On the recordDecember 9, 2016
as this eventful 114th Congress draws to a close, today I wish to honor a number of our colleagues who will be ending their service in the Senate. I was a newcomer to the Senate at the beginning of this Congress and the only Democrat in the freshman Senate class of 2014. I am eternally grateful for the guidance and wisdom of my fellow Senators, particularly those with decades of experience fighting for the American people. Constituents, colleagues, and historians will recount their accomplishments for years to come, but I will take a few minutes now to convey some brief words of praise and gratitude. Harry Reid Mr. President, it has been a great honor to serve in the Senate under the leadership of Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid. Senator Reid has taught us all what it means to represent one's State in the U.S. Senate, doing everything one can to fight hard for the people back home. In his nearly 30 years in the Senate, Senator Reid has mastered the rules and traditions of this institution and used them to deliver victories for the people of his state and the nation. Senator Reid is always ready to lend an ear and a helping hand to his Democratic colleagues; yet he listens most intently to his constituents. He never stops thinking about how to ensure that they have access to well-paying jobs, health care, education, and a better future for their children.…
