ICYMI: Senator Carper Delivered Farewell Address

In Case You Missed It, last week, U.S. Senator Tom Carper delivered his farewell address on the Senate floor commemorating a lifetime of public service to the nation. After serving as a Senator for Delaware for 24 years, his term will end on Jan. 3, 2025.

You can watch a video of Senator Carper’s full remarks here, and access photos from the moments leading up to his speech here.

See more in Delaware Public Media, Townsquare Delaware, Delaware News Journal, Politico, WHYY, WDEL, and WMDT.

Senator Tom Carper looks back on decades of public service as he prepares to leave office

By: Larry Nagengast

December 13, 2024

On January 3, when members of the 119th Congress are sworn in, Tom Carper will be out of work, for the first time in four dozen years, handing over his seat in the U.S. Senate to one of his many proteges, U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester.

Those 48 years in elective office put Carper two years short of the Delaware record set by one of his contemporaries and early inspirations, outgoing President Joe Biden. But Carper holds another distinction that Biden will never touch: a 14-0 record winning statewide elections – three 2-year terms as state treasurer, five 2-year terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, two 4-year terms as governor and four 6-year terms in the Senate. […]

As governor, Carper practiced much of what he learned from Pete du Pont, starting with “surrounding yourself with the best people you can find.” Like du Pont, he reached outside the state to recruit some key Cabinet members. With the Senate controlled by Democrats and the House by Republicans throughout his two terms, Carper knew he had to “work across the aisle to get stuff done.” […]

On the education front, Carper supported and signed legislation establishing public charter schools in the state (his sons later graduated from the Charter School of Wilmington), placed wellness centers in every public high school and nurses in every school. Social issues were another major focus for Carper. His Family Services Cabinet Council tried to coordinate interdepartmental efforts to support members of the state’s neediest families. […]

While in the Senate, Carper was part of a small bipartisan fraternity – that group of lawmakers who had served as both governors and senators. Much as he has enjoyed the Senate, he makes it clear, as others in this group have, that there’s being able to get things done as a governor beats the seemingly endless debate that goes on in the legislative branch. […]

Tom Carper bids farewell to U.S. Senate; met with respect from both sides of aisle

By: Jarek Rutz

December 12, 2024

Although a lifelong Democrat, longtime United States Senator and Delaware politician Tom Carper garnered praise from the opposition following his farewell address on the U.S. Senate Floor this week.

“Tom Carper’s extraordinary legacy of public service to both our state and nation is undeniable,” said House Minority Leader Tim Dukes, R-Laurel. “With a career spanning more than five decades, his accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable—ranging from his service as a U.S. Navy flight officer to his time as state treasurer, governor, and a distinguished member of our Congressional delegation for 34 years.”

Carper’s enduring contributions, Dukes said, have made an indelible mark on Delaware, one that will be remembered for many years to come. […]

“Senator Carper has been a strong advocate for our coastal communities and Delaware for many years,” said Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View. “While I don’t always agree with his policy positions, I certainly appreciate all that he has done for the residents of our state. I wish him nothing but the best in retirement.”

Carper said one of his favorite moments as a U.S. Senator is building a trusting partnership on the Environment & Public Works Committee with Ranking Member Shelley Capito, a Republican, and also a native of West Virginia like Carper.

“Our committee enjoys our well-deserved reputation as a workhorse committee and one whose members consistently work across the aisle,” he said. “My relationship with Shelley has enabled us – among other things – to craft a comprehensive two-year Water Resources Development bill this year, which includes the first reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration in 20 years.”

After a half-century, Sen. Tom Carper bids farewell to political office in Senate address

By: Olivia Montes

December 12, 2024

It marks the end of a political era.

Longtime U.S. Sen. Tom Carper made his farewell address on the Senate floor on Wednesday afternoon.

Carper, who officially announced his retirement in 2023, has spent roughly 50 years in public office, including over two decades in the Senate.

Throughout his senatorial career, Carper has served on several committees, including the Senate Finance Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee.

