[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S6974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Tribute to James M. Inhofe

  Mr. President, shortly before Thanksgiving, one of great icons of the 
Senate, Senator Jim Inhofe, gave his farewell speech, and I want to 
take the time today to honor his service.
  As I said, Jim is one of the icons of the Senate, and it is difficult 
to imagine things here without him. Over his 28-year career, he has 
built an incredible legacy, particularly when it comes to building up 
our military and developing our relationships in Africa.
  One of the first trips I took when I got to the Senate was a trip 
with Jim to Iraq and Germany to meet with some of our troops and to 
talk to our military leadership. I would like to think I am a pretty 
energetic guy, but I was left in awe by Jim Inhofe. He was like the 
Energizer Bunny. He left people half his age in the dust.
  I don't know anybody who works harder than Jim. He leads by example, 
and his legislative achievements are a tribute to his tireless service.
  Everyone knows that Jim Inhofe is an accomplished legislator, but not 
everybody knows that Jim is also an accomplished pilot. He has over 
11,000 flight hours. I mentioned that he is like the Energizer Bunny, 
and he has flown an airplane around the world. I was lucky enough to 
have the opportunity to be his passenger once as we flew around 
Oklahoma, and it remains one of the best flights I have ever taken.
  While I deeply admire Jim's work ethic and his legislative 
achievements and his piloting prowess, I might add, the thing I 
appreciate the most about Jim Inhofe is that he is a man of deep and 
profound faith. I have been blessed to gather with him and other 
Senators for Bible study for a number of years now, and I don't think 
he has ever missed a session.
  When I think about Jim, I think about the verse in I Peter that says, 
``Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a 
defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that 
is in you.'' Jim Inhofe is always ready to give that defense.
  Jim isn't a man who pays lipservice to his faith; he models it and he 
lives it. In word and deed, he is a great ambassador for his Savior, 
and I will miss his presence and his witness.
  While I will miss Jim being in the Senate, I am glad he and his 
beloved wife Kay will now have more time to spend together with their 
children and their grandchildren, and I wish him the very best for 
retirement. He has more than earned some time off.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Delaware.
  Mr. CARPER. Before the Senator leaves, the Bible study that he has 
referenced is one that Jim and I and a handful of other Democrats and 
Republicans join in every Thursday when we are in session, with Barry 
Black, the Chaplain of the Senate, and it has been hosted literally in 
the hideaway of Jim Inhofe. So it is a home game for him, but it is a 
home game for Democrats and Republicans just to share some time 
together in prayer and faith and some of the challenges we face.
  Some people across the country watch the news all the time--you would 
think we hate each other here and we never want to work together, never 
want to get anything done. Thanks in no small part to Jim Inhofe's 
hospitality and participation and example, that is not the case.
  So I just want to add my comments as well.
  He is the two-time chairman of the Environment and Public Works 
Committee and a great partner with me in reducing emissions from buses 
and diesel engines and stuff like that. He is the lead Republican on 
the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. So I just want to say there are 
some good environmentalists in Oklahoma, and on all the issues we have 
dealt with, Jim Inhofe has been one of those.
  Mr. THUNE. Would the Senator from Delaware yield for just a minute?
  Mr. CARPER. Sure.
  Mr. THUNE. I just want to thank you for what you have said about 
Senator Inhofe and about our Bible study.
  I would say to all of our colleagues that of all the time we spend 
here each and every week, that particular hour is arguably the most 
impactful, and I always encourage other of our colleagues to join us. 
We have been meeting, as Senator Tom Carper mentioned, in Senator 
Inhofe's office now for many, many years and have been very blessed by 
his leadership not only here in the Senate but his witness with regard 
to his faith.
  Mr. CARPER. People ask me: What do you like most about being in the 
Senate? What do you like most about public service? I like helping 
people. When they ask me more specifically what gives me joy in the 
Senate, it is that Thursday, it is that half an hour we spend together 
just about every Thursday. I am always pleased to be there with our 
colleagues--sometimes even work out in the gym together.