[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 199 (Tuesday, December 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7737-S7738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TRIBUTE TO JON KYL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, to the untrained 
eye, it might seem that I have completed my thanks and farewells to all 
my Republican colleagues who will depart at the end of this Congress, 
but I would be remiss if I did not also mention the junior Senator from 
Arizona, our good friend Jon Kyl.
  When Senator Kyl bid farewell to this body in 2012, it took me quite 
a while to come to terms with the prospect that we had cast our final 
votes together. I went through stages of grief. Eventually, I came to 
acceptance, but, as it turned out, the great State of Arizona was not 
quite finished with this distinguished leader after all. If Jon had 
planned on a relaxing, undisturbed post-Senate career, then, his 
biggest mistake was leaving a record as one of the most earnest and 
effective legislators this body had seen in recent memory, because when 
the people of Arizona needed to step in and honor the towering legacy 
of our friend John McCain, through the end of this Congress, his 
counterpart of 18 years was the natural choice.
  As the entire Nation mourned the loss of a decorated hero and 
statesman, Jon Kyl volunteered his even keel and sound judgment to fill 
the void, and while the Senate may have changed in some small ways in 
the 6 years since Jon left us, he has likely noticed over the past few 
months that some things never do. This floor remains the stage for the 
most important policy challenges facing our country. There is still an 
urgent need for hard-working public servants with expertise to enter 
the fray, and he is still the junior Senator from Arizona.
  From his first day back, Jon has smoothly continued Senator McCain's 
habit of making an outsized impact for his State. He cast his vote to 
confirm a well-qualified Supreme Court nominee.

[[Page S7738]]

He has joined in advancing major legislation, and he has continued his 
advocacy for improving our Nation's military readiness.
  As we say good-bye one more time, I know every Member of this body 
will join me in gratitude that Jon answered the call when his 
experience and talents were needed.
  Like the others who have been lucky enough spending 18 years with Jon 
already, I am especially grateful for this opportunity to work 
alongside such a dear friend. So I want to thank Jon for his abiding 
commitment to service. We wish him and his wonderful wife Caryll much 
health and happiness in the years to come.

                          ____________________