[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 202 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S8014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO HEIDI HEITKAMP

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, Heidi Heitkamp and I share much in 
common. Although we sit on different sides of the aisle, we represent 
resource States, we represent significant populations of Native 
Americans, and we are each fiercely independent women who have tended 
to vote our conscience over party on the toughest issues of our time. 
We are also the best of friends off the court. So it will come as no 
surprise to those who know us that I am heartbroken that my friend will 
not be returning to serve alongside me in the next Congress.
  Our collaborations over the past 6 years have been very productive. 
We partnered on creating the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff 
Commission on Native Children, a body named for respected Elders from 
each of our States. The commission has been stood up and is now 
operating. I am hopeful that the commission will conclude its work with 
recommendations that we can adopt into law. The adoption of those 
recommendations will be a fitting legacy for my friend, the Senator 
from North Dakota.
  Senator Heitkamp and I have also collaborated on Savanna's Act, which 
is the first piece of legislation to specifically address the epidemic 
of missing and murdered Native women and girls in America. This cause 
is so very important to my friend, as it is to me, but I would like to 
share a story about my friend that is so telling about her commitment 
and her character.
  On the Wednesday, following our return from the election day and 
Veterans Day recess, I had a news conference scheduled with the Urban 
Indian Health Institute. That news conference was called to discuss the 
results of a new report on the epidemic of missing and murdered Native 
women and girls in urban American cities. It was important to me that 
my friend be present at that news conference because it was about an 
issue that she championed during her time in the Senate, and it would 
have been excusable if my friend had bowed out, having just fought and 
lost a difficult reelection bid.
  But my friend didn't bow out. She stepped up, and she pledged to the 
advocates present that, even though she will no longer be a Senator 
come January, she would be moving over to their side come January. She 
pledged to remain an advocate for this cause that is most important to 
her. She will continue to do great and good things. Her work is not 
done.
  To Heidi, you have done good in the U.S. Senate. We thank you.

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