Tom Harkin: “Senator Dick Bryan is one of few people who has served in this Chamber who has literally devoted nearly his entire life…”

“Senator Dick Bryan is one of few people who has served in this Chamber who has literally devoted nearly his entire life to serving the people of his state and nation. Senator Bryan's distinguished career started the day he took the oath of office as president of his 8th grade class at John S. Park Elementary School. It continued when he took office as president of his sophomore and senior classes at Las Vegas High School and student body president at the University of Nevada-Reno. After graduating from law school, he served as deputy district attorney in Clark County and was then appointed as Clark County's first public defender at age 28. He did two terms in the Nevada State Assembly. Two terms in the Nevada State Senate. A term as Attorney General. Two terms as Nevada Governor. And he's now done two terms in the United States Senate. He is the only Nevadan ever to have served as his state's Attorney General, Governor, and United States Senator. He's also one of few, if any, Senators who've managed to pull an extraordinary triple play and serve on the three major fiscal committees--Finance, Commerce, and Banking. And he's used these positions to fight harder than just about anyone else here to protect American consumers. As former member of the Consumer Affairs Subcommittee, he passed an amendment requiring the installation of passenger side air bags in all cars sold in America. Over the years, this piece of legislation has saved hundreds of lives.”