Tribute to Lamar Alexander

Floor Speech

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Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I first met Lamar Alexander when he was a candidate for President 25 years ago. He was campaigning in the State of Maine, and after giving an articulate speech outlining his priorities and his policies, he proceeded to charm everyone by playing the piano. Little did I know then that we would one day serve as colleagues and friends in the U.S. Senate.

Lamar, as you heard already today, is an extraordinary legislator. He has the ability to bring people together even on very contentious issues and hammer out a compromise. He is extremely effective because he is always well informed, focuses on the issue at hand, never gives up, and is willing to work across the aisle. He gets things done that matter not only to his constituents and his beloved Tennessee but also to citizens across this great country.

He has been an extraordinary leader on important issues that many of us care deeply about, such as biomedical research, education, and combating the opioid crisis. He is that rare individual who is far less interested in who gets the credit than in getting the job done. But, in fact, each of us who has had the privilege of working with Lamar knows that he is the one who deserves the credit.

I have served for years with Lamar on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which he chairs. On one challenging issue after another, when others would throw up their hands and say ``This is impossible; it simply cannot be done,'' Lamar never gives up the search for a solution and for common ground.

Lamar has been so prolific as a legislator that it is difficult to single out one accomplishment among so many, but if forced to do so, I would say that the 21st Century Cures Act is his signature achievement. As the name implies, this law is a lasting legacy for him, and it is already providing lasting benefits for our country. Whether it is the BRAIN Initiative that will finally help us to make progress on diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurological illnesses, or the Cancer Moonshot that was done in honor of Beau Biden, or the funding that was included to look at the impact of lifestyles on our health, all of the provisions of this landmark law will improve the health of the American people far into the future, and it will be Lamar Alexander who deserves the credit.

As a close second, I would cite the educational reforms he drafted to replace and improve No Child Left Behind to give more autonomy back to the States and local school districts. That law--Every Student Succeeds Act--was a momentous bipartisan achievement, and Lamar has already explained what it took to get the job done. It is not surprising that in 2016, the Nation's Governors named Lamar the first recipient of the James Madison Award to recognize Members of Congress who support Federalism. As we have heard today, the Wall Street Journal called ESSA the ``largest devolution of federal control to the states in a quarter- century.''

In addition to being a skillful legislator, Lamar is also a wonderfully talented musician, as both a pianist and a singer. His hilarious performance at the annual Alfalfa Club dinner back in 2011 is legendary, and thanks to YouTube, it is also immortal.

Lamar was a great friend, as he mentioned today, of the writer Alex Haley, the author of ``Roots.'' Mr. Haley's personal motto was ``Find the good and praise it.'' Lamar quotes that often, and he lives by it. Optimism and gratitude, effectiveness and skill are his defining characteristics. To Lamar, ``the good'' isn't simply what is pleasant; it is what is worthwhile, what makes us better people, better citizens, a better nation. If we follow the advice he gave us today, we will be a better Senate.

Not long ago, I was interviewed by a journalist for a retrospective on Lamar's service in the Senate. She said that she happened to be in the Senate Dining Room on December 17, 2018--the day that Lamar announced his intention to retire--and that a room usually alive with chatter was unusually quiet and tinged with sadness. That somber atmosphere was genuine and bipartisan.

Lamar, I can't tell you how much personally I will miss serving with you. You are not only a great Senator and extraordinary legislator but a wonderful friend. Thank you so much for your many years of public service. I feel very honored to have served with you, to have learned from you, and I wish you and Honey all the best.

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