[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 199 (Tuesday, December 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7739-S7740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JOE DONNELLY

  Mr. SCHUMER. Finally, on a matter near and dear to my heart, the 
great Senator from the great State of Indiana--unfortunately, we are 
going to be saying goodbye to Members of our caucus who won't be 
returning to the 116th. This morning, I want to share some words about 
the senior Senator from Indiana, my dear friend Joe Donnelly.
  Most folks don't know this, but Joe is actually a native New Yorker. 
Maybe it is because of his affable personality, his agreeableness, his 
midwestern decency that folks don't think he came from New York, and 
they are surprised to learn it.
  After falling in love with Indiana after college, Joe is now fond of 
saying: ``You can pick where you live, but you can't pick where you're 
born.'' Joe, on behalf of all New Yorkers, I officially forgive you for 
saying that.
  But like all of the young Irish Catholic kids from Long Island, Joe's 
dream was to go to Notre Dame. Joe likes to say that all good Irish 
Catholic kids are handed an application to Notre Dame, along with their 
baptism, and go to Notre Dame Joe did, where his long career and life 
in the State of Indiana began.
  Something about Joe's inherent decency drew people toward him. His 
first foray in politics came when he received a phone call from a local 
official in the Democratic Party. Joe thought he was calling to ask for 
a donation, but the official instead asked him if he would like to run 
for the State legislature. Joe responded: ``OK, I'm eating my cereal; 
I'll get back to you on that.'' The people of Indiana and the people of 
America are glad Joe finished that bowl of cereal and decided a career 
in public service might suit him.
  It didn't happen right away though. Joe lost that first race. A few 
years later, he found himself coaching the son of his opponent from 
that race in a local basketball league. At the first practice, sensing 
trepidation in the young man, Joe hugged him and said: Don't worry. It 
won't affect your playing time.
  That is the kind of little story that shows the decency of Joe 
Donnelly--what a good man he is, how he cares about other people's 
feelings, how he holds no grudges or resentments and always gives his 
political opponents and, in this case, their children the benefit of 
the doubt.
  He always tried to see things from other people's perspective. That 
quality is what made him such an effective and well liked Member of 
this body. It is hard to be both effective and well liked here. Joe is 
both.
  And, of course, he hustled. A Donnelly day in Indiana is legendary 
among his staff. It begins before sunrise and ends long after the sun 
has set.
  I travel to every county in my State every year, which is 62. Joe, of 
course, outdid me. He makes it to each of Indiana's 92 counties every 
year. When he offers an opinion on where to find the best gas station 
or fried chicken in Indiana, you know it is coming from real authority.
  Joe's dad was a small business owner on Long Island who used to tell 
him as a boy: Joe, just do the work. That is what Joe Donnelly did. He 
did the work. And because he did the work, even in this divided 
Congress and this divided partisan era, Joe got a whole lot done. He 
passed right-to-try legislation, which, according to Republican Senator 
Ron Johnson, ``would not have happened without Joe Donnelly.''
  There are going to be people who live decades from now because of his 
hard work and passion on that bill. Joe worked tirelessly on behalf of 
veterans as a member of Armed Services, and he passed legislation to 
reduce the number of military suicides. Again, there are going to be 
families who don't have to live with suicide of a family member, 
service member because of Joe's hard work and dedication and political 
skill in getting this passed.
  Joe worked across the aisle with Senator Young, his colleague, to 
pass a bill that would improve mental health assistance for our police 
because he knew, coming from a family of police officers, the daily 
strain that officers undergo in risking their lives for our safety.
  I could go on, but suffice it to say that Joe Donnelly will leave 
this Chamber with an outstanding bipartisan legacy in his wake.
  So at a time when our politics is so angry and divisive, losing 
someone like

[[Page S7740]]

Joe Donnelly is a real loss. It is a loss for this body, a loss for the 
State of Indiana, and a real loss for America. He is an independent man 
and an honest person, and in a politics that is far too short on both, 
we will miss his steady hand here in the Senate, but also at first 
base, where he was relied on in the Congressional Baseball Games year 
after year.
  We thank Jill, his lovely wife, whom he met in Indiana. Maybe she was 
the first reason he never went back to New York. We thank his children, 
Molly and Joe, Jr., for letting us borrow him these past 6 years.
  Joe and I are friends for life. This election result will not break 
that friendship and that bond.
  Iris and I and all of the Members of this Chamber wish Joe and his 
family the very best. Since there are no New York schools in the 
college football playoffs, this Senator will be rooting for Joe's 
beloved Fighting Irish.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Indiana.
  Mr. DONNELLY. Madam President, I thank the leader, who is my friend 
and colleague, Chuck Schumer, for his kind words.
  I thank Senator Durbin, who is here, as well, and I thank all the 
Members.
  I see my friend Senator Fischer. We team up on the Strategic Forces 
Subcommittee.
  Of my friend Senator Grassley, not everybody knows Senator Grassley 
has relatives who are spending eternal rest in Michigan City, IN, which 
is not too far away from where I live.
  To everybody who works here--to the incredible team that makes 
everything go and to all of our pages who have done such a wonderful 
job--it has been such a privilege to serve in the U.S. Senate. What an 
unthinkable thing for a kid to have a chance to do. To actually be here 
takes your breath away. Our Nation is so extraordinary, such a 
wonderful place. The trust we are given to represent our people is 
something that we take so seriously.
  To the whole team, nothing we do could ever be done without your hard 
work, and the effort we have put in to be part of that is something I 
will never forget. I just say thank you. Thanks to everybody here. It 
has been such a privilege.
  I yield the floor.

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