[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 200 (Wednesday, December 19, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7824-S7826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JOHN CORNYN

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, now I am down to my very last end-of-
year tribute to a Member of this body. I offer this one with the very 
greatest reluctance.
  This one isn't occasioned by any retirement. Fortunately, for all of 
us, Senator John Cornyn isn't going anywhere. He will be right here 
with us when the 116th Congress convenes in January, but he will no 
longer be serving as Republican whip. His tenure in this key leadership 
role is almost complete. So I could not let the week pass without 
sharing for the official Record--and with all of our colleagues--a 
small slice of the tremendous gratitude and respect and admiration I 
feel for the senior Senator from Texas.
  John and I were already well acquainted when he took over the whip 
role 6 years ago in relief of Jon Kyl, but still, I wasn't sure exactly 
what our relationship would look like. You never quite know in advance. 
Everybody is different, but just a few weeks into our partnership as 
leader and whip, John presented me with a birthday gift that told me at 
least three things about him.
  He framed and autographed a picture of ourselves--just an ordinary, 
not particularly glamorous shot of the two of us, plus John Barrasso, 
probably talking with the press there in the Ohio Clock corridor.
  A somewhat unusual gift, I thought. Lesson No. 1: This guy has a 
sense of humor and good cheer. In this photo, I am kind of standing 
front and center. Six-foot-one John is standing right behind me, a 
little out of focus and halfway in the shadow. So there is lesson No. 
2: Humility.
  Then there was his handwritten message: ``Happy birthday, Mitch--I've 
got your back.'' That was lesson No. 3. It spoke for itself and how 
fortunate I

[[Page S7825]]

have been to be reminded every single day since that John Cornyn meant 
exactly what he said.
  John has proven to be a stunningly effective whip for the Republican 
conference these past years. He has also been more than a solid friend 
and a wiser, more loyal counselor than I had any right to expect.
  The whip is a powerful position. The conference trusts you to help 
lead them. Your peers trust you with your candor and their concerns. As 
each piece of legislation progresses, different groups of your 
colleagues are trusting you to help secure accomplishments that are 
huge priorities for them and their own constituents.
  So it is easy to imagine ways this critical role could go off the 
rails. You could wear out your welcome with some of your colleagues. 
You could become too focused on notching today's win at the expense of 
tomorrow's relationships and good feelings. You could let personal 
disagreements threaten the unity of your leadership team and your 
conference, but as those who know him well can attest, these aren't 
worries that keep John up at night. That is because he is the 
quintessential team player, not focused on personal gain, dedicated to 
the causes that matter to Texas and his Members, and willing to roll up 
his sleeves and do the hefty lifting himself to advance those goals.

