Mr. President, I wish to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle who have taken to the Senate floor to offer heartfelt tributes and best wishes to our esteemed colleague and friend, the senior Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. Kennedy] as he celebrates his 70th birthday. While prior commitments precluded my participation in yesterday's bipartisan tribute, I wanted to take a moment to offer my congratulations to Senator Kennedy.
For 40 of his 70 years, Ted Kennedy has worked for the people of Massachusetts and America in the United States Senate. During that time, through hard work, consensus building and perseverance, with great wit and charm, and, on many memorable occasions, passionate oratory, Ted Kennedy has established himself as one of the most effective legislators of the 20th century and a champion for equality, opportunity, and justice for all Americans.
When I was appointed to the Senate in 1990, we were considering the Americans With Disabilities Act, one of the many landmark civil rights bills that Ted Kennedy has helped to inspire and craft, guide through Congress, and become law. For as long as I have been in public service, Ted Kennedy has been a powerful voice and an advocate for those who are most vulnerable in our Nation. On issues ranging from civil rights, voting rights, equal rights for women, equal protection for all Americans regardless gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation, Americans with disabilities, access to health care, quality education for all children, workers' rights, patients' rights, a decent minimum wage, food stamps, or equal justice for all Americans, Ted Kennedy has been at the forefront of the battles for equal opportunity for all Americans, for fairness, for justice.
In 1963, speaking on civil rights for African Americans, President Kennedy said that "every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated. This is not the case." Throughout his illustrious career, Ted Kennedy has worked to ensure that all Americans are treated fairly, are treated with respect and dignity. His work in the Senate has helped us move forward as a people and Nation toward the vision of America that President Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy spoke about with such eloquence. His effectiveness in forging bipartisan partnerships to advance the causes and issues he cares so much about is legendary. As the Majority Leader said, Ted Kennedy is the master of the principled compromise. In doing so, Ted inspires those of us lucky enough to serve with him with his dedication, persistence and hard work, and he has earned the admiration, respect, and love of people across America.
As both a colleague and friend, no one is more generous with his time or considerate than Ted Kennedy. The senior Senator from Illinois [Mr. Durbin] and some of my colleagues mentioned that in some parts of their states being accused of voting too much like Ted Kennedy is a standard political reproach. In Hawaii, Mr. President, a comparison to Ted Kennedy is a badge of honor. In 1990, I was appointed to the Senate in May, and was campaigning for election in November. My race was extremely close, and the Senate was in session until the last week of October working on the federal budget. Then President George H.W. Bush and other national leaders had come to the islands to campaign for my opponent. Ted Kennedy agreed to campaign with me in Hawaii right before the election. His appearance energized the voters, and sparked a surge in the polls that broke open a close race. In fact, on election night, Ted Kennedy was the first person to call with congratulations based on exit poll projections he had received.
In the history of the Senate, there have been few Senators whose record of accomplishments, whose hard work, whose contributions to building a more perfect Union, equals that of the senior Senator from Massachusetts. I am proud to serve with him in the Senate and fortunate to call him a friend. It is with the deepest admiration and profound aloha that I wish Ted, hau'oli la hanau, a most Happy Birthday. May you have many more. God bless you.
I yield the floor.
