-9999

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I rise today to honor my friend, my colleague, the senior Senator from the great State of Michigan, Debbie Stabenow.

Throughout her entire career, Senator Stabenow has been an absolutely tireless advocate for our State and an unrelenting fighter for every single person living in Michigan. As a result, she is an absolutely beloved public servant in my State.

Debbie's career in public service has been defined by her trailblazing accomplishments. It was 50 years ago this November--as Debbie mentioned, she was merely 5--but she was in graduate school at Michigan State University. I don't know how you did all of that, Debbie. But as she was a graduate student at Michigan State, she was first elected to serve on the Ingham County Commission. She went on to become both the first and the youngest woman to chair that commission.

Debbie's career then took her to the Michigan Legislature, where she became the first woman to preside over the Michigan State House. After successful stints in the Michigan State Senate and U.S. House, she was elected to serve in the U.S. Senate in 2000. She made history once again, as the first woman to represent Michigan in the Senate.

As soon as she arrived, Debbie hit the ground running. I think it is safe to say she never stopped running. She has always fought to make meaningful, positive change for our State, as well as for our entire country.

The very first piece of legislation that she passed into law as a U.S. Senator banned oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes. Her commitment to protecting and preserving the Great Lakes didn't stop there. In 2010, Senator Stabenow authored the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. It is a landmark program that has literally transformed the health of the Great Lakes by helping to combat against invasive species, strengthen our wildlife habitats, and protect the entire Great Lakes watershed.

For nearly a decade now, she has served as the cochair of the Great Lakes Task Force, delivering countless wins to ensure the lasting health of the Great Lakes for generations to come. I have been honored to work with her in those efforts.

Debbie, of course, has also proudly served as chair of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, a position that she has used to literally reimagine agriculture's role in American society. Under her leadership on that committee, she has not only made important progress on some of the issues most important to farmers across Michigan and the country; she has also used her post to address some of the most pressing issues of our time, from childhood hunger to climate change.

Throughout the years, Senator Stabenow has led our Michigan delegation through immense challenges. In the face of the Flint water crisis, Debbie worked tirelessly to advocate for the people of Flint. Her drive and her determination guided our delegation as we fought for Congress to pass the funding needed to kick-start the Federal response to that tragic situation.

Debbie was also the driving force behind the rescue of the U.S. automotive industry in 2008, helping our Michigan economy get on the road to long-term stability.

Debbie knows that Michigan's workers are the best in the world, and her tireless efforts to create and protect thousands of good-paying jobs--union jobs--for Michiganders have bolstered the manufacturing renaissance that we are witnessing today all across our State.

As an original author of the Affordable Care Act, Debbie helped make healthcare more affordable for Michigan families and helped pass major reforms to bring down the cost of prescription drugs for everyone.

In particular, Debbie has long fought to ensure that our mental health receives the same focus and care that our physical health gets. Her efforts to expand access to mental health services not only ensure that people in Michigan and across the United States get the care they need, but her leadership has literally changed--and truly changed--how our Nation delivers mental health and addiction services. It is going to be a legacy that will live for generations to come.

On a personal level, Senator Stabenow has been an absolutely invaluable mentor to me. When I joined her in representing Michigan in the Senate, she set an example for me of what leadership really means.

Early on, Debbie instilled in me the most important idea that should guide our efforts as elected officials: to always work in a bipartisan way to get things done for the people that we care about.

Debbie is kind, but she is also demanding and persistent at times, especially when it comes to fighting for people in Michigan. She will not take no for an answer when it comes to building consensus on the things that matter most to the folks that she so proudly represents. I think most of us in this Chamber have experienced that firsthand. If Debbie is pushing for an issue--something she cares about, something she knows is going to help people--and she gets you on the phone, you will not get off that phone without saying: Absolutely, Debbie, I will support you in that effort because it is important.

Anyone who has had the privilege of working with Senator Stabenow knows that her enthusiasm and her optimism are contagious. The energy that she brings to work every day can motivate you and keep you working forward even when that going is very tough.

But perhaps most importantly, Debbie Stabenow has served as a role model for countless young women. She has opened doors and inspired the next generation of public servants in Michigan and beyond, including the newly elected Senator from Michigan, Elissa Slotkin, who is in the Chamber with us here today.

So as we bid farewell to her in the Senate, her legacy, I know, will live on for generations of elected officials, as well as amazing staff, that she has set an example for.

A diehard Michigander, a dedicated public servant, a caring mother, and an absolutely delightful colleague, Debbie Stabenow has been a fearless leader for Michigan in the Senate, and there is absolutely no doubt that our State and our Nation are stronger because of her committed service.

Debbie, it has been an honor. It has been an honor to serve alongside you. As you mentioned, we are the one-two punch for Michigan. It has been the privilege of my life. And I am extremely proud of everything that you have accomplished, and I look forward to seeing great things ahead for you and wish you Godspeed.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source