WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Braun gave his farewell speech on the Senate floor today.
Senator Braun’s term in the U.S. Senate will end on January 3rd, 2025, and he will be sworn in as Indiana’s 52nd Governor on January 13th.
Here are some of the remarks made by Braun:
ON RUNNING FOR SENATE
It’s been the honor of my life to represent Hoosiers here in the U.S. Senate.
When I said I was going to leave my business in my hometown back in 2017 and run for Senate, there weren’t many people who said it could be done.
Since our victory in 2018, I’ve been so proud of the things we’ve accomplished for Hoosiers.
ON LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
I was proud to have been named the Most Effective First-Term Republican Senator and 6th most effective in the entire caucus by the non-partisan Center for Effective Lawmaking, but we all know who does the heavy lifting to get bills across the finish line: the team you put together.
In 2021, we had the most bills signed into law of any Senator, and we haven’t slowed down since.
ON CONSTITUENT SERVICES FOR HOOSIERS
When I was elected, I told my team that constituent service was going to be the center of what we do.
I’m so proud of our state team for the countless hours they’ve put in to assist Hoosiers all over the state.
They closed 13,775 constituent cases – assisting Hoosiers with problems that were seriously impacting their lives. There are many ways you can get entangled with the federal government.
My team returned $21.6 million dollars that were owed to Hoosiers back to them.
That money had an immediate impact: one woman in Columbus was at risk of losing her home, and we were able to recover $10,000 for her that she was owed from the IRS.
My team has responded to 2,381,813 messages from Hoosiers.
The regional field team held 1,500 hours of Mobile Office Hours events, where Hoosiers could get assistance right there in their hometowns.
When constituents reached out with problems, we found solutions.
ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S FINANCIAL SITUATION
I’m optimistic today, but I want to be clear about something. This place is bankrupting our country.
When I got here, our national debt was $18 trillion. That has now doubled in 6 years.
We borrow a trillion dollars every 6 months and pay that in interest annually.
This spending spree has a real effect on the American people: inflation, rising interest rates, and projected debt totaling $56T in ten years.
Borrowing money from our kids and grandkids is a bad business plan.
So how do we turn things around?
Well, the best part is, we’re not flying blind here. This place comes with an instruction manual.
It’s called the Constitution; especially the 10th amendment.
ON BECOMING THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF INDIANA
As the federal government has struggled, states have been a laboratory for good ideas.
The states are where the innovation is going to come from in the next decade, and I’m so excited to lead that charge in the great state of Indiana.
I’m honored beyond belief that Hoosiers have trusted me to serve as their next Governor.
Touring all 92 counties every year, I’ve met so many Hoosiers and heard their challenges and their victories large and small.
It’s a truly incredible state filled with the most goodhearted, hardworking people in the world.
It was my honor to serve them here in this body, and I can’t wait to continue the adventure back home again in Indiana.
