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Floor Speech

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Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, when Senator Roy Blunt announced that he would not seek reelection, he promised to finish strong. As has been the case throughout his public service, he has kept his word.

Roy is not only an effective Senator and a persuasive advocate, but, as Senator Wicker just mentioned, he is also a good friend to so many of us.

On the Appropriations Committee, we have worked together particularly closely when it has come to biomedical research aimed at preventing, treating, and curing Alzheimer's disease.

The fiscal year 2022 funding bill included a historic $3.5 billion for Alzheimer's research, and that tremendous success would not have come about but for the leadership of Roy Blunt. It has been truly outstanding. He has extraordinary vision in understanding the need for biomedical research that produces the medical breakthroughs.

The American people also saw Roy's effectiveness with the work he did with Senator Burr on Operation Warp Speed. That was responsible for the development of the COVID vaccines in record time. No one thought that the partnership between the Federal Government and the private sector would be able to produce a vaccine so quickly, but Roy swept away the bureaucratic obstacles, he provided the funding, and most of all, he provided the vision. As a result of Roy's work, we have a COVID vaccine that has saved the lives of so many people.

Serving with Roy not only on the Appropriations Committee but also on the Intelligence Committee, I have seen firsthand the extraordinary number of contributions he has made to our country. He is an experienced and skillful legislator who has the vision to write policy that makes a real difference.

Roy has mentioned the role that he has played as master of ceremonies for the inauguration of President Biden. At the time, he delivered brief remarks on the preamble to our Constitution, observing that it establishes the uniquely American principle that government derives its authority from ``we the people.'' Our ongoing mission to create a ``more perfect Union'' is a continuing project, Roy noted, adding that ``we are more than we have been and we are less than we hope to be.''

Roy, you have played a key role in advancing that mission, and it has been such an honor to serve with you. I wish you, Abby, Charlie, and the rest of your family all the best in the years to come.

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