senator Chafee and his
wife, Stephanie. ...
Mr. HATCH. ... Mr. President, I am grateful for the
opportunity to take a few moments to recognize the service
and devotion to the U.S. Senate by my colleague and
friend, Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island.
A true Rhode Islander, Lincoln Chafee was born in
Providence, attended a Warwick public school, and earned a
degree from Brown University, where he captained the
wrestling team. As an avid horse enthusiast, he attended
the horseshoeing school at Montana State University and
worked as a blacksmith at harness racetracks in the United
States and Canada, but only a handful of years slipped by
before he returned to his home in Rhode Island.
Lincoln then entered politics in 1985 as a delegate to
the Rhode Island Constitutional Convention. A year later
he was elected to the first of two successive terms on the
Warwick City Council. In November 1992, Lincoln became the
first Republican elected mayor of Warwick in 32 years--
and, with his positive vision, he so won over the hearts
and minds of voters that he was reelected for another
three terms in a reliably Democratic city. He held the
mayoral post until appointed by Governor Lincoln Almond in
November 1999 to fill the unexpired Senate term of his
late father, John Chafee. In November 2000, he was
overwhelmingly elected to the U.S. Senate.
As I, Lincoln has a great interest in policy that
affects the health of our Nation's people, and I am proud
to have had the honor of working with him on a number of
initiatives that made Americans healthier.
I admire Lincoln for taking a stand on stem cell
research. He has supported important legislation and
joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in calling on
President Bush to expand the Federal policy on embryonic
stem cell research. Senator Chafee and I share similar
views on this issue: he is opposed to any cloning with the
intention of creating a human life but strongly supports
legislation that would allow stem cell researchers to use
excess embryos which were created for in vitro
fertilization purposes and would otherwise be discarded. I
respect and appreciate his courage to stand up for his
convictions in the face of such a controversial issue.
Lincoln has been a champion for breast cancer research
since his arrival in the Senate in 1999. I am pleased to
be an original cosponsor of his Breast Cancer and
Environmental Research Act, which would make Federal
grants available for the development and operation of
eight national centers that would conduct research on how
environmental factors may contribute to the causes of
breast cancer. In recognition of his outstanding
leadership in this arena, Lincoln has been honored by the
National Breast Cancer Coalition and also presented with
the Avon Foundation Pink Ribbon Crusader Award.
Senator Chafee has been a leader in the fight to
reauthorize and maintain adequate funding for the State
Children's Health Insurance Program--also called CHIP. I
worked very closely with his father to write that law in
1997. I recognize that Lincoln is also dedicated to the
goal of this program, which is to provide health insurance
to low-income, uninsured children, and I thank him for his
diligent efforts. We have worked tirelessly to ensure that
funding continues to make the program available for these
children.
Senator Lincoln Chafee is a great man, a loyal Rhode
Islander, and a great American. I thank and commend him
for all his selfless work. His contributions have made his
State and the whole country significantly better than
before his arrival in Washington. We will all miss his
presence here in the U.S. Senate, but I doubt we have seen
the last of Lincoln Chafee in the way of public service. I
wish him and his family health, happiness, and the best of
luck in all future endeavors. ...
Mr. LEVIN. ... Mr. President, as this session of
Congress comes to a close, I want to take a moment to pay
tribute to my friend Lincoln Chafee.
Following in the footsteps of his late father, John,
Senator Chafee has been a voice of moderation and civility
in the Senate. In a time of increasing partisanship,
Senator Chafee has been a bridge between the parties and
to an earlier era of less divisive politics. He votes his
conviction and his conscience, not just a party line.
Senator Chafee's legacy will be defined by his
leadership on environmental protection and fiscal
responsibility. On both, he has had a forward-looking
approach, grounded in common sense, for which our
grandchildren will be grateful.
Senator Chafee has been a true champion for
conservation, fighting for clean air, clean water, and a
healthier environment. He has been willing to stand up to
the administration when he believes it is wrong, including
opposing the administration's energy bill, its weak
regulations on mercury, and drilling in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge. For the past several years,
Senator Chafee has led an effort with Senator Jeffords and
me to fully fund the EPA Brownfields Program, which would
accelerate the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield
sites, protecting human health, and creating jobs. Senator
Chafee is a member of the Senate's Smart Growth Task
Force, which promotes growth and development that protects
the environment and preserves critical habitats.
Lincoln Chafee has also been a strong voice for fiscal
discipline. He has repeatedly opposed reckless tax cuts
and supported pay-as-you-go budget rules to bring the
budget back into balance. The bipartisan Concord Coalition
has recognized him for his fiscal responsibility.
Lincoln Chafee has also been an important voice on
foreign affairs. He took a courageous stand in 2002 as the
lone Republican to vote against the Iraq war
authorization, and he has served well as the chairman of
the Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Subcommittee of
the Foreign Relations Committee.
