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109th Congress SENATE DOCUMENT S.Doc 109-012
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TRIBUTES TO HON. JON S. CORZINE
Jon S. Corzine
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY
TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TONGRESS.#15
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] 25161.001
Jon S. Corzine
Tributes
Delivered in Congress
Jon S. Corzine
United States Senator
2001-2006
Compiled under the direction
of the
Joint Committee on Printing
Trent Lott, Chairman
CONTENTS
Biography.............................................
v
Farewell to the Senate................................
vii
Proceedings in the Senate:
Tributes by Senators:
Akaka, Daniel K., of Hawaii....................
31
Bayh, Evan, of Indiana.........................
41
Bingaman, Jeff, of New Mexico..................
37
Brownback, Sam, of Kansas......................
40
Byrd, Robert C., of West Virginia..............
ix
Clinton, Hillary Rodham, of New York...........
38
Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
19
Dayton, Mark, of Minnesota.....................
21
Domenici, Pete V., of New Mexico...............
44
Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois................
24
Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin.............
34
Feinstein, Dianne, of California...............
41
Johnson, Tim, of South Dakota..................
27
Kennedy, Edward M., of Massachusetts...........
6
Kerry, John F., of Massachusetts...............
17
Lautenberg, Frank, of New Jersey...............
3
Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont..................
26
Levin, Carl, of Michigan.......................
33
Lieberman, Joseph I., of Connecticut...........
35
Lincoln, Blanche L., of Arkansas...............
32
Mikulski, Barbara A., of Maryland..............
30
Nelson, Bill, of Florida.......................
42
Pryor, Mark, of Arkansas.......................
29
Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
15
Reid, Harry, of Nevada.........................
21
Salazar, Ken, of Colorado......................
14
Sarbanes, Paul S., of Maryland.................
7
Sessions, Jeff, of Alabama.....................
25
Stabenow, Debbie, of Michigan..................
12
Wyden, Ron, of Oregon..........................
28
Biography
Senator Corzine was born on January 1, 1947, and grew up
on a small family farm in the central Illinois community
of Willey's Station. His father farmed and sold insurance;
his mother was a public school teacher. His interest in
politics was forged in this farming community. It was
there that he learned the meaning of hard work and the
opportunities afforded by a strong education system.
The Senator graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1969 and enlisted in
the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He remained in the
Reserves until 1975, rising to the rank of sergeant in his
infantry unit.
After his active duty in the Marine Corps, he began his
career in finance, working as a portfolio analyst at the
Continental Illinois National Bank in Chicago. He enrolled
in the graduate business school of the University of
Chicago in 1970, first attending classes at night. He
received his MBA in 1973, and went to work at Bank Ohio, a
regional bank in Columbus, OH.
In 1975 Senator Corzine was recruited by Goldman Sachs,
the New York investment firm, and he and his family moved
to New Jersey. He was named a partner at Goldman Sachs in
1980, and became chairman and CEO in 1994. He left Goldman
Sachs in May 1999 after successfully converting the
investment firm from a private partnership to a public
company.
During Senator Corzine's leadership at Goldman Sachs,
the business magazine Fortune named Goldman Sachs 1 of the
10 best companies to work for in America. The Senator was
named by Time magazine as one of the top 50 technology
executives in the country in 1997.
As the CEO at Goldman Sachs, Senator Corzine expanded
the company's community outreach and philanthropic
programs, establishing a company-wide service program in
which employees volunteer on a regular basis in their
communities. Also in 1997, Senator Corzine was the
chairman of a Presidential commission to study capital
budgeting as a means of increasing Federal investment in
schools, technology, and infrastructure.
Senator Corzine is a member of the board of trustees of
the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, the
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC,
the University of Chicago, and New York University's Child
Study Center. Throughout his career in both the private
and public sectors, Senator Corzine has developed a
reputation as an energetic and thoughtful leader who works
cooperatively with people from all backgrounds and
ideologies. He has won effusive praise from partisans from
both parties who have recognized Senator Corzine as an
independent thinker who puts the public interest first.
Jon Corzine was elected to the U.S. Senate in November
2000. During his time in the Senate, he focused on serving
the State of New Jersey, applying his financial expertise
to major economic and regulatory issues, and pushing a
forward-looking, progressive agenda.
Senator Corzine sought new Federal investments in New
Jersey's transportation network, pursued new safeguards to
protect chemical facilities against terrorist attacks,
introduced legislation to improve access to education and
health care, fought for stronger environmental policies,
and led the effort in Congress to crack down on corporate
abuse.
In a major victory, the Senate adopted Senator Corzine's
resolution declaring the need for new safeguards at the
Nation's vulnerable chemical plants. He also secured
Federal funding toward the construction of a second
railroad tunnel underneath the Hudson River, long sought
by New Jersey's congressional delegation, and won Federal
support for a wide variety of community and economic
development projects throughout the State. In addition, to
protect the environment and the economy along New Jersey's
shore, Senator Corzine fought to prevent any oil or gas
drilling off the coastline.
Senator Corzine was a member of the Banking, Housing,
and Urban Affairs Committee; the Intelligence Committee;
the Energy and Natural Resources Committee; and the Budget
Committee. He also served on the Foreign Relations
Committee and the Committee on the Environment and Public
Works.
Farewell to the Senate
Friday, December 16, 2005
Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I would like to give what I
think will more than likely be the last speech I give on
this great floor, this historic floor, in front of this
deliberative body. I am grateful for your courtesies. It
is with bittersweet feeling that I make these remarks.
I have been honored beyond words to be a U.S. Senator. I
think all of us know that feeling in our hearts and souls.
I will be forever grateful to the 9 million New Jerseyans
who put their trust in me and asked Senator Lautenberg and
myself, and others before us, to represent their hopes and
dreams at this time and in this place.
In the 229 years of our Republic, fewer than 2,000 men
and women have come to this floor and represented the
voices of the people who elected them or selected them in
previous times. And like each of my predecessors and those
to follow, including Congressman Robert Menendez, who will
be sworn in to fill out my term, we have all been sworn to
uphold and protect the Constitution.
I now look at the great Senator, Robert Byrd, who has so
eloquently and so frequently represented the challenge
that all of us take on as we are sworn in to be Senators
to represent and carry forward those traditions of our
Constitution and to serve the interests of our people. So
there are really two purposes. I can only hope that the
people of New Jersey will believe that has been my sole
purpose here on this floor.
Now as I take my leave, I guess there will be some folks
who will say some nice things about me, and they have.
That is a little bit different than in the last days of
the campaign. It reminds me of a Jack Benny story. He was
giving a presentation and listening to the presenter
praise him at length. He said, ``I don't deserve this
award, but I don't deserve diabetes either.'' I will take
the compliments and the kind remarks. I very much
appreciate it.
I want you to know that I cherish the friendships I have
established with the men and women here. I admire the
debates--I don't always agree with all of my colleagues--
but I always respect and admire the commitments of the men
and women who sit on this floor. And I add that it is on
both sides of the aisle, not just my friends in the
Democratic Party. Believe me, some of the remarks I have
heard in the last few days are a little different than
they were 6 years ago when I ran for my good friend
Senator Lautenberg's open seat at that time. Ross Baker is
a commentator on the national political scene, and he
teaches at Rutgers. He told one reporter that the people
in New Jersey don't know Jon Corzine from a cord of wood.
Hopefully, we have gotten a little farther down the pike
than a cord of wood.
This has been one of the most remarkable experiences
anyone could ever dream of having. I came here for a clear
purpose. I believe in American citizenship and the rights
we have. We certainly have incredible opportunities in
this Nation--I have experienced many of them--but it comes
with responsibilities. To those of us whom much is given,
much is required. I know that I had no chance to succeed
in life without the kind of great support I have had from
my community, my Nation, and my friends. That is why one
comes here--to give back, to fight for fairness and the
opportunity for all.
Senator Durbin knows of the little town in which I grew
up. Like so many of you, I have lived the American
promise. It is a little town in central Illinois called
Willey's Station, with a population of less than 50. In
fact, there are more cows than people there. My father was
a corn and soybean farmer. He sold insurance. My mom was a
schoolteacher. To have a chance to walk on the floor of
the Senate and represent the interests of a great State
that is really entirely different from the background from
where I came represents the American promise. I believe in
it, and I believe we have a responsibility to give back.
Both of my parents were good Republicans, Senator
Durbin. My mom still is, by the way. I am not sure if she
voted for my friend. She had big dreams, and so did my
father, about how life would serve us.
I grew up at a time when Adlai Stevenson was Governor
and then ran for President. Paul Douglas and Paul Simon
worked the circuits in central Illinois. We had great
Democratic Senators who passionately stood for economic
and social justice for all Americans. We had another great
Illinois Senator who worked the same circuits, Everett
Dirksen. Like my parents, he was a Republican, but he also
stood up for the promise of justice and equality for
everyone in America. He believed deeply enough in those
promises to use his position as leader to help pass the
Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Mr. BYRD. Will the Senator yield?
Mr. CORZINE. Yes.
Mr. BYRD. Lord Byron said, ``Thank God I have done my
duty.'' May I say to the Senator from New Jersey, he has
done his duty. He is a good Senator. We will miss you. I
will. Thank you for standing up for what you believe.
Thank you very much. Bless your heart.
Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, there is not much that means
more than that coming from a great Senator who has served
this Nation so well. Thank you.
I was talking about Senator Dirksen. He actually sat at
this desk and worked at this desk. So did George Mitchell
and a whole host of great Americans. It is remarkable what
the history of this institution represents and the
opportunities it affords. It has been a remarkable time. I
think all of you know that.
In the last 5 years it seems as if we have jammed more
historic moments in than you could ever imagine, with an
unprecedented Presidential election in 2000, where we all
sat in this Chamber and confirmed the results of that
election. We had a 50-50 Senate, and everybody was trying
to figure out how it worked. And then, with a shift of one
vote in the caucus, that changed the control of the
Senate.
That dark day on September 11 changed the lives of
Americans forever. I live in Hoboken, NJ. It looks out
almost directly across the river where the Twin Towers
once stood. New Jersey's heart has not fully healed from
those losses. It never will. We lost 700 of our citizens.
We have much to do, and it has stimulated even the debate
we have on this floor today. There were kids who lost
their lives on that day whom I coached in soccer when they
were growing up in my previous hometown of Summit. We
still have a lot to do.
Today we are challenged with the war against terrorism
and debate about our constitutional freedoms, which we are
talking about today--the challenge of tradeoffs in
security and freedom, and protecting what it is that the
American Constitution stands for. This is a great
institution for making sure the rights of our people are
represented.
I came to the Senate to try to use my knowledge and
experience to help work on some of those problems that are
most important to our Nation--health care, economic and
racial justice, education--there is a whole series of
those things. I am proud of that progressive agenda. I see
so many peers and colleagues who fight so hard on those
issues every day.
Mr. President, 9/11 brought us together regardless of
our political backgrounds in ways we could never have
imagined. I am proud of how our Nation responded and also
how the leadership of this great body came together and
acted, regardless of background or place, in ways I don't
think any of us could have imagined. I am grateful to all
of my colleagues for that leadership.
We also have great people in New Jersey. The Jersey
girls, as a lot of my colleagues know, have been fighters
for making sure we had the 9/11 Commission, the
compensation fund, responses to human needs, as well as
the strategic intelligence and homeland security needs
that the American people deserve. I am proud of them. I am
proud of the work we have all done because it encourages
us.
We provided more than $350 million to address New
Jersey's unique security needs after the 9/11 terrorist
attacks.
There was an element of unity that I hope we can restore
that was born in those moments because the challenges are
just as great. The immediacy is a little different, but
there is no reason we can't stand together.
I am proud of the opportunity to be a partner with my
chairman, Senator Sarbanes, Chris Dodd, and others with
regard to helping restore investor confidence that was
also broken around that time where people lost their life
savings, where people in the world I had come from had
taken advantage of other human beings' savings, retirement
securities, and their jobs. It is not a proud moment for
those of us who believe in the capitalistic system.
With the kind of response that came through the
Sarbanes-Oxley bill, I think we have actually made a major
contribution to making sure that balance sheets and income
statements are what they are, that people can have more
confidence in our fundamental system. I was honored to be
a part of the detail and the work that brought that back.
We should protect it as we go forward.
