[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 178 (Monday, October 30, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5225-S5226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  Speaker of the House   Mike Johnson

  Mr. CASSIDY. Madam President, only in the United States of America 
can the son of a Shreveport firefighter, the first college graduate in 
his family--only in our country can a person like this win a seat in 
Congress and just a few years later be elected the 56th Speaker of the 
House.
  Speaker   Mike Johnson made history for our country and my home State 
by becoming the first Speaker of the House of Representatives ever from 
Louisiana. If you are from Louisiana--more particularly from 
Shreveport, Bossier, or Northwest Louisiana--or, by the way, if you 
graduated from Captain Shreve, you know   Mike Johnson. He is the pride 
of them all. He is a straight shooter, a family man, a diligent man.
  Jim McCrery was the Congressman who held that same seat at a time in 
the past. When I was first elected, he gave me this advice: Keep your 
word, show up, and do your homework.
  I am sure he gave that same advice to   Mike Johnson or, if not, Mike 
just was naturally that way, because it describes him to a tee. It is 
the reason why he is able to unify House Republicans, winning every 
Republican vote for Speaker for the first time since 2011.
  He has the ability to bridge divides that a lot of very capable 
people were not able to do. Mike brought together people who disagreed 
and kept them talking until they found a way forward. That is what 
leaders do. He is strong in his convictions, but he is not someone 
looking to steamroll others. He is a unifier and has a talent for 
working with folks to find common ground.
  We have all seen the push and pull between those who wish to govern 
and, frankly, those who are not very interested in governing. Mike 
wishes to govern. He wants to govern with conservative principles to 
get things done for the country and, hopefully, for my State as well. 
He has the temperament, intelligence, and integrity to do that as 
Speaker.
  I look forward to working with him to address issues like investing 
in American energy, securing our southern border, addressing the 
insurance crisis in Louisiana and nationwide, and finally doing 
something about the long-term debt being driven, among other things, by 
a Social Security Program going insolvent. With a conservative Speaker 
working to secure conservative wins, the country will do well.
  We both share a strong sense of duty, a deep faith, and a love for 
God. You

[[Page S5226]]

could see his faith shine through in his speech when he won the vote. 
Of course, we share a deep love for our home State, Louisiana. Having a 
Speaker from Louisiana will help bring some good Louisiana values, 
perspective, priorities, and maybe even a little boiled crawfish to 
Washington, DC.
  Congratulations, Speaker Johnson, and to his wife Kelly and their 
four wonderful children.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Tennessee.