like so many this morning, I rise to mourn the loss of a true champion in the U.S. Senate. Dianne was one of the kindest, most thoughtful people that I had the pleasure to know. When I first got to the Senate--and I have heard some of my colleagues this morning talk about as new Senators--she was so gracious. As a new Senator, she would invite me to dinner with colleagues, and she was such a lady and so professional and so elegant. Every time you went to dinner with Dianne, you can be guaranteed that she would have a little set of flowers for you at your place at the restaurant. And then she would have a little parting gift for you, whether it was a little coin purse or something to show just truly who she was. And I heard this morning from my colleagues, similarly, the stories of Dianne's kindness and her respect for others. She was a fighter her whole life, leading on so many important issues. In the coming days and weeks and months and years, as people around the world really honor Dianne's memory, many will speak to her leadership--and rightfully so--on women's rights and foreign affairs. But I want to take the time to highlight a place where Dianne did so much. And most people don't know, unless you are a part of Team Tahoe, Dianne loved Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe is a beautiful, pristine Alpine lake that both Nevada and California share. In 1997, Dianne and then- Senator Harry Reid got together and passed legislation to protect this pristine lake.…
On the recordSeptember 29, 2023
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