There is more to do with our pension system. There are
many things that are part of our financial structure,
which is such a fundamental defining element of what
America is about. We need to make sure they have the
integrity that was built into the theme of the Sarbanes-
Oxley reforms.
I am proud to have represented the Democratic caucus for
2 years in the push back against the privatization of
Social Security. We had a debate on the floor where
Senator Santorum, Senator Sununu, Senator Durbin, and
myself, for a remarkable hour and a half, had a dialog
among Senators. All of those elements of debate are still
in play. We need to make sure we protect the security of
our seniors. I know folks on this side of the aisle feel
so strongly in winning that battle, and we should
continue.
There are many others issues: affordable drug benefits,
college tuition. Senator Kennedy and others have fought so
hard to make sure everybody has access to the American
promise. I am proud that I had a role--an amendment role,
a voting role, a sponsorship role--to be a part of those
agendas. We can do, and have done, a lot to protect our
environment to make our quality of life better.
Together with my colleagues from New Jersey, we
protected people in our State from Federal changes that
would have weakened New Jersey's model prescription drug
program for seniors and people with disabilities.
We lifted Federal home loan mortgage limits to help more
New Jersey veterans buy their own homes.
We fought the administration's effort to reduce the
availability of student loans. We held them off for a
year--long enough to enable many students to stay in
school instead of having to drop out.
We preserved the unspoiled beauty and critical water
supply in the New Jersey Highlands.
And we stopped a plan by the administration that would
have paved the way for oil and gas drilling off the New
Jersey shore, because America needs a balanced energy plan
that invests in conservation and alternative energy
sources--not oil derricks lining our beaches.
In the highway bill that passed this year, we increased
New Jersey's rate of return on the Federal highway tax
dollar from 90.5 cents to 92 cents. And we paved the way
for the New Jersey Trans-Hudson Midtown Corridor.
There is a lot more to do. I have some challenges that I
leave for all of my colleagues. Maybe the most important
one, and the one I feel most passionately about, is the
ongoing challenge of man's inhumanity to man in Darfur,
Sudan. We have lost 300,000 lives, give or take. People
don't really know the degree to which life has been lost.
But we need to make sure that we don't revisit Rwanda and
other places where we have turned our backs on the killing
of one man and one woman, one at a time.
There is much to do. I am proud of the efforts that
Senator Brownback and I have done to make sure this body
recognized for the first time that genocide was taking
place, that we had some financing to sponsor the African
Union to do that which would bring an end to the rape, the
killing, and the pillaging that is going on. There is much
more to do. Please, please, make sure, whether it is in
Darfur or other places, that this body speaks out for
humanity, something I know all of my colleagues carry in
their hearts. It is one of the great hopes and dreams.
I know a number of my colleagues--Senator Obama, Senator
Durbin, Congressman Payne on the other side of this great
Capitol, communities of faith, concerned citizens--are
really committed to these issues, particularly as it
relates to Darfur. But we should stand up, and we should
move forward.
I have a big hope that my colleagues will take the
opportunity to move on chemical plant security, which is
something I have hooted and hollered about and bored
people to death with over the last 4 years. We are so
close but yet so far and at such risk. Whether it is rail
security--and all of us have a number of other issues--it
is painful for us to get such low marks in how we have
addressed our homeland security.
Now I go to be a Governor of a State where the primary
day-to-day practice and responsibility is to protect the
lives of the people who live in these communities. I hope
we will move forward in an expeditious manner to address
some of those items that we all know are at great risk.
There is a lot of progress to be made in a lot of areas.
I could go on. I am proud of the initiative on kids'
accounts, which I hope a lot of you will get behind. We
can change the financial underpinnings and knowledge of so
many folks. I am proud of this idea. I know there are a
number of my colleagues who are interested in the idea of
giving every child who gets a Social Security number a
start in life. It is implemented in Great Britain. We
ought to do it here. There is a real hope it can bring
about a different opportunity and potential for every
person.
And I'm proud of what we've done for financial literacy.
It's mind-boggling to me that we live in a capitalist
society, yet our schools provide students with few, if
any, tools about how to navigate the system. We push our
kids out into the world and say, ``You're on your own.
Good luck.'' As more financial risk is shifted onto
individuals, the consequences of bad financial decisions
grow more dire. That's why I pushed to include basic
financial literacy in the No Child Left Behind Act to
teach young people the basic principles of capitalism and
responsible money management.
I will look to this body to come up with answers on
health care, Medicare, making sure our children are
educated appropriately. The agenda is large. There are
great disappointments, by the way. I close with a few of
those. It is hard for me to imagine when I came here that
we were running a couple hundred billion dollars in
surpluses, and now we have created debt that is greater in
the past 5 years than was ever created in the history of
the country. I think we are really in danger of going over
the precipice on the twin deficits with regard to fiscal
management of this country. It seems grossly unfair that
we are placing that burden on future generations the way
we are.
I can tell my colleagues, as it ripples down to our
State levels, they are going to hear a former Senator
hooting and hollering pretty loud about how we are
crowding out and crowding in responsibilities that will be
very difficult.
The fact we haven't raised the minimum wage in the years
I have been in the Senate is hard to imagine. There is a
study out this week that if you earn the minimum wage,
there is not a county in this country where someone can
afford a one-bedroom apartment. It is time to move on some
of these issues.
I know I am preaching to the choir, but it is time to
move. We ought to ban racial profiling. There are a whole
host of issues.
Since I came to the Senate in 2001, the number of
uninsured Americans has swelled to more than 45 million
people. We have made some important strides in improving
access to health care for certain populations, but these
piecemeal attempts to address our health care crisis have
fallen far short of providing all Americans with quality,
affordable health care. I would like to see us come
together as a Nation to guarantee health care to each and
every American.
Senator Lautenberg and I would like to see Bruce
Springsteen honored, too. We think we ought to step up and
acknowledge both the poetry and the majesty of his fights
for the working men and women of this world.
I wish to thank my colleagues and the people of New
Jersey for this great opportunity. I leave the Senate with
incredible excitement and optimism about the future. I am
looking forward to my new job in a way I cannot even get
my mind around half the time because it seems so
profoundly interesting and applies to the day-to-day lives
of folks.
I have no serious regrets. I have sadness about not
being able to walk onto this great floor, but I love this
place and look forward to coming back and working together
on those issues that matter.
I close by especially thanking my colleague, Senator
Frank Lautenberg, who has just been a gem to work with,
and my leaders, Tom Daschle and Harry Reid, who have been
extraordinary.
Mr. President, I say to all of my colleagues, you have
been great.
I mentioned Robert Byrd, a giant on this floor.
I cannot help but remember the man maybe I admired the
most here, because he had the greatest courage. It was
Paul Wellstone and his incredible fire and commitment to
equality and justice in every possible way.
It has been some run. I want to say thanks to my
children, who supported me, Jennifer, Josh, and Jeffrey;
an incredible staff who have worked hard. I have a list of
the names of the staff who have served the people of New
Jersey with me. I do not think I will read them all, but I
ask unanimous consent that they be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
Current DC and NJ Staff
Cynthia Alicea, Renee Ashe, Lucas Ballet, Vicky Beyerle,
Elizabeth Brinkerhoff, Alison Brosnan, Sandra Caron
George, Jason Cassese, Anthony Coley, Gwendolyn Cook,
Deborah Curto, Christopher Donnelly, Karin Elkis, June
Fischer, Jennifer Friedberg, Elizabeth Gilligan, Michael
Goldblatt, Evan Gottesman, Heather H. Howard, Julie
Kashen, Vanessa Lawson, Scott Kisch, Mada Liebman.
Jose Lozano, Jonathan Luick, Anne Milgram, Jamaal
Mobley, Emma Palmer, Dave Parano, Elizabeth Ritter, Keith
Roachford, John Santana, Karen Slachetka, James Souder,
Ellen Stein, Brooke Stolting, Jason Tuber, Margaret J. Van
Tassell, Steven Van Zandt, David Wald, Barbara A. Wallace,
Marilyn Washington, Sarah Wetherald, Benjamin Wilensky.
Former DC and NJ Staff
Steven Adamske, Arlene Batista, Simon Brandler, Allyn
Brooks-LaSure, Christine Buteas, Brian Chernoff, James
Connell, Amanda Consovoy, Anthony Cruz, Arpan Dasgupta,
Marilyn Davis, Lizette DelGado, Kevin Drennan, Erica
Farrand, Enrique Fernandez-Roberts, Lauren Garsten,
Jessica Goldstein, Hamlet Darius Goore.
Derrick L. Green, Robert Helland, Roger Hollingsworth,
Anne Hubert, Phillip Jackman, Christopher Jones, Grace
Kim, Bruce King, Jarrod R. Koenig, Allison Kopicki, Mark
Layl, Robert Levy, Jonathan Liou, Duncan Loughridge,
Jonathan Lovett, Elizabeth Mattson, Shauna McGowan,
Patricia E. McGuire, Lena McMahon.
Hemen Mehta, Francis Meo, Maggie Moran, Michael Pagan,
Sara Persky Foulkes, Carlos Polanco, Miguel Rodriguez,
Julia Roginsky, Andrew Schwab, Thomas Shea, Amanda Steck,
Lauren Sypek, Todd Tomich, Dan Utech, Wilson Bradley
Woodhouse, David York, Muneera Zaineldeen.
Mr. CORZINE. I would not be worth a darn without what
they have been able to do. I want to say that the staff
who works the floor has been remarkable. Without Lula
Davis' help and people such as Marty and other folks who
guide us through how we get things done, none of us would
be in the same place, as well as the Parliamentarians, the
clerks, and others. I am extraordinarily grateful for
their support.
I would be remiss if I did not mention Jeri Thomson who
has been so great.
To all of you and to all of those who go unmentioned but
not unthought of, let me say thank you. It has been a
privilege of a lifetime and I look forward to serving the
people of the State of New Jersey and our great country in
the years ahead.
I yield the floor. (Applause.)
TRIBUTES
TO
JON S. CORZINE
Proceedings in the Senate
Thursday, December 15, 2005
ORDER TO SUBMIT TRIBUTES
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent
that Senators be permitted to submit tributes to Senator
(Governor-elect) Corzine for the Record until December 29,
2005, and that they be printed as a Senate document.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I wasn't here when Jon
Corzine arrived in the Senate 5 years ago. In fact, he
actually took my place at the time. We met to share ideas
on an agenda for New Jersey and America and I followed his
progress closely. I was impressed by what I saw in Jon's
service in the Senate, where he has earned respect and
affection. Jon came from great success in the world of
finance and industry, but he is able to communicate with
ordinary people as well.
Some people arrive here and immediately head for the
headlines. But that isn't Jon Corzine's style. Jon is a
committed workhorse, who works long hours with high
intensity. He doesn't have a lot of flash, but he is very
effective.
He came to Washington for one reason: to serve the
people of New Jersey. Now, with some sorrow on my part, he
is leaving us here for the same reason: to help New Jersey
even more directly.
Even before the terrorist attacks on 9/11, work had been
done to strengthen security at our chemical plants. Jon
recognized the importance of that issue long before most
people, so when he arrived here in the Senate, he took the
ball and ran with it. Jon introduced a plan to overhaul
security at chemical plants, and many people were
surprised when he got it unanimously approved in
committee. But those who know Jon Corzine weren't
surprised. Even when that bill was blocked by lobbyists,
Jon didn't give up. He has continued to fight to make our
chemical plants safer. He has raised awareness of the
problem, which I will take up once again, because we are
at risk across this Nation from the most horrible
devastation to our people and communities.
Jon Corzine carried an agenda here that was so
appropriate for New Jersey that he established a place for
himself in the history of the State even before he becomes
Governor.
I wasn't a Member of the Senate on that fateful day of
September 11, 2001, when my State lost almost 700 people.
But I knew we would have a strong advocate in Jon Corzine.
And we did. Jon listened to the families who had lost
loved ones, and he knew they deserved answers. So he
fought to establish the 9/11 Commission. I honestly don't
think it ever would have come to pass without his efforts.
He has been a great ally in my fight to make New Jersey
and our Nation safer by directing homeland security
resources to where they are most needed.
By the time I returned to the Senate almost 3 years ago,
Jon had earned a reputation as a hard worker who cares
more about getting results than getting credit. People had
learned that when you talk to Jon Corzine, he really
listens. They had learned that he isn't in love with the
sound of his own voice. And they had learned that when Jon
Corzine does speak, he has something to say.
