[Senate Document 109-33] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 109th Congress SENATE DOCUMENT S.Doc 109-033 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRIBUTES TO HON. RICK SANTORUM Rick Santorum U.S. SENATOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA TRIBUTES IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] 33208.001 Rick Santorum Tributes Delivered in Congress Rick Santorum United States Congressman 1991-1995 United States Senator 1995-2007 Compiled under the direction of the Joint Committee on Printing CONTENTS Biography............................................. v Farewell to the Senate................................ ix Proceedings in the Senate: Tributes by Senators: Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee................. 4 Allen, George, of Virginia..................... 5 Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky...................... 19 Clinton, Hillary Rodham, of New York........... 11 Collins, Susan M., of Maine.................... 20 DeWine, Mike, of Ohio.......................... 7, 11 Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut........... 12 Dole, Elizabeth, of North Carolina............. 22 Durbin, Richard, of Illinois................... 6 Ensign, John, of Nevada........................ 10 Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming................... 15 Frist, William H., of Tennessee................ 20 Hagel, Chuck, of Nebraska...................... 3 Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah....................... 13 Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................ 19 Kyl, Jon, of Arizona........................... 11 Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................ 11 Martinez, Mel, of Florida...................... 15 McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky.................. 10 Nelson, Bill, of Florida....................... 5 Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island.................... 4 Salazar, Ken, of Colorado...................... 6 Snowe, Olympia J., of Maine.................... 18 Specter, Arlen, of Pennsylvania................ 9 Stevens, Ted, of Alaska........................ 20 Warner, John, of Virginia...................... 8 ............................................... Biography Rick Santorum served in the U.S. Senate from January 1995 through January 2007. During that time, he served as a champion for Pennsylvanians both through his accomplishments in the U.S. Senate and through his leadership position as Republican Conference Chairman, the party's third-ranking leadership position in the Senate. As Conference Chairman, Senator Santorum directed the communications operations of Senate Republicans and was a frequent party spokesman. He was the youngest member of the leadership and the first Pennsylvanian of such a prominent position since Senator Hugh Scott was Republican leader in the 1970s. Senator Santorum was raised in Butler County, PA and attended college at Penn State University. It was during his undergraduate career that he became actively involved in the political process as a campaign volunteer for the late Senator John Heinz. Senator Santorum received a B.A. in political science from Penn State in 1980 and went on to earn an M.B.A. in 1981 from the University of Pittsburgh. Later, he graduated with a J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, PA. In 1990, at the age of 32, Senator Santorum was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and made his mark in Congress as a champion of government accountability and welfare reform. In the 109th Congress Senator Santorum served on the Agriculture Committee; the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Committee on Rules and Administration; the Special Committee on Aging; and the Finance Committee, of which he was the chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy. Senator Santorum was prominent in the fight to reform America's social welfare system by playing a major part in the historic 1996 welfare reform law. The Senator believes in giving recipients of Federal aid incentives to work while providing funds for fatherhood and marriage initiatives. Welfare reform, however, is only a part of his broader vision to end urban and rural poverty by strengthening families, communities, and the local organizations that sustain them. Senator Santorum was a leader in congressional efforts to revive America's communities and empower citizens to enjoy better lives. The most important of his initiatives for community and economic renewal was the Charity, Aid, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act, which passed the Senate during the 108th Congress. Based on three concepts--giving, saving, and fairness--the CARE Act provides incentives for charitable giving, opportunities for low-income families to build their individual assets, and equity between faith-based and secular organizations as they provide charitable social services. These renewal programs will promote job growth, economic development, affordable housing and higher education, and long-term financial stability for Americans. Senator Santorum is committed to further fostering this movement. Also of legislative precedence to the Senator was the belief that human life is sacred and must be guarded by the law, science, and society. To this end, Rick Santorum sponsored and fought for measures to protect the most vulnerable among us and to ban a procedure known as partial birth abortion. During the 107th Congress, Senator Santorum successfully ushered the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act through the House and Senate. Ultimately, the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which recognizes the basic rights of all children born alive, was signed into law. In the 108th Congress the Senator's legislation to end partial birth abortion won congressional approval and was signed by President Bush. The Senator is committed to the initiative to eradicate global HIV/AIDS. He believes that the United States has an obligation to provide funding to combat HIV/AIDS, and a responsibility to extend debt relief to Third World nations. Senator Santorum was proud to represent Pennsylvania's leading industry, agriculture, on the Senate Agriculture Committee. He was a leading advocate for the Commonwealth's 55,000 hard-working farm families and was responsible for the creation of the Farmland Protection Program. The Senator fought for the future of Pennsylvania's dairy farmers, worked to provide a robust crop insurance program for producers of all sizes, was an advocate on behalf of Pennsylvania's disaster assistance needs, and supported child nutrition programs that have had a tremendous impact on Pennsylvania's children. As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Aging and chairman of the Finance Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy, Senator Santorum was on the front lines in the fight to save and strengthen Social Security and Medicare. Furthermore, as the son of two Veterans Administration employees, and as a former member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Santorum focused on efforts to ensure that the American men and women who serve in our military are treated with the respect and honor they so richly deserve. While Senator Santorum is proud of his accomplishments as a lawmaker and public servant, he is most proud of his role as a husband and father. Senator Santorum and his wife, Karen Garver Santorum, are the parents of six wonderful children: Elizabeth, John, Daniel, Sarah Maria, Peter, and Patrick. Farewell to the Senate Thursday, December 7, 2006 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, let me thank my great friend and colleague from Nevada [Mr. Ensign] for his very kind words. I thank him for coming to hear my last speech on the floor of the Senate. I know there are many listening who are applauding at this moment for that. But I come here with a wonderful spirit. I have written on the top of the page the same words that I wrote the night of the election, and that is the word ``gratitude'' because that is all I feel--an incredible sense of gratitude. Mark Rodgers is my long-time friend and chief of staff, now head of the conference. We were talking again this morning about coming to work every day and walking up to the Capitol Building every day for 16 years now and still feeling that, wow, I work here--every day for 16 years. It was such a gift, such an incredible gift to be blessed to serve the people of the 18th District in the Congress, southwestern Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County, and for 12 incredible years to be able to serve the people of Pennsylvania here in the Senate. So first and foremost, I want to thank who is most responsible--and that is God--for this great gift he has bestowed upon me and my family--to be able to serve the greatest country in the history of the world and to serve in a body that is, and hopefully will be, the greatest deliberative body in the world. I think back to my dad, when he came to this country, and my mom, who is a second generation, and I think of how I grew up. It is amazing what a great country this is and how God has bestowed upon me and my family tremendous blessings. So I thank Him for the opportunity he has given me to serve. We are all called to serve. Some are frustrated because they don't think they are in a job or a position in life where they are doing what God has called them to do. God has blessed me with the opportunity to do this and to serve in a way that I hope he has called me to serve. Second, I thank my family. Karen and the kids are watching. They have suffered a lot and have sacrificed a lot in 16 years. I was telling John the other day that it is amazing how you think you are doing certain things well, and then you have the opportunity to spend a little more time doing those things and you realize how insufficiently you did them in the past. A phrase from the Bible is ringing in my ears, ``the scales falling off of the eyes.'' In the last month or so, I have had a lot of scales fall from my eyes--to see not just what the 2 years have been to my family, which have been a tough 2 or 3 years, but the accumulation of 16 years in what is a very difficult life. I know everybody here recognizes that because you live it. They know how difficult this life is, how public everything we do and say is or what we are accused of. We think we understand how difficult that is for our family, but I don't think we really do. I want to say thank you to Karen, who I picture in my mind with this T-shirt dress she wore and had stenciled on it ``Santorum for Congress.'' She went knocking on doors in 1990, when no one gave us a chance. We did the impossible. We were able to defeat a 14-year incumbent who no one thought could be beat. I would not have even come close to winning that election but for her. In 1994, it was the same thing. She went out with the two children at home and she spent day after day--not traveling with, no; she was giving speeches in her own right and traveling all over the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, sacrificing. They continued to do that day after day, year after year. I was a Senator, and I had important things to do. I tell stories all the time about debates that were held on the floor of the Senate, when I would call Karen and say I had to come back to this very place and say more. There was never a hesitation. She served more than I did. My children--none of them have known their father without being in politics. I got married in 1990 to Karen, and Elizabeth came along 11 months later. Their life has been with their father in politics, in the public arena. They have had to deal with that in both pleasurable ways and some very painful ways. So I thank them for being without their dad far too often. Even when they are with their dad, I am not as attentive as I should have been. But I think they knew and they shared in the endeavor because they knew it was important for them and for our country. So, hopefully, out of this experience they have been given a sense of purpose, and they know more about what life should be all about and that is to serve--serve God, serve your family, serve your community, and to serve your country. It is a great blessing. I thank them for the opportunity they have given me, through their sacrifice, to do that for the last 16 years. I thank my mom and dad and Karen's mom and dad and everyone in our family who has been supportive every step of the way--sometimes wondering why I was doing this, sometimes unable to walk to the end of the driveway and pick up the paper for fear of what was going to be said next about their son-in-law or son. But they stood with us and fought with us and they comforted us. I thank them. John mentioned the people who are here in this room, my staff. I ask unanimous consent to have printed a list of all of the folks who worked for us over the last 12 years in the Senate at the end of my remarks. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (See Exhibit 1.) Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I wish I could read all these names, but there are a lot of names. These are people who worked for me in my personal office in Washington and in my offices across the State and the people who worked here in Washington in my leadership office at the Senate Republican Conference. John said it so well. These are incredible people. I have had the opportunity now in the last few days to sit and talk with each one of my staff members to find out what they are doing and to get any final thoughts they would have. One after another, I have been amazed at the dedication, intelligence, caring, and the commitment of service they had to the people of Pennsylvania, or to the causes I have attempted to do my best to fight for in the Senate. These are incredibly talented people whom I have been so blessed to be associated with and to work with. I looked at the list of our legislative accomplishments and I can say, yes, I worked on that, but on the autism legislation, Jennifer Vesey wrote it, not me. She spent 16 months working with 15 offices. In fact, let me do something at this point. Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives on the bill (S. 843) to combat autism through research, screening, intervention and education. The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives. S. 843 Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 843) entitled ``An Act to amend the Public Health Service Act to combat autism through research, screening, intervention and education'', do pass with the following amendment: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert: section 1. short title. This Act may be cited as the ``Combating Autism Act of 2006''. sec. 2. centers of excellence; improving autism-related research. (a) Centers of Excellence Regarding Research on Autism.--Section 409C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.284g) is amended-- (1) in the section heading, by striking ``autism'' and inserting ``autism spectrum disorder''; (2) by striking the term ``autism'' each place such term appears (other than the section heading) and inserting ``autism spectrum disorder''; and (3) in subsection (a)-- (A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: ``(1) Expansion of activities.--The Director of NIH (in this section referred to as the `Director') shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to research on autism spectrum disorder, including basic and clinical research in fields including pathology, developmental neurobiology, genetics, epigenetics, pharmacology, nutrition, immunology, neuroimmunology, neurobehavioral development, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and toxicology. Such research shall investigate the cause (including possible environmental causes), diagnosis or rule out, early detection, prevention, services, supports, intervention, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. ``(2) Consolidation.--The Director may consolidate program activities under this section if such consolidation would improve program efficiencies and outcomes.''. (b) Centers of Excellence Generally.--Part A of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``sec. 404h. review of centers of excellence. ``(a) In General.--Not later than April 1, 2008, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary, acting through the Director of NIH, shall conduct a review and submit a report to the appropriate committees of the Congress on the centers of excellence. ``(b) Report Contents.--Each report under subsection (a) shall include the following: ``(1) Evaluation of the performance and research outcomes of each center of excellence. ``(2) Recommendations for promoting coordination of information among centers of excellence. ``(3) Recommendations for improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and outcomes of the centers of excellence. ``(c) Definition.--In this section, the term `center of excellence' means an entity receiving funding under this title in its capacity as a center of excellence.''. sec. 3. developmental disabilities surveillance and research program. (a) In General.--Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``PART R--PROGRAMS RELATING TO AUTISM ``sec. 399aa. developmental disabilities surveillance and research program. ``(a) Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Disabilities.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities for the collection, analysis, and reporting of State epidemiological data on autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. An eligible entity shall assist with the development and coordination of State autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disability surveillance efforts within a region. In making such awards, the Secretary may provide direct technical assistance in lieu of cash. ``(2) Data standards.--In submitting epidemiological data to the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall report data according to guidelines prescribed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after consultation with relevant State and local public health officials, private sector developmental disability researchers, and advocates for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities. ``(3) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive an award under paragraph (1), an entity shall be a public or nonprofit private entity (including a health department of a State or a political subdivision of a State, a university, or any other educational institution), and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. ``(b) Centers of Excellence in Autism Spectrum Disorder Epidemiology.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, award grants or cooperative agreements for the establishment of regional centers of excellence in autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities epidemiology for the purpose of collecting and analyzing information on the number, incidence, correlates, and causes of autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. ``(2) Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant or cooperative agreement under paragraph (1), an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application containing such agreements and information as the Secretary may require, including an agreement that the center to be established under the grant or cooperative agreement shall operate in accordance with the following: ``(A) The center will collect, analyze, and report autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disability data according to guidelines prescribed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after consultation with relevant State and local public health officials, private sector developmental disability researchers, and advocates for individuals with developmental disabilities. ``(B) The center will develop or extend an area of special research expertise (including genetics, epigenetics, and epidemiological research related to environmental exposures), immunology, and other relevant research specialty areas. ``(C) The center will identify eligible cases and controls through its surveillance system and conduct research into factors which may cause or increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. ``(c) Federal Response.--The Secretary shall coordinate the Federal response to requests for assistance from State health, mental health, and education department officials regarding potential or alleged autism spectrum disorder or developmental disability clusters. ``(d) Definitions.--In this part: ``(1) Other developmental disabilities.--The term `other developmental disabilities' has the meaning given the term `developmental disability' in section 102(8) of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002(8)). ``(2) State.--The term `State' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. ``(e) Sunset.--This section shall not apply after September 30, 2011. ``sec. 399bb. autism education, early detection, and intervention. ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section-- ``(1) to increase awareness, reduce barriers to screening and diagnosis, promote evidence-based interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities, and train professionals to utilize valid and reliable screening tools to diagnose or rule out and provide evidence-based interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities; and ``(2) to conduct activities under this section with a focus on an interdisciplinary approach (as defined in programs developed under section 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act) that will also focus on specific issues for children who are not receiving an early diagnosis and subsequent interventions. ``(b) In General.--The Secretary shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, establish and evaluate activities to-- ``(1) provide information and education on autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities to increase public awareness of developmental milestones; ``(2) promote research into the development and validation of reliable screening tools for autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities and disseminate information regarding those screening tools; ``(3) promote early screening of individuals at higher risk for autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities as early as practicable, given evidence-based screening techniques and interventions; ``(4) increase the number of individuals who are able to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities; ``(5) increase the number of individuals able to provide evidence-based interventions for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities; and ``(6) promote the use of evidence-based interventions for individuals at higher risk for autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities as early as practicable. ``(c) Information and Education.-- ``(1) In general.--In carrying out subsection (b)(1), the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Agriculture, shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, provide culturally competent information regarding autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, risk factors, characteristics, identification, diagnosis or rule out, and evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities and their families through-- ``(A) Federal programs, including-- ``(i) the Head Start program; ``(ii) the Early Start program; ``(iii) the Healthy Start program; ``(iv) programs under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990; ``(v) programs under title XIX of the Social Security Act (particularly the Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program); ``(vi) the program under title XXI of the Social Security Act (the State Children's Health Insurance Program); ``(vii) the program under title V of the Social Security Act (the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Program); ``(viii) the program under parts B and C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; ``(ix) the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children established under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786); and ``(x) the State grant program under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. ``(B) State licensed child care facilities; and ``(C) other community-based organizations or points of entry for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities to receive services. ``(2) Lead agency.