I want to close by noting that Lincoln Chafee remains
widely respected and admired in Rhode Island, as well as
among his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the
Senate. His father would have been very proud of how well
Lincoln Chafee has served the people of Rhode Island.
I thank him for his service to our country and wish him
and his wife Stephanie all the best. ...
Ms. SNOWE. ... Mr. President, I rise today to pay
tribute to my great friend, Senator Lincoln Chafee, a
public servant who exemplifies the idea that superior
governance depends on people of good will working for the
common good--together. He epitomizes the New England
pragmatism in government that sees not weakness but
strength in reaching across the aisle to build consensus
and make the system work for those it was formed to serve.
When I consider Senator Chafee's tenure, I cannot help
but think how he has so successfully forged his own
pathway and legacy of exceptional service in the U.S.
Senate, while honoring the formidable contributions of his
extraordinary father, John Chafee. Senator Chafee has
brought levelheaded leadership on myriad issues critical
to our progress as a people, always with vigilant and
careful attention to his beloved Ocean State of Rhode
Island.
He has been a stalwart colleague and friend in our
mutual cause to revitalize and advance the political
center, in our concerted effort to answer the challenges
facing our Nation by producing not rancor but results, not
acrimony but accord. His loss not only diminishes the
Senate but is also a loss for the country because we need
more voices seeking to craft compromise and consensus to
forge solutions, not fewer.
Linc Chafee was not only a political neighbor of mine in
the center of the political spectrum--where most Americans
consider themselves--but he has been a next-door neighbor
in my hallway in the Russell Senate Building, a corridor
also appropriately occupied by my good friend Senator Mike
DeWine, who also epitomized the finest ideals of public
service. So I will profoundly miss seeing them not only in
the Senate but also simply walking down the hall outside
my office. They were a constant reminder of what is best
and most noble about public office.
Linc and I worked hand-in-glove on issues of fiscal
restraint and accountability by calling for and advocating
the implementation of the pay-as-you-go approach to the
Federal budget. And I believe it is instructive that he is
rightly considered a champion of the environment, even as
he championed economic growth. But that is Linc--for him,
issues that may seem mutually exclusive to those with
intractable dogmas could coexist naturally in his vision
of a world not so easily or appropriately cast in hues of
black and white. Indeed, Senator Chafee's fight to
strengthen air and water quality standards continues to
resonate, a battle he has waged with innovation and
resolve by combining business development with
environmental advocacy.
Unflagging in his dedication to the precepts of personal
responsibility and freedom, fiscal accountability, and
serving the public interest, Lincoln Chafee has, with
honor and distinction, brought intelligence, vigor, and
courage to the U.S. Senate from debates about foreign
policy and homeland security to marshaling health care
efforts to confront breast cancer and long-term care.
Whether serving as captain of his university wrestling
team, working as a blacksmith at harness race tracks, or
serving the highest ideals of public service, Lincoln
Chafee has demonstrated an independence, resiliency, and
strength of purpose that has made him a credit to this
institution and an example for his country.
I wish Senator Chafee, his wife Stephanie, and their
children all the best for the future. ...
Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute
to the Republican Members of the Senate who will not be
returning in the 110th Congress. Senators George Allen;
Conrad Burns; Lincoln Chafee; Mike DeWine; Dr. Bill Frist;
Rick Santorum; and Jim Talent have served their
constituents with honor and distinction during their
tenure here in the U.S. Senate. All care very deeply for
this great Nation and I hope they will have continued
success in their future endeavors. ...
Majority leader Bill Frist has run the Senate through
difficult and trying times and he has done it well.
Senator Mike DeWine, my neighbor to the north, has
represented the Buckeye State with great distinction and
has committed over 30 years of his life to public service.
Senator George Allen represented the Commonwealth of
Virginia in the U.S. Senate for 6 years, and he worked
closely with me to make America safer by helping usher
through important legislation to arm cargo pilots. Senator
Jim Talent has had a great career in Congress and wrote
the blueprint to the welfare reform bill of 1996. And
Senator Lincoln Chafee has continued the proud legacy set
forth by his father and my friend, Senator John Chafee.
Mr. President, I would like to again commend all of our
departing Republican Senators. I am proud of what they
accomplished here in the U.S. Senate. They will all be
missed, and I wish all of them the very best.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. ... Mr. President, it is no coincidence
that Senator Lincoln Chafee's home State has an 11-foot-
tall statue called the Independent Man standing atop the
State House in Providence, RI. In fact, Senator Chafee has
referred to this statue as his inspiration, as it
represents Rhode Island's founding principles of political
and religious freedom.
Senator Chafee has done an admirable job following in
the footsteps of his father, Senator John Chafee.
During his time in the Senate, Senator Chafee has been
committed to environmental issues as a champion for
improved air and water quality.
Senator Chafee has remained steadfast in his beliefs and
a powerful voice for Rhode Island. ...
UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS
Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the tributes to
retiring Senators be printed as a Senate document and that
Senators be permitted to submit tributes until December
27, 2006.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Mr. STEVENS. ... Mr. President, I have known Senator
Lincoln Chafee and his family for a long time. I met his
father, our former colleague, Senator John Chafee, while
standing in line to register for Harvard Law School in
1947. Lincoln's uncle, Zachariah Chafee, was one of my law
professors at Harvard. John and I served together in the
Senate for more than 20 years.
When John passed away in 1999, Lincoln chose to continue
his family's tradition of excellence in public service.
Senator Chafee and I have not always agreed on the issues,
but I have always respected the courage of his convictions
and his firm commitment to his ideals.
Senator Chafee, it's been my good fortune to serve
alongside you and your father for nearly 30 years. It's
hard to imagine this Chamber without a member of your
family. We will miss your spirit and dedication. ...
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, Lincoln Chafee came to the
Senate in 1999 under the most difficult of circumstances.
He had just lost his beloved father, and was being asked
to fill the shoes of one of the most noble and principled
Members ever to serve in this Chamber. He rose to that
challenge, and I have been honored to work alongside him.
Like the illustrious Senator John Chafee, Senator
Lincoln Chafee came from a political tradition I am proud
to share--that of the New England moderate. This tradition
stands for a strong defense of freedom and for fiscal
responsibility, for government that is unobtrusive in
people's lives when it can be, yet compassionate and
involved when it must be.
Lincoln Chafee was a quiet voice of moderation, but
spoke with a strong voice, a voice of conviction and
integrity, on such issues of critical importance to our
Nation as environmental protection and energy
independence. When, in spring 2005, the very fabric of the
Senate was threatened by a bitter impasse over the issue
of judicial filibusters, I was proud to join Senator
Chafee in the so-called Gang of 14 that forged a
productive, bipartisan solution.
I had the opportunity to work closely with Linc in the
109th Congress when he joined the Homeland Security
Committee. The committee brought about great progress
during that Congress with successful legislation on port
security, chemical security, and rebuilding our Nation's
emergency management structure after the catastrophic
Government response to Hurricane Katrina. Linc's steady,
thoughtful, and informed approach to the issues greatly
aided these endeavors.
I was especially impressed by Linc's understanding that
true homeland security begins at home. As the 2006
hurricane season approached, and as we were still
struggling to overcome the failures of Government in the
2005 season, he called for and organized a homeland
security field hearing in Rhode Island so his colleagues
could better appreciate the daunting challenges faced by
our first responders in coastal States and communities.
That hands-on approach, devoid of pretense and directed
toward results, exemplifies Lincoln Chafee's approach to
government.
I know that the father would be proud of the son. And I
know that all Americans join me in thanking Lincoln Chafee
for 7 years of outstanding service, and in wishing him the
very best in the years to come. ...
Monday, January 8, 2007
Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, it is an honor indeed to pay
tribute to a number of fine individuals who I am fortunate
to call not just my colleagues, but also dear friends:
Senators Bill Frist, George Allen, Conrad Burns, Lincoln
Chafee, Mike DeWine, Rick Santorum and Jim Talent. ...
Senator Lincoln Chafee also will be greatly missed in
this Chamber. Linc served the people of Rhode Island with
the utmost honor, integrity and compassion.
I have great respect for Linc Chafee for his commitment
to the principles of personal freedom, individual
responsibility and fiscal discipline. Well-known for his
reputation as a fierce deficit hawk, he has been a vocal
advocate for responsible Government spending, and a strong
supporter of abolishing the marriage tax penalty and
increasing the child tax credit. Linc also took a very
active interest in promoting the health care of women and
children.
Lincoln Chafee also has been tirelessly dedicated to
improving his home State. As a member of the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public Works, he secured more
than $1 billion in Federal funding for Rhode Island's
infrastructure, including the Warwick Station project and
the development of the East Providence shoreline. And as
chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and
Water, he worked diligently to protect air and water
quality in his State.
Linc was a principled, independent Member, adamant about
doing what he believed was right for the families he
represented. Throughout his Senate career, he demonstrated
a willingness to listen to all sides of an issue and work
with members of both political parties. He is a man who
speaks his mind, votes his conscience, and treats others
with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Linc is a refreshing politician, a diligent public
servant, and a devoted family man to his wife Stephanie
and their three children. It goes without saying that my
colleagues in the Senate--and the people of Rhode Island--
will greatly miss Senator Lincoln Chafee. ...
As these men--Bill Frist, George Allen, Conrad Burns,
Lincoln Chafee, Mike DeWine, Rick Santorum and Jim
Talent--conclude their service in the U.S. Senate, let me
say that I am so proud to have worked with individuals of
such character, strength, and intellect. Our Nation is
grateful for their many contributions. And as they each
will undoubtedly continue to contribute to our country's
greatness, their leadership and vision will be missed here
in the U.S. Senate.