On the recordAugust 1, 2018
I would like to join my friend the majority leader in congratulating Dick Shelby on his 10,000th vote. I knew him before he cast his first vote in the Senate, when we were fellow Democrats in the House of Representatives. That was a long time ago. But one thing has been consonant throughout his career: his decency, his honor, and, most of all, his desire to get things done for his home State of Alabama and for our country. That has led him to be an outstanding leader of the Appropriations Committee. As the majority leader mentioned, we are working in a remarkably smooth, bipartisan way. We hope that is a precedent of things to come. We hope we will continue to work together and not let any outside forces mess that up--not to mention any names. He is just a wonderful guy. He really is. We see each other in the gym in the morning. Let me tell you, Shelby is as fit as ever, huffing and puffing away on the bike. That gives all of us solace because it means he has even more strength to guide us through the appropriations process for many years to come. I wish to acknowledge his partner in this--they couldn't have done it without working together--Senator Leahy. It is a great team, and we look forward to continued bipartisanship, compromise, and success. The Senator from Vermont.
