Patrick Leahy: “when Lamar Alexander came to the Senate in 2002, he brought with him a wealth of experience and years of service to the…”

“when Lamar Alexander came to the Senate in 2002, he brought with him a wealth of experience and years of service to the State of Tennessee. As a Senator, he has remained a strong advocate for his State and its citizens, and as a colleague, he has shown a willingness to work across the aisle for the good of his constituents, of the Senate, and of the Nation. Our partnership is one that I will miss when he leaves the Senate. Throughout his career--as Governor of Tennessee, as president of the University of Tennessee, and as the Secretary of Education for President George H.W. Bush, and as a U.S. Senator--Lamar has dedicated himself to improving education quality and access for Tennesseans and all Americans alike. He has continued and advanced that work as the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Senator Alexander has a proven record of working across the aisle to develop solutions to our country's most pressing healthcare and education challenge, and we know there are many. I have had the privilege of working with Senator Alexander for many years on the Appropriations Committee. Senator Alexander has been a trusted partner on the committee, striving to reach bipartisan compromise, which I believe has long been the hallmark of the Appropriations Committee.…”