  You know, they say everything is bigger in Texas, and sure enough, 
``Big John'' has been known to ride across the screen in campaign spots 
from time to time, but somewhere along the way, John's ego didn't get 
the message. John doesn't twist arms or get angry. He doesn't playact 
at being the bad cop. Instead, he listens. He learns. He pours his time 
and energy into learning all about his colleagues, their concerns, 
their State's priorities.
  People outside the Senate might think someone in John's position 
would need to act like a bully. The term ``whip'' certainly sends that 
message, but John knows that scare tactics don't do many favors in the 
long run. The winning strategy on Team Cornyn has been less like the 
Mafia and more like savvy and heartfelt customer service, and they sure 
have a lot to show for it. The more I have been reflecting on why John 
has had so much success, I have kept coming back to the fact that this 
man was a judge--a Texas Supreme Court justice, to be exact. In a 
courtroom, the judge has the power, but their job isn't to wheedle or 
persuade. It is to listen fairly to all parties, all theories, and all 
ideas. Give everyone a hearing, take it all in, and then chart the best 
course possible.
  How lucky we have all been to have somebody like that whipping votes 
for the last 6 years.
  It is a privilege to see John at work. It has been an honor to work 
in the trenches with him day after day these past 6 years. To be more 
accurate, it has been a pleasure to stand shoulder to shoulder with him 
here in the well.
  We have had our fair share of quality time. At the end of any 
Congress, you would expect the majority leader and whip might have a 
small handful of close shaves and dramatic moments to reflect on, but 
John has helped steer the ship with the slimmest possible majorities. 
Week after week, 51 to 49, then 50 to 49, in many cases.
  We have seen this play out in the confirmation of a historic number 
of well-qualified nominees to the Federal judiciary and in the passage 
of major legislation of delicate moving parts, from comprehensive tax 
reform to a landmark opioids package.
  The truth is, even a comprehensive catalog of all the big floor votes 
would only capture a fraction of John's excellent work. More key 
nominees and important pieces of legislation have traveled quietly 
through the Senate because John has been there, diligent and patient 
and respectful, working through challenges and addressing concerns, 
literally, around the clock.
  As if this wasn't enough to fill John's plate, let's remember, while 
serving as whip, he has also been a vital member of the Intelligence 
Committee, Judiciary Committee, and the Finance Committee, and he has 
been an outstanding senior Senator for Texas all at the same time.
  In fact, in each of the past two Congresses, no Senator has been the 
lead sponsor of more bills that have become law than John Cornyn. He 
led on Fix NICS. He led the fight against human trafficking--all in a 
couple of years' work.
  Of course, he doesn't do it alone. John has assembled a whip staff 
that are as much a testament to his eye for talent as they are a 
tremendous asset for the entire conference. At the helm of the 
operation as chief of staff in his whip office, Monica Popp.
  In so many ways, John and Monica seem to be cut from the same cloth. 
Like her boss, Monica has a sixth sense when it comes to reading a room 
and getting people what they need. She relishes the chance to tackle 
tough problems. As far as she is concerned, a troublesome situation is 
really just an opportunity. Just like John, Monica is an attentive 
listener. This has made her an encyclopedic authority on what makes 
each Member of the conference tick. When Monica makes a recommendation, 
you know it is based on the best possible information, and on so many 
occasions, I have relied directly on her sharp counsel out here on the 
floor.
  I am not sure I have ever worked with someone who had such a warm 
heart and ice in her veins at the very same time. She operates with 
calm and confidence precisely because she has built so many genuine and 
solid friendships that she knows just where things stand.
  Outside observers get Congress wrong when they say, ``It's all about 
the math.'' It is really all about the relationships. Ironically 
enough, this former math teacher turned all-star Hill staffer is just 
about the ultimate living proof of that.
  We may not be losing Senator Cornyn this month, but I am sorry to say 
we are saying goodbye to Monica. I will miss her, and I know the entire 
conference will miss her.
  It is all about relationships with John too. Even as he was 
constantly tasked with walking a tightrope through a pressure cooker, 
he has also managed to be one of the kindest, most down-to-earth human 
beings around. In no place is this more evident than the way he treats 
the unelected members of this Senate family. He gets to know everyone. 
He wants to earn your trust. He wants to know how you are doing.
  After all, before he was the Senate's majority whip or a justice on 
the Texas Supreme Court or the State's attorney general, he was a 
husband and father. I know his wife, Sandy, and their family are hoping 
the end of John's service as whip will bring at least a nominal 
relaxing of his schedule. I doubt that, by the way.
  Ordinarily, I might guess that John might be able to spend more time 
on his hobbies, but somehow--as his prolific Twitter and Instagram 
pages regularly notify the whole world--he has kept right at them all 
along.
  For all the different hats John wears in the Senate, he has managed 
to hang on to his chef's cap too--marching through the ``Rasika'' 
cookbook and whipping up feasts for the family. The dove hunts 
certainly haven't gone anywhere either.
  So, really, whatever his title happens to say, what I am looking 
forward to from John is more of the same--more invaluable guidance, 
more exemplary legislating. I know the press corps is certainly hoping 
for more of his informative one-liners.
  Like I said, I am so happy we aren't saying goodbye to John today. 
What I am saying--with complete personal sincerity, and also for the 
entire conference--is thank you. Thank you for your friendship, 
partnership, and thank you for making all of us look better than any of 
us deserve. Thank you for helping the Senate deliver for the country. 
Thank you for always having all of our backs.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at the 
conclusion of the remarks by the ranking member, that I be recognized.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

[[Page S7826]]

  

                          ____________________