[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6985-S6986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Tribute to James M. Inhofe

  Madam President, now I turn to my friend the senior Senator from 
Oklahoma, Jim Inhofe, a man who I have had the privilege of working 
with on the Armed Services Committee these last 14 years.
  Senator Inhofe represented Oklahoma for 28 years in this body and 6 
years before that in the House of Representatives. In all of those 
years, he could always be counted on to attend every single Wednesday 
morning Prayer Breakfast and Thursday Bible study. One time, he had to 
attend by telephone because he was called away by a family crisis. But 
we could always count on him.
  He has been a close friend on both sides of the aisle to people like 
Barbara Boxer of California, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Bernie Sanders 
of Vermont, and Democratic Leader Harry Reid. Perhaps it was those 
friendships that explained his mountain of legislative success, with 
bipartisan achievements that include three highway bills, four Water 
Resources and Development Acts, seven National Defense Authorization 
Acts, including the current bill pending before this body--a bill which 
literally bears his name.
  But that success also came from his breadth-of-life experience. He 
understood how to create jobs because, he himself, had done that as a 
businessman for 30 years, working in aviation, real estate, and 
insurance. He understood the challenges of local government because he 
had been the mayor of Tulsa and a State legislator. As a leader on the 
Armed Services Committee, he could speak for our men and women in 
uniform because he had been one of them, having served in the Army.
  As a personal friend of Ronald Reagan, he never wavered in advocating 
for peace through strength. Oklahoma's five military bases are 
unquestionably better off today because of their staunch advocate, 
Senator Jim Inhofe.
  Thanks to his leadership, veterans have better facilities, our Air 
Force is better equipped, and the military now has AFRICOM as a 
distinct mission on the African continent. It bears saying that Senator 
Inhofe has a longstanding affection for Africa and the people of 
Africa. There is no one in Congress--or in the State Department, for 
that matter--who can surpass his personal knowledge of African leaders.
  On a typical congressional delegation trip, he would hit an average 
of 12 countries in 10 days, covering 18,000 miles and meeting with 
civilian and military leaders at every stop, always looking for an 
opportunity to pray with them, always visiting American troops.
  He has been to Africa more times than any Member of Congress since 
America's founding--172 visits on the African continent.
  When he isn't making law or traveling the globe or watching his 
grandsons' athletic events, there is a good chance he is in the air 
somewhere flying a Cessna because Senator Inhofe is also Pilot Inhofe, 
with nearly 12,000 hours of flight time, including a solo flight around 
the world.
  He will also be remembered for that 1991 trip in which he flew the 
flight path of Wiley Post, which went straight through Russian 
airspace. His Russian escort pilot even remarked on his outstanding 
piloting skills.
  As Jim Inhofe departs this Chamber, he leaves behind a wealth of 
friends and an army of former staff whose talent and loyalty are a 
testament to the man himself.
  I know he will look forward to spending more time with his wife of 63 
years, Kay, and his 20 grandchildren and--his 20 children and 
grandchildren.
  Both of these gentlemen, both of these friends, Jim Inhofe and 
Richard Shelby, will go down as titans of the Senate. Their enormous 
contributions to the good of our Nation will not soon be forgotten, and 
we will miss their company.
  I wish them both farewell and Godspeed.
  And now I yield to my friend, the Senator from Maine, Ms. Collins, 
for her remarks about these two outstanding friends.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Ossoff). The Senator from Maine.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, what a pleasure it is to join Senator 
Wicker in paying tribute to our dear friends and outstanding 
colleagues, Senators Jim Inhofe and Richard Shelby.
  We could talk about their accomplishments on the floor for many, many 
hours, but in the interest of time, we are going to focus--as has my 
colleague from Mississippi--on their truly outstanding contributions to 
our national security.
  Their unwavering commitment to the security of our Nation and the 
well-being of our servicemembers has been truly remarkable.

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