On the recordAugust 1, 2018
today the Senate overwhelmingly supported the conference report for the 2019 John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act. That bill is now on the way to the President's desk. Many Americans have bravely fought to uphold the values that our country holds dear. There are many people in the Senate who have been stalwart supporters of the military during their time here, but the legislation we passed today is named for one of those Senators, our colleague from Arizona, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, John McCain. Senator McCain not only has given much of his life in military service, but he has given tirelessly in service to the country in so many ways, including service here. He has been an incredibly effective advocate for the men and women who serve in uniform and defend us. There is no Member of the Senate for whom my admiration and appreciation has increased more during the time I have had the opportunity to serve with him. As a House Member, I knew Senator McCain, but I knew him only in the kind of passing that occurs when the House and Senate are trying to work out an issue or deal with a specific problem. I didn't really get to know John McCain until I came to the Senate. That daily contact with him made a real difference in the way I felt about him. His courage, his sometimes seemingly short fuse, but always his desire to do the right thing as he saw the right thing have continued to make him an important advocate here.…
