Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - ICYMI: Boozman Makes 1st Senate Address

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By Alex Daniels

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate's Republican leader, yielded the floor Monday afternoon, and Sen. John Boozman stepped to the lectern that rested on his senate desk and summoned his voice for his first official address as a U.S. senator.

"Mr. President, I rise to speak on the floor of this chamber for the first time as a senator," said the Arkansas Republican. "I am honored to have this opportunity to be a voice for Arkansans who want to change the direction our country is headed so that we still have a great nation to leave behind for future generations."

Though he was sworn in nearly three months ago and has participated in committee meetings in the weeks since, Monday's speech marked the first time Boozman has been officially heard in the chamber.

Boozman continued, saying he was honored to serve among his "distinguished" colleagues in the Senate. Then, he paid tribute to some of his predecessors. He noted that William Sebastian - Boozman's home county is named after him - began his Senate career in 1847 as the 30th Congress' youngest senator at age 37.

He praised two women senators, Hattie Caraway, who served in the 1930s, and Blanche Lincoln, whom he defeated in last year's election, for their devotion to agricultural issues.

Lincoln was the first chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee from Arkansas, and Boozman now serves on the committee.

Boozman said his predecessors each had to deal with crises.

"We have our own as well," he said.

Boozman said his main concern as a newly minted senator was the fragile state of the economy. He said uncertainty over the past few years about health care, tax and energy policy had made employers nervous.

The economic situation, he said, helped contribute to job losses in small towns, including Fordyce, where a plywood plant closure led to 350 workers losing their jobs, and among large corporations, such as Bentonville's Wal-Mart, which laid off about 300 workers in its headquarters last year.

Richard Baker, the former official Senate historian, wrote in a paper on Senate traditions that freshman senators used to delay their "maiden speech" in the chamber for months, or even years, so "their more senior colleagues would respect them for their evident willingness to serve an apprenticeship."

That practice, Baker noted, has not been adhered to for years.

Winding up his speech after about 15 minutes, Boozman complimented his Democratic colleague, Sen. Mark Pryor, for his focus on constituent concerns and paid homage to a Republican political mentor, former Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt.

Boozman said that Hammerschmidt exhorted him to serve residents of the state, regardless of their party.

It's advice Boozman said he will follow.

"Each and every case that comes before us must be given our undivided attention," Boozman said.

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