Tom Udall: “I rise to pay tribute to Senator Johnny Isakson from the great State of Georgia. I, like all of my colleagues in the…”

“I rise to pay tribute to Senator Johnny Isakson from the great State of Georgia. I, like all of my colleagues in the Senate, am saddened by his retirement. His departure leaves a big hole in this Chamber that may never be truly filled. Johnny is a Senator's Senator. He embodies the best qualities of a public servant. He is smart, hard-working, determined, effective. He is humble, not at all self-important, and never seeks attention for himself. He has integrity. He is a man of his word. He is known throughout the Senate as ready to reach across the aisle to seek bipartisan solutions--one of the main reasons he is so effective. As he put it during his farewell speech on the Senate floor, ``I tell you, I am big on bipartisanship.'' Johnny encourages us to take his lead and listen to and work with the other side. We all can learn from his example. Johnny is kind. His heart is big. He always has a smile or greeting for the Senate custodians, Capitol police, cafeteria workers, Senate pages. He always has the time to be kind to others. Johnny is Georgian through and through and loves his State and its people. He has served them for 45 years--in both State houses and both Congressional Chambers--and is now Georgia's most senior elected official. Johnny is as beloved by the people of his State as he is in the Senate--and for good reason.…”