[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 143 (Monday, August 27, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5944-S5945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Remembering John McCain

  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, the U.S. Senate, indeed, our entire 
Nation, is mourning the loss of a great leader, an American patriot, 
our colleague and friend, Senator John McCain.
  I first met John McCain when I was a young staffer in Senator Bill 
Cohen's office and John was serving as the Navy's liaison officer. As a 
fellow Senator for the past 21 years, I knew him as a trusted 
colleague, a courageous legislator, and a close friend.
  John was a true American hero who devoted his life to serving his 
country. Courage and character were the hallmarks of his military 
service as well as his work in Congress. In the Senate, he was a 
consequential leader on the most critical issues facing our country. 
John McCain was one of our Congress's most respected voices for a 
strong national defense and for good government. His word was as much 
his bond in Washington as it was to his brothers in arms in Vietnam.
  I would like to share with my colleagues a story, I believe, that 
demonstrates the essential character of John McCain.
  In November of 2010, John was part of a congressional delegation on 
its way to a security conference in Nova Scotia. Bad weather caused 
their flight to be diverted to Bangor, ME, where I live. I shortly 
received a phone call to come to the airport, and I went and welcomed 
John and my colleagues on their unplanned visit.
  As it happened, the Troop Greeters of Maine were at the airport at 
the same time. This legendary group of citizens has greeted more than 
1.5 million servicemembers either leaving to go overseas or returning 
home since 2003; never missing a single flight, even in bad weather or 
the middle of the night. The Presiding Officer, I believe--who also has 
served her country so well, Senator Ernst--was one of those who was 
greeted by the Troop Greeters in Bangor, ME.
  Rather than fly out when the weather cleared, John and the others in 
the delegation agreed to stay and join me with the long line of these 
patriotic Troop Greeters to await the arrival of the airplanes.
  I remember when I told John that there was a plane that would be 
arriving shortly and then there was another one in a couple of hours, 
he said: Of course, we will stay.
  Well, you can imagine, having gone through the gauntlet of Mainers 
greeting and welcoming the troops back home, hugging them, cheering 
them, giving them cell phones, thanking them for their service, that 
all of a sudden the troops realized they had just shaken hands with 
John McCain; the legendary John McCain, who was so popular with 
servicemembers. I saw them literally do a double take when the first 
group went by, shook his hand, and then turned around and said to each 
other: Wasn't that John McCain who just shook our hands?
  They then came back and of course posed for pictures and chatted with 
him and held up the rest of the line, who were very eager to see John.
  I will never forget how thrilled these troops were to be greeted, 
when they

[[Page S5945]]

were first setting foot back on American soil, by a true American hero, 
John McCain; someone who had served our country with such courage and 
character.
  By the end of the day, John had spent 3 hours greeting two planeloads 
of soldiers. He loved greeting them and posing for pictures. It was 
such a heartwarming, unexpected event and a very special moment. It not 
only gladdened the hearts of the troops but also of the Troop Greeters, 
who were thrilled to have their hero with them.
  It was vintage John McCain that he stayed even after the weather had 
cleared and greeted each and every one of those troops.
  John McCain did what he thought was right, regardless of the 
political consequences. He had absolutely no interest in scoring 
partisan political points on the Senate floor. He welcomed and would 
listen to good ideas, whether they came from the Democratic or the 
Republican side of the aisle. While he was always open to new evidence, 
good ideas, and was capable of changing his mind, he was unshakeable 
when he was convinced of the appropriateness of a course of action.
  John was impatient. He wanted to get on with solving the problems 
facing our country. He had no use for the political games that, sadly, 
far too often are played in the Senate.
  One often overlooked aspect of John was his love for the environment. 
I once visited him at his beloved ranch in Sedona, and I was surprised 
when he took me all over the property, pointing out birds, naming them, 
and clearly taking such delight in the wildlife. Until that moment, I 
did not know of his interest and love for nature.
  Later on, I accompanied John on a trip he organized to the Arctic to 
see the permafrost melting and to meet with Native Alaskans. We also 
traveled to Antarctica, where we spent 4 days meeting with scientists 
who told us of the impact of global warming.
  He took me on so many trips and broadened my horizons. Four times we 
went to Afghanistan, four times to Iraq. We went to Yemen. We went to 
Libya and met with Colonel Qadhafi before he was overthrown and killed. 
John taught me so much on these trips.
  The principles that guided John's life are best summed up by his own 
words from his beautiful autobiography, ``Faith of My Fathers.'' He 
said: ``Glory belongs to the act of being constant to something greater 
than yourself, to a cause, to your principles, to the people on whom 
you rely, and who rely on you in return.''
  John McCain was a statesman and a dear friend who was devoted to a 
cause greater than himself, and that cause was the United States of 
America.
  It has been an honor to serve alongside him for nearly 21 years in 
the U.S. Senate. Although he will be deeply missed by all of us, he 
leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that will inspire Americans for 
generations to come.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Georgia.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Madam President, yesterday was a difficult day for me.
  Before I get to that day, let me recognize the Senator from Oklahoma 
for a motion.
  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Georgia.
  I ask unanimous consent that at the conclusion of the remarks of the 
distinguished Senator from Georgia that I be recognized for such time 
as I shall consider.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.