byron dorgan announced for my seat, and there was lucy helping to run byron's campaign for what was my seat in the united states senate. a remarkable time in our lives. and then later this year, senator burdick, the other senator from north dakota, died. the governor called me and said, kent, you've got to run to fill out the two years of his term, otherwise north dakota is going to lose all of its seniority in wul fell swoop, going to lose all of senator burdick's more than 30 years of srnghts going to lose byron's years of seniority in the house, as he's running for your seat in the senate, and we'll lose your six years of seniority if you don't trown fill out the term of senator burdick. i've always remembered that thee media in north dakota took a poll on whether or not i should run to fill out the two years of senator burdick's term. and even an overwhelming majority of republicans thought i should run. and so the governor told me there would be a special election after the regular elections in november, and he said, look, you've kept your pledge, you didn't run for reelection for

dorgan and i are proud of our roots in rural upper midwest. i was raised in cumming, iowa, population 162. he was raised in regent, north dakota, population 211. byron always liked to joke that he graduated in the top ten of his class of nine students. senators on both sides of the aisle have come to respect and admire senator dorgan's distinctive voice here in the senate, a voice that mixes keen intelligence with a great sense of humor, plus a gift for making his arguments with colorful, compelling stories and language. throughout his more than four decades in public service, he has used that voice to speak out powerfully for farm country and rural america. he has fought hard for policies at the national level to give rural families a better chance at success. he has been a strong supporter of the farm bill's safety net provisions, including countercyclical support for farmers to get them through hard times. and he has been equally outspoken in championing strict limits on federal farm payments to ensure that the lion's share go to small family farms, not big agribusiness and absentee farm owners. as a senior member of the energy and fall resources

byron dorgan. byron dorgan from north dakota is such a fine person. he for many years has had the same job that i had under senator daschle, head of the democratic policy committee, and he rendered valuable service to the caucus, to the senate and the whole country in his capacity there. he served -- we served together in the house of representatives. we've traveled together. his wife, kim, is such a fine human being i'm going to miss byron. he has been one of my close advisors, close friends. i hope i'm not being boastful here, but i don't think tom daschle had two better friends in the senate than dorgan and reid. we are very close to him. we admired our friend tom daschle and did everything we could to make his life here as pleasant as possible. as far as being a good speaker, he is very good. he has a way of communicating that very few people i've known have that unique ability. he is someone who is, as far as the finances of this country and the world, is without peer as a legislator. he knows it all and has a way of articulating his views that a

byron dorgan can talk on any subject at any time at great length or shortly, whatever is required. he can be on three different television stations at the same time. i don't know how he does that, talking passionately about jobs going overseas and, you know, having tax incentives for that to happen. he cares so deeply about manufacturing. he's the quintessential of what i would call -- if you have north dakota and west virginia isn't similar, one is flat and the other is not, but we are very similar in our people in our work at and byron dorgan exemplifies that. he makes me incredibly proud just to serve with the guy. you watch him, he never stops moving. i think he's already spoken on the floor twice this morning. i know i saw him once. i didn't watch the floor very much, is probably twice. he always has his thoughts in order, he's always right. i can't think of a single time we disagreed, and sure it's happened, but it doesn't come to mind. so i think this is going to be a weaker committee, this is going to be a weaker senate without byron dorgan, and i mourn that, because what w

dorgan and i are proud of our roots in rural upper midwest. i was raised in cumming, iowa, population 162. he was raised in regent, north dakota, population 211. byron always liked to joke that he graduated in the top ten of his class of nine students. senators on both sides of the aisle have come to respect and admire senator dorgan's distinctive voice here in the senate, a voice that mixes keen intelligence with a great sense of humor, plus a gift for making his arguments with colorful, compelling stories and language. throughout his more than four decades in public service, he has used that voice to speak out powerfully for farm country and rural america. he has fought hard for policies at the national level to give rural families a better chance at success. he has been a strong supporter of the farm bill's safety net provisions, including countercyclical support for farmers to get them through hard times. and he has been equally outspoken in championing strict limits on federal farm payments to ensure that the lion's share go to small family farms, not big agribusiness and absentee farm owners. as a senior member of the energy and fall resources

it has been an honor and privilege to work with byron dorgan. also, articulate, loves his job, and he gave it his best. you will be missed, and we wish you and your family all good things in the future. don't be afraid to give us advice. you haven't been until now, so why should you stop at this point? i will put my questions to them in writing. >> thank you very much, you are all too generous. >> i are for the observation in my opening statement, as you know, that if passengers can be kind of forewarned about what is coming, it is possible -- it just seems to work better. give us your perspective on that. as we think about the next generation of security and what might be required, what is the best way to roll these things out, if you will? >> the point you made cannot be overstated. it is critical. in 2006 we had a liquid plot. many of us in this room or on conference calls late that night and nobody knew anything as it was going to be rolled out the next morning. there was absolutely no lead time to educate the public on what was going on. th

also today several senators planned farewell speeches including robert bennett of utah, byron dorgan of north dakota, and jim bunning of kentucky. and now to live coverage of the u.s. senate on c-span2. source of all life and fountain of all blessings, accept our thanksgiving and praise. today be a shepard to our lawmakers enabling them to lie down in the green pastures of your providence and to walk beside the calm waters of your blessings. inspire them to dedicate themselves to speak for life, to act for justice, to work for peace, and to strive to serve you with faithfulness. may they respond to your abiding love with grateful service. lord, be merciful to all who labor for liberty. bless them. look on them with kindness so that they may know your will. we pray in your merciful name. amen. the presiding officer: please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the presiding officer: the clerk will read a

