Welcoming the Guest Chaplain

Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a great gentleman, a dear friend, a colleague, and in many cases a battle buddy, Senator Jim Inhofe.

He was an extraordinary gentleman. And you can't say ``gentleman'' enough when it came to Jim Inhofe. He was a man of humility, of decency, and of kindness, and he touched everyone he met with those qualities.

He was also a man of deep principle. But what made him a great Senator--in fact, one of the best that served in this body--is that he was always looking for principled compromise. He was always trying to reach across the aisle and see if he could, working with others, find a way forward that would be better for the country. So I was terribly saddened when I learned yesterday of Jim's passing. He was a leader. He was a gentleman. He was all that we expect a Senator to be and much more.

I was honored to serve alongside Jim. For three decades, he served on the Armed Services Committee in both the House and the Senate. I had the privilege to serve with him as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. We were, in turn, both chairman and ranking member--both the senior Republican and the senior Democrat--on the committee for many years, and we produced nearly two dozen National Defense Authorization Acts. We traveled to combat zones and military posts around the world and worked to support our men and women in uniform. As I said before, there were many issues we disagreed upon, but we were able, in many, many--if not most--cases, to find a way forward.

One of the issues that I think is so compelling in Jim's life is that as a young man, he was in the Army, and he knew what it was like to serve and sacrifice and dedicate yourself to a cause beyond personal ambition and personal aggrandizement. He learned also something that was profound and reflected in all of his work on the committee--that the decisions we make here ultimately affect the lives of young Americans in uniform across the globe. He knew that. He understood that. So he was not sitting back here thinking about, well, how will this affect this company and that company? It was, are we doing the best for the young men and women who have dedicated themselves to this country and would sacrifice even their lives for this country? Are we doing as much as we can for the families that are serving with them? That profound sense of service that he incubated as a young Army soldier he carried through his Senate career.

He always insisted on speaking to the junior NCOs and junior servicemembers. You know, up here we all get briefings from generals saying ``Here is the situation, sir,'' but he wanted to get down and talk to privates and specialists and seamen and airmen and say: What is going on? How are things going? Is this working from your perspective?

Again, adding to the quality of his service was his sensitivity. He truly understood the people who serve in uniform in the United States, and he made sure to support those troops. He sponsored critical legislation to improve their lives, whether by overhauling barracks or creating new benefits for military families. He and I worked together on countless efforts to provide better pay and healthcare and equipment to our service men and women.

This Nation and our military are stronger today because of Jim Inhofe and safer today because of Jim Inhofe.

He had a way of looking ahead. I remember when I was serving as the ranking member with John McCain and we were thinking about what would face us in the future, and Jim was there with us, talking about the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, how we have to begin to put more resources in the Pacific, and then, before the invasion of Ukraine, the European Deterrence Initiative. I mean, we have to be able to be flexible and to counter the thrust of a potential outbreak of war. We were positioned in Europe to help the Ukrainians because of Jim Inhofe's work over many, many years.

I am especially proud that the Armed Service Committee voted to name the fiscal year 2023 Defense bill the ``James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act.'' It was a fitting tribute and honor.

Again, he was an extraordinary leader with legislative skills, the capacity for hard work, always placing the troops and his fellow Oklahomans first. He never forgot about Oklahoma. He never forgot about their needs. He was in there fighting every step of the way.

I am very, very grateful for the kindness he extended to me. He was just an amazing gentleman. I think I speak for the Senate Armed Services Committee and I think I speak for all of the Senate: We will miss him dearly.

I want to express my deepest sympathies to Kay, his wife, and his wonderful family. He would admit without any reservation that he was able to do his job because of the love and support of Kay and his family. They were there with him every step of the way. In their moment of sorrow and sadness, I offer my sincerest condolences.

May we all strive for the wisdom, courage, and humility that Senator Jim Inhofe imparted upon this great Nation and this Senate.

I also want to salute my colleagues today--Senator Lankford, who is carrying on that tradition of integrity and decency, as are Senator Thune, Senator Cornyn--and to thank them for letting me say a few words about my friend Jim Inhofe.

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