[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 215 (Friday, December 18, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7704-S7705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LAMAR ALEXANDER

  Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
recognize and thank the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions Committee and Senator from Tennessee, Lamar Alexander. 
Senator Alexander has committed his life to public service for both the 
people of Tennessee and Nation. He served first as the Governor of 
Tennessee, then as the Secretary of Education under President George H. 
W. Bush from 1991 to 1993, and finally in the U.S. Senate since 2003. 
Senator Alexander has served more years as Governor and U.S. Senator 
than any other Tennessean who has occupied both positions. It has been 
an Honor to serve with Senator Alexander over the past 4 years.
  As chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, 
Senator Alexander dedicated the end of his Senate career to issues such 
as the opioid epidemic, supporting mental health providers, lowering 
prescription drug prices, and cultivating innovation in the medical 
field, just to name a few. During his tenure as chair Senator Alexander 
presided over more than 70 hearings and oversaw more than 45 bills that 
eventually became law.
  Senator Alexander has dedicated his career to faithfully representing 
the people of our great country, believing that ``the best decisions 
are made by those closest to the people.'' Thank you, again, to Senator 
Alexander. I wish him a long and peaceful retirement, playing piano and 
spending time with his wife, Honey, their children and grandchildren, 
and dog, Rufus.
  Ms. SMITH. Mr. President, I am honored to pay tribute to my 
colleague, Senator Lamar Alexander. When speaking about the Senate, 
Senator Alexander often says, ``It's hard to get here, it's hard to 
stay here, and while you're here, you might as well try to accomplish 
something good for the country.'' Over his 18 years in this 
institution, he has embodied those words and has served as a guiding 
force of principle and bipartisanship.
  Under his 6 years of leadership as chair, the Senate Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee reported 45 bills that became 
law. It is a shining example of his commitment to working together and 
finding resolution on issues that directly impact Americans' lives. As 
a member of the HELP Committee, I am thankful to have had the 
opportunity to work with Senator Alexander on some of these bills, such 
as the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 and the reauthorization of 
the Perkins Career and Technical Education law, among others. I am also 
thankful for Chair Alexander's, as well as Ranking Member Patty 
Murray's, support for my work to lower the cost of prescription drugs 
and improve access to mental health services.
  When I came to the Senate in 2018, Senator Alexander welcomed me as a 
colleague and friend, for which I will always be grateful. While I will 
miss his esteemed, bipartisan leadership, both on the HELP Committee 
and in the Senate, I am grateful for his service to our country and 
wish him and Honey the best in their next chapter.
  Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I would like to take this time to honor 
Senator Lamar Alexander. Over the past 30 years, Senator Alexander has 
served the people of Tennessee as U.S. Senator, Governor, and U.S. 
Secretary of Education under President George H.W. Bush. Over the past 
2 years, however, he has also been a great friend to a freshman Senator 
from Nevada who came from a different political party but shared his 
desire to get things done for the American people. Like so many in this 
Chamber, I will miss this dedicated public servant who sought to find 
common ground on the many pressing issues facing the Senate, including 
healthcare, education, and medical research.
  Senator Alexander has been a great mentor and colleague of mine in 
the Senate. I was grateful for how gracious he was when I first came to 
the Senate and for his willingness to engage me on the key issues 
facing Congress. As chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions Committee, of which I am proud to be a member, Senator 
Alexander worked tirelessly on important issues like increasing access 
to telehealth services, lowering health care costs, making it easier to 
apply for student financial aid, and advocating for our seniors. I 
particularly appreciated the work he did to support the fight against 
Alzheimer's disease and ensure we invest in robust funding for medical 
research.

[[Page S7705]]

  Especially this past year during these unprecedented times, the 
American people needed bipartisan work and leadership from its public 
officials in getting relief to struggling communities across the 
country. Senator Alexander's direction and leadership through debates 
and negotiations brought out the best in him this year, as it has in 
the past, evident both in how he treats people with dignity and respect 
and in his unwavering dedication to public service.
  Not only will we miss Senator Alexander's presence in this Chamber, 
but we will also miss his beautiful piano skills during the holiday 
season. I hope he will have the opportunity to come back to the Senate 
Hart Building and play for us again soon. I promise I will be there in 
the front row.
  Senator Alexander, I wish you the best in the next chapter of your 
life and hope you have a wonderful retirement after your long and 
impactful career.

                          ____________________