USA PATRIOT AND TERRORISM PREVENTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005--CONFERENCE REPORT--Continued -- (Senate - December 16, 2005)
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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 the 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 the 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 on the G.I. bill. JON CORZINE has worked to update the G.I. 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.
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