Bob Dole: “nearly 35 years ago, the voters of Rhode Island decided to send Claiborne Pell to the U.S. Senate. And in the years that…”

“nearly 35 years ago, the voters of Rhode Island decided to send Claiborne Pell to the U.S. Senate. And in the years that followed, they have made the same decision in five separate elections. Yesterday, Senator Pell announced that this term will be his final one in the Senate. While there are still 16 months left in Senator Pell's term, I did want to take a minute to pay tribute to this dedicated public servant. As all of my colleagues know, Senator Pell has devoted his years in the Senate to many issues of great importance: To foreign relations, where he has served as chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; to bettering the environment; and, of course, to education, where Pell grants to college students have become a household word. Mr. President, the State motto of Rhode Island is just one word--the word ``Hope.'' And from serving in the Coast Guard during World War II, to representing our country in the Foreign Service for 7 years, to serving here in the Senate for three and a half decades, Claiborne Pell has never given up hope on America. I join with all Senators in wishing Senator Pell all the best as he writes the final chapters in a very distinguished Senate career.”