David Perdue: “it is always a privilege to come before the U.S. Senate. I always feel humbled by that because I think of the people who…”

“it is always a privilege to come before the U.S. Senate. I always feel humbled by that because I think of the people who have spoken on this floor since 1859. I am always measured in what I try to bring in terms of thought or whatever, but today there is a special sense of responsibility. Senator Coons and I have been chosen to lead our colleagues in honoring Johnny Isakson today. What we just heard was historic, I believe. It is not the first time we have had a speech on this floor that addressed that topic, nor will it be the last, I will predict. We just heard Johnny admonish us to judge with our conscience and our heart. With that, I feel somewhat unworthy to try to address what I feel, and what he also talked about is his heart. Today is truly a bittersweet occasion. It is bitter because my friend, my mentor, and partner in the U.S. Senate, Johnny Isakson, is stepping down at the end of this month. For those of us who know this man, it is tough to come to grips with that. I will dearly miss him on many levels. I will miss having him come here in the U.S. Senate alongside me. I will miss his words of wisdom. I will miss his patience. Most of all, I think I will miss his example. However, we can still find joy in this occasion, I believe.…”