first, democrat byron dorgan was first elected to the house in 1880 and the senate in 1990.his is an hour. >> mr. president, those of us who are living the congress at the end of this year are givenpt the opportunity to make a to farewell speech, but more it's an opportunity to see thank you to a lot of people we owe thankt you to them to colleagues, to senate and on our stats and the people of north dakota in this case it gave me the opportunityr to m serve, it's the opportunity for me to see thank you.r one of my colleagues the otherus day talkeden about the number of people who served in the unitedn states senate at the beginning of our country there've been sid 1918 people who have served in - the united states senate. when i o signed and underlined i was number 1802 and there've hae been 212 senators with whom ie i have served in the years i'veit been in the senate. and i it is hard to get here and it's also hard to leave here. but all of us to leave in theouo senate always continues. and when finally you do leave, e you understand that this is thew morost unique legisl

called creating american jobs and ending offshoring act that i introduced with senators harry reid, byron dorgan and senator schumer, it's a simple bill with three commonsense provisions. let me describe it before i make the unanimous consent request. i will be brief. first, make two changes that discourage u.s. companies from giving out pink slips to americans while they open their doors abroad. it will say to firms if you want to shut down operations here and move them somewhere else, we're not going to let you take tax deductions on the shutdown expenses. we also say to firms if you want to sell your products in this country, we're not going to let you start making those goods abroad, ship them back to this country and avoid paying taxes on your profits. second, we make it more attractive for companies to bring goods back home -- the production of goods back home. we say to firms if you bring jobs home from another country, you don't have to pay your share of payroll taxes on those u.s. workers for three years. repatriating jobs from overseas back into the united states. it isn't radical. it'

senate floor kentucky republican jim bunning who's been in congress since 1987 but first, democrat byron dorgan. he was first elected to the house in 1980 and the senate in 1990. this is an hour. leang the >> mr. president, those of usf who are leaving the congress of the end of this year are given the opportunity to make a spebu farewell speech, but more it's an opportunity to say thank yout to a lot of people we awaiting q2 and two colleagues, family, to the staff here in the senatef ands, on our staff and the peopo of north dakota in this case who gave me the opportunity toit's r serve. it's the opportunity for me toms say thank you.day t one of my colleagues the otherpe day talked about the number ofsn people who served in the united states senate. since the beginning of the,918 o country there have been 1,019. people who've served in the united states senate when i signed in i was number 1,802 ane there have been 212 senators with who might serve to even the years that i have been in the g senate. it's hard to get here and it's r also hard to leave here. the but the senate always continues

. >> north dakota senior center, democrat byron dorgan, gave a farewell address on the senate floor. he announced he would not seek a fourth term in office. he reflected on his service and offer advice to the future congress during his remarks. this is about 30 minutes. >> mr. president, those of us who are leaving the congress at the end of this year are given the opportunity to make a farewell speech, but more is an opportunity to set thank you to people that we owe thanks to come and to colleagues, family, the staff and the senate and the people of north dakota who gave me the opportunity to serve. it is an opportunity for me to say thank you. one of my colleagues talked about the number of people who have served in the united states senate. since the beginning of our country, there have been 190018 people who have served at the united states senate. the rabin to hundred 12 senators with whom i have served -- there have been 212 senators with whom i have served. it is hard to get here, and it is hard to leave here. all of us to leave, and the senate always continues. when you do l

looking at -- senator byron dorgan, kent conrad and representative role pomeroy -- earl pomeroy. some images of them from the history books. with president bill clinton back in 1997 when he was signing a disaster aid bill. let's go to napa, california, where chris joins us on the democrats' line. caller: i just wanted to say that the internet is just the sheer volume of information available at your own house is like having a library in your own house, it is wonderful. the ease with which you can keep in touch with friends and family all around the world is great. i have to confess that i have a little crush on you. host: let us go to david, republican line. caller: how are you, this morning? if you want a serial killer or somebody to find you, the internet is great for that. if you want somebody to get hooked up with your children, the internet is great for that. if you want somebody to hack into your computer -- you need this thing. computers, the best worst thing we ever invented. i say, everybody get it so everybody can lose their privacy. host: what do you do to protect your

byron dorgan and kim dorgan and their family, again, an intergal part over many years of this senate. byron is one of those individuals whose wisdom you appreciate more and more each day. someone who spoke years ago about the offshoring of jobs. someone who spoke years ago about a tax system that doesn't reward investment in american jobs, but, in fact, ironically might encourage disinvestment of those jobs. someone who spoke with reason, with candor, with thoughtfulness, with facts about issues that today we're beginning to recognize the rest of us are so critical to future of this country. we will miss that wisdom. we'll also miss his steady hand on the appropriations committee where he battled to ensure reasonably that the priorities of this nation were met. his support and his help in terms of the l iheap funding and his support to me is deeply appreciated. i thank him for his service and i know he will continue to provide in his writings and in his speeches the wise and thoughtful insights that, again, as we look back, i think we should have heeded with much more energy and enthu