Johnny would win in a bipartisan landslide. Quite possibly in a unanimous vote. He commands bipartisan respect andti affection. To a degree thats truly remarkable. If you think about it, it makeso sense than a man his personal mantra goes like this. This is what he says, theres only two kinds of people, friends and future friends. For most people, that might be a noble aspiration. But unrealistic. But for johnny its a statement of fact. Nobody is an enemy, nobody is a stranger, just friends and future friends. Thats it. With a motto like that, its no wonder that johnnys first career was a successful step in real estate. A field in which relationships are everything. It strikes me two ways. You can strive it and the business with friendships and Connections Matter so much. You could either be good at making a smile, at feigning interest in others, or you could genuinely love meeting everybody and learning how you might be able to help them. That second kind of person, as exactly who ed and julie isaacsonon brought up in atlanta georgia. Warm, honest, forthright, incredibly kind, no wonder johnnys neighbors jumped at the chance to hire him to be there state representative. And then there state senator. Then their congressman. And then there United States senator. So his retirements, this month will cap a 45 year career in public service. Packed with the one significant accomplishment after another. One after another. First and foremost in johnnys long legacy, is his work for our nations veterans. He spent six years in the Georgia International guard as a young man. And he spent the halfcentury since then as one of his fellow veterans best friends at any level of government. H under johnnys chairmanship the Veterans Affairs committee has passed literally scores of bills. More accountability at the va. More education benefits. Better Community Care programs. Better procedures for when veterans appeal a determination. An updated g. I. Bill with no more expiration date. And of course johnnys landmark builds of the va mission act. Its now law. Providing many of the most significant reforms in the history of the va. Taking power away from bureaucrats and giving it back to veterans. He and their doctors. Yet somehow, in the midst of compiling this singular record for our nations veterans. Johnny racked up countless more legislative that impact nearly every american. From securing pension protection to securing education policy. From regional Infrastructure Projects like the savannah harbor expansion to combating worldwide. T one look at the list of laws bearing johnnys fingerprints and youd be forgiven for thinking he never had a problem he couldnt solve. But alas, every senator sometimes encounters requests meom back home they cannot deliver. Sometimes you have constituents on both sides of an issue. Sometimes requested might conflict with your principles. Whatever the reason, everybody in office eventually disappoints somebody. But johnnys staff marvels at the fact that even when georgians come up here to meet with him, and unfortunately go away disappointed, they still walk out of the meeting beaming with praise for their senator. Can you believe johnny. Hes the greatest guy ever. What a senator. And these are the people he just said no to. The same traits explain why johnny is just as popular under this dome as he is back home. And i dont mean just his fellow members. P johnny is practically an honorary member of everybody staff. And honorary elevator operator a operator and a Police Officer and an Honorary Team member and on and on and on. He knows and values absolutely everybody. I cant count how many times and realized johnny drop by not to see me,ks but to chat with my team. Ask after their families. Maybe check up on a couple of georgia priorities while he was there. As one classic story that tells about his character, most people who hung around johnny t and his team long enough know the famous tale of the gin and tonic in the laundry room. The gin and tonic in the laundry room. Heres the deal. Back in 2006, johnny was still a ernew senator, we were tackling some thorny pension issues. And thousands of georgia and soon to be affected if things didnt get hammered out. So this freshman senator dives in, he goes toe to toe with big players like ted academy and bill over in the house. He didnt get his seat on the conference committee, but he basically appointed himself and honorary member. Johnny worked at like crazy. He sluiced out or they would be meeting, he spoke to everyone. And because its johnny were talking about, we know how this ends. He delivered for georgia. After words, the Atlanta Journalconstitution wanted to hear how this freshman senator had pulled off this victory. Among other things the reporter asked how johnny had celebrated. Did he clear out the champagne at some steakhouse . Heres what he said. This is a direct quotes madam president. Isaacson said after the vote he went straight back to his Capitol Hill Area apartment and celebrated. Byby doing his laundry. He didnt want to leave dirty close behind for a month. So he said further so i was putting coins in the machine and i had a gin and tonic in the laundry room. This anecdote is just a perfect capsule asian of Johnny Isakson. That starts with tenacity, and a cando spirit, propelled forward by charisma, smarts, and stubborn patients. And it ends with a win for georgia. And one celebrity cocktail, while wrist deep in laundry detergent. But theres one other story that i think reflects this remarkable leader more perfectly. It starts with one name. Kate. In 2009 johnny was reading his local paper and saw an obituary for a young lady from northern georgia who had been in africa with the peace corps. She was just 24. Johnny didnt know kate, didnt know her family. But he felt called to attend her funeral. He sat quietly in the very back and listened to her friends. Her family. Ministers, peace corps colleagues. Unassuming leahy invited the family to stay in touchou if the was anything he could ever do. Only later did they relate was that what wasnt in the obituary. Kate had been murdered. It was in the dark of night after sounding the alarm for child abuse in her village and the african country. Johnny isakson was on the case from that day forward. Not only was he a fixture on the Foreign Relations committee he was on the african subcommittee. So i put a framed photo of kate on his desk and leapt into action. B senator isaacson flew there to personally lean on their president. He met with peace corps officials. He built a legislative coalition ohr a forum to better protect volunteers. And like i said earlier, because this is johnny were talking about, we know how the story ends. With results. He helped kates parents pursue justice and just a couple years after johnny set down in that pew, vacates protection act was law. Now that is Johnny Isakson and one story. He starts out trying to good for his neighbors and literally changes the world. Of course madam president , changing the world can be grueling work. We all know johnnys health has made his service more and more challenging. As much as the other 99 of us hate to hear it, he has decided its time to find new ways to find whining trips to the capital. But we know our friend is not writing off into the sunset or kicking up his heels. I know he is bound and determined to keep putting his expertise and Institutional Knowledge to work on behalf of georgians. I have no doubt hell keep on advocating for georgians with a pen and a phone. More friends across the country than anyone can count up, and maybe a few of his eight grandchildren by his side. Sounds like a pretty enviable work arrangements, and no doubt johnnys earned it. Hes earnedtt the right to a little more time with his lovely wife diane. So on behalf of all of his colleagues, ill tell johnny to go ahead and relax just a little. Maybe find something to drink. But this time around he should enjoy it on the front porch with diane and leave the laundry till later. Were savoring our last few f wes alongside our good friends here in the senate. We are so lucky to have called him our colleague. Finally on a happier note, or bittersweet happy note but a final note. Joining what a fine man. Members of this chamber today will hold a bipartisan lunch to say goodbye to one of our most beloved colleagues, isaac Johnny Isakson who is retiring before the end of the year. Over the last few months there have been numerous tributes to johnny here on the senate floor. He is been called a real friend, a mentor are real colleague, they dont come any better. And thats just by democrats