Cord Byrd: “soon, the 106th Congress will draw to a close, and with that final bell, the Senate careers of a number of very fine…”

“soon, the 106th Congress will draw to a close, and with that final bell, the Senate careers of a number of very fine Members will also, suddenly, draw to a close. Such are the wages of service in this Republic. Senator Robb, Senator Gorton, Senator Grams, Senator Ashcroft, Senator Abraham will have answered their final rollcall. They will have waited through their final quorum calls and they will have left the Senate floor, as a Member of this body, for a final time. Oh, they may be back to visit, and I hope they will come back to visit. They will always be welcome here. But I am sure that the Senate floor is not quite the same when one is not allowed to vote or to make a statement. However, these distinguished Members will always be a unique part of the Senate family and of the Senate's history. In the history of this great Republic--I do not speak of it as a democracy, I speak of it as a Republic; as a representative democracy, yes--in the history of this great Republic, there have only been 1,853 men and women who have served here since April 6 of 1789. In January 2001, that number will rise to 1,864. These names can be found listed in rank order, a list that is immutable and irreplaceable. More than that, each Senator becomes a part of the institution of the Senate. Each Member's actions help to shape the precedents and the practices of the Senate, just as a Member's amendments, bills, and votes shape the legislative history of the land.…”