Cord Byrd: “the State of Maine shares with my own beloved State of West Virginia a common character, a self-reliance born of long…”

“the State of Maine shares with my own beloved State of West Virginia a common character, a self-reliance born of long struggle with stony fields, harsh weather, and rich natural treasures that defy easy capture. As West Virginia coal miners daily confront the dangers below ground, battling to bring out the black compressed energy created eons and eons ago, the fishermen of Maine venture forth over the tempestuous seas to wrestle a living from the cold waters of the Atlantic. Farmers in both States work sloping fields of thin soils studded with loose rock to bring home their harvests. And emerging industries in both States must overcome the isolation of locations somewhat outside the main avenues of commerce. From these challenges comes a certain independence of judgment, and a mindset that addresses the merits of each decision before taking action. The senior Senator from Maine exemplifies this independence of judgment.”