-- ``(A) Designation.--As a condition on the provision of assistance or the conduct of activities under this section with respect to a State, the Secretary may require the Governor of the State-- ``(i) to designate a public agency as a lead agency to coordinate the activities provided for under paragraph (1) in the State at the State level; and ``(ii) acting through such lead agency, to make available to individuals and their family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives; providers; and other appropriate individuals in the State, comprehensive culturally competent information about State and local resources regarding autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, risk factors, characteristics, identification, diagnosis or rule out, available services and supports, and evidence-based interventions. ``(B) Requirements of agency.--In designating the lead agency under subparagraph (A)(i), the Governor shall-- ``(i) select an agency that has demonstrated experience and expertise in-- ``(I) autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disability issues; and ``(II) developing, implementing, conducting, and administering programs and delivering education, information, and referral services (including technology- based curriculum-development services) to individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates or authorized representatives, providers, and other appropriate individuals locally and across the State; and ``(ii) consider input from individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates or authorized representatives, providers, and other appropriate individuals. ``(C) Information.--Information under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be provided through-- ``(i) toll-free telephone numbers; ``(ii) Internet websites; ``(iii) mailings; or ``(iv) such other means as the Governor may require. ``(d) Tools.-- ``(1) In general.--To promote the use of valid and reliable screening tools for autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, the Secretary shall develop a curriculum for continuing education to assist individuals in recognizing the need for valid and reliable screening tools and the use of such tools. ``(2) Collection, storage, coordination, and availability.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, shall provide for the collection, storage, coordination, and public availability of tools described in paragraph (1), educational materials and other products that are used by the Federal programs referred to in subsection (c)(1)(A), as well as-- ``(A) programs authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000; ``(B) early intervention programs or interagency coordinating councils authorized under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and ``(C) children with special health care needs programs authorized under title V of the Social Security Act. ``(3) Required sharing.--In establishing mechanisms and entities under this subsection, the Secretary, and the Secretary of Education, shall ensure the sharing of tools, materials, and products developed under this subsection among entities receiving funding under this section. ``(e) Diagnosis.-- ``(1) Training.--The Secretary, in coordination with activities conducted under title V of the Social Security Act, shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, expand existing interdisciplinary training opportunities or opportunities to increase the number of sites able to diagnose or rule out individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities and ensure that-- ``(A) competitive grants or cooperative agreements are awarded to public or nonprofit agencies, including institutions of higher education, to expand existing or develop new maternal and child health interdisciplinary leadership education in neurodevelopmental and related disabilities programs (similar to the programs developed under section 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act) in States that do not have such a program; ``(B) trainees under such training programs-- ``(i) receive an appropriate balance of academic, clinical, and community opportunities; ``(ii) are culturally competent; ``(iii) are ethnically diverse; ``(iv) demonstrate a capacity to evaluate, diagnose or rule out, develop, and provide evidence-based interventions to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities; and ``(v) demonstrate an ability to use a family-centered approach; and ``(C) program sites provide culturally competent services. ``(2) Technical assistance.--The Secretary may award one or more grants under this section to provide technical assistance to the network of interdisciplinary training programs. ``(3) Best practices.--The Secretary shall promote research into additional valid and reliable tools for shortening the time required to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities and detecting individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities at an earlier age. ``(f) Intervention.--The Secretary shall promote research, through grants or contracts, to determine the evidence-based practices for interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities, develop guidelines for those interventions, and disseminate information related to such research and guidelines. ``(g) Sunset.--This section shall not apply after September 30, 2011. ``sec. 399cc. interagency autism coordinating committee. ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a committee, to be known as the `Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee' (in this section referred to as the `Committee'), to coordinate all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services concerning autism spectrum disorder. ``(b) Responsibilities.--In carrying out its duties under this section, the Committee shall-- ``(1) develop and annually update a summary of advances in autism spectrum disorder research related to causes, prevention, treatment, early screening, diagnosis or rule out, intervention, and access to services and supports for individuals with autism spectrum disorder; ``(2) monitor Federal activities with respect to autism spectrum disorder; ``(3) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding any appropriate changes to such activities, including recommendations to the Director of NIH with respect to the strategic plan developed under paragraph (5); ``(4) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding public participation in decisions relating to autism spectrum disorder; ``(5) develop and annually update a strategic plan for the conduct of, and support for, autism spectrum disorder research, including proposed budgetary requirements; and ``(6) submit to the Congress such strategic plan and any updates to such plan. ``(c) Membership.-- ``(1) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of-- ``(A) the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; ``(B) the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and the Directors of such national research institutes of the National Institutes of Health as the Secretary determines appropriate; ``(C) the heads of such other agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate; ``(D) representatives of other Federal Governmental agencies that serve individuals with autism spectrum disorder such as the Department of Education; and ``(E) the additional members appointed under paragraph (2). ``(2) Additional members.--Not fewer than 6 members of the Committee, or 1/3 of the total membership of the Committee, whichever is greater, shall be composed of non- Federal public members to be appointed by the Secretary, of which-- ``(A) at least one such member shall be an individual with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder; ``(B) at least one such member shall be a parent or legal guardian of an individual with an autism spectrum disorder; and ``(C) at least one such member shall be a representative of leading research, advocacy, and service organizations for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. ``(d) Administrative Support; Terms of Service; Other Provisions.--The following provisions shall apply with respect to the Committee: ``(1) The Committee shall receive necessary and appropriate administrative support from the Secretary. ``(2) Members of the Committee appointed under subsection (c)(2) shall serve for a term of 4 years, and may be reappointed for one or more additional 4 year term. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. A member may serve after the expiration of the member's term until a successor has taken office. ``(3) The Committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson or upon the request of the Secretary. The Committee shall meet not fewer than 2 times each year. ``(4) All meetings of the Committee shall be public and shall include appropriate time periods for questions and presentations by the public. ``(e) Subcommittees; Establishment and Membership.--In carrying out its functions, the Committee may establish subcommittees and convene workshops and conferences. Such subcommittees shall be composed of Committee members and may hold such meetings as are necessary to enable the subcommittees to carry out their duties. ``(f) Sunset.--This section shall not apply after September 30, 2011, and the Committee shall be terminated on such date. ``sec. 399dd. report to congress. ``(a) In General.--Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of the Combating Autism Act of 2006, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, shall prepare and submit to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee of the Senate and the Energy and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives a progress report on activities related to autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. ``(b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall contain-- ``(1) a description of the progress made in implementing the provisions of the Combating Autism Act of 2006; ``(2) a description of the amounts expended on the implementation of the particular provisions of Combating Autism Act of 2006; ``(3) information on the incidence of autism spectrum disorder and trend data of such incidence since the date of enactment of the Combating Autism Act of 2006; ``(4) information on the average age of diagnosis for children with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities, including how that age may have changed over the 4-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act; ``(5) information on the average age for intervention for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, including how that age may have changed over the 4-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act; ``(6) information on the average time between initial screening and then diagnosis or rule out for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities, as well as information on the average time between diagnosis and evidence-based intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities; ``(7) information on the effectiveness and outcomes of interventions for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, including by various subtypes, and other developmental disabilities and how the age of the child may affect such effectiveness; ``(8) information on the effectiveness and outcomes of innovative and newly developed intervention strategies for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities; and ``(9) information on services and supports provided to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities who have reached the age of majority (as defined for purposes of section 615(m) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1415(m)).''