On the recordDecember 15, 2011
Madam President, I spoke at some length before, but I want to repeat one sentiment in the statement that has to do with Senator McCain and his staff. The way in which he and our staff work together is in the finest tradition of this body. Our committee has had that reputation. It is a well-earned, well-deserved reputation that we are able to work on a bipartisan basis. Senator McCain continues in a great tradition on the Republican side, and I would hope I strive at least to do the same on our side. We have had some great leaders of our committee over the decades, and Senator McCain is one of those leaders in that tradition, and I want to say what a great pleasure it is to work with him. I know our staffs work beautifully together, and we are grateful for that. The Senator was right in pointing out who we are doing this for-- it is the men and women in uniform--but we couldn't do that without our great staffs, and I know he joins me, and has already in his statement, in a tribute to our staffs. Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I say to my friend from Michigan, I guess in our many years together we have seen the ups and downs and back and forth, but during our more than a quarter of a century of service we have always seen the bill coming to fruition and we have carried on in that tradition.…





