[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E189-E190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF SEN. MITCH McCONNELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 7, 2023

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my 
Kentucky colleague in the Senate Chamber, Republican Leader Mitch 
McConnell who recently became the longest-serving party leader in 
American history. On January 3, 2023, Senator McConnell surpassed the 
record held by

[[Page E190]]

Democratic Sen. Mike Mansfield of Montana. Since 2006, Senator 
McConnell has won the respect and trust of his colleagues who have 
rightly given him their vote of confidence nine consecutive times to 
lead the Republican conference.
  Senator McConnell started breaking records early in his career. When 
he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984, it was the first time 
that a Republican had won a statewide race in sixteen years. In fact, 
his election gave Republicans a newfound confidence Kentucky politics, 
and he remains the longest-serving senator in Kentucky history. His 
historic service is marked by courageous legislation, a stronger 
national defense, and a transformation of the federal judiciary. During 
his service as Majority Leader, he led Senate confirmation of three 
justices and 30 percent of circuit court judges nationwide.
  Senator McConnell and I share a mutual mentor from southern Kentucky, 
the late Senator John Sherman Cooper. Senator McConnell's success in 
public service reflects the many values that Senator Cooper shared with 
us, including unwavering perseverance, wisdom in negotiations, 
visionary leadership, and astutely serving as a ``consummate bridge 
builder,'' as Senator McConnell once described our mentor.
  Together, we have partnered on countless projects for the benefit of 
our fellow Kentuckians, and I count it a great honor to call Senator 
McConnell a close friend and valiant ally in public service. I applaud 
Senator McConnell on achieving this significant milestone in American 
history and I wish him continued success on behalf of the Commonwealth 
of Kentucky.

                          ____________________