Mr. Isakson madam president. The presiding officer the senator from georgia. Mr. Isakson madam president , i ask unanimous consent to be able to address the senate. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Isakson thank you, madam president. Its an honor to be here today on whats not my last day but everybody is acting like it. A few months ago i had to an announce that after much consideration to be able to serve the people of georgia, when i knew i couldnt do the job i was going to quit and let somebody do it who wouldnt be hampered. Im not hampered yet. Im pretty tough. But its getting close. In august i decided to tell my wife about it, and we decided to go ahead and retire at the end of december, which ive announced and said i was going to do. The governor of georgia is making an appointment to take my place and you might look in the history books, current history and it might have an isakson in the glossary, but i doubt it. I have been here for 15 years. This is the most enjo
Because i think of the people who have spoken on this floor since 1859, and im always measured in what i try to bring in terms of thought or whatever, but today is a special sense of responsibility. Senator coons and i have been chosen to lead our colleagues in honoring Johnny Isakson today. What we heard is historic, i believe. Its not the first time that weve had a speech on this floor that addressed that topic, nor will it be the last, i would predict. But we just heard johnny admonish us to judge with our conscience and our heart. And, with that, i feel somewhat unworthy to try to address what i feel and what he also talked about is his heart. Today is truly a bittersweet occasion. Its bitter because my friend, my mentor and partner in the United States senate, Johnny Isakson, is stepping down at the end of this month. For those of us who know this man, this is tough to come to grips with. Ill dearly miss him on many levels. Ill miss having him here in the United States senate alon
Georgia and his country. We wish him and diane the very best as he enters the next chapter of his life. Yield the floor and note the absence of quorum. Its always an honored to come before the United States senate. I feel humbled by that because of think of people who spoke on this floor since 1859. Today theres a special sense of responsibility. Senator coons and i have have been chosen to lead our colleague in honoring Johnny Isakson today. What we just heard was historic, i believe, its not the first time that weve had a speech on this floor that addressed that topic, nor will it be the last, i would predict. But we just heard johnny add mon us to judge with our conscience and our heart. And with that, i feel somewhat unworthy to try to address what i feel and what he also talked about as his heart. Today is truly a bittersweet occasion. Its bitter because my friend, my mentor and partner in the United States senate, Johnny Isakson is stepping down at the end of this month. For thos
not simply been read and placed on a shelf or in terms of newspapers, read and placed in every sacred band. instead, his work has gone on to change public policy. for example, in 2005, his work changed the policy at the national institute of health regarding the pain merits to government scientists and those payments coming from drug manufacturers. in 2008, he was cited by the scripps howard foundation for his investigative reporting in the anthrax investigation. he was given the award for the top news story in the washington news area in 2008. and that is the reason we are here. it is regarding his latest publication, his latest book called the mirage man. that book is about the 2001 anthrax investigation. and i can tell you, having lived through that investigation and former director of the ei laboratory that this work is very authoritative. it is very complete, very thorough. i believe one of my favorite passages in the book occurs towards the middle of the book and talk
mr. willman is an investigative journalist with the los angeles times and has been employed by them since 1995. prior to that he worked with the pasadena star news and the san jose mercury news. in 2001, mr. willman was awarded the pulitzer prize for his work in the discovery of seven drugs that were erroneously approved by the food and drug administration. he has been the recipient of many other awards, including the national press club award, as well as the george polk award. that work was his work on presidential finance and the improper use of funds for presidential campaigns. the work of david willman has not simply been read and placed on a shelf. in terms of newspapers, read and placed in the recycling bin. instead, his work has gone on to change public policy. for example in 2005, his work changed the policy at the national institute of health regarding the payments to government scientists and those payments coming from drug manufacturers. in 2008, he was cited by