Chris Van Hollen: “I rise to pay tribute to my friends and colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle who are departing the Senate at…”

“I rise to pay tribute to my friends and colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle who are departing the Senate at the conclusion of this Congress. Although we might not have always seen eye-to-eye on every issue, I am proud to have worked with them on finding solutions to the many challenges facing the American people. On January 3, when the new Congress is sworn in, we will be missing among our ranks a stalwart advocate for the people of Wyoming who has valiantly served in the U.S. Senate for 23 years, Mike Enzi. Senator Enzi's service to this body has been defined both by a commitment to principle and a willingness to find common ground. Mike believed fully that our focus in Washington must always be on crafting legislation, not making headlines. He took a low-ego approach to lawmaking and prized delivering results over fomenting conflict. On many occasions, he extended a hand to those working on the other side of the aisle, including the late great Paul Sarbanes of Maryland, with whom he collaborated in crafting the bipartisan Sarbanes-Oxley Act. I was privileged to serve with Senator Enzi on the Senate Budget Committee, and despite our differences, he always made an effort to treat me and others on the committee with kindness, as a true professional and a gentleman.…”