. (b) Repeals.--The following sections of the Children's Health Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-310) are repealed: (1) Section 102 (42 U.S.C. 247b-4b), relating to the Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program. (2) Section 103 (42 U.S.C. 247b-4c), relating to information and education. (3) Section 104 (42 U.S.C. 247b-4d), relating to the Inter-Agency Autism Coordinating Committee. (4) Section 105 (42 U.S.C. 247b-4e), relating to reports. sec. 4. authorization of appropriations. (a) In General.--Part R of title III of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 3, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``sec. 399ee. authorization of appropriations. ``(a) Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program.--To carry out section 399AA, there are authorized to be appropriated the following: ``(1) For fiscal year 2007, $15,000,000. ``(2) For fiscal year 2008, $16,500,000. ``(3) For fiscal year 2009, $18,000,000. ``(4) or fiscal year 2010, $19,500,000. ``(5) For fiscal year 2011, $21,000,000. ``(b) Autism Education, Early Detection, and Intervention.--To carry out section 399BB, there are authorized to be appropriated the following: ``(1) For fiscal year 2007, $32,000,000. ``(2) For fiscal year 2008, $37,000,000. ``(3) For fiscal year 2009, $42,000,000. ``(4) For fiscal year 2010, $47,000,000. ``(5) For fiscal year 2011, $52,000,000. ``(c) Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee; Certain Other Programs.--To carry out section 399CC, 409C, and section 404H, there are authorized to be appropriated the following: ``(1) For fiscal year 2007, $100,000,000. ``(2) For fiscal year 2008, $114,500,000. ``(3) For fiscal year 2009, $129,000,000. ``(4) For fiscal year 2010, $143,500,000. ``(5) For fiscal year 2011, $158,000,000.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 409C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g) is amended by striking subsection (e) (relating to funding). Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate concur in the House amendment, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, we just passed the combating autism bill that we have been working on for 16 months. I thank Senator Dodd for his tremendous work on that. I thank all of the autism groups. I thank Jennifer Vesey for the tremendous work she did and the hours and hours and patience it takes to put together complex and important pieces of legislation. Later today, or tomorrow, we are going to pass the abandoned mine lands bill. I would love to say that was Rick Santorum, but it was Ashley Horning; it wasn't Rick Santorum. She did all the work. I pretty much knew what was in there, and I would negotiate the parts in disagreement. That is what we all do. But on 90 percent of the bills that most of us know about, we didn't hammer out the details; it was done by folks who have the commitment and vision and effort and work the long hours to make the legislation possible. It is important that in Pennsylvania now we will get $1 billion to clean up abandoned mines--it is a tremendous contribution to the environment--our miners will have health care coverage paid because, in part, I had a terrific staff person. I can go down through issue after issue and look at these accomplishments that would be great to stand up and say that I did, but I had a tremendous amount of help. I had incredibly talented, gifted people who worked incredible hours. What most people across America don't realize is how hard our people around here work. They don't do it for the money. They don't do it because they have some agenda to accomplish. They do it because they want to improve America, make America a better place. They want to leave this place better than how they found it. They want to serve because they love this country and they believe in what will make this country better. They work long hours. They don't get paid as much as they could make if they wandered off the Hill. I will put my folks, both in Washington and across the State, up against anybody. They are sitting in the gallery and here along the railing. They have given their all and I thank them. They served the people of Pennsylvania. Looking at Kevin Roy over there, I think of all of the earmarks--that is a dirty word--that we were able to get to help the people in Pennsylvania in so many ways. I look at work we did for the nonprofit community and welfare and families, and Melanie Looney and her team worked on that. It has been an incredible group. Our Senate conference, the message folks--it was awfully hard. Republicans are not good on the old message issue. We don't follow our talking points very well. We try. We try. We have a lot of independent thinkers on our side. God bless them. They always have a better way of saying things than what we suggest or actually not even saying things, thinking of things other than what we suggest. That is the beauty of our party. We have a lot of diversity within our party. We have some very talented people who work very hard, not just a dry message to spin, but to try to move the debate, try to get our causes articulated in a way that is communicated effectively to people across America. They worked hard. They built coalitions. They did their best, and I thank them for their effort and the tremendous service they have given our conference. I thank the folks in my district offices. Most of those folks have been with me 16 years. We don't have a lot of turnover in our office. A lot of folks in Pittsburgh have been with me 16 and others around the State have been with me 12 years. They are dedicated people who go out and do those security checks and veterans benefits and medals. I will always remember one story that happened this last year. There was a man, a World War II vet named Patrick. I was at a ribbon-cutting for a VA facility in Oakland in Pittsburgh. While I was there, we arranged a little medal presentation to a veteran who had sought a medal and was never given that medal. That is all I knew about it. I showed up. There was this older gentleman sitting in the front row. His name was Patrick. Patrick was a World War II veteran who served in Patton's army and was sent on a secret mission to try to liberate a POW camp. In that mission, he was captured. He was imprisoned for several months, I believe, in a German POW camp. When he got out of the Army, he requested a POW medal, but the paperwork didn't show he had been captured. It was a secret mission, and it never appeared on his military record. For 60 years, Patrick fought to get his designation as a POW. He never married. In fact, later in his life after he retired from work, he became somewhat of a recluse because he was kidded by some of his buddies about being a POW. It affected him dramatically, so much so that one of his friends and relatives contacted us to say: Is there anything you can do? Could it possibly be true? Ann Blocksidge in my office in Pittsburgh, wizard that she is with these issues that she has been working on now for 16 years, knew the places to call and put the records together. We found out, yes, he was, and that was in one place in one record and not in the same place as the other record, and A didn't talk to B. So we were able to get him his POW medal. I remember pinning it on him. This older man walked to the microphone. He said: There is one thing I want to say. He said: I finally feel welcomed home. It is a great story, but the folks in my office and offices all over this Capitol do this every day because they care, because the people call with impossible things, and our folks do impossible things to help them. I thank all of them for all the service they have done, for doing what I ask them to do when they come into the office: Treat every caller as if it is your grandmother calling. If you treat every caller as if it is your grandmother--hopefully they get along with their grandmother--then things will be fine. I thank my colleagues. This place gets a lot of ridicule. It is very easy to criticize people in the fishbowl. It is very easy to take shots at people for not living up to expectations, and certainly we all do not live up to expectations. But I think I can say without any reservation that the men and women in this body are good and decent people who are doing what they believe is best for this country. I know many people find that hard to believe because they look at people and they have beliefs so diametrically opposed to people in this Chamber. I certainly have views--and have demonstrated that on many occasions on the floor of the Senate--that are diametrically opposed to many people in this Chamber. But in my heart, I never questioned the integrity and the sincerity of the people who articulated their opinions, that they were not sincere. I believed that they were sincere and that they believed it was in the best interest of the country. That is what is supposed to happen here. Ideas are to be debated, points of view are to be discussed, and the prevailing thought of the day will move the country in that direction. I tell the people of America: There are very good people here. There are people here on both sides of the aisle who pray every single day for God's guidance. There are people here today who, while we fight and argue, do so out of a passion for doing what is right. I thank my colleagues for the courtesies they have shown me, and particularly my Republican colleagues for the honor they have given me to serve in the leadership for 6 years. I know that was not an easy decision back in 2001 to elect someone who had a reputation of being somewhat of a bomb thrower in the House and in my early Senate days to a position of leadership in the Senate. They took a risk. I hope they feel it has paid off. It has certainly been a great blessing to me to have been able to serve my colleagues in the capacity of conference chairman. It is an incredible group of people. I think of John, who is my tennis partner. We played our first match after I was defeated, and he beat me 6-love, 6-1. He thinks it is because he played better, but I am just preparing for other employment. We have prayer groups here. One of the most important things in my life over the past 12 years has been the Senate prayer group, the Senate Bible study, and the prayer breakfasts, the small prayer group with which I have been involved. I don't know how people do it. I don't know how people do this business without prayer, without an understanding that there is something bigger than us here, something that will help us, guide us, lift us up at times when there seems to be no other reason to be lifted up. I thank all of those who prayed with me and prayed for me. Lloyd Ogilvie, a Chaplain here for many years, and Barry Black, our Chaplain now--they are prayer warriors for all of us. I know they pray for us every day. I know Lloyd still prays for us every day, and I know millions of Americans pray for us every day. I thank all of them for helping me through and helping us and helping our country through these difficult times. I thank our leader, Bill Frist, my first leader I served under as a member of the leadership, Trent Lott, and the leader I served under when I came to the Senate, Bob Dole. Each and every one of them in their own way led differently. But in the case of Senator Dole, he was a larger-than-life figure to me, coming over to the Senate as a 36-year-old Senator. He was on his way to run for the Presidency. He took the time to be concerned about the issues that were important to me. He put me on the committees I needed to be on and gave me the opportunity that I will never forget and certainly will always be thankful for--to manage and work on the welfare reform bill back in 1996. Of all the things I accomplished in the Senate, there is nothing I am more proud of than what we did in 1996 to reform the welfare system and transition it so millions and millions would fall off the rolls, find gainful