-9999

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. YOUNG. Madam President, I wanted to address Senator Braun's family, members of his staff, and others who may be watching these proceedings today. Congratulations to Senator Braun for a great run here. To his family, just wonderful people, I see Maureen in the Gallery and other members of the family. I know they are incredibly proud of Mike at this moment, and they are looking forward to the next step in his professional journey and, therefore, their journey, so thank you for your service.

I know that this is every bit as much of a sacrifice and a period of service for members of one's family as it is for us. Sometimes, it is more challenging for family members because we lose all control over what people are saying and whatnot but great to visit with you, and I am looking forward to this next step.

And then members of the team, I think it was right and appropriate that Senator Braun spent so much time talking about your great work on behalf of the people of Indiana.

The bills that he has shown leadership on, multiple bills, and successes would not have happened, as he said, but for your work, the phone calls received, and the emails responded to, all the meetings. I mean, it is really important. Many people call their U.S. Senator only once. Most people don't call, but they will talk to someone who has talked to a U.S. Senator, and those interactions are just so essential.

They shape people's views of what government can be, and they help people be reassured during times like these that they are represented. And so I appreciate you very much. For many of you, I know you will return to the great Hoosier State and keep working in some sort of service capacity, and I will look forward to working together.

Mike, I have to say, the Senate's loss is Indiana's gain. You have certainly served with distinction here, but I know you have always prided yourself, appropriately so, on your executive responsibilities and achievements over the years. Now, the people of Indiana will benefit from a different type of service, and we are all very much looking forward to seeing what is next. It has already started, I know.

I have to say, the hunting is better. The hunting is a heck of a lot better, whether you are a hunter hunting things with faces or mushrooms, and there is no better place to do that kind of thing than southern Indiana, Dubois County, preferably.

You know, this is Indiana's win, this moment right here--remembering the great service and achievements--but when you reflect on the experience you bring to this next step, building and running a large organization, and yet you still have exposure to and experience in government between the local school board levels, State legislature for a brief period of time, and then the U.S. Senate, what better perspective could an incoming chief executive of a State have?

So I am really excited about this step. Your commitment, I know, will be enduring to fiscal responsibility and economic freedom. Those have been hallmarks of your service here. They are, frankly, expectations that people have of you and of our State. Carrying on that tradition of fiscal responsibility and effective management is, I think, one of the reasons you were elected, despite some strong and talented opponents you faced in that recent election.

So here we are. Here we are parting ways in the U.S. Senate. But as we leave this Chamber, I will have an opportunity to call you Governor- elect, and then we can keep working together on veterans' issues, on budgetary issues, on expanding healthcare access to more people, on ensuring that Hoosiers and others across the country have access to affordable, quality housing near where the jobs are. All of these issues that make normal life possible in this country. Government can be maddening; government can be inefficient; government can be unresponsive; but government is necessary. And if it is necessary, let's make it good government. Let's do what we can to instill some measure of confidence in this system, as imperfect as it may be.

I think that this is something in this new capacity that you can help deliver at a time when so many people are pessimistic about the state of affairs. Again, you are the guy to make this happen.

So Godspeed, Senator Braun. Godspeed to members of your team and to your beautiful family. I am looking forward to helping make you successful in this next step because if you are successful, Senator, then the State of Indiana is successful.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source