Three years ago our Nation was rocked by the Enron
scandal, and by other incidents that undermined public
confidence in the integrity of major corporations. With
his background as chairman and CEO of one of the largest
financial services firms in the country, Jon realized the
importance of restoring public trust and confidence. Even
though he worked mostly behind the scenes on the Sarbanes-
Oxley bill--the most far-reaching corporate reform law
since the Great Depression--he was recognized by the New
York Times as the bill's ``primary architect.''
Sarbanes-Oxley improved business accounting standards,
helped restore investor confidence, and protected the
savings of millions of Americans. Jon's name isn't on that
bill, but his influence is.
Jon has been a great teammate for me, working for New
Jersey day in and day out. He has also worked with many of
you, on both sides of the aisle.
I know how hard he has worked with Senator Brownback,
for instance, to stop genocide in the Darfur region of
Sudan. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Jon
offered the first Senate resolution to classify this
horrific situation as ``genocide.'' The passage of this
bipartisan resolution, coupled with other efforts to
increase awareness of atrocities in Darfur, prompted then-
Secretary of State Colin Powell to declare that genocide
was in fact occurring. After traveling to Sudan
personally, Senator Corzine championed a successful
bipartisan effort to provide $75 million for African Union
peacekeeping troops. He also introduced a bill
establishing sanctions against Sudan, which the Senate
passed.
Jon served in the Marine Corps Reserves, and he
understands the burdens on our men and women in uniform,
especially the National Guard and Reserves, who have
provided so many of the troops in Iraq.
After I served in World War II, I went to college under
the GI bill. Jon Corzine has worked to update the GI bill
for the 21st century, to meet rising education costs. He
has fought for better health care for veterans and
military families. And he sponsored a bill that will help
90,000 vets buy their own homes. For these reasons and
many more, the Veterans of Foreign Wars gave Jon their
Congressional Award in 2004.
Over the past 3 years I have been proud to call Jon
Corzine my friend and my colleague. Today I am equally
proud to call him the next Governor of my home State of
New Jersey. I will miss him here in the Senate. But I will
take comfort in knowing that he will be leading New Jersey
in the right direction. I hope all of my colleagues will
join me today in wishing Senator Corzine a fond farewell
and great success in the future.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I think the Senator from
California had a unanimous consent request?
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. If I may, and I thank the Senator from
Massachusetts, I ask unanimous consent that I be
recognized when the tributes to Senator Corzine have
concluded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
The Senator from Massachusetts.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to join my
Senate colleagues in paying tribute to Jon Corzine,
congratulating him on his election as Governor of New
Jersey, and commending him for his skillful service to the
people of New Jersey and to the Nation as a Senator.
For the past 5 years in the Senate, Senator Corzine has
stood up for working families, for affordable health care,
for pension security, and on many other challenges. Again
and again, he has demonstrated his commitment to the
fundamental principle of fairness--that government should
represent the interests of all Americans, regardless of
race, income, or disability. It has been an honor to work
with him.
Jon is committed to helping others achieve the American
dream. He believes very deeply that through hard work and
determination, people can make better lives for themselves
and their families. He believes this so deeply, because he
has lived it himself.
Growing up on a small farm in Illinois, Jon dedicated
himself to his studies and graduated from the University
of Illinois. He then joined the Marine Corps Reserve and
began his impressive career in business and banking.
His talents helped him rise in the business world too--
from a bond trader at Goldman Sachs to chairman and CEO of
the firm.
Once his hard work and talent helped him reach the
pinnacle of his profession, Jon decided to give something
back by helping all Americans achieve their full
potential.
When he came to the Senate in 2001, he made an immediate
impact, bringing the same talents and commitment in the
business world to his work for New Jersey and the country.
We could all see that Jon was a committed and
progressive public servant, motivated by a strong sense of
what's right and what's fair.
Not long after he was elected, the Nation faced a sudden
challenge of massive corporate fraud involving Enron,
WorldCom, and others. Families' pensions were lost.
Workers' savings went up in smoke because of cooked books
and insider deals.
The administration dragged its feet, but Jon stood up
for those workers and sent a clear message to those
executives that if they defraud the American people, they
must pay.
Jon's compassion and invaluable business experience
helped persuade Congress to pass the most sweeping
corporate reforms since the Great Depression.
He brought that same knowledge of the financial markets
and securities industry and that same sense of fairness to
the battle to protect Social Security. When others tried
to frighten the American people into undermining the most
important social safety net program the Nation has ever
had, Jon stood firm, and the so-called reforms were not
passed.
I was especially impressed by the way Senator Corzine
rose to the challenge of 9/11 and rallied the people of
New Jersey after the terrorist attacks. He was only 9
months into his term, but he stepped up and provided real
leadership at a time of enormous crisis and uncertainty.
He did his best to ease the grief of the survivor's
families, and he did everything he could to see that the
Federal Government lived up to its responsibility to
provide relief to those families.
Month after month, year after year, Jon also insisted
that the 9/11 Commission get answers to their tough
questions, no matter how entrenched the opposition.
For 5 years he has been a driving force to improve
homeland security, by making sure that our Nation's ports
receive the resources they need, and by pressing the
administration to protect chemical plants in New Jersey
and across the Nation.
We will miss Jon's leadership and eloquence here in the
Senate. The people of New Jersey are fortunate to have him
as their new Governor, and I know he will continue the
outstanding leadership we have all come to know and
admire. New Jersey is in good hands, and I wish him
continuing success in the years ahead.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent
that following my comments, Senator Stabenow be
recognized, then Senator Salazar and Senator Reed be
recognized. All of us seek to speak about our colleague,
Senator Corzine.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Mr. SARBANES. I thank the Chair.
Mr. President, in a few weeks our good friend, Jon
Corzine, will leave the Senate, where he so effectively
represented New Jersey and its people over the past 5
years, to become Governor of his State. I have been
privileged to serve with Senator Corzine on the Committee
on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, to whose work he
has brought an extraordinary combination of principle,
vision, intelligence, and solid common sense. I wish to
say a few words today about his spectacular work on that
committee. For a while I was privileged to serve as
chairman of the committee, and I can tell you that no
chairman could have a better fate than to have Jon Corzine
as one of his members.
Prior to entering the U.S. Senate, Jon Corzine spent
nearly a quarter of a century with Goldman Sachs, the New
York investment bank, including 5 years as its chairman
and CEO. His long- and wide-ranging experience in the
financial markets made him especially well-qualified to
deal with the issues that came within the Banking
Committee's jurisdiction. In very short order, it was
apparent that whenever Jon Corzine's turn in a committee
meeting came to put questions to witnesses, even the most
confident and sophisticated among them listened more
intently and responded more carefully.
Senator Corzine's contribution to the accounting reform
and investor protection legislation known as Sarbanes-
Oxley was invaluable. Along with Senator Dodd, who also
serves on the committee, Jon Corzine was among the first
Members of the Senate to call for hearings on investor
protection in the wake of the collapse of Enron
Corporation. Those hearings took place in February and
March 2002, and Senator Corzine, along with Senator Dodd
and others on the committee, played a critical role in
shaping the reform legislation enacted 4 months later. I
have done it before and I wish to acknowledge again the
very substantial and significant contributions Jon Corzine
made in helping to shape and develop that legislation. His
work was invaluable.
Consistently in the work of the committee, Jon Corzine
played a critical role in efforts to strengthen
protections for investors in our capital markets.
BusinessWeek, in fact, noted that his work in this area
gave him ``an unusually high profile for a junior
Senator.''
His contributions to the work of the committee were by
no means focused only on these issues. Indeed, he touched
virtually every issue in the committee's jurisdiction. He
has worked vigorously to expand housing opportunities and
the effectiveness of Federal housing programs. He has been
a forceful spokesman for full funding for critical
programs of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development--Section 8 vouchers, housing for the elderly,
improved public housing, and other efforts to assist low-
income homeowners and renters. It is indicative of his
commitment, and in his statement here in the Chamber only
a few minutes ago he again was making reference to how
people who work at minimum wage can't afford an apartment
in county after county across the country.
He led efforts to expand coverage of FHA insurance for
multifamily housing, something especially relevant in
States such as New Jersey where inflated housing costs
affected previous program ceilings. He pressed for energy
efficiency requirements in public and assisted housing,
and he has remained committed to Federal action to assure
secondary mortgage market liquidity and affordable
housing.
Jon Corzine was an original co-sponsor of the
legislation to stop predatory lending practices and spoke
forcefully in the committee's deliberation about the harsh
and cynical techniques predatory lenders used to exploit
vulnerable borrowers seeking mortgages and other credit.
He has been one of the leaders in the Senate in the fight
against Federal preemption of State consumer protection
laws which are designed to protect our citizens against
these practices.
He has been among the Senate's most outspoken advocates
for public and private financial literacy programs to
ensure that all Americans of all ages and all backgrounds
have the skills to grasp the financial implications of the
often complex credit card loans and other financial
arrangements they are offered.
He has obtained Federal funding for financial education
programs in elementary and secondary schools and was the
leader in the ultimately successful efforts in 2003 to
pass the Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act,
which incorporates many of his ideas. For his work on this
issue, the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial
Literacy named him ``Federal Financial Literacy and
Education Legislator of the Year.''
Throughout his tenure, Senator Corzine has been among
our most articulate advocates for public transportation,
whose importance in the day-to-day lives of his
constituents he knows first-hand since he represents the
most densely populated State in the Nation. He fought to
preserve and enhance the Federal transit program as the
new surface transportation authorization legislation was
developed. As a result of his efforts, New Jersey will
receive nearly $2.5 billion in transit formula funds from
2004 through 2009, a 50-percent increase over the amount
the State received in the preceding legislation.
He also succeeded in assuring priority treatment in
terms of planning, funding, and execution under this new
legislation for a new commuter rail tunnel under the
Hudson River. This project, the Trans-Hudson Midtown
Corridor, has been identified as a crucial investment for
the region's mobility and security. As a result of his
efforts, the National Transit Institute, which provides
training, education, and clearinghouse services to support
public transportation, will be maintained at Rutgers, the
State University of New Jersey.
Senator Corzine was a leader in the effort to develop a
Federal backstop for terrorism insurance after the attacks
of September 11, 2001. Those attacks left such insurance
widely unavailable and put businesses and commercial
property owners at risk of future losses from terrorism
without having insurance coverage. He recognized
immediately this situation would create a drag on economic
activity and again brought his expertise to bear in
helping to develop the legislation under which the Federal
Government would share the risk of future terrorism losses
with the industry.
Senator Corzine was one of the first to recognize the
threat that identity theft poses both to consumers and to
the integrity of the Nation's payment system. He has been
a leader in the fight for safeguards on personal
information, on protecting the privacy of our citizens.
Many of these things I have spoken about reflect a
common theme, and that is Jon Corzine's concern for those
left out and left behind. It has been a hallmark of his
service in the Senate that he has sought to bring into the
mainstream of American life those who have been left out
of it. This concern for those, in a sense, who have been
forgotten, was reflected in his work in the international
arena, particularly the emphasis he placed on the
situation in Darfur. Again and again, Jon Corzine took to
the floor of the Senate to bring to our attention the
terrible things that were happening there and to push for
measures to help alleviate that situation.
Finally, let me say what has distinguished Senator
Corzine's service in the Senate over and above his many
specific accomplishments is the dedication and vision and
principles that underlie all his work. Before coming to
the Senate, he spent much of his professional life as an
investment banker. But he brought to his responsibilities
certain fundamental convictions about the nature of
American society, a hopeful and optimistic vision of
American life that first took place as he was growing up
in a small farming community in central Illinois. It was
there he has said he learned ``the meaning of hard work
and the opportunities afforded by a strong education
system.''
Jon Corzine went on to earn his B.A. and Phi Beta Kappa
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and
enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve where he served for 6
years. He attended the University of Chicago Business
School at night, and not too much later he joined Goldman
Sachs.
His many years in the financial markets have not dimmed
Jon Corzine's vision of America as a Nation grounded in
opportunity--opportunity for a good education, for a
decent job, a place to raise one's family and someday to
retire with dignity, security, and self-respect. He has
dedicated his efforts to advance programs that can make
this vision a reality for all his fellow Americans.
