On the recordApril 3, 2025
this has been an amazing week in the U.S. Senate, and I have served here for over 25 years. Just 2 days ago, our colleague Cory Booker, from the State of New Jersey, ended a filibuster on the floor after 25 hours--broke the record, longest speech in the history of the Senate. And an impassioned speech it was. I was happy to be here for a major part of it. There was a big celebration on our side of the aisle. The Galleries were filled in a way I have never seen before, cheering Cory Booker for his achievement. It is a moment all of us who are lucky enough to serve in the Senate will remember the rest of our lives. But I remember another moment that affected more people than this miraculous feat by Cory Booker. It was July 28 of 2017. It was 2:30 in the morning. I was seated at this desk, and a historic vote was about to take place. The vote was whether or not we would keep the Affordable Care Act--or ObamaCare, as it was known then--extending health insurance to millions of Americans, some of whom had never had it. At the time, President Trump was in office, and he and the majority of the Republicans were determined to eliminate the Affordable Care Act, to eliminate the insurance that millions of American families depended on to protect their kids and themselves. It was the closest possible vote. In the end, at least three Republican Senators voted to save the Affordable Care Act, but the one key vote and the one I remember was John McCain's.…
