Bill Nelson: “I would like to take a few moments to recognize my friend and colleague Senator Cochran of Mississippi. On April 1, the…”

“I would like to take a few moments to recognize my friend and colleague Senator Cochran of Mississippi. On April 1, the Senate will lose a tremendous public servant. Between the House and Senate, Senator Cochran devoted nearly 46 years of service to his State, and I am sad to hear it is coming to an end. The son of two educators and a fellow 4-H alumnus, Senator Cochran knows the importance of serving his community. In 1973, he answered the call to represent the people of Mississippi and hasn't stopped since. As outgoing chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Cochran leaves a legacy of providing many victories to Florida. From funding the restoration of the Everglades, to ensuring our Nation's military has enough funding to defend our country, Senator Cochran's enduring contributions are to be commended. I think TIME Magazine said it right when Senator Cochran was selected as one of America's 10 Best Senators in 2006, accurately dubbing him the ``quiet persuader'' after he secured nearly $29 billion for Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in our Gulf Coast. His proven bipartisanship will be remembered by the people of Mississippi and by his colleagues here in the Senate. I am proud to have served with Senator Cochran, and we will all miss his leadership. I wish him well on his next endeavor. Mr. CARDIN, Mr.…”