Barbara Boxer: “this is a very poignant morning for so many. I am so glad I have been able to arrange my schedule to be here to listen…”

“this is a very poignant morning for so many. I am so glad I have been able to arrange my schedule to be here to listen to my colleagues and friends, whom I deeply respect, and to listen to the great Senator from Vermont, Jim Jeffords. If I might say how blessed I have been, I got here in 1993 and went right to the Environment and Public Works Committee. I met Jim there, and now I get to sit next to him in the Senate. I got to know his staff. We are going to miss you. But, Jim, I must say, you made a beautiful speech today. And in listening to Tom Harkin talk about you and explain that you have always been motivated by what is right for the people, if ever you could take an opportunity to tout your accomplishments, it is when you say goodbye. People would say that is fair. But you did not do that. You did not say: This year I passed this legislation and this bill. The rest of us have been lauding your accomplishments, but it is just like you, instead, to talk about this country you love so much. And you cite to us what our challenges are. And, of course, they continue to be the challenges you have taken up: education, the environment, fiscal responsibility, war and peace. You have left a roadmap for us, and for that we are very grateful. I mentioned that I was sworn in in 1993. That was the so-called year of the women, where we tripled the number of women in the Senate. That sounds great, but it was from two to six. We were still a very strong minority.…”