On the recordJune 30, 2010
I rise to celebrate the life and career of Senator Robert C. Byrd. I have been in the body now since 2002, and Senator Byrd will go down in history as not only the longest serving Senator to date--maybe forever--but also as one of the most effective Members of the Senate. He was tough. During his prime, they tell me, there was no tougher opponent and no better ally than to have Senator Byrd on your side. And when he was on the other side, you had a long day ahead of you. He talked about his early life. He is a human being, like the rest of us. I think what he was able to do for his people in West Virginia, and the country as a whole, will stand the test of time, and he will be viewed for many things, not just one. That is the way it should be for all of us. I had the pleasure of getting to know him when I first came to the Senate and I walked into one hell of a fight over judges.
