John Thune: “Today I also want to pay tribute to the many teachers around this country. It is National Teacher Appreciation Day. My…”

“Today I also want to pay tribute to the many teachers around this country. It is National Teacher Appreciation Day. My father was a teacher. In fact, I am probably one of the few people in this body that knows what it is like to live on a teacher's salary. I did not have him for a class; although, my older brother Rich did. My brother Rich was a valedictorian of his class. My father's class was the only class in which he received a B. So maybe it is better that I did not have him as a teacher. But I want to pay tribute to the many people who have invested and poured their lives into preparing me for a better future, and I have been marred for life by the people who have invested and taken the time and energy and have been dedicated and committed to preparing and equipping me for the future that was ahead of me. Today I stand here as a product of their investment.”