[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S17]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO BEN SASSE

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, as we all heard, in just a few days, our 
colleague and my neighbor from Nebraska, Senator Ben Sasse, is retiring 
from Congress to become president of the University of Florida. I have 
to say that his leaving is a loss for the Senate, not least because the 
average educational attainment here will drop precipitously when he 
leaves. Ben has four--four--graduate degrees, three master's degrees, 
and a doctorate.
  I have to say thank you to all of his many staff, who are represented 
both here and in the Galleries, and to his family--to Melissa and 
Corrie and Alex and Breck--for the sacrifices that you all have made so 
that he could serve here and be such an inspiration, I think, to so 
many of us who have had the opportunity to serve with him and to see 
not only his great intellect but his passion and his ability to get 
things done for the people of Nebraska and for the people of our 
country.
  I will say that, when I hire people, I typically hire people on my 
staff--or at least I try to--who are smarter than I am. In my case, 
that is not hard. In his case, that is probably a little more 
challenging.
  So your staff has got to be the Mensa caucus around here.
  It is no surprise that he became the college president of Midland 
University at age 37, making him one of the youngest college presidents 
in the Nation.
  But, seriously, the Senate will be a poorer place without Ben Sasse. 
He is incredibly smart, as I said. He combines that with being 
incredibly principled. He lives by his principles. He is always willing 
to do the hard things--the right things--even when they aren't popular.
  During his time in the Senate, he has been notable for speaking out 
against oppressive authoritarian regimes; for standing up for the right 
to life of the most vulnerable and innocent Americans--unborn babies; 
for his interest in the future of work; for his commitment to building 
up our American community; and so much more. He is a big-picture 
thinker who oftentimes gets up at the early hours of the morning--at 
4:30 in the morning--and just starts brainstorming on a big piece of 
paper. It is a quality that will serve him well as a university 
president, and I can think of few individuals more suited to leading a 
     university.
  Florida is lucky to have him, and I know how deeply committed he will 
be to the university, although I have to warn them that if the 
Cornhuskers ever approach Ben about the position of offensive 
coordinator, he may be out of there quickly--but, no, I don't think 
that will happen.
  It has been a pleasure to serve with Senator Sasse. In addition to 
being a tremendously smart and thoughtful guy, he is a very witty guy 
who always makes me laugh and, I think, many of his colleagues here 
laugh as well. He and I have a lot in common, being from neighboring 
States. I am going to miss him as a neighbor, as a leader, as a 
colleague, and as a friend. There is a lot to admire about Ben Sasse; 
but, ultimately, what I respect the most is that he is a man of strong 
faith. I know that wherever life takes him, his faith will continue to 
be his rock.
  Ben, congratulations on your appointment at the University of 
Florida, and I look forward to seeing all that your vision will 
accomplish at the university. I pray that God will richly bless you and 
Melissa and Corrie and Alex and Breck in the years ahead.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.

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