Cord Byrd: “last week my friend--my friend--Senator Thad Cochran, the very distinguished member of the Senate Appropriations…”

“last week my friend--my friend--Senator Thad Cochran, the very distinguished member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, achieved a milestone in his career of public service to the people of Mississippi and the United States. Senator Cochran cast his 10,000th vote, his 10,000th rollcall vote, a record only 27 other Senators have achieved since the founding of this great Republic. A Senator's vote is so much more than a number on the final tally. Each and every vote represents an investment of time, research, and analysis on the part of himself and, in many cases, on the part of the staff, also on a given issue. Each vote is an evaluation of what best serves one's constituents, one's State, and one's country. Over these many years, I have personally noted that Senator Cochran approaches his responsibility with diligence. I have many reasons to know that. He approaches his votes with diligence, with a fine and keen intelligence, with sterling courage--he is from Mississippi--with courage and compassion.”