Jim Bunning: “today I rise to pay tribute to Senator Ted Stevens, who will be laid to rest today at Arlington National Cemetery.…”

“today I rise to pay tribute to Senator Ted Stevens, who will be laid to rest today at Arlington National Cemetery. Unfortunately, Senator Stevens was taken from us on August 9 of this year, but his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched during his distinguished career in public service. Senator Stevens will be missed by so many because of the tenacity he displayed fighting for his beliefs. This began when he volunteered for the Army Air Corps during World War II, where he supplied Chinese forces as they defended their country from Japanese invasion. For his heroism, Ted Stevens received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. Senator Stevens took this same tenacity to the Senate where he served the people of Alaska for over 40 years. It is largely because of Senator Stevens that many Alaskans gained access to clean drinking water and their children received a quality education. Finally, Senator Stevens fought to create an oil pipeline that put thousands of Alaskans to work and provided affordable energy for this Nation.”