Dan Coats: “I am more than honored to come to the floor today to pay tribute to our senior Senator, Senator Thurmond, who has…”

“I am more than honored to come to the floor today to pay tribute to our senior Senator, Senator Thurmond, who has achieved such an outstanding milestone. Last September 6, I had the privilege of being at Oriole stadium in Baltimore to watch Cal Ripken break the consecutive game record held by Lou Gehrig. It was one of the most moving tributes in sports events that I have ever witnessed or ever heard about. And yet, when I watched a replay of that just the other day and understood the significance of an individual who had, through sickness and injury and personal concerns, established that probably never-to-be-broken record, I could not help but think of a similar individual who I have had the privilege of serving with in the U.S. Senate who has established his own record. And I think that the sacrifice and the commitment and the perseverance and the dedication of Senator Thurmond really can only be compared with that of Cal Ripken--two extraordinary individuals who have set their mind to a task and not allowed anything to come in the way of performing that task and achieving the goal that they have achieved.”