Susan Collins: “it is with a combination of pride and sadness that I rise to pay tribute to a truly extraordinary Senator and a good…”

“it is with a combination of pride and sadness that I rise to pay tribute to a truly extraordinary Senator and a good friend, Senator Mitt Romney. I rise to praise his intelligence, his imagination, and most of all his integrity. That is what has marked and characterized his service throughout his life but particularly here in the Senate. It is a day of sadness because I can't imagine the Senate without Mitt Romney. As a Senator and as a Governor, as a Presidential candidate, as the founder of a successful business, as the savior of the 2002 Winter Olympics, and as a pillar of his faith, Mitt Romney has brought intelligence, knowledge, experience, and, once again, integrity to every task he has undertaken. He meets every challenge with determination and a talent for bringing opposing sides together to forge solutions. He is always focused on getting to yes, on using common sense, and on achieving a result. I have had the pleasure of teaming up with Mitt on so many important issues, many of which he has mentioned. He was among the group of 10 Senators who negotiated the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. From transportation to broadband, the most significant investment in infrastructure since the interstate highway system in the 1950s is bringing lasting benefits to our Nation.…”