On the recordJanuary 8, 2024
I rise today to honor the life of former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl. Herb was a successful businessman, a generous philanthropist, a dedicated public servant, and my role model. He was a model boss, public servant, and Senator--always putting people first. But, if you knew Herb, you knew how humble he was. In fact, after he was first sworn in, one of his colleagues whom he respected in this body said to him: You are going to be a model Senator. I have heard him tell this story a number of times. He decided to look up the definition of ``model,'' and he quipped back by saying: ``Model, my friends, is a small replica of the real thing,'' making light of his rather modest stature and deflecting credit for his leadership. That scenario embodies a lot of who Herb was. He was modest, funny, and at his core, an unrelenting advocate for the people of the State of Wisconsin. Senator Kohl served in this body for 24 years, but he served the people of Wisconsin and our country throughout his entire life. In the Senate, he didn't care how long a fight would take, how long the odds were, or who he was up against; if it would help the people of Wisconsin, it was worthy of him to engage in that fight. His mantra throughout his service was ``Nobody's Senator But Yours,'' and his record in Washington reflected that commitment to a tee. In Congress, he worked quietly, diligently, and with focus.…
