| Senator Byrd Casts 16,000th Vote | |
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Democratic Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia established yet another historic landmark in his 42 years of service on Tuesday, May 22, 2001, when he cast his 16,000th vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
Born in 1917 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and raised by his aunt and uncle in the depression-era coal fields of West Virginia, Byrd cast his first vote as a U.S. Senator in January of 1959. Since then, Byrd has served in the Senate continuously over four decades during the terms of ten presidents from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush.
Over his career, Sen. Byrd has held more leadership positions than any other Senator in the history of the body, including Secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference, Senate Majority Whip, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and President pro tempore of the Senate.
From 1989 - 1995, Sen. Byrd served as Chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and is currently the ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee.
In 1994, the people of West Virginia elected Byrd to a seventh consecutive 6-year term in the Senate -- a milestone accomplished by only two other Senators in U.S. history.
On July 27, 1996, Senator Byrd became the first U.S. Senator in history to cast 14,000 votes.For the Record: Sen. Byrd's historic 16,000th vote was cast in favor of Amendment No. 726 to the bill H.R. 1836 - Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. The amendment, offered by Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wisconsin) failed by a vote of 48-51.
Following the vote, Sen. Thomas Daschle (D-South Dakota), offered the following statement in honor of Sen. Byrd as recorded in the Congressional Record:
"Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, it was approximately 42 years ago that our colleague, the senior Senator from West Virginia, cast his first vote. It was in January of 1959. He has cast votes consistently, virtually without missing a vote, for now more than four decades. Robert C. Byrd just cast his 16,000th vote. I congratulate our senior colleague from West Virginia. (Applause, Senators rising.)
Mr. President, I also note it is a week from today that he will be celebrating his 64th wedding anniversary as well, so there is much to celebrate. But we congratulate Senator Byrd, we congratulate Senator and Mrs. Byrd on their anniversary a week from today, and we thank him for his great service to America. I yield the floor."
