[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 113 (Tuesday, July 9, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Remembering James M. Inhofe

  Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I rise this morning to discuss national 
defense and, in particular, the importance of the NATO alliance as 
quite a number of our friends from NATO have arrived in Washington to 
celebrate the 75th annual meeting of this important defense 
organization.
  I can hardly talk about national defense and NATO and the importance 
of keeping our defenses strong without calling attention to the sad 
fact that our former colleague, Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, passed 
away today. I am told that Senators Lankford and Mullin will seek 
recognition at a later time to speak extensively about this remarkable 
statesman who has passed from among us, and Members will be notified of 
when that might be should they want to join in.
  But at this point, at this pivotal moment when I wish to talk about 
national defense, let me just say a word or two about my friend and 
colleague of some 30 years, Jim Inhofe.
  As a young man, as a young family man, Jim Inhofe quickly learned how 
to build a business and create jobs, and he did so successfully. Only a 
few years later, as a municipal leader, he found out how to build 
consensus and he took that knowledge with him to Capitol Hill as a 
Member of the House of Representatives and then as our colleague here 
in the U.S. Senate.
  Jim Inhofe demonstrated that he continued to know how to build 
consensus and get things done for his fellow Oklahomans as well as for 
his fellow Americans.
  Anyone who knew Jim Inhofe knew that he was a dedicated Christian. 
Jim Inhofe was a man of great faith with, in particular, a heart for 
Sub-Saharan Africa. He visited there countless times, encouraged 
numerous--probably hundreds--of his fellow Senators and representatives 
to accompany him to visit some of the most challenged countries in Sub-
Saharan Africa. He hosted countless Prayer Breakfasts there. He got to 
know the leaders in those countries and their families by name. He was 
a remarkable Christian friend to those in Africa.
  Jim Inhofe was an accomplished pilot. He flew solo around the world 
at age 56. As a Member of Congress, he was known as a straight shooter 
who was not afraid to challenge the conventional wisdom, as he did so 
on numerous occasions.
  Jim and his wife Kay were married for 64 years. Together, they had 
four children and 12 grandchildren, one of whom they found and adopted 
and rescued during a trip to Africa.
  I would mention that Kay Inhofe has been a special friend and adviser 
to my wife Gayle for these decades.
  Again, I am informed that Senators Mullin and Lankford will lead 
fuller discussion of this remarkable statesman who has passed from 
among us. But today, as I talk about national defense and NATO, I send 
my love, and we in the Senate send our love and condolences to the 
entire family and to the State that he loved, Oklahoma.