00:00:11.040 - 00:00:46.060

without objection. So ordered President. The George leader, um, the senator from Florida. Mr. Graham, may I inquire the chair? What is the time? The correct time. 12 46. 12 4 to 6. Well, right at this moment, the senator from Florida, Mr Graham, became the fourth senator to earn the Golden Gavel Award.

00:00:47.140 - 00:01:12.390

Right that precise moment, 12 46. He he had presided over the Senate for 100 hours in a session. And that's not an easy task because he has. He has so much other work he has to do at the same time. Has to keep. He has to take care of his correspondence.

00:01:12.390 - 00:01:33.050

He asked to. I'd like to see his desk right this moment. I'll bet there's a lot of there's a lot of mail on it, but he's doing his duty in this chair also. And so the hours are presiding. Mhm are beneficial to all of us that he has done.

00:01:33.940 - 00:02:20.760

But they're also beneficial to him and to his constituents, because any training and experience that he can get in knowing more about the rules and precedents of the Senate, knowing more about the legislation as it pass passes what the pros and cons are benefits him as a senator and more importantly, the people he represent as a senator because it only benefits him from their standpoint, makes him a more experience, more able, more seasoned senator.

00:02:22.040 - 00:02:56.490

So it's valuable time that he has given to all of us, and it's valuable time that he has to take away from himself during the day. Senator Graham has been particularly diligent in carrying out the duties of the presiding officer and the Scriptures say, See, as thou a man diligent in his business, he will stand before Kings.

00:02:58.840 - 00:03:29.150

Senator Graham is diligent in his work here. During the consideration of the continuing resolution, a chair is 3 95. Last Friday, Senator from Florida was in the chair for six hours. This was service above and beyond the usual requirements for presiding and was a major contribution to the successful conclusion of that measure during the early hours of Saturday morning.

00:03:31.340 - 00:04:06.150

In fact, if my recollection is correct, when the Senate adjourned at 3 18 AM on Saturday, December the 12th, it was Senator Graham who was on the chair. I congratulate the senator Florida Mr Graham, on his many contributions to the Senate during his first year as a member of this body, particularly thank him for his services presiding officer.

00:04:07.140 - 00:04:24.350

And as we begin the second session of the 100 Congress next year, I trust that we can call on the distinguished senator from Florida, Mr Graham, to continue to be a faithful and frequent argument of the chair. And he'll give us another 100 hours in the next session.

00:04:24.940 - 00:04:55.260

Are you from Mr Excuse me? If I could indulge in the chair to express my appreciation for those very kind remarks, uh, a commitment to continue to serve in what I have found to be not only a valuable but very personally rewarding aspect of Senate service and appreciate all the courtesies that the majority leader, uh, and the full Senate has, uh, made available to me, which has made this such a special year in my life.

00:04:55.840 - 00:05:14.190

It's when I hope that this will not be that, uh, first of all, I deeply appreciate the distinguished senators remarks. I hope this will not become a precedent. Presiding officers address the Senate from the chair, and this one instance I'll not raise any objection to appreciate your industries, President.

00:05:14.200 - 00:05:38.730

The senator from Vermont Are you to the senator from Florida? I thank my good friend. I know the seniority system. I thank my good friend from the center for you to me. I just wanted to associate myself with the remarks of our distinguished leader and say congratulations to the senator from Florida and the award of the Golden Gavel.

00:05:38.730 - 00:06:06.800

I think many people really do not understand what that award really means. It really does mean that, uh, senator has been willing to give so much of his time and of his effort to come carry on a task for the Senate, having had a chance to preside in the chair.

00:06:08.140 - 00:06:39.690

Yeah, in earlier times. And having been a recipient, I think I was a Silver Gavel award, as I recall it. And there used to be a maybe it was a golden, But I remember well, when you get that call, there are always a lot of other things that you have going and that you would like to do people that you need to see your constituents, meetings that you need to hold, and for someone to be able to amass this number of hours in this period of time.

00:06:39.690 - 00:07:03.960

I think it's very, very remarkable, and I think it shares it. It really proves that one and shows that one cares about this body. One of the things that we need here is senators who who do you love, uh, and are willing to give them themselves for the Senate, as opposed to all of us, are willing to give take from the Senate for ourselves.

00:07:04.540 - 00:07:25.470

But I think the senator from Florida has displayed that all through, and I know of no senator beginning his term that is held in more respect by his colleagues now and who I've had the great pleasure of watching grow, uh, in the Senate and continue to grow.

00:07:25.550 - 00:07:47.000

And this award is just one more sort of statement to that fact. But I congratulate Graham. I also congratulate the Senate because I think we have in Senator Graham, an outstanding senator who is going to distinguish himself and therefore bring credit on the Senate of many, many years to come.

00:07:47.010 - 00:08:09.660

And I'm been delighted to be associated with Thank you, Mr President, Senator from Vermont, President. I commend both two senators from Florida cannot think of any state as two members to bring more prestige of the Senate and reflect better on the on the Senate Christmas.