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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today honored U.S. Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on the Senate floor for their years of service in the Senate. Thune congratulated both of them on their success in delivering for their states and extended his best wishes in their next endeavors.

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, one of the drawbacks of the end of a Congress is the need to say goodbye to departing colleagues.

“We’re losing two Republicans this year – Senators Mitt Romney and Mike Braun.

“Mitt gave his farewell remarks yesterday, and they were characteristic of the man I’ve come to know.

“Humble. Faith-filled. Patriotic.

“Mitt’s what would I call a character guy.

“He’s guided by a moral compass, and he’s not afraid to live by it.

“And in a world where being religious isn’t always highly regarded, he’s unapologetic about his faith.

“Mitt is also a big family guy.

“Like me, he married up, and he and his wife Ann have shared the good times and the tough times for well, now, over 50 years of marriage.

“Hard to believe to look at him!

“But they say children keep you young, and Mitt has five sons and an incredible 25 grandchildren.

“A beautiful legacy all on its own.

“Mr. President, Mitt’s professional legacy needs no recounting.

“He is well-known as a successful businessman.

“A successful Republican governor of a deep blue state.

“And most recently, as a successful senator.

“He may be leaving us after just one term, but that term was filled with an outsized amount of work.

“And he has more than earned his retirement.

“Mr. President, in addition to Mitt, Mike Braun is leaving us at the end of this Congress – in his case to go and serve as the governor of Indiana.

“Mike is another guy who has had an outsized impact here in the Senate in a short amount of time.

“In fact, he was named the most effective first-term Republican senator in the 117th Congress.

“And no surprise.

“It was clear from the beginning that Mike came here because he wanted to get things done.

“And now he’ll bring that same drive and effectiveness – the drive and effectiveness that helped him grow a small business with 15 employees into a national company – to his work as governor of Indiana.

“I have no doubt at all that the state will thrive under his leadership.

“As I may have told Mike, Hoosiers is one of my top five movies of all time, which has automatically made me a big fan of the Hoosier State.

“So I look forward to seeing all the great things that are going to happen to Indiana during his tenure.

“I know he will be incredibly busy as governor, especially because Mike is a guy that gives his all to what he does – witness the fact that he has visited all 92 of Indiana’s counties every year during his time here in the Senate.

“But I hope he’ll still find time for his beloved mushroom hunting.

“And I know he’ll be finding time to spend with his wife Maureen and their four children – three of whom work for the family business – as well as with their seven grandchildren.

“Mike, congratulations on your election as governor.

“It has been a pleasure to work with you here in the Senate.

“And I look forward to seeing all the great things you will do in Indiana.

“Mr. President, I yield the floor.”