It was his work on the latter committee, Carper said, that he considers one of his proudest moments in the Senate, noting how this work helped “enact transformational legislation,” including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“We have demonstrated time and time again that bipartisan solutions are lasting solutions,” Carper said in his speech. “And even in today’s polarized environment, it’s still possible to accomplish a great deal for our country, for our planet and for our citizens.” […]

Carper talks climate, energy legislation in farewell speech

By: Kelsey Brugger

December 12, 2024

Tom Carper, known for his eleventh-hour deal-making on the Democrats’ climate law, fighting the Trump administration’s attacks on environmental protections and an overall approach that aides called “radical” bipartisanship, gave his farewell speech Wednesday on the Senate floor after nearly 50 years in public office.

The Delaware Democrat, who was first elected to his Senate seat in 2000, emphasized his years chairing the Environment and Public Works Committee.

There, he worked closely with the committee’s top Republican, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, with whom he has had a standing Thursday afternoon phone call. Together, Carper noted in his speech, they passed major legislation for infrastructure and advanced nuclear and to reduce hydrofluorocarbons, a potent greenhouse gas.

“We’ve demonstrated time and time again that bipartisan solutions are lasting solutions,” he said. “Even in today’s polarized environment, it’s still possible to accomplish a great deal for our country, for our planet and for our citizens.”

Carper, who grew up in a coal mining town in West Virginia and went through something of a green evolution during his years in Congress, said he spent “many years to lead the effort to combat global warming,” while pointing to his home state’s woes.

“Our state is sinking, and the seas around us are rising — that’s not a good combination,” he said.

He highlighted his work to pass the Democrats’ climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, which he said “helps us fight the climate crisis and just as important create hundreds of thousands of new American jobs — good-paying jobs.” […]

Delaware Sen. Tom Carper exits the political stage after nearly 50 years in public life

By: Sarah Mueller

December 12, 2024

[…] The centrist Democrat is stepping off the stage after winning a record 14 straight statewide races since 1976. He’s served in the U.S. Senate since 2001. Before that, he served two terms as governor, five terms as the First State’s lone congressman and two terms as state treasurer.

Carper said he’s learned many lessons in public office, including from the nation’s current president. He became Delaware’s senior senator in 2009 when his colleague Democrat Joe Biden resigned to become President Barack Obama’s vice president.

“I learned from Joe Biden that all politics is personal, and that all diplomacy is personal. And I learned that just because someone is your adversary, one day, they don’t have to become your enemy,” Carper said. […]

‘Keep on rockin’ in the free world’ | Senator Tom Carper says farewell to the US Senate

By: Sean Greene

December 11, 2024

The former U.S. Representative and Governor said a key turning point in his career game at the age of 29, when the newly elected State Treasurer was tasked by Republican Governor Pete duPont with turning around Delaware’s anemic credit rating.

“As it turned out, we didn’t have much cash to invest in those days, so my cash management skills were not in great need initially. What we did have, though, was a new Governor who quickly put together a talented team to turn the state around, and he invited me – a Democrat – to become a part of that team. Remarkably, it worked!”

Carper credited that moment, along with duPont allowing Carper to announce the credit rating had boosted back to AA, as to why he defeated incumbent Republican Tom Evans in the 1983 U.S. House race.

Carper said he learned several lessons from that experience.

“So, what lessons might we take from all of this? For me, one lesson was that our elected leaders should surround themselves with the best team they can find. Another key lesson was that in adversity lies opportunity. A third lesson was the importance of job creation and the realization that, while our elected leaders don’t create jobs, we do have a major responsibility to create an environment that fosters job creation.” […]

Tom Carper bids the U.S. Senate farewell in final address on Capitol Hill

By: Rob Petree

December 11, 2024

[…] His first role in elected office would be that of Delaware State Treasurer at the age of 29 where he was instrumental in helping restore the state’s failing credit rating. But, it was during his time as Governor that he says he met someone who, all these years later, would influence his decision to retire.

“Why did you decide not to run for re-election? And, I tell them with tongue and cheek – only partly in cheek – that I was following the advice of singer, songwriter Kenny Rogers,” Sen. Carper said. “You gotta know when to hold em’ and know when to fold em’.” […]

Now, as he prepares to pass the torch to Senator-elect Lisa Blunt-Rochester, he had nothing but high praise for the Congresswoman during his final address: “When my Senate colleagues tell me, ‘TC, we’re really going to miss you in the Senate,’ I tell them, ‘Two weeks after Lisa joins you all in the Senate, you won’t even remember my name!’” […]

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