The imprint of his gavel has been deep, ... Its impact has been profound.

Competing concerns make it extremely difficult to reach consensus on a federal policy in this area. Nonetheless, because both embryonic and adult stem cell research may contribute to significant medical and health advancement, research on both should be federally funded within a carefully regulated, fully transparent framework that ensures respect for the moral significance of the human embryo.

[Reid insisted on an independent commission modeled after the Sept. 11, 2001, panel to investigate what went wrong with Katrina. But Republicans rejected that.] We can't wait three years for those answers, ... We need them immediately so we can quickly make the changes and protect all Americans.

The aggressiveness with which we will continue to fight the war on terror for freedom and liberty and democracy throughout the world will not be affected in any way by any sort of personnel changes here or any sort of reorganization of the intelligence functions of entities here,

In my mind, his strength, passion and relentless work ethic have never been more evident than this past summer when, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Trent rushed home and was an anchor of strength in a region still reeling from that devastating storm.

Space offers extraordinary potential for commerce and adventure, for new innovations and new tests of will. As Americans, we can't help but reach for the stars. It's our nature. It's our destiny.