Tina Smith: “Doug Jones and I came to the Senate at the same time--a class of just the two of us arriving in an off-year to fill…”

“Doug Jones and I came to the Senate at the same time--a class of just the two of us arriving in an off-year to fill partial terms. We were sworn in together on January 3, 2018, with each of us accompanied by a former Vice President--Walter Mondale in my case, Joe Biden in Doug's. We shared the unique experience of arriving during an unprecedented period in the Senate's history, and I am fortunate to have spent the first 3 years of my Senate journey with a partner like Doug by my side. Doug and I both joined the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and we quickly found common cause in rural healthcare. Within months, Doug had introduced the Rural Health Liaison Act, which helped to unify Federal resources to better support the health of rural communities. This act, which became law through our collaboration on the 2018 farm bill, put the government in a better position to respond to crises like the one we are experiencing today. The foresight and compassion Doug displayed in leading this initiative were hallmarks of his time in the Senate. Whether he was working to lower the costs of higher education, helping me bring high-speed internet to rural areas, or passing legislation to support military spouses, I could always count on Doug to be a voice for rural communities on the HELP Committee.…”