When he announced his candidacy for Governor of New
Jersey last December, Senator Corzine pledged he would
``fight like crazy to make sure that there is a view that
government can be a partner in lifting up the lives of the
rest of America.'' This is surely what he has done in the
Senate.
In just 5 short years, notwithstanding his junior status
in a body that sets a high premium on seniority--when I
first came here I was very critical of the seniority
system, but I have to admit that as time has gone by I
have come to see the virtues of the system. Jon Corzine
has had an impressive record of accomplishment. He has
demonstrated the astute and principled leadership in the
Senate that will most assuredly make him a distinguished
Governor of the State of New Jersey in the service of all
its people.
If I may be so bold as to address a word to the people
of New Jersey, I simply say they have an extraordinary
leader about to take over as the Governor of their State.
I urge them to give Jon Corzine their backing and support
so he can bring his vision to bear in the State of New
Jersey.
When Woodrow Wilson became Governor of the State of New
Jersey, he introduced a progressive agenda which became
the model for the Nation. New Jersey went to the very
forefront of the 50 States in addressing fairness and
opportunity for its citizens and enhancing their quality
of life. I say today, as we bid our dear colleague a fond
farewell, Jon Corzine can provide that kind of leadership
for New Jersey. He can move that State to the very
forefront of the 50 States and make it a shining example
of what can be accomplished when all of us pull together
in order to enhance opportunity for each and every one. I
wish him the very best as he leaves this body and in the
years ahead.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.
Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to join my
colleagues in honoring a man I have come to know as a
colleague, a dedicated public servant, and a friend.
Jon Corzine is a shining example of the American dream--
of what one can accomplish with hard work and the
opportunity to obtain a good education.
Growing up in rural Illinois as the son of a corn and
soybean farmer and a public school teacher, Jon Corzine
learned early in life the importance of family,
responsibility and service to his community.
These are the values that led him to serve his country
as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves--and over
the years, his strong values have guided his career both
in private industry and public service.
Jon Corzine started his career on the ground floor of
American business. And even as he worked hard and achieved
extraordinary success, he never lost sight of his values.
When he served as chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, he
led that company from a private partnership to a public
offering. At the same time, he expanded the company's
philanthropic outreach efforts to better serve people in
need.
He continued that important work here in the U.S.
Senate, where he used his political power to fight for
people without political influence. For the last 5 years,
he has been a tireless advocate for veterans, seniors,
students, women, children and families in New Jersey and
across our Nation.
Senator Corzine and I were sworn into the Senate on the
same day--and I served with him on both the Budget
Committee and the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Committee. There we worked together to preserve funding
for programs that help our Nation's most vulnerable
citizens--programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, veterans
health care, and education.
We also worked together to lead the fight to keep the
security in Social Security.
His business expertise made him a strong advocate for
fiscal responsibility. He fought to get the national debt
under control so we could preserve and create
opportunities for our Nation's young people--rather than
saddle them with the burden of our Government's debts.
He has lived the American dream and continues to work
hard to ensure that others have a chance to live it too.
Jon Corzine is a thoughtful, hard-working man who worked
with his colleagues from both sides of the political
spectrum to do the right thing for the people of New
Jersey and this Nation.
I am honored to have him as a friend and a colleague--
and I wish him well in his new role as Governor of New
Jersey.
I add my comments, along with my friends and colleagues
in the Senate, for someone who has become a personal
friend, as well as someone I admire greatly and that we
are going to greatly miss. New Jersey is very lucky to
have Jon Corzine coming in as Governor of that great
State.
Senator Corzine and I have worked together both on the
Committee on the Budget and on the Committee on Banking. I
can say what Senator Sarbanes said is true, that even
though he sat at the end of the table at the Committee on
Banking and we were squeezed in with our staff trying to
make sure we did not fall off the end of the platform, I
always knew when the person at the end was about to speak
and ask his questions, there was going to be silence in
the room and tremendous respect for what he was going to
say and concern about whether they would be able to answer
his questions effectively, as the witnesses were answering
various questions concerning finances.
To watch Senator Corzine work has been to watch an
example of what we want in public service. To see someone
who grew up in a small town--like I did in Michigan--
growing up in a small town, serve his country in the
Marines, as so many of my colleagues have. I am
particularly proud of the people on the Democrat side of
the aisle who have served in public service as it relates
to our Armed Services and continue to bring that
perspective and support today.
But certainly Senator Corzine is one of them. And to go
on to be so incredibly successful in business, and then to
bring that expertise here on behalf of the people of New
Jersey to work with all of us I think is an example of a
tremendously great American success story. I am proud to
have worked with Senator Corzine and look forward to
working with him as the Governor of New Jersey.
I will simply echo my colleagues in saying when we talk
about corporate responsibility and accountability, Senator
Corzine and his expertise have been there. Housing, public
transit, homeland security, his passion for Social
Security, addressing so many different issues that are
important to people, important to communities, important
to our democracy, have had the voice of Jon Corzine.
So I congratulate you on your service. I congratulate
the people of New Jersey on the public service that is to
come. And mostly I thank Jon Corzine for his generosity of
heart and for his willingness to invest in so many ways to
better the community with his own resources. This is
someone who has been incredibly generous and caring and
smart and compassionate and dedicated to the right values
that we all care about deeply.
I know he is going to do an outstanding job as Governor
and that we will all be better off for his public service.
With that, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.
Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I stand here today not only
to say thank you but to congratulate the Senator from New
Jersey, the Governor-elect of New Jersey, Jon Corzine.
For me, my whole life has been touched by many people
who have helped me live the American dream. But it is an
American dream, too, that has come with challenges in
dealing with the issues of poverty and in dealing with the
issues of racism.
There was a time in my life when I thought anything was
possible for anyone in America. There was also a time in
my life when I thought there were limitations placed on
myself personally that I could never overcome because of
the history of racism and the effects of poverty within my
own life.
Notwithstanding the fact that I was a proud son of that
great generation of soldiers who fought in World War II,
and steeped in the history of New Mexico and southern
Colorado, there were many people who, when I decided to
seek this position in the Senate, thought that it could
not be done. There were many people who brought up reason
after reason why this was not a place where I could serve.
One of the people who disagreed with those conclusions
was Jon Corzine. Jon Corzine told me that, yes, it was
possible to still believe in the American dream, that no
matter what your background is and no matter what your
economic circumstance might be, everything is still
possible here in America. His inspiration and his vision
and his leadership contributed to my serving today in the
Senate.
When I characterize my friendship with Jon Corzine and
look at him as a person and as a leader, the words that
come to my mind are ``an authentic leader.'' He is who he
is. He is a very successful businessperson, but he is the
kind of person whom we ought to have in the Senate all of
the time; that is, people who care about our Nation and
the people whom we represent here every day. He has put
them and our Nation ahead of his own self-interest. That
is the legacy that we now pass on to New Jersey, the
legacy that New Jersey has grabbed for itself, as they
take him as the next Governor of New Jersey.
I know he will continue to do great things in New Jersey
as the Governor of that State, in the same way he has done
great things in the Senate--those things my colleagues
have spoken about on the floor of the Senate today.
I wish him well, and I know his continued leadership is
something we will continue to see in the days and years
ahead.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, it is a privilege to be here
today to say a few words about my colleague and friend,
Jon Corzine. He has honored this Senate and he has honored
the people of New Jersey with his service.
I did not know Jon before he came here. I heard about
his campaign. I heard about his success on Wall Street. I
frankly must confess I did not know quite what to expect.
Having seen the movie ``Wall Street,'' I almost thought
that Michael Douglas would walk in the door in a $3,000
suit and with expensive accoutrements.
Jon surprised us all because he is not like that. He
might have found his success on Wall Street, but his
values were formed in the heartland of America and in the
U.S. Marine Corps. He believes very deeply in values that
are important and central to our party and to the people
of this country: the notion of opportunity for all and the
notion that this is a community, not just a collection of
individuals.
His service in this body has exemplified those values
and made us all extraordinarily proud. I served with Jon
on the Senate Banking Committee. As the chairman and
ranking member at various times of the Housing and
Transportation Subcommittee, I was familiar with all of
Jon's efforts in making real progress on issues of
importance to the people of New Jersey and the people of
this country.
My friend and colleague, Senator Sarbanes, has pointed
out some of these, and I would like to, for the Record,
amplify again what Jon has done.
The Federal Housing Administration Multifamily Housing
Program provides insurance to those seeking to build
multifamily rental housing. The program has played a
critical role in the development of affordable multifamily
rental housing. However, as the cost of building new
housing has dramatically increased in recent years,
Federal multifamily mortgage insurance loan limits have
failed to keep pace with inflation.
In 2002 Senator Corzine led the way to secure passage of
a provision to raise FHA multifamily loan limits by
indexing them to the annual construction cost index to
ensure that the program keeps pace with inflation.
In 2003 Senator Corzine further improved the FHA
multifamily loan program by securing passage of
legislation to boost those limits in high-cost communities
around the country.
Specifically, his legislation raised the loan limits in
high-cost areas to 140 percent of the statutory base limit
and by 170 percent on a project-by-project basis.
These increases have been vitally important in the
construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental
housing in high-cost States such as New Jersey and my own
State of Rhode Island where the shortage of affordable
housing has become a crisis.
Jon recognizes that at the heart of every family's
efforts to educate their children, to find work, to hold
work, is the need for safe and affordable housing. Senator
Corzine has been on the vanguard of that effort. I salute
him for that.
He has also been particularly concerned about housing
for veterans. The Veterans' Administration Home Loan
Program provides access to home financing for veterans who
often, because of their time spent serving our Nation,
have not had the opportunity to build up the credit they
need to qualify for a conventional mortgage. Senator
Corzine's legislation to increase veterans' home
purchasing power, which became law as part of the Veterans
Benefits Improvement Act of 2004, raised the loan limits
available under the VA Home Loan Program to allow veterans
to obtain mortgages of up to $333,700, the same level
available in the traditional mortgage market.
Finally, the Senator from New Jersey has been a fierce
advocate for mass transit funding, not only in his home
State of New Jersey but across this country. He has been
particularly effective, though, in helping his home State.
Senator Corzine was instrumental in providing
legislation to help build a commuter rail tunnel under the
Hudson River as part of the recently passed Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users. The language that Senator Corzine
included will expedite the proposed rail tunnel under the
Hudson River and require the Federal Transit
Administration to sign a full-funding grant agreement with
New Jersey Transit that will provide the Federal funding
needed to complete the tunnel, and in so doing not only
will he assist the people of New Jersey, but he will
assist the economy of this Nation, since so much is
dependent upon transit access through New Jersey to the
Eastern Seaboard, Boston, New York and down to Washington,
DC.
We all are going to miss Senator Corzine immensely in
the Senate, but he is going forth now to a mission that is
equally important; that is, to serve the people of New
Jersey as their Governor. I know he will be successful.
And I know those values of opportunity and community and
fairness and tolerance and decency that exemplified his
service in the Senate will mark him as a remarkable
Governor for the State of New Jersey.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, knowing Jon Corzine as I think
I do, if he had known he was going to have to sit through
all these speeches after he spoke, he would have come down
here a lot later at night, I suspect, or certainly waited
until we got out of town, because that is the nature of
this Senator, Governor to be.
I have listened to my colleagues and I listened to his
speech. He left us with some important warnings, some
important pleas, which I hope my colleagues will take
seriously. I would incorporate into my comments about Jon
all of the things Senator Sarbanes said. They were a
wonderful summary of what he did and how he did it, his
accomplishments.
He helped veterans, and he has been a passionate
advocate for public transportation. He was instrumental in
housing. These are the sorts of signal accomplishments you
can measure, which he can point to and my colleagues have,
that define the few years he has been here.
I will say a word or two about the things that helped
push him in the direction of accomplishing those goals.
What has always struck me about Jon Corzine and the thing
that has been singled out in a number of comments made by
my colleagues is the quality of the person, almost an
improbable quality when you measure it against the
profession he chose for so many years.
Maybe I'll offer a comment about Wall Street, certainly
a comment that I know Jon Corzine would articulate any
number of different times in different ways, that we don't
think of people traditionally, with the obvious
exceptions, a Bob Rubin, some others. Jon Corzine always
kept, first, a great sense of idealism; second, a very
strong moral compass that led him to always distinguish
between right and wrong; and third, an integrity about the
approach to public life that willingly disclosed great
wealth, willingly submitted himself to unbelievable
attacks in order to pursue a greater good. Most people
would shy away from that today. When you talk to people in
the private sector today about running for office, they
are quick to say: Do that? Why would I want to do that?
