On the recordDecember 18, 2012
I come to the floor now to bid farewell to one of the Senate's most respected Members, Senator Olympia Snowe from the great State of Maine. She chose to retire this year after a distinguished career in public service spanning nearly four decades, first in the Maine Legislature, 6 years in the U.S. House, and the last 18 years here in the U.S. Senate. Throughout this remarkable career, she has been respected for her independence, always putting her values and country ahead of party and partisanship. She can, of course, be a very persuasive advocate for the conservative causes she holds dear, but, as we all know and appreciate, she is willing to buck party loyalty when she believes it is in error or when she believes in what is better for our country. And our future depends on bipartisanship. I cite, for example, when she voted in favor of the Recovery Act and the Dodd-Frank reform of Wall Street. I especially admire Senator Snowe's talent for reaching across the aisle and building bridges in order to get things done. On that score, she has represented the United States and her State of Maine at her very best, and that is just one of the many reasons why we are sad that she has chosen, voluntarily, to retire. Olympia Snowe has been a wonderful colleague and friend, always congenial, always willing to listen, always willing to examine different sides of an issue. What more could we ask of any U.S. Senator?…
