[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 23 (Thursday, February 9, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S976-S977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Recognition of the Minority Leader

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader is recognized.


Congratulating Senator Hatch: The Longest Serving Republican Senator in 
                            American History

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, before our great friend from Utah gets 
up, I have other remarks; I will let the Senator from Utah speak before 
those. But I want to join my distinguished friend the majority leader 
in recognizing the Senator from Utah, who has become the longest 
serving Republican Senator in history.
  We have been friends for a long time. He has given me guidance. He 
keeps telling me he is going to straighten me out one of these days--a 
work in progress, I guess we would think--but he is a terrific guy. He 
is a decent man. He is a caring man. He is an honorable man.
  He has been a great partisan when he has to be, but he has shown 
tremendous independence on many different occasions. In fact, probably 
my mentor around here, Senator Kennedy, loved working with Senator 
Hatch, and they accomplished great things for America.
  Even just recently, on an issue like Puerto Rico, there was not much 
gain for him personally. I don't think there is a large Puerto Rican 
population in Provo or Ogden. But he cared and he knew there was a 
problem. We spent late nights trying to figure out what to do, and 
while the solution may not have been as good as some of us would have 
wanted, it was a solution, and it wouldn't have happened without 
Senator Hatch. So we can say that on issue after issue after issue, he 
has risen to the occasion and has been the best of the Senate.
  It is a fitting honor that he is here. Last time around, when he was 
not thinking of running, I think in the hearts of most Democrats there 
was hope that he would run again, and that was because we so esteem 
him.
  I want to join the majority leader in congratulating Senator Hatch 
and wish him many, many more years of success both personally--I know 
he has a large and wonderful family, and we

[[Page S977]]

have talked about our religious faith quite often--as well as a 
successful career.
  With that, I will yield the floor and resume after Senator Hatch has 
had a few words to say.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.