Why would I want to subject myself to that? Why would I
want to put myself through that scrutiny?
Jon Corzine has always been driven by his sense that
there is too much missing in governance today, that there
is a bigger purpose than all of us individually, a noble
purpose in what we are trying to achieve. He believes
unabashedly that government can be part of the solution,
that government actually helps people. And unlike so much
of the rhetoric of the last years that has attacked
everything government does until you have a Katrina, when
you understand why you need it, or until you see the
potholes in the streets and the bridges falling apart and
you begrudgingly acknowledge you need it, Jon always
believes you need it proactively. He understands the good
it can do.
Every one of us who has had the privilege of being here
for awhile was impressed by that passion and moral compass
he brought to some of the issues. When business people in
America were abusing their trust, Jon brought this
extraordinary credibility to that debate. There are huge
provisions, as Senator Sarbanes will tell us, and a great
deal of guidance through that process that came from this
freshman Senator.
Likewise, with respect to Darfur, an issue where the
country ought to be providing a sense of moral outrage,
Jon doggedly and tenaciously pursued that issue without
grandstanding, without trying to do it in a way that was
sort of hit and run. He stayed at it and got the Senate
ultimately to take some measures, though never what we
ought to be doing, and this country has yet to do what he
knows and understands we ought to be doing.
He always had a sense of right and wrong, and he always
fought for the minimum wage. He understood that there is a
different set of priorities, a sense of outrage that we
would be cutting children off Medicaid, and so on down the
list.
I am thrilled, and I know when I was privileged to be in
New Jersey, I could feel it in the people of New Jersey
who obviously were inundated with an onslaught of
confusing and reprehensible kinds of claims in the context
of a campaign, which we have seen too often. He plowed
through that, because of that idealism and his sense of
purpose for the State. Those folks are anticipating the
same kind of excitement that he said in his comments he
will bring to this new challenge.
The people of New Jersey have chosen wisely. They are
going to have a leader who will do exactly what Senator
Sarbanes talked about. He has the opportunity to make that
State one of the great laboratories in the country, to do
what we are unsuccessful and unwilling to do too often at
this moment in our history here in Washington. I almost
envy him that opportunity to grab the executive reins and
go out and do it. He is going to be an exceptional
Governor. He is going to continue to have an impact on
what Congress chooses to do because of those priorities
that he sets in the State.
There is no question in my mind that our caucus, which
has looked to him regularly as sort of the resident expert
on issues of fiscal, trade, and Wall Street matters, is
going to miss that expertise enormously.
I thank this Senator for his service to us, to the
country, and we look forward to the service he will
provide as Governor of New Jersey.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise to wish Senator Jon
Corzine the very best as he goes from service in this body
to become the next Governor of the State of New Jersey. I
have had the privilege of serving with Senator Corzine on
the Budget Committee. He has been a valued member of that
committee. He has made an extraordinary contribution
there, always thoughtful and well-informed. Senator
Corzine is deeply respected by colleagues on both sides.
It is fair to say that no one on the Senate Budget
Committee and no one in this Chamber has a better
understanding of financial markets or economic issues than
Senator Jon Corzine.
On the Budget Committee, Senator Corzine has warned
repeatedly of the risks of exploding deficits and debt. As
someone who has been extraordinarily successful in the
private sector, and as someone who has displayed in the
real world a profound understanding of what moves markets,
Senator Corzine's words have weight, especially when he
says to the members on the committee and here on the
Senate floor that we are running unacceptable risks as we
run up the deficit and debt of the United States. Senator
Corzine has time after time alerted us to the risks to the
economy of higher interest rates as a result of burgeoning
deficits and debt.
Senator Corzine has told this body and told the country
that it is unsustainable to double the foreign holdings of
our debt in 5 years. It is remarkable and terribly
unfortunate that in 5 years we have taken the external
debt of the United States, which was $1 trillion 5 years
ago, to $2 trillion today.
Mr. President, it took, as Senator Corzine has pointed
out, 224 years to run up a trillion dollars of external
debt, and that amount has been exceeded in the last 5
years. Senator Corzine has said consistently and firmly
that these are risks that have the potential to lead to a
dramatic increase in interest rates, which would have
negative consequences--extremely negative consequences for
the American economy. It would threaten economic growth
and has the potential to put us into recession.
Mr. President, we have been fortunate to have someone of
Jon Corzine's character and wisdom serving with us in the
Senate. I am going to miss Senator Corzine very much. He
has been such a strong member of the Budget Committee--
someone to whom we could look for expertise that is highly
regarded by all Members of this Chamber.
I know Jon Corzine will do a remarkable job as Governor
of the State of New Jersey. As he leaves here, we wish him
well. I thank the Chair.
Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, I also want to join with my
colleagues in paying tribute to our departing Senator from
New Jersey, Senator Jon Corzine. I met him for the first
time when we were both sworn in on January 3, 2001.
Even before that time I knew of his success but also his
high caliber by virtue of the fact that he was chairman
and CEO of a great firm, Goldman Sachs, whose previous
contributions to the U.S. Government included John
Whitehead, Deputy Secretary of State under President
Reagan, and Robert Rubin, the Secretary of the Treasury
under President Clinton. Senator Corzine followed in that
tradition of very successful men who could do anything
they wanted for the rest of their lives, but had chosen to
commit themselves to public service.
It has been an honor, a privilege, and a pleasure to
serve with Senator Corzine these last 5 years, to learn
from his own wisdom and experience as it relates to so
many matters affecting the betterment of our country, and
then to watch him forgo what would have been a safe track
and a relatively easy re-election next year as a Senator
because he felt he could be of better service to his
fellow citizens from New Jersey by acting as their
Governor, going through the rigors and ordeals of another
campaign, a challenging endeavor but where he sacrificed
himself and his own resources in order to give greater
service to the people of New Jersey.
Our loss in the Senate with his departure will be a gain
for his fellow citizens from that State as he devotes his
full time to New Jersey to their better interests. I wish
him well. We will miss him. He will carry out even further
the great talents he has and his ability to improve his
State and our country.
I yield the floor.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, when the Senate returns in
January, we unfortunately will be without one of the
finest Senators in this body. Senator Jon Corzine will be
moving to New Jersey to serve as its Governor. I want to
publicly congratulate Senator Corzine on an impressive
victory and congratulate the people of New Jersey for
making an outstanding choice. Their gain is the Senate's
loss.
Jon Corzine has been an exceptional Senator largely
because he is an exceptional person. It didn't take
Senator Corzine long to demonstrate to his colleagues his
intelligence and his impressive knowledge of a broad range
of political and economic issues. But perhaps even more
important, he quickly convinced Members on both sides of
the aisle that he possessed a genuine decency and
humility.
Jon Corzine surely has one of the most impressive
resumes of any American anywhere. He has a remarkable
record of accomplishment, both in business and public
service. But success never went to his head. And if you
are fortunate enough to meet him--no matter who you are or
what your place in society--you can be sure that Senator
Corzine will treat you with respect. He is sincere. He
listens. And he's humble. Its almost impossible not to
like Jon Corzine.
When Senator Corzine came to Washington just 5 years
ago, it didn't take him long to earn both the admiration
and the affection of his colleagues. But he wasn't just a
nice, smart guy. He also worked on behalf of the citizens
of New Jersey and the Nation like there was no tomorrow.
And it didn't take long for him to make his mark.
Soon after coming to the Senate, Senator Corzine played
a critical role in efforts to respond to widespread abuses
at corporations like Enron. At the time, Congress needed
someone who understood corporate America and who could
help find balanced solutions that made sense. Jon Corzine
stepped up to the plate and helped develop one of the most
important corporate reforms in American history. That
legislation, known as Sarbanes-Oxley, may not bear his
name, but it surely bears his mark, and all Americans owe
him a great debt of gratitude for his contribution.
Senator Corzine's economic expertise also helped him
become a real leader on budget and fiscal issues. Since
coming to office, he has been an outspoken advocate for
fiscal responsibility and a leading defender of Social
Security. In the last Congress, he headed the Senate
Democratic Task Force on Social Security, where he
developed the case against privatization long before the
issue was in the headlines. Democrats stopped the
administration's misguided attempt to privatize Social
Security dead in its tracks this year. Senator Corzine's
efforts last year laid the groundwork for much of what we
were able to accomplish.
Senator Corzine also has taken up another important
cause that still fails to attract sufficient attention:
the genocide in Darfur. After prior mass murders abroad,
such as the situation in Rwanda, many Americans looked
back with regret at our Nation's failure to act. Yet
today, in the midst of another terrible genocide, the U.S.
response is again woefully and tragically inadequate. Jon
Corzine has personally gone to Darfur and has worked hard
to focus the Nation's attention on this crisis. It has
been a thankless task with no apparent political benefits.
For his willingness to pursue this moral cause, he
deserves real credit from every American. It will be
incumbent on all of us to remain focused on this terrible
tragedy after he leaves.
Another cause of great importance on which Senator
Corzine took the lead was the effort to prevent terrorism
at chemical plants. As Senator Corzine has told us
repeatedly, there are more than 100 chemical facilities
around our Nation where a terrorist attack could endanger
more than a million people. Unfortunately, security at too
many of our plants is grossly inadequate. Senator Corzine
recognized the importance of addressing these security
risks now before a catastrophe occurs. Each of us has a
responsibility to push forward on this issue that he has
pushed so tirelessly.
I could go on about the many other issues on which
Senator Corzine has taken a lead--from protecting
prescription drug benefits of New Jersey seniors, to
promoting financial literacy, to preserving our
environment, blocking cuts in student aid and protecting
workers against unsafe conditions. In his relatively short
time in the Senate, Senator Corzine has been one of our
most active Senators, and he has had an impact on a
surprisingly broad range of issues.
I also want to take a moment on behalf of the Senate
Democratic Caucus to publicly thank Senator Corzine for
his work in the last Congress as head of the Democratic
Senatorial Campaign Committee. Senator Corzine had a tough
job and was dealt a tough hand. But he worked extremely
hard, as he always does, and he did an excellent job.
Let me also express my appreciation to Senator Corzine
as Governor for selecting an outstanding Member of
Congress to replace him. While we will miss Senator
Corzine greatly, Bob Menendez is going to be an excellent
Senator for New Jersey. It is a credit to Senator Corzine
to have chosen such a talented and committed public
servant, who I am confident will not only represent New
Jersey well, but will also help this body better represent
the great diversity of our Nation.
Now Senator Corzine moves from Washington to Trenton,
where he will take on some very difficult challenges. But
nobody should ever underestimate Jon Corzine. The people
of New Jersey have selected a man who not only has
extraordinary talent but someone who always gives it
everything he has. I know he will serve them well and I
know at the end of the day, he will remain what he is
today: a kind, humble, and principled person who
represents the very best of our Nation.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I just left a small farewell
party for my colleague, Jon Corzine of New Jersey. He is,
of course, leaving the Senate in a few days to become
Governor of the State of New Jersey. Congressman Bob
Menendez will be appointed to fill his vacancy and stand
for election in about a year.
I am going to miss Jon Corzine for a lot of reasons.
First, we have a lot in common. Jon was born and raised in
the small town of Willey's Station, which is just a few
miles away from the bustling metropolis of Taylorville in
Christian County, IL, just a few miles from where I live.
I know a little about the Corzine family today, and I
sense what his upbringing was all about. He grew up on a
farm, with a dad who raised corn and soybeans. It was not
a comfortable and wealthy existence, but it was a great
upbringing. He was raised in the Midwestern tradition of
working hard. He started at age 13 with his first job. He
worked his way through college, going to the University of
Illinois where he was a walk-on on the basketball team. He
has assured me time and again he was no superstar. But the
fact that he did that and served in the Marine Corps and
went on to the University of Chicago for a master's degree
in business tells me he is a person who had a good work
ethic--not only that but a great deal of talent.
Jon's career took him to the highest levels in the
business world. He was a partner at Goldman Sachs at the
age of 33. He was chairman and CEO of that investment
banking giant at the age of 50. He started there fetching
coffee for his superiors. He came up not only quickly but
the right way. When he was first running, I remember
reading accounts in the New York Times about what kind of
a CEO he was. He knew the elevator operator's name, and he
would go to the mailroom and talk to the workers there and
try to provide financial assistance so that workers could
go on to earn a college degree.
