Thank you, Delaware!

Dear Friend,

Last week, I gave my farewell speech on the Senate floor. As I reflect on my life in public service, I cannot help but feel incredibly thankful and blessed.

Watch me deliver my farewell speech on the Senate floor.

My sister Sheila and I were born in a coal mining town in West Virginia. We didn’t have much, but we had the good fortune of being raised in a home by parents who instilled in us a strong work ethic, along with a deep faith that embraced the Golden Rule – to treat other people the way we would want to be treated. Our parents also instilled in us an abiding love for our country and for this planet that we call home.

After serving three tours of duty in Southeast Asia as a naval flight officer and, eventually, as a Navy P-3 aircraft mission commander, I came home and was elected to serve Delaware as State Treasurer. This began a career in public service that was greater than I could have ever imagined, and it has been the honor of my life to serve you all as Congressman, Governor, and now Senator.

Putting finishing touches on my farewell speech.

When I announced last year, I wouldn’t be running for re-election, I planned to run through the tape until high noon on January 3rd, 2025, to get good stuff done. With the help of our hard-working staff – that’s exactly what we’ve done! Just this past week we passed a two-year Water Resources Development bill, and we have worked tirelessly over the last year and a half to confirm important nominations and implement transformational legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, right here in Delaware.

Through this work, and throughout my time in elected office, I’ve lived by the principle “bipartisan solutions are lasting solutions.” As chairman of the Environment & Public Works Committee, I have worked with Ranking Member Shelley Capito, a Republican, who – like me – is a native of West Virginia, to work across the aisle and deliver for Americans. It’s important to remember that even in today’s polarized environment, it’s still possible to accomplish a great deal for our country, our planet, and its inhabitants when we work together.

Watch this video my team put together detailing my nearly 50 years of service.

As I say goodbye, I want to thank my wife Martha and my boys for their support throughout the years. But above all, I want to thank the people of Delaware for entrusting me with the responsibility of serving you for all of these years. It has been a privilege and a source of great joy that I will always cherish. You are in great hands with Senator Coons and Senator-Elect Blunt Rochester. As I said in my farewell address, with apologies to Neil Young of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young fame, I would like to leave you all with one message: “keep on rockin’ in the free world”.

Riding the Senate subway with my wife, Martha, to the Senate floor.

Read some stories from my time in public service.

Take care and God bless,

Tom Carper

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