Tina Smith: “there is a term that is often used here in the Senate when members refer to one another. That term is ``gentleman.'' No…”

“there is a term that is often used here in the Senate when members refer to one another. That term is ``gentleman.'' No one fit that term better than Senator Craig Thomas. I join with all my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in mourning the loss of Senator Thomas, and in extending our condolences to his wonderful wife Susan and the entire Thomas family. In the 10 years I was privileged to serve with Senator Thomas in this Chamber, I never once heard him raise his voice, and I never once saw him lose his temper. But that doesn't mean that Senator Thomas was not a fighter for his beloved Wyoming. In fact, he was a very effective advocate for the people of Wyoming and all of rural America. His accomplishments were not the result of shouting. They were the result of perseverance, integrity, and a whole lot of hard work. I was privileged to serve with Senator Thomas on a number of committees, where I saw firsthand the scope of his interests and his effectiveness. On the Finance Committee, I saw how he was a champion for better health care for rural Americans, and I saw how he worked to open markets for the cattlemen, farmers, and soda ash producers of Wyoming.”