[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 212 (Tuesday, December 15, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7482-S7483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Tribute to Lamar Alexander

  Mr. President, next, Senator Alexander. Senator Alexander has served 
the people of Tennessee for more combined years as Senator and Governor 
than anyone else from their State. With both Senator Roberts and 
Senator Alexander, we literally will be missing people who bring to 
this place the strong sense of commitment and long service to our 
government.
  Senator Alexander has served our country as he worked to find 
consensus on the issues that matter most--like education, healthcare, 
mental health and addiction. I saw him work day by day with Senator 
Patty Murray, and they were able to pass so many bills to show this 
Chamber that, in fact, you can get little things done--yes--but you can 
also get big things done, including the changes that they made that 
were long needed to No Child Left Behind, including the changes in the 
work that they have done when it comes to healthcare.
  As he gave advice to his successor, incoming Senator Bill Hagerty, 
Lamar said, ``It's hard to get here, in the United States Senate. It's 
hard to stay here. And while you're here you might as well try to 
accomplish something good for the country.''
  Like his many quips--and I have read his book, his red plaid book of 
advice--and the many things he has shared with me for advice, including 
running for President, which may not have worked for either of us, but 
you could tell the love that he brought to the people of this country 
and the people of his State and how he talked about them and how he 
approached his work.
  As a former Secretary of Education under President George H.W. Bush, 
president of the University of Tennessee, and as chairman of the 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Senator Alexander, we 
know, has worked tirelessly to ensure every child can succeed.
  In addition to the work I just mentioned that he did with the Every 
Student Succeeds Act and the work he did on the Carl D. Perkins Career 
and Technical Education Act, he has also

[[Page S7483]]

led legislation to help people in their youngest years as well as their 
senior years. I appreciated especially the work that he did on 
Alzheimer's and making sure that we continue to invest in our science 
and education.
  One little fact you may not know in all the tributes that have come 
out about Senator Alexander--and I was here for his speech--is that 
every summer for 25 years, he and his wife and four children have gone 
to the Boundary Waters to canoe and fish. The Boundary Waters in 
Northern Minnesota is very close to where my dad grew up. In fact, it 
is the town that is the gateway to the Boundary Waters in Ely, MN, 
something that--way back when Senator Alexander was going there for the 
first few years--my dad was writing about for the newspaper in an 
effort to make sure we kept the Boundary Waters protected.
  I certainly hope that Senator Alexander continues to spend time there 
and enjoy our lands and help the work that he has done--which he has 
seen on the Great American Outdoors Act--and see it firsthand.
  We know that his red and black flannel shirt will be welcome in 
Minnesota. It is something we see everywhere in Northern Minnesota and 
throughout our State, and we hope to see him back soon