“I
have lost a dear friend and close confidant with the passing of Pete
Domenici. Pete and I arrived in the Senate in late 1972 and served
together for 24 years. We worked across the aisle on many of the nation’s
critical issues—from comprehensive tax reform to reducing nuclear dangers—but even
more importantly, we bonded as trusted friends and partners, whether we agreed
or disagreed on a particular vote or a particular policy.
“Pete
and I spent countless hours over two years working on what became known as the
USA-Unlimited Savings Allowance tax code proposal. This total re-write of
our current tax system would have encouraged savings and investment and been
simple, fair and understandable. It would have been fiscally responsible
and made America more competitive. Pete and I often joked that these were
the reasons it did not become law.
“Pete
and I also spent a lot of time working together on reducing the dangers from
nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. His timely intervention and
co-sponsorship on the Senate floor was crucial in the passage of the Nunn-Lugar
Cooperative Threat Reduction legislation in 1991. Five years later, Pete, Dick
Lugar and I co-authored and managed to pass America’s first concerted effort to
train local, state, and law enforcement officials to respond in the event of a
terrorist attack. This bill—known as the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici
legislation—was a crucial building block for America’s homeland security
efforts, both before and after the September 11th terrorist
attacks.
“I
was honored that Pete and I continued to work together in our post-Senate
careers as Board members of the Nuclear Threat Initiative. As the number
one champion of civil nuclear power and as a man of faith, Pete knew that we
could use uranium to benefit hundreds of millions of people or we could use it
to destroy God’s creation.
“Suffice
it to say, Pete was an indispensable leader in the post-Cold War effort to
protect the American people. No better man, no better friend.
Colleen and I send our love and heartfelt condolences to Nancy and the
entire Domenici family.”
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