[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 177 (Thursday, December 8, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S6913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO KELLY AYOTTE

  Ms. HEITKAMP. Mr. President, today I wish to honor my dear friend and 
colleague from New Hampshire, Senator Kelly Ayotte, who is departing 
from the Senate at the end of this year. Over the last 4 years, I have 
been consistently impressed with Kelly's pragmatic approach to her role 
as a U.S. Senator. Time and time again, I have seen her be a strong 
advocate on behalf of her State and have admired her willingness to 
forge the tough, bipartisan compromises that our country needs.
  Senator Ayotte started her career clerking for an associate justice 
of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. After about a year of clerking, she 
started practicing law. She eventually moved on to be a prosecutor for 
the New Hampshire Attorney General's office, quickly gaining experience 
and know-how to become the first female attorney general of her State--
something we have in common.
  When I came to the Senate in 2013, Kelly and I were the only female 
former attorneys general in the Chamber at the time. She had been 
elected to her first term 2 years before me, so as new Senators, we 
bonded through our common experience that later pushed us to pass laws 
and create real change. Our shared knowledge of the issues, dedication, 
and common interests led us to become good friends. I am also proud to 
say that our relationship extended beyond the Senate Chamber, as we 
played together on the congressional women's softball team.
  Kelly and I worked with each other to make real and substantial 
progress on many issues using common sense and our desire to do what is 
best for our States and the country. We both came to the Senate with an 
understanding of rural America. As the wife of a small business owner, 
Kelly understands the real life implications policy can have on small 
businesses, which she displayed as we worked together on the Small 
Business Committee. We also sat next to each other on the dais for 4 
years as we served together on the Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs Committee. Her commitment to keeping our Nation safe shined 
through time and time again as our committee worked on border security, 
cyber security, and improving our Federal Government's efficiency and 
effectiveness.
  Together we passed two bills, one of which has been signed into law 
and the other which awaits the President's signature. The first was the 
Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act, which created a 
commemorative coin to help fund the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's 
efforts to fight breast cancer. Her dedication to help the one in eight 
women who will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their 
lifetimes will not be forgotten. The second bill was the Northern 
Border Security Review Act to ensure that our Nation's northern border 
gets the attention and resources it needs to keep our communities safe. 
I am extremely proud to have worked with her on these issues.
  Senator Ayotte has been an outstanding public servant for the people 
of New Hampshire and this country. I know that she is proud of her 
accomplishments in her time as a Senator, and I am proud to be a part 
of some of those accomplishments. The women's softball team will 
definitely miss her because, let's face it, she is a better softball 
player than I am. I know Kelly will continue to be a champion for New 
Hampshire no matter what she does. And since we each have taken our 
turns in the batting cages, we never step down from the plate. I guess 
imitation truly is the best form of flattery. I truly wish her the 
best.

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