That is the same Jon Corzine I came to know in the
Senate, a very caring and compassionate individual in so
many different ways. He would fight tooth and nail for
things he believed in, and he would also pick causes that
were not quite that popular and put all of his energy and
skill at work on them as well.
I can recall the terrible genocide in Darfur and how he
made that his issue. Time and again, he came to the floor
of the Senate to remind all of us about that tiny country
on the other side of the world and the people being
oppressed there. That is Jon Corzine. Time and again, he
showed us that you could be both financially successful in
life and not lose your bearings when it came to good moral
conduct and good values.
When I think about his heroes in life, I share many of
them. He used to talk about Paul Douglas, the first man I
worked for in the Senate as a college intern. Paul Douglas
was from the University of Chicago faculty, and he was a
person who inspired many of us, not only because he worked
hard and did his best to speak for the common man, but
because he was all over the State appreciating the variety
of life you can find in Illinois. Then, of course, was his
successor and protege, Paul Simon, whom I was honored to
succeed in the Senate, also a friend of Jon Corzine's. So
we had the Paul Douglas and Paul Simon connection. And, of
course, the admiration Jon Corzine had for them said it
all.
When I look back at these heroes of Jon Corzine, I
realize that we have that much in common--our Illinois
roots and a lot more. We come from the same place. We
share many of the same values. We fought on the same side
of many of the same battles. We share many of the same
heroes. Like Jon Corzine, I admired Senators Douglas and
Simon. I had the privilege to know and work with them.
Paul Douglas helped design Social Security. Jon Corzine
helped to save it. Like Paul Douglas, Jon Corzine is a
brave champion of civil rights, economic justice, and the
environment. Like Paul Douglas, Jon Corzine is unafraid to
speak his mind for the good of the country.
All in all, I am certain that Paul Douglas and Paul
Simon would approve of the short, though important, Senate
career of Jon Corzine. They would thank him, as we all do,
for fighting hard and well for people and values of this
great Nation. I will miss Jon Corzine. The people of New
Jersey have made a wise choice. He will be a good,
thoughtful, compassionate leader of their great State. I
look forward to working with him for many years to come
for the values that we share.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama is
recognized.
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I want to share my thoughts
about Jon Corzine. He had a great record at Goldman Sachs.
I didn't really know he was a farm boy. That is something
Senator Durbin added to the mix. I think I had heard that
but had forgotten it. He was successful in the financial
world in an extraordinary way. He was a marine. Of course,
every marine I have known has been shaped by that, and I
believe Senator Zell Miller wrote a book saying that
everything he ever needed to know he learned in the Marine
Corps, or something to that effect.
Jon Corzine has been an active Member of the Senate. I
remember the time we spent together in Montgomery, AL, on
a civil rights trip. We were at the church that Martin
Luther King preached in on Dexter Avenue, the Dexter
Avenue Church. We had a discussion at that time about Rosa
Parks, whom we have just honored and who recently passed
away. At that very site, Martin Luther King led the
efforts of the bus boycott that ended the concept that
people must go to the back of the bus because of the color
of their skin. Jon Corzine didn't have to go to
Montgomery, but he was interested in those issues and he
believed strongly in equality and civil rights.
Senator Corzine has been a strong advocate for the
Democratic Party and its principles, heading its campaign
committee. We didn't agree on those issues, but he was
always courteous and professional. I cannot remember a
single harsh word that we have had. In fact, I cannot
remember him having a harsh word with any other Senators.
I have enjoyed the opportunity to know Jon Corzine and
have gained respect for him. I wish him every success as
Governor of the important State of New Jersey. That will
be a challenge, but he has the gift and ability necessary
to be successful in that job.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate
and bid farewell to my friend and colleague, Jon Corzine.
Our world has changed quite drastically since Jon first
joined the Senate. It has been an honor to work with him
on the many issues we were forced to confront following
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We will miss
Jon's leadership and determination on behalf of his
constituents in New Jersey and the American people.
While Jon has served in the Senate for a relatively
short period of time, he leaves an important legacy of
leadership on issues ranging from protecting our homeland
to crafting legislation that stabilized our financial
markets.
Rarely in this body does one Senator see the enactment
of one of their first bills introduced as a freshman
Member. But Jon did just that when he called for mandatory
Federal standards to protect our Nation's chemical plants
and saw that become law.
When the entire corporate and financial community was
rocked by pervasive accounting scandals, Jon was
instrumental in crafting extraordinary changes to
accounting oversight that stabilized confidence in our
markets when they were teetering. He recognized that
Americans were at risk, and he worked tirelessly on their
behalf, a legacy that will last well past his last day
here in the Capitol.
Jon also brought to the Senate an appreciation of open
and accountable government. He saw security and
accountability as going hand in hand, a way for citizens
to know what their chosen representatives are doing to
ensure the health and safety of their own neighborhoods
and communities. He recognized that the ever-changing need
for security had to be balanced with the everlasting
principles of openness that make our democracy the
strongest in the world. I was pleased to work with him to
protect the Freedom of Information Act which the current
administration has sought to weaken at every turn of the
road.
As further testament to Jon's leadership and
determination, he will certainly be remembered for his
work to secure an end to the terrible genocide that the
world has witnessed in western Sudan. As the ranking
member of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee, I can
personally attest that Jon repeatedly brought the reality
of this terrible tragedy to the attention of all of us. He
knew that the solution would not be Democratic or
Republican. Instead, he reached across the aisle, demanded
a call for action, and spoke eloquently for those without
a voice.
I will miss my friend Jon Corzine here in the Senate. I
have enjoyed the time we shared working together in this
body. Marcelle and I wish him all the best as he moves on
to the new and exciting challenges that await him in
Trenton. His service to the American people in the U.S.
Senate has been selfless. His departure is a loss for the
U.S. Senate, but a great gain for the citizens of New
Jersey.
Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute
to my colleague, Senator Jon Corzine, who is leaving the
Senate and will be sworn in as the Governor of New Jersey
on January 17, 2006.
I have greatly appreciated working with Senator Corzine
during his time in the Senate. We have served together on
the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, the
Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Budget
Committee. His depth of knowledge and experience will be
missed on these committees, and in the Senate as a whole.
While Senator Corzine will be continuing in public
service, he has already had a long and distinguished
career. After serving in the Marine Corps, he received an
MBA from the University of Chicago and began working in
the private sector, rising to be the chairman and CEO at
Goldman Sachs. He decided to enter public service and was
elected to the Senate in 2000, where he has worked
tirelessly on behalf of the people of New Jersey. In
November, Senator Corzine was elected to be Governor of
New Jersey and I am confident he will continue his
outstanding public service work in this new position.
I am very pleased that while he served in the Senate,
Senator Corzine had the opportunity to visit my home State
of South Dakota in 2002 during my re-election campaign.
The trip gave him the opportunity to experience the beauty
and friendliness of South Dakota, and I know that those
who met Senator Corzine were very impressed with him and
pleased that he had visited the State.
Once again, I would like to thank Senator Corzine for
his extraordinary service in the Senate and wish him the
very best on his new challenges and opportunities as
Governor of New Jersey.
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I rise to say a word or two
about our good friend Senator Corzine, who will be leaving
the Senate to assume the governorship of New Jersey.
What I would like to do--because I have heard a lot
about Senator Corzine and his background in Illinois
today--is to talk about when I saw him in action for the
first time. It was when the Senate was working on the
post-9/11 airline relief legislation. A lot of us were
very troubled about how that ought to be done. We were
sympathetic to the needs of the airlines after 9/11 but
concerned about the very large sums of money that were
going to be directed to one sector of our economy when
many of our important economic sectors were hurt after 9/
11. In that period our country suffered tragically in New
York but there were economic ramifications across the
country.
That legislation would not have passed if Senator
Corzine, along with help from our former colleague,
Senator Fitzgerald, had not stepped in and figured out how
to deal with the financing in a responsible way that
protected taxpayers while providing some help to the
airlines. Senator Corzine took out a sharp pencil, using
the expertise he had acquired in his years at Goldman
Sachs and throughout his training in finance, and figured
out how to make sure there was not a bailout in effect for
just one sector that would have taxpayers holding the bag
and was sensitive to the needs of all concerned.
I was struck, as I watched him deal with that airline
legislation, by his combination of compassion, fairness,
and intelligence and how he worked in a very quiet and
dignified way to bring together different parties,
different Senators who had widely diverse views, and
tackled an issue of great importance.
I think that is exactly what he is going to do when he
assumes the governorship of New Jersey. He is going to
bring exactly that combination of fairness, compassion,
and brains, always done in a kind of low-key, understated
way. I believe the people of New Jersey will benefit as
they have in his service here in the U.S. Senate.
We hope Governor Corzine will come to Oregon because he
has expressed an interest in looking at some of our
innovative approaches, particularly in the area of health
care and the environment. We wish him well and know he is
going to have a very distinguished career as the new
Governor of New Jersey.
I yield the floor.
Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to
the career of my colleague Senator Jon Corzine of New
Jersey. This institution has benefited greatly from his
presence, and the people of New Jersey can be proud that
such an energetic and compassionate man will continue to
serve them as their new Governor.
Senator Corzine is a man who knows how to be successful,
whether as a leader in the field of investment banking or
as a champion on behalf of the interests of working
families as a U.S. Senator. His commitment to public
service is commendable, and he has set a positive example
for his fellow lawmakers when it comes to establishing the
right priorities for government. His philosophy is one of
inclusion, which seeks to ensure that no American is left
out of the enterprise of this great Nation.
I am particularly grateful for Senator Corzine's work on
the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. His was
an early voice for revamping the laws governing corporate
accounting practices, long before the events of WorldCom
and other accounting scandals destroyed the savings of
thousands of loyal employees and shareholders, tarnishing
the reputation of corporate America. Before, during, and
after the debates that produced the landmark Sarbanes-
Oxley corporate accountability legislation, Senator
Corzine was there with the knowledge and energy to provide
much-needed solutions to a serious problem. He has also
championed many other inventive policies to tackle our
Nation's problems, including his ``kid's account''
lifetime savings plan, his work to protect individuals
from identity theft, and his initiatives to promote
financial literacy for all Americans.
In addition to finding creative solutions to the
financial problems that our country faces, Senator Corzine
has also been a reliable defender of public education,
affordable health care and prescription drugs, and support
for our men and women in uniform. As a member of the
Senate Budget Committee, he has championed the priorities
of everyday, working Americans time and again. He
consistently opposed the fiscal policies that have led our
Nation to such a dangerous budget deficit, choosing
instead to vote for sound economic and social policies
that would keep America strong and healthy.
I wish my colleague from New Jersey the best of luck as
he enters into this new chapter in his public life. His
presence will be missed, but his work on behalf of working
Americans will not be forgotten.
Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute
to a great Senator and the Governor-elect of New Jersey,
Jon Corzine. While Senator Corzine has only been in the
Senate for 5 short years, he has made an indelible mark on
our Nation and on his Senate colleagues, myself included.
I have had the opportunity and pleasure of serving with
Senator Corzine on the Senate Intelligence Committee,
seeing firsthand his patriotism, his dedication to our
Nation, and his work ethic.
Senator Corzine has been an invaluable resource here in
the Senate, especially as we confronted the corporate
scandals of recent years. With his expertise as the former
chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, we looked to Senator
Corzine during the reform process. He stepped up to the
challenge, helping push through sweeping changes in our
Nation's corporate governance. I know that he is proud of
this accomplishment, and our Nation is better for his
efforts.
While Senators come to Washington to represent their
States, their actions have consequences for every American
citizen. America has been well-served by having Jon
Corzine in the Senate and I know that the citizens of New
Jersey could not have chosen a better man to serve as
their Governor. He will bring not only his work ethic and
intellect, but a unique blend of government and corporate
experience to bear on the challenges facing New Jersey.
I have been proud to call Senator Corzine my colleague,
and I congratulate him on his election. I also want to
wish him luck on the new responsibilities he takes on and
the new challenges he will face. Senator Corzine, you will
be missed.
Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleagues
in thanking the gentleman from New Jersey, Senator Jon
Corzine, for his service to the people of the Garden State
and the rest of our country. My colleague and friend
brought his extensive experience from corporate America to
bear on the business that we conduct here, and our country
greatly benefited from his expertise.