employment, and change their lives and the lives of their families. I owe that to Bob Dole. He gave me the opportunity to stand at that manager's chair for months in my second year in the Senate and take on what I would argue was the most important piece of legislation in that session of the Congress, the Republican revolution. I thank Trent Lott not only for his tutelage and mentoring me in the time I have been here as a leader, but for helping me in gaining leadership and being involved in the leadership in the Senate. I thank Bill Frist for his friendship. His coming in as a leader when I was already in the leadership was a little different. He didn't come in and point the finger and boss us around, he came in to learn. He came in to engage, to try to take the knowledge that was in the leadership group and use it to build a stronger group. I appreciate that. There is a humility in Bill Frist. It is a very attractive quality and, I might also add, a rather rare quality if one is in the Senate, but a very attractive one and a very important one in Senators and leaders. I thank, I guess finally, the people of Pennsylvania. I was talking to Jim Towey. Jim is the new president of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. Jim is the former director of the Faith-Based Office for the President. I called him the other day. He said: You know, Rick, I have been here--I think he said 6 months. He said: I really like the State, like the area, good people. But the more I study the State and the more I get the feel of Pennsylvania, I have one question: It is not how did you lose the election, but how did you get elected here twice? I got elected twice because I had a lot of wonderful people who campaigned hard, worked hard, and believed in me and were able to maybe see past some of the differences with me to give me an opportunity to serve here, and I am eternally grateful. It is an incredible State. It is one I got to know very well and, obviously, got to know thousands of people. I had the opportunity to serve them. I had the opportunity to be scolded by them, reprimanded by them. But I always understood they were my employers. I work for them. And when you work for somebody, sometimes they are going to tell you they don't like the job you are doing. And you better act like someone who is an employee instead of an employer or you are not going to find yourself as an employee very much longer. Well, I tried to act like an employee. But that doesn't mean I always had to agree with my employer, and a lot of times I didn't. And maybe I spoke up too often too loudly and too boldly on some of the things that my employer didn't agree with. I hope they respect the fact that it was a heartfelt disagreement and that I did what I did and I said what I said because I believed it was in their best interests, even though they may not have thought so. I respect the fact that I didn't win this election and that the people of Pennsylvania made a different decision. I had an opportunity to meet with my successor today in my office and get a chance to talk with him about some of the ins and outs of the Senate. He is a good man, and he will do a good job. I hope the people of Pennsylvania will give him and extend to him the same courtesies and trust and cooperation that so many Pennsylvanians who didn't agree with me on a lot of things but knew that it was important to work together--such as our Governor, Ed Rendell, whom I worked with as mayor and as Governor, as well as I did with any Republican that I know--I hope that Republican officeholders in Pennsylvania treat my opponent with the same kind of respect and the same kind of cooperation that Governor Rendell and I have had over the years. That brings me to my colleague, Senator Specter. It was very kind of Arlen to come and say a few words. He said that we are not only colleagues in the Senate and, obviously, colleagues from Pennsylvania, but we are friends. I have to tell my colleagues, when I first came to the Senate, I thought it was a very long shot that I would be friends with Arlen Specter. All I had heard about Arlen Specter was how prickly a character he is, how difficult he is, sort of cold and tough. But he is a pretty soft guy. He really is. He gets those granddaughters around him and he just melts. No, he is a good man. I don't agree with Arlen a lot, and of course everybody knows that, but Arlen has been a good partner. We have worked on a lot of things together. And even when we disagreed, we understood and respected the disagreement and didn't let it affect us, or certainly our relationship, or if it was important enough to us and important enough to the State and important enough to the country, we worked hard to try to bridge those differences. I think that is a good model. I recommend it to my successor. I recommend it to all my colleagues. This place doesn't have to be as personally confrontational as it is. I say that as someone who was pretty personally combative when I first came here. I know that I have had some pretty strident debates on the floor of the Senate, but I will tell my colleagues that in my heart, it was never personal, it was always about what the issue was about. And it is hard for a lot of people in America who look at it in a culture that takes everything personally--people have asked me why I have been so comfortable and at ease with what has happened, and it is because I don't take it personally. People disagree with where I wanted to take this country, and that is fine. They will have an opportunity to take it someplace else, for now. But I don't take it personally. I look at the empty desks of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and I look at each and every one and I can see them all sitting there, and I can't think of one that I would take a disagreement with personally--and I have had disagreements with virtually every one but all of them have disagreed, hopefully without being personally disagreeable. That is how this place works. It is the only way it can work and be successful for America. In closing, I want to say that I always come back to the word ``gratitude.'' To God, to my family, to my colleagues, to the wonderful people who have worked for me and with me over the years, to the people of the 18th Congressional District, to the people of Pennsylvania: Thank you. Thank you. I don't know what I will be doing next, but I cannot imagine that anything I do in the future will rival the kind of blessings I have felt from all of the folks whom I have mentioned. The relationships and the wonderful accomplishments and the great spirit I have experienced over these last 16 years are experiences that I am eternally grateful for to all of those involved. It has been a great blessing. I thank my colleagues, I thank those who came and listened, those who might be listening in other ways, but I thank them, personally, for the great kindness they have shown me. I leave a very happy and contented former Senator from Pennsylvania who feels very blessed. Exhibit 1 Senate Personal Office Employees Aho, Robert W; Anderson, Thomas S; Armata, Andrew M T; Baldwin, Todd A; Barbera, Vincent M; Barron, Bruce A; Bashore, Keith E; Beresnyak, Allison M; Beresnyak, Thomas E Jr.; Bernier, George M III; Bernstein, Luke M; Berry, Donna A; Bertuola, Lawrence J; Beynon, Matthew E; Bickhart, Robert G; Blocksidge, Anne M; Bonesso, Rozzanna J; Bowman, Patricia Dianne; Bowser, Julia E; Boyd, Allison J. Bozzuto, Robert F; Bragg, Heather N; Broughton, Aaron Michael; Brown, Brian T; Burkhalter, Colin J; Butler, Timothy R; Caldwell, Stanley D; Calka, Courtney JO; Carlson, Michael R; Carter, Andrew C; Castillo, Michael J; Chapman, Elizabeth R; Christman, David R; Clater, Michael D; Cognato, Christopher; Cognato, Michael H; Coleman, Samuel E; Collins, Leah R; Conklin, Jennifer M; Coppolo, Stephen D. Corman, Jacob D III; Coulter, Kathryn A; Covel, Michelle F; Crane, Rebecca H; Curry, Margaret K; Daniel, Kelly L; Davidek, Jason E; Davis, Mary Elizabeth A; Davis, Virginia L; Dermody, Brandon D; Devito, William J; Dick, John T; Diehl, Samuel W; Dougherty, Kara A; Doyle, Lyda A; Dutkowski, Margaret C; Ely, Ramona J; Ensslin, Mary T; Evans, Andrea L; Faulk, Page C. Faustino, Mary A; Feenstra, Paul A; Feller, Meredith L; Fergusen, Sarah E; Ferrara, Lorenzo L; Finney, Thomas S; Fischer, Karen E; Fratto, Salvatore A; French, David G; French, John M III; Galko, Vincent A; Garver, Nancy L; Gaston, Shivellia T; Gemma, Peter B Jr.; Genesio, Christine J; Gerry, Keith M; Gorman, Victoria Lynn; Greco, Michael P; Greene, Charles M; Gresov, Winston G. Gutierrez, Jennifer C; Haberkern, Jeffery J; Hall, David M; Harbula, David Scott; Harvey, Marcus W; Hershey, Jill E; Hershey, Michael S; Hoadley, Cassandra; Holcombe, Sara K; Hornbake, Lawrence E; Horne, Wesley O; Horning, Ashley E; Howard, Jaime L; Hybels, Amy R; Irvine, Walter G Jr.; Irwin, Christine E; Ivanov, Florina D; Johnson, Thomas O II; Kauffman, Alexander J; Kelly, Caitlin B. Kennedy, Brian D; Kinsman, Chelsea M; Kitchen, Michelle L; Kocan, Sheila T; Koutsiouroumbas, Athan; Kuklis, Joseph V; Laager, Maryanne R; Ladd, Abigail A; Larcinese, Mary E; Laurenson, Craig A; Lebaudy, Laura A; Leidner, Kristina S; Leinbach, Christian Y; Lewandowski, Leslie L; Lindenberger, Stephanie Ann; Lofton, Marian Victoria; Looney, Melanie L; Lyle, Stephen T; Lynch, Stephanie F; Maclean, Heather Marie. Maddox, Audrey C; Maguire, Erin K; Mahon, Emmet M; Maines, Laura A; Martin, David; Martin, John E Jr.; Mattei, Thomas J Jr.; Matthews, Shawnna Lee; Mcclard, Melissa J; Mccoy, Ida M; Mccracken, David E; Mccree, Michael R; Mcdonald, Robin V; Mcelwee, George S; Mcginley, Christopher P; Mckeon, Meredith; Mcnamara, Kevin M; Medina, Wanda I; Meyer, Christine M; Mihalke, Michael H. Miller, Eric R; Miller, Jennifer L; Miller, Manda B; Miller, Nicole M; Miller, William A; Mitchell, Anna K; Mitchell, Marcus P; Mizer, Erica L; Molineaux, Peter J; Moore, Thomas; Moore, Zachery P; Morinigo, Nicholas; Morton, Bylly Jo; Mullen, James G; Narcavage, Michael III; Navin, Lawrence M; Ohara, Gerald J; Oshea, Joseph J; Pallotto, Adam R; Palmer, Wayne D. Park, Victoria P; Parrick-Cox, Susan; Patel, Kajal A; Pavlik, Bonnie M; Peacock, Deborah A; Pearson, Tim; Perez, Janet M; Petraglia, Amy W; Poteet, Paul W; Preate, Alexandra V; Pugh, Jennifer S; Quinn, Christine Marie; Rajsic, Michelle; Ramos, Josephina; Reilly, Sean M; Reyes, Jeremy; Rhodes, Allison L; Riegel, Ellen J; Rockwell, Russel A; Rode, Katherine R. Rodgers, Lincoln R C; Roman, Lisa M; Romaniello, Catherine M; Roscoe, Abigail; Rossi, Connie J; Rossman, Eleanor T; Roy, Kevin F; Ryan, Maureen; Sailhamer, Brent A; Salvesen, Erling R III; Sanborn, Alden R; Sanders, Joseph E Jr.; Sarmir, Danielle; Scanlan, Tricia L; Scaringi, M Anthony; Schmidt, Keith A; Schmidt, Michele E; Sears, William P; Sechler, Michael W; Shaner, Mathias R. Sharp, Crystal N; Sharp, Trudy R; Shelby, Melissa B; Sheriff, Marie A; Shirk, Jamie E; Shott, Christine M; Simodejka, Jill L; Sinha, Sushant K; Smith, Brian A; Smith, Jacob W; Solfanelli, Matthew; Soroka, Suzanne M; Sosar, Edward D; Spangler, Courtney Leigh; Sparvero, Emily S; Stawasz, Karen L; Stein, Peter J; Stephans, Elizabeth L; Stolnacher, Patricia L; Stoltzfoos, Gerald D. Stoltzfoos, Jeffery L; Strickland, Carolyn; Strothman, Alexis A; Stuart, Robert R; Swain, Tooshar K; Swartz, Barbara K; Sweeny, Jennifer Mahurin; Sybyl, Julie M; Szy, Daniel J; Taylor, David N; Tekel, Adam R; Thompson, Holly; Titus-Young, Joy J; Traynham, Robert L; Trego, Joshua S; Tulyasathein, Charnsin; Turner, Michelle D; Urguhart, E Randy; Valdes, Stephen G; Vanderpool, Kristen R. Vesey, Jennifer L; Voinski, John A; Vulakovich, Randolph P; Walker, Patricia B; Wall, Toni B; Walters, Christopher F; Watson, D Dexter; Weaver, Chad A; Weber, David; Weiss, Todd M; White, Jennifer S; Wiesenfeld, Michael A; Williamson, N Kathy; Willis, Jessica R; Wittman, Anne E; Wright, Erica Clayton; Wusinich, Maria T; Yanoshak, Erica M; Younger, Anita. Senate Republican Conference Employees Amy Marie Adams; Jeff Hunt; Garrett Fahy; Joel Digrado; Kate Harris; Shonda Werry; Cris Clapp; Melissa Seckora Anderson; Elizabeth Keys; Barbara Ledeen; Chrissy Shott; Sarah Berk; Mark Rodgers; Randy Brandt; Katherine Gonzalez; Carlos Gonzalez; Lane Marshall; Cyrus Pearson; Robert Traynham; Henry Peterson; Chris Angrisani; Laura Gill. Nick Schweich; Aaron Broughton; Tim Petty; Curtis Swager; Nate Green; David Song; Michael Bleicher; Jen Sweeney; Joy Schmidt; Eden Gordon; Susana Levenson; Eric Miller; Chris Myers; Rebecca Cotton; Drew Cantor; Alex Kaufman; John Rankin; Dan Ronayne; Eric Ruiz; Loredana Vouto; Deidre Woodbyrne. TRIBUTES TO RICK SANTORUM Proceedings in the Senate 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 Rick Santorum from Pennsylvania, one of the leaders of the majority in the Senate the last few years, came to the Senate in 1994 and helped shape a different agenda. He believed fervently in the power of the institution to change the world and felt deeply about issues. I served on the Committee on Banking with Senator Santorum for many years and came to respect the junior Senator from Pennsylvania. I have a high regard for his ability to work through the big issues. For service to our country, both the House and the Senate, thank you, Senator Santorum. We will miss you. . . . 