Thomas Daschle: “this resolution is offered in the most heartfelt and sincere way. These last 2 years have been very difficult. There…”

“this resolution is offered in the most heartfelt and sincere way. These last 2 years have been very difficult. There have been times when it has tested all of us. But no one has been more tested than the majority leader. No one has been called upon to lead in more arduous circumstances, on more occasions, than the majority leader. And as he has just noted, there have been times when we have had our differences. But I have always admired him for his remarkable ability to put aside those differences, to come to my office, to invite me to his, to talk in the most affable and personal way when the day is done. I admire that and many other of his remarkable talents. We are fortunate to have his leadership. We are fortunate to have his service to this country. And I am fortunate to have his friendship. So I congratulate him on his successful tenure as majority leader. And as he noted, our times in the future will become even more arduous, even more tested. I look forward to taking on those challenges with the same degree of enthusiasm, the same degree of willingness, to work in a partnership that I hope we can continually demonstrate. So I thank him. I wish him well and look forward to our service together in the next 2 years.”