On the recordMay 10, 2012
I rise to just say a few words about my good friend and my mentor in the Senate, Senator Richard Lugar. I heard both leaders this morning mention Senator Lugar, and I thought I would rise for a minute to talk about him because I have been lucky to have him as a mentor since I arrived in the Senate. Senator Mark Pryor organized for our class, when we came in, mentors, usually a senior Democrat, senior Republican, and Senator Lugar was that mentor for me. As a result of that, I have spent a great deal of time with him, both in the Foreign Relations Committee and in a variety of meetings and he has always given me very valuable advice. Above all, his advice was to urge bipartisanship, not for its own sake but because it is what makes the Senate work and what allows us to move forward. As one of the leaders pointed out, he is going to be with us for 8 more months, but I think there was something very important in the statement he made and I will read a few words and ask unanimous consent the full statement be printed in the Record thereafter. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (See exhibit 1)