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. . . . 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 Rick Santorum, Karen, and their six children whom they home school, and his Italian heritage--which explains a lot about his enthusiasm and vigor for the things he believes in most strongly. . . . 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 Rick Santorum and I spent most of our time on the floor of the Senate in hot debate, disagreeing on almost everything. But we found some areas of agreement, and one of them was the global AIDS effort. I am glad that he joined as my partner in that effort. The money that we secured will be spent around the world will save lives and provide hope. . . . 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. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise to take a moment to congratulate my colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator Santorum, who spoke very eloquently about the world threat that we face today. Rick Santorum is someone of great passion. He is someone who is fearless. He is someone who, frankly, does not care whether people agree with him or do not agree with him. I will say this: This Senate is going to be a lesser body without Rick Santorum's great passion and his great drive, his great creativity. He will take those attributes out of this body, but I know that we will hear from him. He will be vocal. He will be concerned. He will be involved in whatever role he decides to assume after the first of January. 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. . . . Senator Rick Santorum has an impressive record of public service. Subsequent to his service in local and State government, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1994, Rick was elected for the first time to the U.S. Senate. From his first day in the Senate until 2002 we had the opportunity to serve together on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Throughout his time on that committee, and since he left the committee, Rick could always be counted on for his deliberate and reasoned decisionmaking to ensure the best possible policies for the men and women in the Armed Forces. Since 2001, Senator Santorum has also played an important role in the Senate leadership as Republican conference chairman. As conference chairman, Senator Santorum has tirelessly represented the Republican Party as the party spokesman. There is no doubt in my mind that Rick Santorum's passion, enthusiasm, and leadership will be missed here in the Senate. . . . 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. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to discuss a number of matters briefly. . . . Mr. President, I regret the departure of my distinguished colleague, Senator Rick Santorum. He has been really a ball of fire in the U.S. Congress. He was elected in 1990 to the House of Representatives, defeating a long-term incumbent by literally going door to door in his district in the Pittsburgh area. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994, reelected in the year 2000, and has displayed admirable qualities-- energy, determination, confidence, and the pursuit of his own personal values. There is no doubt that Senator Santorum has espoused, articulated, and pushed causes he deeply believed in which may not have been popular in many quarters, but he was determined to undertake the pursuit of those values because he believed in them so deeply. I counseled him from time to time to save some of his philosophy for December 2006. A famous quotation about President Lincoln; he was asked by a little boy, in effect: How do you serve, Mr. President? He said: I represent my true beliefs and values 90 percent of the time. The little boy said: Well, what about the other 10 percent? The famous statement by President Lincoln: So that I can represent my true values 90 percent of the time. It is not unknown in our body to occasionally defer some of the more controversial positions. But Senator Santorum didn't do that. He spoke his mind and he spoke his heart. Those are rare qualities in public life and public service and in politics. For that, I salute him. On a personal level, Rick and I have had a superb relationship, not only professionally, not only politically, but also personally. A more devoted family man could not be found. He has taken this turn of electoral results philosophically and in a good spirit. I have had some experience on the losing end of elections and, having been there, I say that he has responded with great class, with great style. His comment earlier this week was: Tough on the family, tough on Karen, tough on the children, but now they have their husband back, and they have their father back. And he had a big smile and a sense of satisfaction. He spoke to the caucus yesterday, and he exuded confidence. He exuded personal pride in what he had done. I join him in that. As a colleague, I personally will miss him very much. I know that will be the sentiment of this body, even those with whom he has tangled in a rigorous way. Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, I am going to take a couple minutes to talk about my great friend Rick Santorum. Election night; a lot of emotions going on; no question my heart was torn because my best friend in the Senate lost the election that night. I was saddened simply from a personal level, but I was also saddened for our country because I believe Rick Santorum has served this country so well. His integrity, his vision--so many things about this man have really been extraordinary. I have gotten to know a lot of the people around him, his staff. It says a lot about him because of how many of them are sitting in this room today. The quality of the people he has around him says a tremendous amount about him, as does the passion with which they served him and the passion with which he serves the country. I also came to know Karen and his six kids. They are extraordinary people. Rick is a great leader of his home. Just seeing the love and respect that Karen has for Rick and that his children have for him as a father says a lot about him as an individual as well. I am going to keep this short. This is completely from the heart. I can say with confidence that as a human being, there have been maybe human beings as good who have served in this Senate, but there have been no better. He is that quality of a human being. His faith leads him to that. I consider it a great privilege to have served with him and to call him a friend over these last 6 years. I know the friendship he and I share will be a lifetime friendship. Rick, this body will miss you greatly, but no one in this body will miss you more than I. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I wish to say to my good friend from Pennsylvania [Mr. Santorum], before he leaves the floor, what an extraordinary 16 years he has had representing the people of his State and what a truly outstanding Member of the Senate he has been and what a moving farewell address I had an opportunity to witness. Good luck, good friend, and Godspeed. 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. . . . 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. . . . I also acknowledge that several of my colleagues will not be with us after we conclude our business tonight, tomorrow, the next day, or whenever we are going to conclude our business here, colleagues with whom I have served with a great deal of pleasure. My friend Rick Santorum was serving in the leadership. We both served in the House of Representatives. He was a great inspiration to the Republican team here, and I know everyone, Democrat and Republican, respects him for his commitment, values, and ideals. . . . 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 also thank my good friend from Pennsylvania, my friend who keeps the candy drawer over there, Rick Santorum. Like so many who spoke about him yesterday, I applaud Rick for his passion and his absolute fearlessness in standing up for what he believes. I recall being on this floor many nights late at night during the debate over partial-birth abortion. Some nights it was just Rick and me, and we closed this place. He got it done. I thank him for that. I also remember how Senator Santorum stood with Senators Lindsey Graham and Sam Brownback to help me pass my unborn victims of violence bill and see it signed into law. It took several years to pass this legislation, and Congressman Graham had been the sponsor and was the sponsor of the bill in the House. I applaud his determination to get this done. When it comes to foreign policy issues, I share an interest in western hemisphere issues with my friends Senator Norm Coleman, the chairman, and Mel Martinez. Mel, thank you. Senator Coleman has admirably served this body as chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee. I sincerely enjoyed traveling with him to Haiti. . . . 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. . . . 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. I want to first recognize Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who has been a colleague of mine in this body for 12 years. During that time he rose to No. 3 in the Republican leadership, as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, and made a name for himself as a young and energetic conservative. Rick Santorum, the son of an Italian immigrant, earned a law degree and an MBA and won election to the House of Representatives at the tender age of 32. After two terms in the House he won his first Senate election in 1994, as well as reelection in 2000. Senator Santorum quickly established himself as one of the faces of his party, a testament to his strong principles and his communications skill. Throughout his legislative career, Senator Santorum has been especially strong on anti-poverty measures. He served as a floor manager for welfare reform in the mid-1990s. In the Senate, he worked for African debt relief and funding for the fight against AIDS, often collaborating closely with his colleagues across the aisle. His efforts moved Bono to declare him ``a defender of the most vulnerable.'' I was especially pleased to work with Senator Santorum on the Combating Autism Act. When nearly 1 in every 166 children born today will be diagnosed with this developmental disorder by the time they reach school age, Government action is more necessary than ever. Senator Santorum recognized that, and he helped me work for a bill that, in the final version, would authorize $945 million for autism research, screening, education, and services-- double the current level of funding. On poverty, AIDS, autism, and many similar issues, Rick Santorum has been a dependable ally. Over his 12 years in the Senate, Rick Santorum dedicated himself to a philosophy he described as ``healthy families, freedom of faith, a vibrant civil society, a proper understanding of the individual, and a focused government to achieve noble purposes.'' Senator Santorum and I may not have always seen eye to eye, but no one ever questioned his commitment to principle. I wish him, his wife Karen, and their six children all the best. . . . Mr. HATCH. . . . Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague and friend from Pennsylvania, Senator Rick Santorum, who will soon be ending a very distinguished and impressive career in the U.S. Congress. In my 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate, I have seen a lot of Senators come and go. However, it is hard to think of anyone who has had more energy, more enthusiasm, and who, in such a short period of time, has had a greater impact on many important issues affecting our families and our society, than has the junior Senator from Pennsylvania. After receiving advanced degrees in business and law, Rick was elected to the House of Representatives in 1990 at the age of 32. He served two terms in that body before running for the Senate. He distinguished himself as part of the so-called Gang of 7 that helped uncover the House banking scandal and called for reforms of the House. The same year he was first elected to Congress, Rick was married to his wife Karen, and they started their family that now includes six children. As the father of six myself, I know firsthand the challenges and joys that come from having a large family. Rick has done such a marvelous job balancing home life with public life with its demanding schedule and its never-ending conflicts. After winning election to the Senate in 1994, Rick Santorum immediately began exerting leadership on issues in several different legislative areas but notably in the areas of health, agriculture, and welfare reform. Upon winning reelection to his second term in the Senate, his GOP colleagues validated his natural leadership by choosing Rick to chair the Senate Republican Conference. Although Senator Santorum is well known for his strong defense of many conservative positions and his articulate voice on many issues affecting the sanctity of the family, it would be wrong to characterize him as a strict partisan. I have seen many examples where Rick has reached across the aisle to his Democratic colleagues and found common ground on issues of importance to all Americans. One notable example of this is on an issue that is also very important to me--promoting charitable initiatives. Several years ago, Senator Santorum teamed up with another of our most distinguished and thoughtful colleagues, Senator Joe Lieberman, to introduce the Charity, Aid, Recovery, and Empowerment, CARE, Act. The CARE Act was designed to address many problems faced by the charitable sector of our Nation and to help them to better achieve their goals of lifting up the impoverished among us and of helping all of us better assist our fellow man in times of need. As an original cosponsor of the CARE Act, I saw up close the tireless dedication and unending efforts that Rick Santorum put into promoting this legislation, not just in the Senate but with the White House. While this very ambitious legislation has not entirely been enacted, Rick can take a great deal of justifiable pride in the fact that great strides have been made in achieving the goals of the CARE Act. Moreover, he can take great satisfaction in knowing that his colleagues in the Senate and the House, policymakers in the executive branch, those who serve so diligently in the charitable community, and indeed concerned Americans from all walks of life, are much more aware of the accomplishments and the needs of the charitable sector because of the efforts of Senator Santorum. Mr. President, the junior Senator from Pennsylvania is going to be long remembered in this body, and he will be sorely missed. He will be remembered and missed for his intelligence, his articulate voice, his courage, his energy, and his leadership. I salute Rick as a fine public servant as he enters the next stage of his life, and I thank him for his dedication and for his hard work. I am sure I am joined by all of our colleagues as we wish Rick and his family the very best in the future. . . . Mr. MARTINEZ. . . . Mr. President, today I commend Senator Rick Santorum for his dedication to public service and accomplishments as a legislator. Above all, I admire the Senator's commitment to the people of his home State, Pennsylvania, and to his family. Throughout his 12-year tenure in the U.S. Senate, he relentlessly fought to pass legislation benefiting the welfare of not only his constituents, but Americans everywhere. In addition, Senator Santorum has been a great advocate in the effort to find a cure for the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and a strong supporter of the war on terror. He has represented the American people well. As a colleague, I would also like to thank Senator Santorum for his strong leadership as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. During his time in Washington, Rick has always maintained the importance of family, a value that I admire and share. He has also provided valuable guidance to me in the past and will be missed. I wish my colleague from Pennsylvania, his wife, and children all the best in the future. Thank you for your service. . . . Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, when I look back on the years I was fortunate enough to have served in the Senate with Rick Santorum, I think I will most remember him for his strong and passionate belief in the principles he fought for on the floor, the unwavering support he always gave his friends, and the powerful way he expressed himself on the issues that came before the Senate. Whenever there was a problem ahead, it was always good to know Rick was in your corner. In fact, Rick was one of my first supporters when I was running for the U.S. Senate. Everyone who runs for the Senate for the first time has a great need for funds. I was no exception. Rick gave me a check that I later noticed was not signed. I needed the help and I would gladly have walked halfway across the District of Columbia to get his signature to make the document official, but when he learned that I needed his endorsement on the check he had so generously helped me obtain, he dropped everything he was doing and came to where I was to sign the check for me. In the years since my election, Rick has shown time and time again that he is a thoughtful, genuine person on whom I could rely. He has a great mind for politics and his heart is with the people of Pennsylvania whom he has represented so well. I have often relied on him for the way he would quietly offer me his good advice, support me when we took up issues that were big concerns of the people of my State, mentor me on how to get things done around here, advise me on procedure, and help me to advance the causes that were common to the people of our States. The people of his home State could not have had a more active and effective advocate through the years, and he will be very hard to replace. As any observer would note, Rick's career has been nothing short of amazing. At every step in his political life, critics would tell him his vision was an impossible dream. In response, Rick would take his case to the people, and time after time he would prove the naysayers wrong. That is because Rick knew the value of hard work and he also knew the first law of politics--it is not where you start, it is where you finish--and Rick made a habit of finishing first. When Rick ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, he knew it was going to be a rough campaign because he was battling a seven-term incumbent who had a lot more money than he did. So Rick knocked on 25,000 doors and put together a grassroots effort that included people from many different backgrounds who wanted to work with Rick on a wide range of issues. In the end, when the election was over and the votes were counted, Rick had won. It was clearly Rick's personal touch and his enthusiasm for the job that had been strong enough to overcome every obstacle--even a shortage of financial resources. It wasn't long after that Rick was elected to the Senate after another difficult campaign battle. Again, the critics said it couldn't be done. Once again, Rick showed them he could do it. As soon as he arrived in the Senate, he continued to fight for the principles he believed in, regardless of what others predicted the outcome would be. He fought for the tough causes without regard for the outcome because he couldn't be silent when the rights of the unborn were denied or a cherished principle was at stake. It was a commitment borne of his deep and abiding faith. In fact, I can't think of anyone who is a stronger man of faith than Rick is. His faith is a great part of who he is, and it forms the basis of his character. I heard a story about the last campaign, about Rick and a trip he and his wife were making so Rick could appear on ``Meet the Press.'' It was near the end of what had been a long and difficult campaign and anyone else would have been exhausted. Not Rick. He was fighting for a cause that he believed in, and he was, once again, full of that remarkable energy he called upon for all of his political campaigns. As they headed down the road toward Washington, Rick and his wife talked about how hard the campaign was and how it had affected them and their family. As they thought about the battle that was still before them, they began to talk about Rick's opponent and the toll the battle was undoubtedly taking on him and his family as well. Without hesitation, as they drove to Washington for the televised debate, they took the time to pray for his opponent and his family in the hope that God would bless them and give them all the strength they would need to complete the campaign. Then they would leave the matter to the voters to decide. That is how strong a part of his life Rick's faith is. In the years to come, I think Rick will often come to mind, standing with us on the Senate floor, taking on a cause that has driven him to act. Rick is known as a scrapper, but he is much more than that. He is a warrior, the kind you want on your side when the going gets tough. He is also a brilliant tactician, and if there is anyone who can develop and implement a winning strategy on the floor or in the field, that individual is Rick Santorum. Rick has been a winner over the years because he knows the value of a message--and how to effectively advocate and present it. He is a great persuader as well, and he has been a valuable part of many efforts to pass legislation. He is someone who likes to get things done, and that ability has been recognized here in Washington and back home in Pennsylvania by members of both parties. When it comes to a difficult bill, Rick has the conviction, courage, and persistence to work through our difficult process and get the job done. His defense of life on the floor has made a difference and it will continue to do so. Rick knows that one person doing the right thing is a majority. He knows that has cost him in the past, but he will be the first to say that it has been worth it, and people will see that in the long run it is all about standing up for what you believe. I have always believed that life is a great adventure and God has placed us where he needs us, when he needs us to be there. I know that God has special plans for Rick. We haven't heard the last from him. There is another battle, a greater cause for which he is needed, and I am looking forward to seeing where God will see fit to place him in the months to come. Rick Santorum has been a great friend during the time I have had a chance to come to know him. His expression of his faith and all he has shared with us at our prayer breakfasts will stay with me because they were a powerful and memorable affirmation of his belief in God. I hope he continues to weigh in on the issues that come before the Senate. We can always benefit from the views and advice of someone who says what he means and means what he says. . . . Ms. SNOWE. . . . Mr. President, today I honor a principled legislator, a passionate advocate, and stalwart son of Pennsylvania, Senator Rick Santorum, whose vitality as a leader in both the House and Senate was exceeded only by his exceptional dedication and extraordinary civic contribution. During his 16 years in both the House and the Senate, Rick Santorum marshaled his experience and skills in business and law to answer effectively and historically a clarion call to public service. And the bedrock hallmarks that have been the constant catalysts driving him are his remarkable passion and enormous resolve. In the Senate, an institution known rightfully and constitutionally for deliberation, Rick's energy has been refreshing and welcomed. Whether on the Senate Armed Services or Finance Committees on which we both served, Senator Santorum invariably infused policy debates with a fresh, informed, and vibrant voice on a range of critical issues, including national security, health care, economic development, and combating AIDS. Indeed, Rick has been passionate in aggressively fighting the global pandemic of HIV/AIDS--a scourge that brings tragedy to millions of men, women, and children across the globe. Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Rick worked without regard to political ideology or philosophy on this matter that truly rises above partisanship because he recognizes that compassion and humanism are ideals too large and important to be constrained by political labels. Finally, I well recall our legislative service together in the House where Rick was a vital champion for change and an indispensable force behind an agenda for reform. He unquestionably engendered a transformative sensibility that helped catapult Republicans into the majority. Senator Santorum has dedicated his life to service to others, and I have no doubt that he will continue to do so in the future. Characterizing those achievements is his steadfast integrity and allegiance to deeply held beliefs. But for all of his accomplishments and the titles that accompany them, those that bring him the greatest satisfaction, that he treasures above all, are that of husband and father. Rick Santorum has served his country and the people of Pennsylvania well, and I wish him, his wife Karen, and their children all the best. 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. . . . Senator Rick Santorum is a principled conservative who is not shy to tell you where he stands. He has served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania tirelessly for the last 16 years. Rick has always been honest and upfront, and his passion will be missed. Rick and his wife Karen have six wonderful children who all should be proud of how their dad represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. Congress. . . . 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, Senator Rick Santorum has a distinguished career serving the people of Pennsylvania. Everyone knows he is a hard worker who is defined by his determination, commitment to a core set of values, and unyielding optimism. His strong leadership in the Senate led Senator Santorum to be elected chairman of the Senate Republican Conference in 2001. I have had the opportunity to work on a number of projects with Senator Santorum as the vice chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. He joined with me in supporting and organizing numerous leadership summits, which gave us opportunities to reach new constituencies. These summits have been outstanding, and their success was due in large part to our cooperation and Senator Santorum's leadership. Throughout his tenure in the Senate, he has committed himself to helping American families. He believes profoundly in the dignity of all human life and has consistently fought for measures that protect the most vulnerable among us. He has supported initiatives to strengthen and protect Social Security, provide access to affordable health care, and stop the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Senator Santorum's passion and commitment to his work are admirable qualities that will be missed. It has been an honor to serve with him in the Senate. . . . 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, yesterday I was moved by the emotional farewell of Senator Rick Santorum. He said he still feels the thrill of coming to work in this building every day. The energy he put toward his work in this Chamber, I will remember as one of Senator Santorum's most striking qualities. Senator Santorum's enthusiastic direction of the Republican conference rallied our majority. I believe he jeopardized his own future in Pennsylvania by urging us to think and act for the national good. Pennsylvania has been served well during his time in Congress and so has our Nation. Rick's energy has been of great benefit to many charities, and he has taken a special interest in helping those affected by autism. His efforts on behalf of each of these causes have been exceptional. And despite his many commitments, Rick's dedication to his family and personal convictions never wavered. Catherine and I wish Rick and his family well. . . . Ms. COLLINS. . . . Mr. President. In his eloquent and touching farewell address delivered to this body on December 6, 2006, Senator Rick Santorum began with one word to describe his feelings as he concluded this phase of his life. The word was ``gratitude,'' and it describes the feeling I have for his 12 years of outstanding service here. Rick Santorum is a person of strong convictions-- convictions that are built upon a solid foundation of faith, love of country, and devotion to the people of Pennsylvania. But as he stood firm for his political philosophy, Rick Santorum recognized the obligation we all share to overcome our differences to work on behalf of our citizens. He spoke his mind, but he acted from his heart. Two issues in particular exemplify Rick's dedication to meeting the real needs of real people. Like Maine, Pennsylvania is a large rural State in which access to home health care services is essential for our older and disabled Americans. Home health has become an increasingly important part of our health care system. The kinds of highly skilled, and often technically complex, services that our Nation's home health caregivers provide have enabled millions of our most frail and vulnerable citizens to avoid hospitals and nursing homes and stay just where they want to be--in the comfort and security of their own homes. When Medicare payments for home health care were in jeopardy, Rick Santorum joined me as an original cosponsor of bipartisan legislation to restore funding, and he was a key to its success. Throughout his Senate career, he has been a compassionate champion of quality health care for those in need. It is telling that his Senate career, which included so much valuable work in this area, ended with passage of his landmark bipartisan Combating Autism Act, which will do much to improve the quality of life for children with autism and their families. The second issue I would like to highlight is education. Rick Santorum has been a leader in making our schools safer, and in strengthening math and science education. But he also understands that quality education begins not in Washington or in the State capitals, but in the classroom. From my talks with teachers throughout Maine, I know that a great many of them expend not just great amounts of energy to educate our children, but often dig deep into their own pockets to buy classroom supplies and to advance their own professional development. The $250 tax deduction I authored in 2001 for educators who use their own funds to cover these expenses would not have become law without the strong advocacy of Rick Santorum with his former colleagues in the House of Representatives. And, finally, when the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held hearings in early 2006 in response to the lobbying scandals in Washington, one of our first witnesses was Rick Santorum, a long-time advocate of lobbying reform. When our reform legislation passed our Chamber overwhelmingly, Senator Santorum said the Senate ``stepped up in a big way.'' The Senate stepped up in large part because this person of high ideals was pushing it along. Mr. President, in his farewell address, Senator Santorum stated that although he often disagreed--often vigorously--with many of his Senate colleagues on the issues, he never doubted the sincerity of their convictions. Staunch advocacy tempered with respect for the views of others is the hallmark of the Senate, and it is a central part of Rick Santorum's legacy. I thank him for his service, and wish him and his family all the best in the future. . . . 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. . . . It goes without saying that it pulls at my heartstrings to bid farewell to Senator Rick Santorum. On issue after issue--tax relief, education, affordable health care, national security--Rick has stood tall for Pennsylvanians and all Americans. Rick is a man of conviction, deep faith, and integrity-- qualities instilled in him growing up in Pennsylvania as the son of an Italian immigrant. He doesn't beat around the bush, and you never have to wonder where he stands. His word is his bond, and he expresses his views with great passion and expertise. Since his early days in the Senate, Rick was an inspirational leader. One of the qualities I admired most about him as a legislator was that he never was one to dodge the tough issues; in fact, he readily took the lead on those issues and set out to find solutions to very serious challenges. For example, he spearheaded the passage of welfare reform in 1996, which to date has helped more than 1 million Americans go from receiving welfare checks to paychecks. Rick fought hard for No Child Left Behind, and as a result, today math and reading scores in Pennsylvania schools are on the rise. He also fought hard to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to high quality, affordable health care. He is a strong supporter of Federal cancer research, including increased funding for breast cancer research. And he led the charge to reform our medical malpractice laws to curb lawsuit abuse and ensure that patients continue to receive the critical care they need. Rick also recognizes that hard- earned dollars belong to families and small businesses, not Uncle Sam. In addition, Rick was one of Congress's most dedicated and knowledgeable Members when it came to developing antipoverty initiatives. He was the driving force behind legislation that would provide a tremendous boost to charitable giving through a series of targeted tax incentives aimed at helping the homeless, the drug addicted, and the less fortunate in our society. And he committed himself to working to eradicate the global HIV/ AIDS pandemic. In short, Rick Santorum is the embodiment of what it means to be a compassionate conservative. Rick was so attentive to the needs of those he represented and always put Pennsylvania first. For example, he helped secure $100 million to build America's first ever coal to ultra-clean fuel plant in Pennsylvania, which not only creates jobs but also provides more affordable energy and benefits the environment. I often joked with Rick that he should hold another title, the ``Mayor of Pennsylvania.'' It's no surprise that he made it a point each year to visit all of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. On so many issues, Rick has been a principled advocate for his constituents. While Rick works incredibly hard, there is no question that he is first and foremost a dedicated family man to his wife Karen and their six children. It has been a privilege indeed to work closely with Rick--sometimes literally, as our offices were on the same hall. He is an all-around class act, and with his numerous accomplishments and exemplary record of service to his constituents, he will certainly be a tough act to follow. . . . 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.