[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 168 (Thursday, November 14, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6570-S6572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Institutional Thanks
Mr. McCONNELL. Yesterday, Senate Republicans elected leaders to steer
our incoming majority through the 119th Congress. Senator Thune,
Senator Barrasso, Senator Cotton, Senator Capito, Senator Lankford, and
Senator Tim Scott have earned the trust and support of their
colleagues.
I would like to congratulate each of them and reiterate that the
entire Republican conference stands united and ready to tackle the
important work of the country.
As I have said before, I am very much looking forward to taking on
this next chapter from a different seat here on the floor. But before
the year is out, I would like to continue thanking the many individuals
and teams who have served this institution so well during my time as
Republican leader.
I have had the privilege of working with consummate experts and
relying on the professionalism of so many unsung heroes.
Take the Office of the Sergeant at Arms. Under the leadership of a
distinguished career Army officer, Karen Gibson, and with the deep
bicameral experience of senior staff like Jennifer Hemingway, the SAA
shoulders enormous responsibilities--from the day-to-day security
procedures to telecommunications infrastructure.
I am particularly grateful to the staffs of the Protocol Office,
whose work helps us navigate the most solemn and visible occasions; the
Chief Information Office, telecom, and the Help Desk, who keep
essential communications and technology across the Senate running
smoothly; Capitol facilities, including Gary ``Tiny'' Richardson, who
clean and maintain this magnificent building and the campus around it
with unfailing care; the Employee Assistance Program, who help
dedicated public servants around the Senate access important resources;
the doorkeepers and Press Gallery, who carefully control access to this
Chamber and make constituents feel welcome here in the Gallery; the
Appointment Desk, who greet and direct a steady stream of distinguished
individuals--in particular Patty Reilly, who has made a habit of
sharing a daily word of motivation with my chief of staff; the Senate
Recording Studio and Photo Studio, who capture the Senate for
posterity; the Office of Printing, Graphics, and Direct Mail and State
office operations, who put Senate business within reach for the
American people; and the Office of Security, Emergency Preparedness,
and Continuity, whose careful attention, training, and planning ensure
that the Senate is able to discharge its constitutional duties even
under the most trying circumstances.
So to everyone whose work under the Sergeant at Arms keeps the Senate
safe and operating smoothly, thank you very much.
Now, every day, my team also relies on the work of several more teams
working under the leadership of the Secretary of the Senate, Ann Berry,
and her professional staff, like Sydney Butler. Stretching from here on
the floor to outposts across the Senate campus, the Secretary's Office
is involved in a dizzying array of critical operations.
I would like to thank the staffs of the Senate Library, who collect
and maintain a rich archive of institutional knowledge and help
Senators and staff tap into it; the Senate Historical Office, the
Office of the Senate Curator, and the Office of Conservation and
Preservation--including the frame shop--who dedicate deep expertise to
understanding the Senate's history and maintaining its home here in the
Capitol for posterity; the Office of Senate Security, who maintain our
ability to conduct oversight and address highly sensitive matters of
national security here in the Capitol; the Office of Interparliamentary
Services--particularly Sally Walsh--who support Senate delegations and
conferences overall; the Office of Printing and Document Services, the
Daily Digest, and the Office of the Official Reporters of Debate, who
carefully transcribe, format, and preserve Senate proceedings, and the
Office of Captioning Services who make them accessible to all
Americans; the Stationery Room and the Senate Gift Shop, who keep every
office supply closet well-stocked and offer mementos for every
occasion; the Disbursing Office, who diligently process all Senate
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compensation and patiently answer all manner of staff questions; the
faculty and staff of the Page School, under the leadership of Principal
Joshua Dorsey, who make the page program such an enriching experience
for bright, aspiring public servants throughout the year; and, of
course, the Secretary's most visible teams here on the Senate floor,
from our formidable Parliamentarian Elizabeth McDonough, and her
capable team: Leigh Hildebrand, Christy Amatos, and Josh Moscow; our
Bill Clerk Lindsey Gibmeyer and her team: Ryan Lefferts, Mark Amato,
and Emily Harris; Enrolling Clerk Cassie Byrd, along with Allys Lasky;
Executive Clerk Rachel Creviston, along with Alaina Skalski and Chris
Ferrari; Journal Clerk Megan Pickel, along with Adam Gottlieb and
Skyler Mansell; and our dulcet-toned Legislative Clerks John Merlino
and Mary Anne Clarkson.
