State and national leaders today praised Senator Dodd’s 35-year career spent representing Connecticut in the United States House and Senate.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: “From his time as a young Peace Corps volunteer to his five terms in the United States Senate, Chris Dodd has devoted his life to public service. Over the years, he has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of our children and families, support good jobs for hard-working Americans, and keep our nation strong and prosperous, building a remarkable record of achievement for the people of Connecticut and our country. While his work in the Senate is not yet finished, his leadership in that institution will be missed. Michelle and I extend our thanks to Senator Dodd for his service to our Nation and offer our best wishes for the future to him and his family.”
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID: “Chris Dodd has dedicated his life to public service and has always been on the front lines to make a difference where it counts. I know how much of an honor it has been for Chris to serve the people of Connecticut and how truly difficult this decision was for him to step away. His warm personality, sense of humor and optimistic spirit has won him great respect and many friends on both sides of the aisle. I salute Chris on his years of service and wish only the best for him and Jackie and their entire family as they look forward to the new challenges ahead of them.”
SENATOR JOE LIEBERMAN: "Chris Dodd has been a genuinely great Senator for our state and country, and a close and valued friend and colleague for me. His retirement ends a remarkable era of service in the Senate by two generations of the Dodd family, beginning with his father Tom who was elected more than a half century ago in 1958.
"Chris Dodd has been an unusually skillful and productive legislator and leaves a great legacy of accomplishment that has improved the lives of millions of American families and children. I am sad for our state and country, and for myself frankly, that Chris is leaving the Senate but I am happy for his family that he will have more time to spend with them now. And I know that his service to America and our friendship will continue in different ways in the years ahead.
"Senator Chris Dodd will leave the Senate in January 2011 with the knowledge that he has made a difference that will last in the lives of his constituents and his country. For that, we are all grateful."
SENATOR TOM HARKIN: “Thirty five years ago this month, Chris and I were sworn in to the Congress, and we have remained close friends ever since. He leaves in his decades-long service a legacy of fierce advocacy both for his home state and for those who did not have a voice in Washington.
“The Family and Medical Leave Act, which he authored, is testament to his long commitment to helping children and families. And his leadership on health reform will long be remembered for ensuring that health care is a right, not a privilege. In this respect, he of course carried out Sen. Kennedy’s lifelong dream of health care for every American, but in the process, emerged as a leader in his own right. I wish only the best to him, Jackie and the girls.
“With this retirement, the U.S. Senate loses a strong leader – a Senator who gave voice to the issues impacting everyday Americans and whose commitment to changing the dialogue in this country made a difference in the lives of countless Americans. I will always look back on our joint service with fond memories.”
SENATOR JOHN KERRY: "Too often in politics, words get thrown around like 'good friend' or 'remarkable colleague.' For those of us who have shared in Chris's laughter and stories, debated him, admired his progressive principles and moral core, or witnessed up-close his rare legislative skill learned from giants like his father and legends like Ted Kennedy, we know the full measure of those words when we talk about Chris Dodd, and we know this loss for the Senate will be felt a long time.
"Chris is just one hell of a Senator who exerted leadership across a number of vital issues. Rare is the Senator who could choose among the Chairmanships of the HELP, Foreign Relations, or Banking Committee. Connecticut will miss his voice in the Senate enormously. From family and medical leave to college affordability and health care, he leaves a legislative imprint that has made life better and the playing field more fair for millions of Americans.
"Chris brought to the Senate a grace, humility, and infectious sense of fun which he shared generously. His words today about fatherhood and family were especially poignant and real. That's Chris. He treasures what he has been given in life, and we know today's announcement marks a new chapter in a life he lives to the fullest. I know his life will continue to include public service. Teresa and I send Chris, Jackie, Grace, and Christina great wishes on this new start."
SENATOR MAX BAUCUS: “I’ve had the privilege of serving alongside Chris Dodd in the Senate for almost 30 years and have known him even longer -- since we were both elected to the House together in 1974. He is one of the most courageous and effective legislators of our time and I am sad to see him retire. Chris has done tremendous work for the people of Connecticut and for the entire nation and I have no doubt his remarkable track record of success will continue in his next endeavor.”
CONGRESSWOMAN ROSA DELAURO: “I learned what it meant to be a member of Congress from Chris Dodd. As his campaign manager, chief of staff, and colleague, I have always aspired to his public service example. And as my friend and my mentor, he taught me early and often that our job is to fight everyday for the people we represent.
“Senator Dodd has always known what he stands for, where he believes the country needs to go, and – perhaps most importantly – how to get there. We in Connecticut have been so lucky to have him as our voice in the Senate these past three decades, where he has been a true leader, shaping the debate and policies that affect all of our lives. As Senator Dodd said today, he really has aspired every day to work for a more perfect union.
“Throughout his career, nobody has fought harder for the American people. Chris has known how to get good legislation passed – but more than that – he has had the vision, commitment, dedication, and integrity to get it done. He has an extraordinary legacy of historic legislation.
“Excepting my parents and my husband, no one has had a bigger impact on me. In 1979, Senator Dodd took a chance on me – and gave me an opportunity – that changed my life. I only hope that I can make as big a difference as Senator Dodd has made in his career.”
CONGRESSMAN JOE COURTNEY: “I thank Senator Dodd for his legacy of public service and for steadfastly advocating on issues important to Connecticut. Chris has always fought for working families by championing family medical leave, helping to secure jobs at Electric Boat and to invest in the future of Subase New London, and successfully lowering the cost of a college education for families and students.”
“As a Senator and three-term Congressman from my home district, Chris has always stood with eastern Connecticut. His legacy of accomplishment in the United States Senate will be missed and will be remembered for years to come. I wish Chris and Jackie, and their children, the best of luck in the future.”
CONGRESSMAN CHRIS MURPHY: "Chris Dodd is a giant, both professionally and personally. For me, he's one of the reasons I entered politics, in part because he gave me my first job as an intern in his office. And in Washington, no one can match his record of delivering for his beloved state of Connecticut. But what many people may not realize today is that Chris Dodd's best is yet to come. Chris' legislative legacy will be capped by finishing his lifelong dream of reforming health care, righting our financial system, and doing what he has done best for over three decades - making government work for the people of Connecticut.”
Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Jillian Gilchrest, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut: “On behalf of pro-choice residents of Connecticut and women across the country, we thank Sen. Christopher Dodd for his distinguished record of protecting and defending a woman’s right to choose. He has been a stalwart advocate for the pro-choice values of freedom and privacy. When the debate over health reform started in the Senate last year, Sen. Dodd led a key committee in defeating repeated attempts by anti-choice senators to politicize health-care reform legislation with divisive amendments. As Sen. Dodd completes his final term, we will continue to work with him and his staff on the many critical issues of importance to women’s reproductive health and privacy.”
Heather Booth, Executive Director, Americans for Financial Reform: “We greatly appreciate Sen. Dodd’s years of service in the Senate and his strong leadership on numerous issues. It is this leadership we know will be a key factor as financial regulatory reform makes its way through the Senate. We support the direction of the draft bill on financial reform that he initiated, which includes a strong independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and look forward to working with Sen. Dodd and other Senators to continue on a path toward passing real reform that ensures transparency and accountability in our financial system.
“Financial reform is badly needed to protect working families and small businesses by reining in the greedy, reckless behavior of big banks on Wall Street that cost millions of jobs, and by cracking down on abuses committed by credit card companies and the mortgage lending industry. These reforms are urgently needed to prevent a future financial crisis.”
