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Floor Speech

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Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I say to Senator Brown: I have my pin. I am taking your desk. I am going to get your office. And I wouldn't mind having your hair and your eloquence.

(Laughter.)

For me, Sherrod Brown--and for many of our colleagues--has always been a role model, a friend, a voice for people who are often unseen, and also a real example of integrity. When you talk to Sherrod Brown, you may not agree with him, but you know what he says is what he believes.

You know, we live in a day where politicians are often distrusted and demeaned, maybe as never before, but what you have done for me and for my family is to give politics a good name, to make sure that people understand that the word ``politician'' is not a four-letter word; it is something I am proud to say--I am a politician because I try to be like Sherrod Brown.

You know, that kind of politician doesn't always win. It is just a fact of life that people often take stands; they espouse causes; they champion people or issues that may not be popular at that moment. But they are vindicated by history.

I have been proud to stand with you, Sherrod, for some of those causes, and I know they will be vindicated by history.

As I told your staff--some of them--in that office, the Sherrod Brown office, we are going to have a conference room named after you. It is a trivial thing to do, but it will remind us that we will be asking ourselves at moments, tough moments, moments of crisis: What would Sherrod do? What would he think? What would he say?

I will continue to value you as a friend and as a role model. Thank you, Sherrod, for all you have done for all of us. Godspeed.

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