On the recordDecember 9, 2024
I just arrived from the airport, and I hurried because I wanted to be here for my friend Jon Tester. I love this guy. I love how he does his job. No one takes his job more seriously and has more fun doing this job than Jon Tester. That laughter, that commitment, that idealism was infectious. We worked on two committees together--one I chaired; one he chaired. He still chairs the Veterans Committee, and look what we did for this Nation's veterans. I got the honor of being Jon Tester's wingman on that. I chair the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, with people like Tina Smith. Doug Jones was once on that committee, and Jeff Merkley was once on that committee. When I say how seriously Jon took this job, I think just how hard it was for him to get here every week. Two years ago, he decided to run for reelection. He knew the pressure, and he knew the challenge. It takes me an hour to get to Washington. It takes Jon 7 or 8 or 9 hours to get to Washington. Every week he goes home; he farms. He goes home every weekend to look out for his constituents and to represent them. As I said, no one takes this job more seriously and has more fun doing it. He will be missed by everybody. This body will miss him for that infectious spirit that really is what this country is all about. And it was just such an honor for 18 years--we were sworn in the same day. It was such an honor to serve with Jon Tester of Montana. (Applause.)
