On the recordFebruary 9, 2017
I want to thank the distinguished majority leader and the minority leader. I didn't expect this today; I was just happy to be in the Chair. But it was certainly nice of them to say such nice things. That means a lot to me, and I am sure it will mean a lot to my wife Elaine and our family. I have a great deal of respect for both leaders. Senator McConnell is a very close friend and a wonderful leader. I don't think we have had a better leader than he in my time in the Senate. I will not go on and on, but Senator Schumer and I have been friends for a long time, and I believe he is one of the great Senators here. I hope we will be able to work together on a lot of things in the future. I hope we can get out of this rut we are in right now so we can work together, so we can feel good about being here, and so we can help this country. I thank both the majority leader and the minority leader for their kind remarks. I didn't expect those, and I was a little shocked that they would say these things this morning, but I am very grateful to both of them. I want to thank both of them for being my friends. I yield back to the minority leader.
