Floor SpeechBipartisan2026-04-29

TRIBUTE TO PATRICK TAYLOR

TaxesTradeTechnology

Context

On 2026-04-29, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO PATRICK TAYLOR" in the Senate. The speech addressed taxes and also covered trade policy, technology. It referenced legislation: S2091.

Full Text

TRIBUTE TO PATRICK TAYLOR

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 75 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2091] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO PATRICK TAYLOR Mr. KENNEDY. Now, Mr. President, the other reason I am here, which is just as important, is for this man sitting right here. His name is Patrick Taylor. He is a fine American, and he and I work together. Much to my sorrow--well, it is sorrow, but it is also pride--Patrick is going to work for another Agency. And I mean that my feelings are mixed about it. Here is my strategy. I am not saying people who don't follow my strategy are doing it wrong. This is just the way I have always done it. I have been in government and politics for a while, and I have known some politicians that don't want to hire anybody smarter than them, OK, because they don't want anybody around them who will make them look bad. That is cool. To each his own. I don't do it that way, OK? I figure, if I hire people smarter than me, they will make me look better. That is what I have always tried to do, and I fully concede that Patrick is smarter than me. But one of the downsides of hiring people smarter than you is that they are ambitious, they learn all they can, and somebody comes in and hires them away. That happens, and it has happened to me a number of times. Every single time, even though I am disappointed, I also try to say to myself: You know, this is a compliment, and I am sad, but I am happy. And that is what has happened with Patrick. Patrick, as I told you, is really smart. He is a graduate of Colgate. I wrote it all down here. He has a master's from Hillsdale College. He studied at the Claremont Institute. He is on my communications team. This guy is a master at digital media. I mean, he can make posts and stuff on digital media. He can make that social media stuff walk, talk, and whistle ``The Battle Hymn of the Republic,'' man, and he gets people to watch, and it is awesome. Patrick is going to work for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. I asked him about it, and he said: It is top secret. If I told you, I would have to drown you in the ocean. He didn't really say that. It is a great job, and I am happy for him. He has been with me for 3 years, and it has been a great 3 years. Patrick, Godspeed. Come back and see us. You are going to do great. I just wanted to come by and acknowledge his service to the good people of America and to the good people of Louisiana and thank him for all of his help. It has been a lot of fun. If you write a book, I reserve the right to edit it first, OK? You can't include everything in that book. Patrick, thank you, man. That is all I have, Mr. President. I can show my way out. My work here is done. So I suggest the absence of a quorum. Is that OK, Madam Parliamentarian? Thank you, ma'am. This is our Parliamentarian, Mr. President. She is pretty smart too. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

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TRIBUTE TO PATRICK TAYLOR Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 75 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2091] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO PATRICK TAYLOR Mr. KENNEDY. Now, Mr. President, the other reason I am here, which is just as important, is for this man sitting right here. His name is Patrick Taylor. He is a fine American, and he and I work together. Much to my sorrow--well, it is sorrow, but it is also pride--Patrick is going to work for another Agency. And I mean that my feelings are mixed about it. Here is my strategy. I am not saying people who don't follow my strategy are doing it wrong. This is just the way I have always done it. I have been in government and politics for a while, and I have known some politicians that don't want to hire anybody smarter than them, OK, because they don't want anybody around them who will make them look bad. That is cool. To each his own. I don't do it that way, OK? I figure, if I hire people smarter than me, they will make me look better. That is what I have always tried to do, and I fully concede that Patrick is smarter than me. But one of the downsides of hiring people smarter than you is that they are ambitious, they learn all they can, and somebody comes in and hires them away. That happens, and it has happened to me a number of times. Every single time, even though I am disappointed, I also try to say to myself: You know, this is a compliment, and I am sad, but I am happy. And that is what has happened with Patrick. Patrick, as I told you, is really smart. He is a graduate of Colgate. I wrote it all down here. He has a master's from Hillsdale College. He studied at the Claremont Institute. He is on my communications team. This guy is a master at digital media. I mean, he can make posts and stuff on digital media. He can make that social media stuff walk, talk, and whistle ``The Battle Hymn of the Republic,'' man, and he gets people to watch, and it is awesome. Patrick is going to work for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. I asked him about it, and he said: It is top secret. If I told you, I would have to drown you in the ocean. He didn't really say that. It is a great job, and I am happy for him. He has been with me for 3 years, and it has been a great 3 years. Patrick, Godspeed. Come back and see us. You are going to do great. I just wanted to come by and acknowledge his service to the good people of America and to the good people of Louisiana and thank him for all of his help. It has been a lot of fun. If you write a book, I reserve the right to edit it first, OK? You can't include everything in that book. Patrick, thank you, man. That is all I have, Mr. President. I can show my way out. My work here is done. So I suggest the absence of a quorum. Is that OK, Madam Parliamentarian? Thank you, ma'am. This is our Parliamentarian, Mr. President. She is pretty smart too. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________