Russ Feingold: “I join the many Senators who have paid tribute to our colleague Craig Thomas. Many of my colleagues have come to the…”

“I join the many Senators who have paid tribute to our colleague Craig Thomas. Many of my colleagues have come to the floor since Senator Thomas's passing, and it is clear how many friends he had in this Chamber and how well everyone thought of him and the work he did. We all knew him as a hard-working Member of the Senate who quickly earned his colleagues' respect. That respect was grounded in the way Craig Thomas served his country throughout his life. He spent 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Wyoming State Legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives, and since 1995, the U.S. Senate. During his years in the Senate, Senator Thomas served Wyoming with great dedication. Raised on a ranch, Senator Thomas understood the concerns of rural Americans, and I appreciated his efforts in the Senate to stand up for the people who keep our rural communities strong. That is an important concern in my State, and I know it is in Wyoming as well. I was very pleased to work with him to improve competition and fair treatment for farmers and ranchers. I know that he was committed to giving farmers and ranchers a fair shake in the marketplace, and his constituents appreciated that dedication. Senator Thomas also worked on a range of health care issues important to rural Americans. He well understood the challenges that people in rural areas face as they seek access to health care services and helped to address those concerns.”