Mike DeWine

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. I thank my colleague.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee amendment to the resolution be agreed to; that the resolution, as amended, be agreed to; that the amendment to the preamble be agreed to; that the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; that the amendment to the title be agreed to; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table and any statements relating to the concurrent resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 30, S. Con. Res. 7.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. On behalf of Majority Leader Lott, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn under the provisions of the adjournment resolution H. Con. Res. 93 until 12 noon on Monday, April 23, 2001. I further ask consent that on Monday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal or proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate then begin a period of morning business until 2 p.m. with Senators speaking for up to 5 minutes each, with the following exceptions: Senator Durbin or his designee, 12 noon until 1 p.m.; Senator Thomas or his designee, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, again, on behalf of Majority Leader Lott, I announce on Monday at 2 p.m. the Senate will begin the appointment of conferees process with respect to the budget resolution. A vote is not necessary with respect to those motions, and therefore no votes will occur during Monday's session. Also, during that week, the Senate may be expected to consider S. 350, the brownfields bill, as well as other authorization bills that may be cleared.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. I ask unanimous consent that committees have between the hours of 12 noon and 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, to file committee- reported legislative and executive items.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask that the Senate stand in adjournment under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 93 following the remarks of Senator Byrd.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. In executive session, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to consideration of Calendar No. 31: Maj. Gen. Joseph M. Cosumano, Jr., to be Lieutenant General, and Tim McClain to be general counsel for the Department of Veterans' Affairs. I further ask unanimous consent the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the Record, that the President be immediately notified, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to say thank you--thank you to my legislative director for the past four years, Mr. Robert Hoffman. Robert--my right-hand man--will be leaving Capitol Hill shortly for a promising career in the private sector. But I speak for a lot of people on the Hill--Members and staffers, alike--when I say that although we are very happy for Robert and we wish him well, we are saddened by his upcoming departure and will miss him dearly. We will miss Robert's dedication to this institution. We will miss his optimism and his sense of humor. We will miss his unstoppable work ethic. But most of all, we will just miss him. Robert Hoffman has, himself, become somewhat of an institution here on Capitol Hill. Almost exactly twelve years ago today--April 3, 1989-- Robert started working in Washington for former California Senator, Pete Wilson. Robert, a California native, didn't start off as Senator Wilson's legislative director. Oh no. He started in the mail room. His dogged determination and his amazing ability to absorb issues quickly propelled him upward within the Wilson operation. In less than a year, Robert had become a legislative correspondent and within another year, he was working in Sacramento as deputy speech writer after Senator Wilson became Governor of California. Robert, though, missed Capitol Hill--and Capitol Hill missed him. By May 1991, he was back in Washington, this time working as a legislative assistant for another former California Senator, John Seymour. Robert thrived as a legislative assistant, handling complex issues ranging from crime to immigration. In practically no time, Robert was ready for a managerial role. In December 1992, he started a long tenure with our former colleague from South Dakota, Senator Larry Pressler. By the young age of only 27, Robert was serving as Senator Pressler's legislative director. Though Robert's loyalty to Governor Wilson called him back for slightly over a year to work as the Governor's Deputy Director of his Washington office, Robert stayed with the Pressler organization until January 1997. To this day, Senator Pressler is thankful for having had Robert at the helm of his legislative operation. The Senator has described Robert as one of the ``all time finest legislative assistants and legislative directors on Capitol Hill. He is a man of great personal values and decency--a decency that is contagious.'' Senator Pressler said it well. I know, too, that Senator Pressler greatly valued--and still values, as I do--Robert's deep grasp and understanding of foreign policy and national security matters. Robert accompanied Senator Pressler and Senator Specter on a trip to Africa. Senator Pressler speaks fondly of that trip and of Robert's ``superb job of managing it.'' According to Senator Pressler: ``Robert made that trip. He got us there and back in one piece, which was no easy feat! He managed the whole thing, dealt with heads of state, and knew all the issues--forward and back.'' Robert came to my office in February 1997. He's been my legislative director for over four years now. And, during that time, I have learned a great deal about this fine man. I have learned that he is loyal to a fault. I have learned that he is a workhorse. I have learned that he is an incredible strategist, manager, teacher, thinker, leader, and friend. I have also learned that there is nothing Robert Hoffman can't do. To use one of Robert's favorite phrases: ``He just gets it. He just gets the joke.'' Robert is one of the best ``big picture'' thinkers I have ever encountered. He gets the whole scene; he understands it. He can put things in their proper perspective. No one does a better job in taking complex issues, simplifying them and explaining them. He understands how all the pieces in a legislative operation fit together. He understands politics. He understands policy. He understands press. That combination of skills--that kind of raw talent and intuitive intelligence--is a true rarity here in Washington or anywhere, for that matter. As anyone who has worked with Robert knows, he always gets the job done. No ifs. No buts. No excuses. He just gets the job done. He is a fair and tempered negotiator. Certainly, I have seen that. I have seen him in situations where I didn't think we would be successful, and he went into negotiation and came out with a lot better deal than I imagined we could achieve. He gets it done in a quiet, thoughtful, professional way. Robert Hoffman knows how to get bills passed into law. He knows the ins and outs of the legislative process. And, he has the ability to bring sides together to reach consensus and build bipartisan relationships. While Robert's professionalism and work ethic are second to none, I would be remiss to not mention Robert's strength of character and personal integrity. He is a gentleman--a kind man, a sincere man, and a man who cares about people. He cares about every single person in my office. He cares about them on a professional level, and he cares about them on a personal level. He cares about them as people. Robert Hoffman is a good man, and I am privileged to have had the extraordinary opportunity to work with him and call him my friend. As he departs Capitol Hill after twelve fruitful, fearless, and fun years, I wish him and his lovely new wife, Andrea, all the best in the world. Thank you, Robert. Mr. President, those in the Chamber and on Capitol Hill who will miss Robert Hoffman will still be able to see him. One of the easiest ways to do that is to watch the reruns of ``Little House on the Prairie.'' Robert started his professional career actually before he came to Capitol Hill. He started as one of the stars on the original version of ``Little House on the Prairie.'' Those of you who are up late at night and who have the opportunity to see a rerun, if you see someone who looks like Robert Hoffman, it is. You will have the opportunity to see a much younger version of Robert on that show. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and finally, that any statements appear at this point in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of calendar No. 27, S. Res. 27.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a star print of S. 525 be made with the changes that are at the desk.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President of the Senate pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 28, S. Res. 60.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, also, on behalf of the leader, I understand there is a bill at the desk due for its second reading.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, all with no intervening action.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Rules Committee be discharged from the consideration of H. Con. Res. 43 and the Senate proceed to its consideration.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 70, submitted earlier today by Senator Durbin.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, that any statements relating thereto be placed in the Record at the appropriate place as if read, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 29, S. Con. Res. 23.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, on behalf of Leader Lott, I ask unanimous consent that the previous consent agreement with respect to conferees to the budget resolution be modified to allow for one additional conferee per side, and further, the Republican conferee be Senator Nickles and the Democrat nominee be named on April 23.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, that any statements relating thereto be placed in the Record at the appropriate place as if read, with no intervening action or debate.