Farewell to the Senate

Floor Speech

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Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, Cory Gardner and I first met in 2011, when he became the first alumnus of the United States Senate Youth Program to be sworn into the House of Representatives. As the first Senate Youth Program delegate elected to the U.S. Senate, I felt an immediate connection to this new Member of Congress from Colorado. One year, both of us had the privilege of addressing the student delegates to this wonderful program that had made such a difference in the lives of both of us.

Since he joined the Senate 6 years ago, Cory has demonstrated his leadership on many issues which we have heard described today. His upbeat personality and his commitment to compromise, to solutions, and to bipartisanship have had a positive influence on this Chamber. As the renowned columnist George Will once called Cory, he is ``a human beam of sunshine.'' I am sure that is the phrase that was going through the mind of his colleague from Colorado.

His approach to legislating has indeed been enlightening, but it has been his positive approach to every problem that we encounter, his upbeat personality, his wonderful smiles, and his problem-solving devotion to America and to his State that have distinguished him.

Cory's landmark achievement, which he discussed today, is the Great American Outdoors Act. I was proud to cosponsor his legislation. This historic bill, at long last, fully and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund and provides funding to address significant parts of the multibillion-dollar national parks maintenance backlog. The Great American Outdoors Act will help to ensure that both current and future generations can enjoy the pristine beauty of our natural treasures in Colorado, in the great State of Maine, and throughout our country. Cory's hard work to bridge the partisan divide and secure support from both sides of the aisle leave a lasting legacy that the American people will cherish. I would note that he never gave up in his pursuit of seeing this landmark legislation signed into law.

That is typical of the approach that Cory takes. He doesn't give up. He persists. But he does so in such a delightful way--always in search of a solution--that it is very difficult for his colleagues to ever say no to him.

Cory's commitment to environmental stewardship extends from the great outdoors to the frontier of technology to advance the development and deployment of energy from renewable, sustainable, and clean energy sources.

Cory, as was mentioned by Senator Bennet, has also been a champion for those who have served our Nation in uniform. In 2017, a troubling GAO report revealed an unacceptable trend of VA facilities failing to report healthcare providers who made major medical errors to the boards responsible for tracking dangerous practitioners, or, in some cases, revoking or suspending their licenses. As a result, these practitioners can go into private practice from their work at the VA or simply move across State lines without disclosing prior performance problems to either patients or State regulators.

To solve this serious problem, Cory introduced the Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act. His bill, which passed the Senate unanimously, helps to protect patients by requiring the VA to disclose major errors committed by its medical providers.

Time and again, I have seen Cory put into practice the values that the Senate Youth Program imparts to high school students--a deep respect for our enduring system of government, a dedication to public service, and a willingness to work in a bipartisan spirit to get the job done.

It has been such an honor and a great joy to serve with Cory in the U.S. Senate. I am certain he will continue to serve his State and his country, and I wish him and his family all the best. Thank you, Cory, for all you have done.

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