So to all of you who devote yourselves to the important work of the
Secretary's Office, thank you so much.
There are, of course, still many more proud members of the Senate
family who deserve our thanks, including the youngest members of the
institution.
Mr. President, if I may speak directly to our impressive class of
pages here on the floor, it is not easy throwing a full-time job on top
of full-time schoolwork, and we are so grateful for your interest in
public service and for all you do to keep this place humming. We are
glad you are here, and we will be proud to watch as you step into
careers of leadership and service.
I also want to thank Chaplain Black--Barry Black--and his staff,
including Suzanne Chapuis, an honorary member of the McTeam, who tend
with grace and care to the spiritual needs of a flock who so often
carry heavy weights, as well as the staffs of the Architect of the
Capitol, who manage the many moving pieces of an ancient building and
its many occupants; the Rules Committee, who oversee the protocol that
keeps the Senate a safe and smoothly functioning environment for
conducting the American people's business; the Congressional Budget
Office and the Congressional Research Service, whose work informs many
of the most consequential votes we have; the Office of Legislative
Counsel, who work often in demanding circumstances, under tight
deadlines, to put the will of the Senate and the Nation on paper; the
Office of Senate Legal Counsel and the Chief Counsel for Employment,
whose sober assessments and reliable representation are a tremendous
access to the Members and staff of the article I branch; the Office of
the Attending Physician, whose care helps the Senate meet mundane
ailments and grave public health challenges alike; the Food Service
Program, who feed thousands of daily meals, both delicious and
nutritious, and greet staff and visitors alike with a smile; and the
Training and Development Office, who help cultivate professional
excellence among Senate staff at all stages of their careers.
Now, I could go on thanking the outstanding members of the Senate
staff a good while longer, and in the coming weeks, I will, but for
today, I will close with the men and women who form the Senate's first
line of defense. The U.S. Capitol Police--and in particular the Senate
Division--make all of the other work we do possible. They ensure that
the Senators and their staff can work in safety, that members of the
public can visit in safety, and that this institution carries on in the
face of very real threats to its security.
As I look back on my time in party leadership, I am particularly
grateful for the devoted service of the members of the Dignitary
Protection Division, who safeguard the continuity of our government by
surrounding me and other senior leaders with around-the-clock security.
Sometimes, it has meant spending long hours on the road. Other times,
it has meant making split-second decisions to avert danger. In every
case, I have been so fortunate to have these professionals on duty.
So to members of my detail past and present, to members of the Senate
Division here in the Chamber and across the campus, and to the entire
force of the Capitol Police, my staff and I are deeply grateful for
your service and your sacrifice.
So, as I said, the work of thanking the outstanding staff that have
made my job easier over the years continues. I will look forward to
paying tribute to more of them very soon.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Mr. WARNER. I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Lujan). The Republican whip.
2024 Election Results
Mr. THUNE. Last Tuesday, the American people spoke, and they spoke
decisively. They made it clear that they have had enough of the failed
Biden-Harris-Schumer agenda, and they chose Donald Trump and Vice
President-elect Vance to lead our country, along with Republican
majorities in the House and Senate.
I congratulate President Trump and Vice President-elect Vance on
their tremendous victory.
It is difficult to overstate what President Trump did in this
election. Republicans improved our margins in three out of every four
counties in the United States and grew support with nearly every
demographic group. President Trump won more Hispanic support than any
Republican President ever before, and younger voters played a crucial
role in his victory.
The Republican coalition is broad and strong and growing.
The American people handed President Trump and Senate Republicans a
decisive victory, and now the real works begins: delivering on our
agenda. That starts with ending the Biden-Harris border crisis and
deporting illegal immigrants.
Also at the top of the list is strengthening our economic and fiscal
future. The last 4 years of Democrat inflation have been very difficult
for working Americans, and so Republicans will be focused on doing
everything we can to expand economic opportunity and to increase
growth. That starts with taking action via reconciliation to preserve
the tax relief Republicans delivered for Americans during the first
Trump administration. It is also time to check the bureaucratic machine
here in Washington, DC.
