On the recordJune 29, 2010
during a recordbreaking six decades of public service, Senator Byrd served this Nation with diligence and spirit. As a legislator, Senator Byrd had many notable qualities, particularly his legendary oratory skills and his masterful knowledge of Senate procedure. Having authored a four-volume history of this Chamber, he understood its nuances and intricacies, and he was an articulate spokesman for protecting procedural rules. Senator Byrd kept a copy of the Constitution in his pocket, and he could recite it from memory. He was always first to remind us that the Framers intended the Senate to be different from the House of Representatives and to stand as a bastion of individual and minority rights. He celebrated these distinctions serving as they do the fundamental principle of checks and balances within the legislative branch. At a recent Rules Committee hearing, Senator Byrd said: The Senate is the only place in government where the rights of a numerical minority are so protected. The Senate is a forum of the States, where regardless of size or population, all States have an equal voice. . . . Without the protection of unlimited debate, small States like West Virginia might be trampled. Extended deliberation and debate--when employed judiciously--protect every Senator, and the interests of their constituency, and are essential to the protection of the liberties of a free people.