I enjoyed working with Senator Corzine during the time
when I served on the Banking Committee. Under the
leadership of Ranking Member Sarbanes, we shored up
corporate governance through the enactment of Sarbanes-
Oxley--the influence of which has been felt in corporate
boardrooms, and even nonprofit boardrooms, across America.
The Senate and the Congress will especially miss the
dedication of our colleague in the effort to promote
economic and financial literacy. Senator Corzine has been
a stalwart in working with me, and Senators Sarbanes,
Stabenow, Enzi, Allen, and others, to bring to light the
need to reverse economic and financial illiteracy in our
country.
Senator Corzine has been an important ally in supporting
several of my initiatives in this area, including annual
efforts to secure and increase funding for the Excellence
in Economic Education Act for grades K through 12; efforts
to work on college campuses through the College Literacy
in Finance and Economics or LIFE Act, S. 468; and annual
resolutions designating April as the month for
highlighting the need for financial literacy.
I have been a proud co-sponsor of his initiatives in
this area, S. 923, S. 924, and S. 925. The TANF Financial
Education Promotion Act, S. 923, requires a State to
specify how it intends to establish goals and take action
to promote financial education among parents and
caretakers receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families assistance. The Education for Retirement Security
Act, S. 924, authorizes grants for financial education
programs targeted toward mid-life and older Americans,
including striving to increase financial and retirement
knowledge and reducing individuals' vulnerability to
financial abuse and fraud. Finally, the Youth Financial
Education Act, S. 925, authorizes grants to State
educational agencies for the development and integration
of youth financial education programs for students in
elementary and secondary schools, as well as a grant to
establish and operate a national clearinghouse for
instructional materials and information regarding model
financial education programs and best practices.
It is clear that my colleague from New Jersey cares
about giving people access to additional tools that can
help them make decisions about credit and debt management,
spending and saving, and essential choices in a world of
limited resources, in addition to helping increase their
financial acumen so as to avoid being taken in by
predatory credit offers and unscrupulous marketing. I
commend him for taking this broad view, and wish him and
his family well as he goes on to lead the Garden State as
its Governor.
Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute
to my friend and colleague Senator and now Governor-elect
Jon Corzine. With his election to the Senate in 2000, Jon
Corzine has been a source of wisdom and a great friend to
me and to many of my colleagues.
Jon Corzine was elected to the Senate after serving as
chairman and CEO of the investment company Goldman Sachs.
During his time in the Senate, he has focused on serving
the State of New Jersey, applying his financial expertise
to major economic and regulatory issues and pushing a
forward-looking, progressive agenda.
Senator Corzine has pursued new safeguards to protect
chemical facilities against terrorist attacks, introduced
legislation to improve access to education and health
care, fought for stronger environmental policies, and led
the effort in Congress to crack down on corporate abuse.
The Senate recently adopted Senator Corzine's resolution
declaring the need for new safeguards at the Nation's
vulnerable chemical plants. He also secured Federal
funding toward the construction of a second railroad
tunnel underneath the Hudson River, long sought by New
Jersey's congressional delegation, and won Federal support
for a wide variety of community and economic development
projects throughout the State of New Jersey.
On a more personal note, it has been a great pleasure
for me to work with such a gifted and dedicated public
servant. He has never hesitated to put the people of New
Jersey and the people of this Nation first. The people of
New Jersey have made a wise choice in selecting Senator
Corzine to be the chief executive of their great State. He
will take the same enthusiasm and professionalism to the
Governor's mansion that he has exhibited here in the
Senate.
I wish him well in his new responsibilities. I know that
he will be a benefit to the people of his home State of
New Jersey. We will miss his passion and insight here in
the Senate. But our loss will be the people of New
Jersey's gain. Farewell and Godspeed.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, although we will miss him
greatly in the Senate, I join my colleagues in
congratulating Senator Jon Corzine on his election as
Governor of New Jersey. It has been a pleasure to serve
with Jon on the Intelligence Committee and to work with
him on issues of corporate accountability. He has been a
strong and determined leader here, and I know he will
continue to make the people of New Jersey proud in his new
position.
Jon Corzine has led a distinctly American life. He grew
up on a family farm. He served his country in the Marine
Corps Reserves. He had extraordinary success in business
as a self-made man. And he has continued to serve his
country in public life, first as a Senator and soon as a
Governor. Jon loves America and fights for what he
believes is best for our people.
In the Senate, Jon has used the financial expertise he
gained at Goldman Sachs to become a singularly credible
voice for corporate reform. He was a driving force on the
landmark Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, which cracked down on
corporate abuses such as those that led to the Enron and
WorldCom scandals. He has been a leader on strengthening
oversight of the mutual fund industry and on protecting
the financial privacy of Americans. Jon has also been at
the forefront of promoting financial literacy, so that
Americans can manage their personal finances wisely.
Working with Jon on the Intelligence Committee, I have
seen his piercing mental acumen and commitment to
protecting our country. Following the September 11
attacks, which took a heavy toll on his State, Jon
recognized the weakness of our system of chemical plant
security. He seized that issue and did not let go. In
October, Congress finally passed mandatory security
requirements at chemical plants based on Jon's work. That
this necessary improvement in our security will be
substantially improved is due to his tenacity.
On every issue, Jon has been outspoken in support of
policies that benefit working Americans. He has fought for
universal health care, for expanded student aid, and for
full funding for education programs. Jon has also been a
passionate voice for human rights around the world. Just
last month, the Senate approved the Darfur Peace and
Accountability Act, which Jon sponsored with Senator
Brownback, to help stop the genocide in the Sudan.
During his short time in the Senate, Jon Corzine has
made a big impact. His is a unique voice that will be
personally missed. I join my colleagues in saluting Jon on
his election as Governor and in wishing him well in his
new position.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am proud today to join in
honoring Jon Corzine and congratulating him on his
outstanding service here in the Senate. I have had the
pleasure of working with him for 5 years and have found
him to be a tremendous ally on a number of issues, as well
as a great friend and colleague.
This Senate has benefited enormously from his hard work
and commitment since he came to this body in 2001. I have
served with him on both the Foreign Relations and the
Budget Committees, and I have seen him work diligently and
effectively with Members from both sides of the aisle, and
always in the best interests of the American people.
Senator Corzine has led the effort to stop the ongoing
violence in Darfur with the bipartisan Darfur Peace and
Accountability Act of 2005, of which I am a co-sponsor. I
applaud his efforts in this area, as well as his work to
reaffirm support for the Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This is a critically
important legacy as the world faces the tragedy in Sudan.
There has never been a more important time for the United
States to recommit itself to ending the crime of genocide,
and Senator Corzine has taken a lead role in that effort.
We have also worked together on issues of great concern
to us both--racial profiling and the death penalty. On
both these issues, Senator Corzine has been a courageous
voice for justice and fairness. He has been steadfast in
his efforts to ban racial profiling, a practice that runs
contrary to the fundamental American value of equal
treatment under the law. And he has been just as dedicated
in focusing attention on the glaring flaws in the
administration of capital punishment, and in calling for a
thorough, nationwide review of the death penalty.
Finally, I want to say that I am deeply grateful for
Senator Corzine's support for the amendments I offered
during the Senate's consideration of the PATRIOT Act in
October 2001. I was proud to have his support that night,
and I have been proud to work with him as a co-sponsor of
the SAFE Act. I can't think of a better time to thank him
for his work to protect Americans' freedoms than today, in
the midst of a fight to make reasonable changes to the
PATRIOT Act.
Jon Corzine has earned the utmost admiration and respect
during his time in the Senate. I will miss him as a
colleague and friend, but I am so glad that he will
continue to serve the people of New Jersey with such
dedication and integrity. I have no doubt that he will be
an outstanding Governor, and that he will continue to be a
national leader on the issues to which he was so committed
in the Senate.
So today I join my colleagues in thanking Senator
Corzine for his work in this body. He is a great public
servant and a good friend. I wish him all the best.
Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, it is my honor today to
pay tribute and bid a fond farewell to my colleague and
friend Senator Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey. Senator
Corzine, as we know, will be leaving the Senate next month
to serve as New Jersey's Governor, and before he leaves us
to begin what I can only be certain will be a wildly
successful and innovative tenure as New Jersey's chief
executive, I thought it appropriate to take the time to
celebrate not only Mr. Corzine's fine service in the
Senate, but his inspiring life story as well.
In many ways, Jon Corzine's life is an example of the
American dream fulfilled. Mr. Corzine was born on New
Year's Day, 1947, and grew up on his family's farm in
Willey's Station, IL. His father ran the farm and sold
insurance; his mother was a public school teacher. Through
his own hard work and that of his family, Mr. Corzine
attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1969. After
graduating college, Mr. Corzine served his country by
enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, and he
continued in the Reserves until 1975, rising to the rank
of sergeant in his infantry unit.
After Senator Corzine's active duty was finished, he
began what would become a long and successful career in
the finance sector. His first job was with the Continental
Illinois National Bank in Chicago, where he worked as a
portfolio analyst. At the same time, Mr. Corzine began
taking night classes at the University of Chicago's
Graduate School of Business, where he received his MBA in
1973.
In 1975, after working briefly at a regional bank in
Ohio, Mr. Corzine was recruited to go to work for the New
York investment firm Goldman Sachs as a bond trader,
beginning what would be a meteoric rise through the
company's ranks. After only 5 years, Mr. Corzine was named
a partner in the firm. In 1994, Mr. Corzine became both
the firm's chairman and CEO. Through hard work, Senator
Corzine rose from his family's farm in rural Illinois to
being the chairman and CEO of a New York investment firm.
But the story doesn't end there for Mr. Corzine had a
very successful tenure at the helm of Goldman Sachs. When
he took over in 1994, the proud and respected firm was in
a period of some decline. But Mr. Corzine and his team
turned the company's fortunes upward. During his 5 years
as chief executive, Mr. Corzine also oversaw the firm's
successful transition from a private partnership to a
public company.
While serving as chief executive, Mr. Corzine also
demonstrated a passion for public service. Under his
leadership, Goldman Sachs was a strong corporate citizen,
expanding its community outreach and philanthropic
programs. Mr. Corzine also chaired a Presidential
commission that studied how capital budgeting could be
used to increase Federal investment in education.
It is this commitment to public service that I saw Jon
Corzine bring to his work in the Senate every day. Elected
in 2000 by the people of New Jersey, Senator Corzine has
been a tireless advocate for corporate accountability,
helping co-author the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and has worked
to protect our environment, where he has been a steadfast
ally in the fights to prevent drilling in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge and to tackle climate change. On
the international front, Senator Corzine has sponsored the
Darfur Accountability Act, an act I am proud to co-
sponsor, which seeks to address the terrible genocide
currently occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan.
What I will remember most about Senator Corzine's tenure
is his commitment to strengthening our Nation's homeland
security. Having worked with Senator Corzine on several
homeland security issues, I know firsthand that he was
determined to do everything in his power to protect the
American people from another terrorist attack. Senator
Corzine and I worked together in passing legislation that
created the 9/11 Commission, and we are all well aware of
its service to the American people. In addition, Senator
Corzine has been a leader in legislative efforts to
increase security at our Nation's chemical plants, which
remain vulnerable to attack. Senator Corzine crafted
strong legislation aimed at protecting these facilities,
and I remain hopeful that Congress will act on this area
of great vulnerability. I will continue to be inspired by
the dedication Senator Corzine applied to this critical
issue.
Let me end my statement, Mr. President, by taking the
time to thank Jon Corzine for his service in the Senate. I
wish him, his daughter Jennifer, and his two sons, Josh
and Jeffrey, nothing but the best for the future, and I
look forward to seeing the fine things I know he will
continue to do for the people of New Jersey, now as their
Governor. Once again, thank you, Jon Corzine.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico.
Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise to speak briefly
about our colleague Senator Jon Corzine, to congratulate
him on his recent election as Governor of New Jersey, and
also to thank him for his great contribution to the Senate
and to the entire country during the time he served here.
Jon came to the Senate from a very successful career on
Wall Street. We are all aware of that. He came here for
the best of reasons: his desire to make a difference, to
improve the situation of average Americans in this
country, to see that this country pursued an economic
course that created opportunity and jobs for the people he
represented in New Jersey and throughout this country.
