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Floor Speech

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Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a true servant of Texas, Carl Mica.

For over 10 years, Carl has worked in my office, starting as my regional director and now ending his career as my deputy chief of staff and State director.

For over three decades, Carl has dedicated his life to public service, the ``Lone Star State,'' and this Nation.

So today, I would like to share part of his story, his work, and the legacy he leaves behind as he enters retirement.

Carl is known for his exemplary character, quality leadership, and genuine compassion. He is someone who inspires others through integrity, empathy, and a clear vision of what is possible.

Carl has led not by relying on authority or titles but by setting an example of accountability, respect, and dedication. But most importantly, Carl has always been committed to uplifting those whom we serve, driving collective success while nurturing trust, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose.

Carl's career has been defined by steady leadership, a commitment to service, and an unwavering devotion to the people of Texas and the United States. Throughout his storied career, Carl has served in roles that placed him at the intersection of policy, people, and crisis response.

As my deputy chief of staff and State director, he has overseen operations in Washington, DC, and across Texas, serving more than 31 million Texans and leading a team of more than 60 staff members across the country. His position demanded poise, strategic judgment, and compassion, qualities he has consistently demonstrated.

Carl has been at the forefront of the most pivotal and challenging moments in recent Texas and American history. He helped guide statewide responses and engagement following hurricanes and floods and tornadoes and wildfires and community crises, including the crisis at our southern border for the 4 years of the Biden administration.

And like all of us, he navigated the uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring Texans remained informed and connected to Federal resources. These were not moments for the faint of heart. They were moments that required steady, empathetic leadership, and Carl was there. Time and again, he stepped forward to help communities heal, to support elected officials in crafting responses, and to ensure that the voices of Texans were heard in Washington.

But Carl's influence extends far beyond crisis management. His career has been a master class in forging relationships and strengthening institutions. During his time at the University of Texas system, he helped launch the Chancellor's Centurions Program, cultivating future leaders in education and healthcare. He also served as the UT system's chief liaison to business organizations nationwide, bolstering partnerships, and supporting growth for one of the State's most important institutions.

Prior to working at UT, Carl built his foundation in public service, working with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, my predecessor, rising from an assistant to her regional director.

And while Carl has dedicated his career to public service, he has also invested deeply in his community. He has served on the Austin Club's board of directors, contributed to the Austin Chamber of Commerce, supported the Texas Exes, and remained active in organizations that celebrate Texas history, education, and civic engagement.

In every chapter of his life, Carl has embodied the values we cherish: integrity, commitment, loyalty, and leadership. He has been a bridgebuilder, a steady hand in times of crisis, a mentor to many, and a servant leader to all. Carl's career reflects both accomplishments and character. His career is a testament to what one person can achieve when they lead with purpose, humility, and heart.

When Carl's colleagues reflect on his leadership, one theme rises above all others: His heart. They describe someone who cared deeply for his team, who held high expectations but met them himself every single day, and whose Texas pride and loyalty ran as steady as his professionalism.

Beneath his attention to detail was a genuine sentimental spirit that shaped this office in ways he never fully realized.

They reflected on how Carl walked with them through every walk of life, through celebrations, through grief, and through the mundane.

There are countless stories I could share about Carl, but they all show the mark of a true servant leader. He inspired excellence. He opened doors. He changed lives.

Carl's legacy is written not just in the work he accomplished but in the people he lifted along the way.

So, Carl, while your departure from this team is bittersweet, I want to say congratulations on an extraordinary legacy, and I also want to say thank you, thank you for changing lives.

And in recognizing such leadership, it is equally important to thank his incredible wife Tara, whose support and service alongside him made his contributions possible and even more meaningful.

I will also note that Carl is known throughout the State of Texas for having the most impeccable head of hair that could possibly grace a fellow. And when he comes to DC and walks the hallway, he is regularly greeted with ``Senator,'' ``Senator,'' as everyone he meets is convinced, I am sorry to say, that he is one of us. I have wondered, sometimes, if Carl has come down to the Senate floor and cast a vote. I feel confident that the clerk would record the vote and assume he must be a Senator, and there must have been a new special election that they missed.

Carl, you have been a dear friend to me and my wife Heidi for decades, and I can speak to everyone when I say: You will be missed.

Your retirement is greatly deserved, and I look forward to continuing our friendship in this next chapter of life.

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