A key element of making America prosperous again is taking a hatchet
to the regulatory apparatus choking our economy, starting with the
1,000 Biden-Harris regulations that have already cost Americans nearly
$2 trillion. And of course a major focus of both the Trump
administration and the Republican Congress will be restoring American
strength to promote peace at home and abroad. That includes restoring
American energy dominance for the sake of both economic growth and our
national security.
Yesterday, my colleagues chose me to lead Republicans here in the
Senate during the 119th Congress. I am honored by the trust they have
placed in me, and I will work every day here in the Senate to serve my
colleagues and to advance President Trump's agenda.
My philosophy of leadership is inspired by my dad. Some of you know
that I played basketball growing up. I remember one game particularly.
I had 36 points and 12 rebounds. At one point in the game, there was a
time when it came down to fast break, and I pulled up and made a shot
off the glass. After the game, my dad pointed that out, and he said,
``You know, Chris was open, wide open, under the basket, and you should
have given him the ball.''
That was my dad. He hated ball hogs. He wanted me and my siblings to
be team players. He always believed that if there was somebody else who
had a better shot than you did, that you got him the ball. That is my
goal as leader: to pass the ball to the best-positioned player, to
empower everybody on the team.
We have a lot of brilliant people in the Republican conference,
brimming with ideas and knowledge, and it will be my job to make sure
that they have the chance to use those ideas and that knowledge to
strengthen our country and make life better for the American people.
That is what I focused on as chairman of Senate Commerce Committee, it
is what I have focused on as whip, and it is what I plan to do as
leader.
The leader's office will be a resource, not a roadblock, for Members
seeking to achieve their legislative goals. That
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starts with empowering committees, which will in turn ensure that
individual Members at all levels of seniority have a real voice in the
legislation we consider.
As whip, I have consistently advocated for our Members' amendments,
resulting in over 100 amendment votes this Congress. In the majority,
we can do better, and I will continue my commitment to amendments as
leader.
The committee process is key to developing strong legislation, but
all Members of the Senate--and not just the Members of a particular
committee--should have a voice in final legislation through amendments
on the floor. Members should assume that amendment votes will be the
norm. That will mean taking tough votes at times, but that is part of
our jobs.
Members should also expect a return to regular order in the Senate
next year. I will devote serious time in the summer to floor
consideration of appropriations bills so that we don't constantly wind
up with an end-of-the-year pileup and problematic continuing
resolutions.
Needless to say, the floor priority at the start of the year will be
confirming President Trump's nominees, and Members should expect an
aggressive schedule until those nominees are confirmed.
I know communication has been a concern for Members of our
conference. As whip, I have tried to be very accessible, whether that
is by phone or in person, and that is something I intend to continue as
majority leader. That includes regular, substantive updates for Members
and staff. Neither Members nor staff should be left without
information, wondering what is coming next.
I plan to have regular meetings with Speaker Johnson and with the
White House to ensure smooth coordination and a strong working
relationship between the House, the Senate, and the administration as
we work together to implement President Trump's agenda.
I will have more to say on all of this down the road, but for now, I
want to once again thank my colleagues for the trust they have placed
in me. I will work every day to honor that trust and to serve our
Members and the American people.
I want to also express my gratitude to Leader McConnell for his
tireless service to the Republican Party and to the Senate. I am glad
that, while he may be stepping down as leader, he will still be serving
here in the Senate.
I want to again congratulate President Trump and Vice President-elect
Vance. They ran a tremendous race, and it will be my honor to work with
them to advance our Republican agenda.
I want to say a special word of congratulations to Vice President-
elect Vance, who has been our colleague here in the Senate for the past
couple of years. He made an impact right out of the gate and has been a
stalwart advocate for his constituents. Now he will be a stalwart
advocate for the American people. I look forward to continuing to work
with him in his new role as Vice President.
A big thing that drew me into politics was Ronald Reagan. His
philosophy of limited government and peace through strength resonated
with me. But I was also drawn by his sense of humor, his optimism, and
his belief in America. I suspect that a lot of people who voted for
President Trump in this election were attracted in part by the fact
that President Trump conveys a lot of that optimism and faith in our
country.
It has been a tough 4 years for the American people, but, like
President Trump and Ronald Reagan, I believe that America's best days
lie ahead. I look forward to working with my Republican colleagues here
in the U.S. Senate and with President Trump and Vice President Vance to
build a strong and prosperous America and a bright new dawn for the
American people.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Carolina.