[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO PATRICK TAYLOR

  Mr. KENNEDY. Now, Mr. President, the other reason I am here, which is 
just as important, is for this man sitting right here. His name is 
Patrick Taylor. He is a fine American, and he and I work together.
  Much to my sorrow--well, it is sorrow, but it is also pride--Patrick 
is going to work for another Agency. And I mean that my feelings are 
mixed about it.
  Here is my strategy. I am not saying people who don't follow my 
strategy are doing it wrong. This is just the way I have always done 
it. I have been in government and politics for a while, and I have 
known some politicians that don't want to hire anybody smarter than 
them, OK, because they don't want anybody around them who will make 
them look bad. That is cool. To each his own. I don't do it that way, 
OK? I figure, if I hire people smarter than me, they will make me look 
better. That is what I have always tried to do, and I fully concede 
that Patrick is smarter than me.
  But one of the downsides of hiring people smarter than you is that 
they are ambitious, they learn all they can, and somebody comes in and 
hires them away. That happens, and it has happened to me a number of 
times. Every single time, even though I am disappointed, I also try to 
say to myself: You know, this is a compliment, and I am sad, but I am 
happy. And that is what has happened with Patrick.
  Patrick, as I told you, is really smart. He is a graduate of Colgate. 
I wrote it all down here. He has a master's from Hillsdale College. He 
studied at the Claremont Institute. He is on my communications team. 
This guy is a master at digital media. I mean, he can make posts and 
stuff on digital media. He can make that social media stuff walk, talk, 
and whistle ``The Battle Hymn of the Republic,'' man, and he gets 
people to watch, and it is awesome.
  Patrick is going to work for the U.S. International Development 
Finance Corporation. I asked him about it, and he said: It is top 
secret. If I told you, I would have to drown you in the ocean.
  He didn't really say that.
  It is a great job, and I am happy for him. He has been with me for 3 
years, and it has been a great 3 years.
  Patrick, Godspeed. Come back and see us. You are going to do great.
  I just wanted to come by and acknowledge his service to the good 
people of America and to the good people of Louisiana and thank him for 
all of his help. It has been a lot of fun.
  If you write a book, I reserve the right to edit it first, OK? You 
can't include everything in that book.
  Patrick, thank you, man.
  That is all I have, Mr. President. I can show my way out. My work 
here is done.
  So I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  Is that OK, Madam Parliamentarian?
  Thank you, ma'am.
  This is our Parliamentarian, Mr. President. She is pretty smart too.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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