On economic issues, I think all of us in the Senate came
to believe--I certainly did--that no one was better able
to read the tea leaves about what was happening
economically in this country, what was happening in the
various economic statistics which come out each week, than
Jon Corzine. He could understand the economic circumstance
we continue to struggle with in this country and the
impact it is having on the lives of average Americans.
While he has been here, he has demonstrated a passion
for fairness to all in our society. He has not been a
representative of Wall Street. He has been a
representative of the great mass of the American people.
He has looked to raise the standard of living of all
Americans and lift all boats. We all owe him a debt of
gratitude for that passion he has brought to this job.
I serve as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee. We have been very fortunate
that Jon has served on that committee as well. He has been
an active participant in the writing of energy legislation
which we passed earlier this year. He made a great
contribution in that legislation. In short, Jon has had a
very distinguished career in the Senate. I am confident he
will have a very distinguished career as Governor of New
Jersey and will have a very long and successful career in
public life.
Again I congratulate him on his victory. I thank him for
his service and his friendship, and I look forward to
opportunities to work with him again in his new capacity
as Governor of New Jersey.
I yield the floor.
Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I wish to take this
opportunity to say farewell to the distinguished Senator
from New Jersey, Mr. Jon S. Corzine. In January, he will
resign his seat, bound for greener pastures. While he will
be missed tremendously in this Chamber, I know that, as
Governor, he will serve the people of New Jersey well.
Senator Corzine and I were elected to the Senate in the
same year, and I have since been glad to have his
friendship and advice. I would also like to say how
fortunate New Jersey has been to be represented by Senator
Corzine. I am proud of the work that we did together in
the time we shared in the Senate and am sad to see him go.
Along with his dedication to building a practical,
progressive government, Senator Corzine always brought a
fresh and original perspective to this body. His previous
career as chairman and CEO at Goldman Sachs allowed him
the benefit of invaluable experience in helping to solve
the problems that face our economy and our financial
sector. His combination of principle and practice, are,
more than anything, what the Senate will sorely miss.
Consider Senator Corzine's role in crafting the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. His work on this bipartisan
legislation helped produce reforms that, in the wake of
corporate abuse scandals, restored confidence in the
markets, protected shareholders, and ensured that
additional and more impartial oversight would act to
prevent the damage to our economy that might flow from
unchecked corporate malfeasance. Senator Corzine stood by
his principles, worked with Democrats and Republicans, and
used his expertise to help craft legislation to promote
ethics, accountability, and economic growth.
We can also look to Senator Corzine's efforts to end the
crisis ravaging Darfur, Sudan. I was proud to co-sponsor
the legislation by Senator Corzine and Senator Sam
Brownback to expand aid to the African Union and provide a
framework for tackling the ongoing violence. We can all be
proud that Senator Corzine was able to help usher the
Darfur Peace and Accountability Act through the Senate.
His dedication to the issue and commitment to stopping the
genocide is admirable to say the least. Senator Corzine
has stood by his values, and worked hard to see those
values reflected in the work of the Senate, the Congress,
and the Nation.
Recently I joined Senator Corzine in introducing
legislation to help the victims of sexual assault receive
the medical treatment they need and deserve. Senator
Corzine believes as I do that we have a duty to these
women; a woman who has already suffered so much should not
have to worry about whether she will be offered emergency
contraception to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Senator
Corzine's passion for protecting and improving access to
health care and medical treatment, and to protecting the
rights of patients, is truly exemplary.
Finally, Senator Corzine served New Jersey and his
constituents with compassion and dedication in the days,
weeks, months, and years following the attacks on
September 11, 2001. New Jersey and New York shared in so
much grief and loss that day, and Senator Corzine was
tireless in his commitment to the citizens of New Jersey
who bore the burden of that loss.
In the years since, he has remained steadfast in
fighting for the families of 9/11 and fighting to
strengthen our Nation to prevent future acts of terrorism.
His hard work to secure our Nation's vulnerable chemical
facilities serves as a noteworthy example. I was proud to
co-sponsor his legislation to safeguard our Nation's
chemical plants, the Chemical Security Act, and share in
his commitment to doing all we can to strengthen America's
homeland security.
I would also acknowledge Senator Corzine's tenure at the
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In his
leadership at the DSCC and throughout his time in office,
Senator Corzine served with honesty, integrity, and a
passion for improving the lives of all Americans.
Jon Corzine's absence will long be felt in the Senate,
as will his good work. He brought his expertise and values
to bear on the challenges facing our economy, our
security, and our country.
To the great benefit of the citizens of New Jersey, Jon
Corzine--while retiring from the Senate, will bring his
values, his expertise, his passion, and his dedication
with him to the governorship of the Garden State. The
citizens of New Jersey will no doubt continue to be
fortunate to have Jon Corzine in their corner.
Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, as Senator Corzine spends
his final days representing the people of New Jersey in
the Senate, I wish to spend a few moments speaking about
his commitment to human rights and the pressing crisis of
genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
I have worked on the issue of war and humanitarian
disaster in Sudan for several years. But nearly 2 years
ago, as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for Sudan was in
its final negotiations, we became aware of the unfolding
crisis in Sudan's western region of Darfur. It was Senator
Corzine who came to me to work together and champion this
issue. We joined each other on the Senate floor in
countless speeches showing photos of the anguish in
Darfur. We joined each other in seeing the Darfur Peace
and Accountability Act through the Senate. We joined each
other to secure funding for the security and humanitarian
needs of the people.
I have had the opportunity to work with many Members
across party lines on human rights and humanitarian
issues. I remember partnering with Paul Wellstone on the
Trafficking Victims' Protection Act. Some called us
strange bedfellows since we were at opposite ends of the
political spectrum. But I have learned an important
lesson: these issues are sufficiently urgent that
ideological and partisan differences should not be allowed
to impede cooperation, especially where lives and basic
freedoms are at stake. And such has been true in the case
of Darfur. I have no doubt that Senator Corzine's
commitment and perseverance to raise this issue to the
highest levels has made a difference to the people of
Darfur. I also saw firsthand his sincere compassion and
commitment to the suffering of the world when we traveled
to tsunami-ravaged South Asia together earlier this year.
I will always consider Senator Corzine an ally and a
friend on one of the greatest moral issues in foreign
policy today. In his absence, I will look to my other
colleagues to ensure that this crisis is not easily
forgotten.
As we close out 2005, I urge my colleagues to secure
additional funding for the African Union in the defense
appropriations conference and I urge my colleagues in the
House to pass the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act.
Without continued action by the United States and the
international community, more lives will be lost.
I would like to take this opportunity to formally and
publicly thank Senator Corzine for his partnership and his
commitment to the people of Darfur. I express my very best
wishes as he leaves this body to become the next Governor
of New Jersey.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California is
recognized.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I believe I am to be
recognized by unanimous consent directly following the
tributes to Senator Corzine. I would like to give my
heartfelt thanks to the Senator from New Jersey. He has
been indeed a good Senator. His tenure here has
distinguished him. That is clearly recognized by the
people of New Jersey. I believe he is going to be a great
Governor for that great State.
Mr. SARBANES. Will the Senator yield me 30 seconds?
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Certainly.
Mr. SARBANES. I thank the very able Senator from
California for her yielding to allow these tributes to be
paid to Senator Corzine. I know she has been waiting here
quite a while to speak on another issue. It was extremely
gracious of her to do that. I wanted to recognize that and
thank her very much.
Mr. CORZINE. Will the Senator yield for my last word?
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I certainly will.
Mr. CORZINE. I am appreciative of the Senator's gracious
and kind words as well. I follow with great interest her
views and visions on a lot of major issues of the day. I
know she is going to speak on one of the more important
ones in a few minutes. I am particularly appreciative of
her kindness.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to
one of our most remarkable Members, Senator Jon Corzine,
who leaves us this year to continue his work on behalf of
the people of New Jersey in a new capacity. Experience and
leadership qualities like his are rare, and with them, he
has set himself apart as a champion of the environment, a
safe homeland, affordable health care, and working men and
women everywhere.
After managing one of the most successful businesses in
the world, Jon arrived in the Senate 5 years ago with the
negotiating skills and leadership experience that allowed
him to succeed so admirably here. Most notably, Jon came
to Washington with an unusual and important perspective.
He understands the bottom line. He understands that it is
not right for our children to inherit our unpaid bills and
that we have a responsibility to ensure that we leave them
a safer, more secure and more compassionate America.
In pursuit of these goals and never shying from a
challenge, Jon Corzine was a leader in the fight to
protect Social Security from privatization and helped lead
the charge to secure our chemical facilities from
terrorist attacks.
However, while tackling those critical national
challenges, it was obvious that his heart was with New
Jersey. Over the past 5 years, Jon fought hard to improve
the quality of life for all of the people of his State by
investing in the local economy and protecting New Jersey's
natural resources.
Last month, New Jersey residents showed their gratitude
and admiration for Jon's service and elected him Governor
of their State. With their votes, they showed that they
believed in Jon's quest to make New Jersey one of the best
places to live, work, and raise a family. As a former
Governor, I know the challenges and the rewards of running
a State. And from working with Jon in the Senate, I know
that he will help move New Jersey forward and will make
sure that the State government provides people with value
for their hard-earned tax dollars, while respecting the
values that unite us all.
Today the Senate loses a valued colleague. However,
today New Jersey gains a great Governor.
Jon, we will miss you. Susan joins me in wishing you all
the best in the future. New Jersey is lucky to have you.
Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to
congratulate my good friend, Senator Jon Corzine, on his
election to the governorship of New Jersey. The Senator
from New Jersey and I joined this body in the same year,
2001, and in that time, he has worked for New Jersey and
the country with skill and determination.
He is a man who believes in security, whether it is
securing our homeland, securing our financial future or
securing our world from genocide.
Senator Corzine recognized the deadly risk posed by
lackluster protection of our Nation's chemical plants. As
we debated this year's homeland security appropriations
bill, his amendment let everyone know that we must take
steps to protect against a terrorist attack on chemical
facilities within the United States.
He has doggedly fought for retirement security for all
Americans, helping to protect Social Security from deep
benefit cuts and preventing a substantial increase in the
national debt. Senator Corzine knows that we made a
promise to our seniors that they can retire with safety
and dignity, and he is helping to keep that promise.
By introducing the Sudan Accountability Act, Senator
Corzine put this body on record that we cannot allow the
genocide in Darfur to continue. Hundreds of thousands are
already dead, and millions have been displaced by the
atrocities in Sudan. He has helped push for sanctions
against those committing these crimes and to put money
into our efforts to stop them.
Over the past 5 years, I have had the pleasure of
working closely with Senator Corzine on important issues.
We recognized a gaping hole in benefits provided to
widows of our service members, and he joined me in
introducing the Military Retiree Survivor Benefit Equity
Act. The bill has attracted bipartisan support based on
its fundamental fairness and because it is the right thing
to do for America's military retirees and their survivors.
Florida and New Jersey both have beautiful shorelines
that serve important economic needs for our States, and
Senator Corzine has helped me in the fight to protect
these shorelines from the devastation of oil drilling. I
look forward to continuing this fight with his successor,
Congressman Menendez.
I expect that as Governor of New Jersey, he will take
with him to Trenton the same passion to protect our
homeland, to protect our environment, and to protect our
future that he had here in the Senate. I thank him for his
service in Washington, DC. I congratulate him on his
victory, and I wish him well as he continues his service
for the people of New Jersey.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise to wish Senator Jon
Corzine the very best as he leaves his service in the
Senate to become the next Governor of the State of New
Jersey. Although we didn't always agree on all the issues,
it has been an honor to work with him. He has always been
courteous and professional, and I have enjoyed the
opportunity to know him.
Senator Corzine's career has taken him to the uppermost
levels in the business world. He was a partner at Goldman
Sachs at the age of 33 and he became CEO of that
prestigious firm at the age of 50. As someone who has been
extraordinarily successful in the private sector, I am
sure Senator Corzine has had many life opportunities
offered to him. The fact that he has chosen a career in
public service speaks a great deal to the type of person
that he is.
Senator Corzine's economic expertise helped him become a
leader on budget and fiscal issues in the Senate. I had
the privilege of serving with Senator Corzine on the
Budget Committee. His knowledge and understanding of
financial markets and economic issues will be missed.
Jon Corzine has been a good Senator, and I wish him
success as he leaves here to become Governor of the State
of New Jersey.