[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7582-S7583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO PETE OLSON

  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, finally, I would say last, but certainly 
not least, is my friend, my former chief of staff, and proud 
Representative of Texas 22, Pete Olson. As the old saying goes, Pete 
wasn't born in Texas, but he got there as fast as he could.
  His family moved from Washington State to Texas when Pete was only 10 
years old. He grew up in Seabrook. He went to Rice for his 
undergraduate degree and UT for law school and hardly left the Lone 
Star State until he enlisted in the Navy.
  As a Navy pilot, he flew missions all over the world, and he was 
eventually brought to the U.S. Senate as a naval liaison.
  I had the good fortune of meeting Pete because he worked for Phil 
Gramm, my predecessor, and he had a stellar reputation, likely due to 
his Navy days of making the ships run on time.
  Pete served as my first chief of staff for several years and made it 
back home to Texas before making his own run for congressional office.
  His district is literally one of the most ethnically diverse in the 
State and one of the most diverse in the country. Pete has consistently 
prioritized connecting with folks of different backgrounds and cultures 
to learn about the challenges they are facing and to figure out how to 
lead positive changes in Congress.
  Pete has been a reliable helping hand during some of our toughest 
times. Following the Deepwater Horizon accident, Pete and I flew 
several hours into the Gulf of Mexico to a drilling rig rooted in 9,000 
feet of water to learn more about the rigors of working on offshore 
rigs.
  After Hurricane Harvey, Pete and I joined Team Rubicon's veteran 
volunteers to muck out some of the flooded homes in the Houston area. 
We fought alongside one another to secure the funding from Congress to 
recover and rebuild after Hurricane Harvey.
  It was common then to see Pete around Capitol Hill with a Houston 
Astros jersey over his dress shirt to draw attention--by any means, 
whatsoever--to the need for additional funding for the folks in his 
district and folks in that region.
  It is safe to say that Pete Olson's presence has been a constant 
throughout my time here in the Senate, and I will miss having him just 
across the dome.

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  Like the others I have mentioned, I know Pete is eager to spend more 
time at home in Sugar Land with his wife Nancy and his extended family, 
but I hope he knows how much we will miss him in Congress.
  If it isn't already obvious, the Texas delegation is losing some 
truly outstanding Members, and our new additions will have some big 
boots to fill. But I just want to tell you how much I appreciate the 
opportunity to express my gratitude to each of these six outstanding 
Congressmen for their friendship and service to our State and wish them 
and their families well as they take on new challenges ahead.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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