[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 195 (Thursday, December 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S7209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Tribute to Richard C. Shelby

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, yesterday afternoon, Richard Shelby 
delivered his farewell address here in the U.S. Senate.
  It is difficult to think of the Senate without some of our retiring 
Members; it is nearly impossible to think of it without Richard Shelby.
  Like Jim Inhofe, he is a Senate institution. He has proudly served 
the State of Alabama for six terms in the Senate. That is 36 years of 
tireless work to make life better for the people of Alabama and for the 
American people as a whole.
  He is currently the longest serving Senator in Alabama's history, as 
well as the longest serving Member in the history of the Senate 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Throughout his Senate career, Richard has always kept his eye on 
getting things done for the people of Alabama, whether that is 
supporting Alabama military installations or the work NASA does in his 
State. He is a longtime NASA advocate, and as chairman and ranking 
member of the Subcommittee on Defense at the Senate Appropriations 
Committee, he has worked to ensure robust funding for our national 
security priorities.
  He has also been a champion of funding to support Ukraine in its 
fight for freedom.
  He has been a supporter of scientific research at various government 
Agencies, as well as in partnership with research universities.
  Richard is also notable for being one of the tallest United States 
Senators. And that is significant to me because, as a tall guy myself, 
I don't often run into people I can look up to, but I look up to 
Richard, both literally and figuratively.
  Richard's record of service and his dedication to people of his State 
are an inspiration to me and to many others as we carry out our work 
here in the U.S. Senate.
  And I will miss his presence and his example as well as his sense of 
humor, which has lightened the mood around here on many challenging 
days.
  But if anyone has earned his retirement, it is Richard Shelby. And I 
wish him and Annette, his wife of 62 years, some very well-deserved 
relaxation and the very best of everything in the years ahead.