Bob Dole

let me also indicate to my colleagues that we have just completed a very successful meeting with Republican House Members and Republican Senators on health care reform. We have now reached agreement on the Republican side. Senator…

As I look back on my years in the Senate, there are many Members to whom I am indebted for the friendship and support they have given me. I can think of no better friend, however, and no more reliable ally than Al Simpson. As all Members…

During my more than 11 years as Republican leader, it has been my privilege to serve across the aisle from three Democrat leaders. Senator Byrd sat in the leader's chair for 4 of those years, Senator George Mitchell for 6, and Senator Tom…

I have often said that the people of Kansas and Nebraska share a great deal in common besides a border. We share commonsense values. We share agricultural interests. We share a preference for public officials who say what they will do, and…

During 1987 and 1988, I delivered a series of nearly 300 brief speeches on the Senate floor to commemorate the long history of this great institution. Each of these so-called Senate bicentennial minutes focused on a significant person…

on August 4, 1789, in the first year of existence, the U.S. Senate approved legislation to establish the Department of War. In the nearly 207 years since that date, the Senate has always devoted a great deal of attention to matters of…

I guess it is hard to pay tribute to my colleague, Senator Kassebaum, because she has done such an outstanding job. And there is no question about it. She is the most popular politician we have had in our State--the most popular…

I would like nothing better if we could conclude that today, have conferees appointed, and come to a satisfactory conclusion because, as the Senator outlined, it affects millions of Americans. It should be done. And maybe--speaking for…

the first 8 years of my time as Republican leader coincided with the administrations of Republican Presidents. And one of my jobs as leader was do everything I could to support the agenda of those Presidents. Though Senator Pryor is not…

as I look back at my years in the Senate, one accomplishment of which I am very proud was the passage of tax reform legislation in 1986, when I was serving as Senate majority leader. This bill was a very important first step in making our…

I have been working, as I know the Democratic leader has, trying to figure out something on the budget, perhaps get a time agreement. We have also been working on the so-called Kassebaum-Kennedy health care reform. My view was we were…

As the Democratic leader knows, the Senators are coming to me and they are coming to you. They say, ``Just work out my problem,'' which I would be happy to do. But there are others who say, ``Not until you work out my problem.'' And…

the Medicare trustees have now released their report on the state of the Medicare trust fund, and the news is not good. Instead of going bankrupt in the year 2002, as they had previously forecasted, the trustees now conclude that Medicare…

In the suite of offices I have been privileged to occupy as Republican leader hangs a picture of Senator Charles McNary of Oregon. Senator McNary served as Republican leader for over 10 years in the 1930's and 1940's, and he served for…

it is no secret that one regret I will have when I leave the Senate is the fact that we did not send a balanced budget amendment to the States. And I know that regret is shared by many in this Chamber including our colleague, Senator Paul…

the State of Maine has a rich tradition of sending independent and thoughtful voices to the U.S. Senate. Margaret Chase Smith and Ed Muskie are just two Senators with whom I have served who have carried on this tradition. For the past 18…

Let me indicate first that I acknowledge the Senator's efforts over the years to face up to the budget problem. He has demonstrated it with his votes. I think in this case though--I do not have the amendment before me. I know what it says…

In the coming days, then, I will be devoting some of my leader time to share a few memories of those of our colleagues who will not return to this Chamber when the 105th Congress convenes next January. Let me start with a friend of all of…

I am less dynamic than many,'' Senator Claiborne Pell once said in his typical quiet manner, ``But I have my own course, which I set and try to follow.'' For six terms, Claiborne Pell has followed that course in representing America's…

I would say to the Democratic leader that if we cannot arrive at some agreement, I would be prepared to call them up one at a time. If someone wants to vote ``no''--and I understand that at least one may take some time, one of the…

I would want to consult, obviously, with my colleagues. But my view is there will be a minimum wage increase. It will pass the Congress. It will have some amendments that maybe are not totally pleasing to everybody in the Senate on either…

since the American people put the Republicans in control of Congress, I think there has been a consensus--Democrats, Independents, Republicans--that we should balance the budget. We have succeeded now in making a balanced budget, which is…

I mean every able-bodied welfare recipient to find work within 2 years, or a shorter period of time if the State so desires. I mean a real 5-year lifetime limit on welfare payments with few exceptions. I mean making certain that illegal…

I object to that. But I indicate that we have talked about minimum wage, we have talked about welfare reform, and we have talked about repeal of the gas tax, which we hoped to have done before the Memorial Day recess in order to save…

today I am pleased to join Representative Rick Lazio of New York, in paying tribute to the dedicated Americans who served in the Armed Forces, Intelligence Agencies, and the Diplomatic Corps during the Cold War. Their courageous efforts…