An outstanding Lieutenant Governor, classmate of mine at Harvard, although he was a little younger than me -- Anthony Brown. (Applause.) Two wonderful allies, great friends, great champions on behalf of working people not just here in Maryland, but all across the country -- Barbara Mikulski is here, the senior Senator -- (applause) -- and Ben Cardin in the house. (Applause.) We've got the wonderful Congressman -- I loved his dad.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

Thompson's amendment is particularly timely insofar as it comes as the General Accounting Office (GAO) is completing work on a classified report -- also tasked by the senior Senator from Tennessee -- that looks into this issue.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Joe Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-Independent senior senator from Connecticut and 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee.

CNN: Poll: Clinton recaptures lead in New Hampshire

Not to be outdone, the senior congressional champion of the Democrats' left-wing, Senator Ted Kennedy , took up the baton on Friday with a speech at Johns Hopkins University.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Return of the 'San Francisco Democrats'

Rush said he will take that argument to the Congressional Black Caucus as well as U.S. senators -- including Dick Durbin, a Democrat and Illinois' senior senator.

CNN: Obama chides Illinois governor's decision to fill Senate seat

John Kerry, who now becomes the senior senator from Massachusetts, has been a prominent and politically powerful figure -- a presidential candidate in 2004 -- he has largely stayed out of the limelight and focused his attention on international issues.

CNN: Can anyone in the Senate match Ted Kennedy's clout?