[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 207 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S7264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Tribute to Cory Gardner

  Madam President, I would like to take one moment of personal 
privilege.
  About an hour ago, while sitting in this chair behind me, I had the 
opportunity to listen to a friend speak on the Senate floor for the 
last time, my friend Cory Gardner.
  Cory Gardner and I came to the House of Representatives together in 
2011. We became fast friends for his winning smile and his tenacious 
work ethic. He is a solid guy for whom I have great respect. We came to 
the Senate together at the same time as well. We served 4 years in the 
House together and now have served 6 years in the Senate together. He 
just lost his election in November, and he will be heading back to 
Colorado. I will miss my friend.
  Cory and I had a lot of great conversations about a lot of 
legislation. We had a lot of conversations about our families. During 
the times that we would occasionally sit side by side in Bible studies 
here, we had lots of time to talk. I will not forget one key moment, 
though. It was our first day in the U.S. Senate, in this Chamber, when 
one of the staff approached us and said: The two of you have the same 
number of years in the House of Representatives, and you are both 
coming in from the same class to the Senate, which means you are tied 
for seniority in the Senate, and your seniority has to be resolved by a 
coin toss.
  So Cory and I stood there, side by side, while we flipped a coin. I 
won, and I rubbed it in to him for 6 years that I had seniority over 
him in the U.S. Senate.
  As I sat and listened to him speak for the last time today and talk 
about patriotism and his incredible love for his State and his country, 
all I could think of was, this is the guy I have seniority over, my 
friend, whom I will miss here.
  Cory, thank you for being a great servant of the people of Colorado 
and a fantastic workaholic, happy warrior Senator.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut