“I’ve had the good fortune of spending thirty-one years in Congress with Carl, one of the finest legislators and human beings I have ever known. Carl’s tireless advocacy for our nation’s working families and our men and women in uniform will be a model for legislators to follow for decades to come.

“Whether it was helping rescue our auto industry or defending consumers from abuses by credit card companies, Carl’s work has been exemplary. As chair of the Armed Services Committee through two major wars, Carl helped bring the war in Iraq to an end, and has ensured that our service members always had the support they needed to accomplish their missions. Whether it was fighting so our men and women would have proper equipment or fair pay, Carl has always been a staunch advocate for our armed services, while also ensuring that tax payer dollars were invested wisely.

“I look forward to continue working with Carl over the next two years and will miss him greatly once he retires. I wish him and his family the best in the next stage of their lives.”