WILMINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on the passing of Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.).
“I have rarely met someone who cared so deeply, sacrificed so much, and represented the best of the United States of America like John McCain. From his service in the United States Navy to his nearly four decades in Congress, John literally lived a life of service to this country, and our nation is better for it.
“Traveling with John to a dozen countries, including to a refugee camp in Jordan, a military base in Afghanistan and to the H?a Lò Prison in Hanoi, Vietnam, where he was held captive and tortured as a POW for more than five years, has taught me about America’s roles and responsibilities in the world. I’ve seen John represent our country in ways few are able to – delivering tough, principled messages to foreign leaders who didn’t always want to hear them, commanding immediate respect at international gatherings, and even showing the grace to extend a hand of friendship in a country where he endured the unthinkable. In every one of those instances, John not only spoke for the United States, he embodied the principles and traditions that make this country exceptional.
“John’s impact was no less significant in the Senate, where he has held a unique reputation among both Democrats and Republicans as someone who understood what this body can and should be. When the most complicated, difficult issues were up for debate, from health care to immigration, from national security to campaign finance, we have all benefitted from John’s principled, independent leadership and the trust and respect he’s earned over decades. I was particularly grateful for the opportunity earlier this year to partner with him on a compromise immigration reform bill that offered a way forward when the Senate was stuck. In the years ahead, we will miss his ability to bring Senators together and remind us of what we can do when we check partisanship at the door and work together.
“Most of all, I will miss John as a friend and colleague. I will miss his sage advice, unyielding determination, and famous way with words. Annie and I will be praying for Cindy and all of John’s family in the coming days, and we will cherish our memories of John always.”
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