James Lankford

Madam President, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career of a good friend, retiring Tulsa Police Chief Dennis Larsen.

A native of Tulsa, OK, Dennis graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in political science while also serving our Nation in the U.S. Air Force. Dennis joined the Tulsa Police Department in 1979 and spent the better part of the next five decades in public service. During his stellar career, he patrolled the streets of Tulsa, arrested drug dealers while working undercover, and served as a bomb technician.

Dennis earned the rank of deputy chief in 2007. As deputy chief over operations, he was responsible for over 500 officers in all four uniform divisions, as well as budgeting and the personnel and payroll offices. He then became deputy chief over investigations, where he had command over the investigations bureau, which consists of the detective and special investigations divisions, the forensic laboratory, and fleet management.

Chief Larsen's distinguished career is highlighted by multiple certifications and advanced training. He is a graduate of the FBI's 185th National Academy and the 42nd FBI National Executive Institute. In addition, he holds certifications in FBI Hazardous Devices, FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction, Domestic Preparedness, Department of Homeland Security Infrastructure Protection, and U.S. Secret Service Dignitary Protection. During his years serving Tulsa, he earned three Chief Awards, four Departmental Commendations, and the Life Saving Award.

Dennis was also recognized by the Department of Justice as the third- longest serving bomb technician in the United States. Notably, he coordinated the Tulsa Police Bomb Squad's immediate response to the tragic Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and personally spent more than 100 days on site at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, where he assisted the investigation into the worst act of domestic terrorism in our Nation's history. The Federal Government later called on him to serve with a hand-picked group of hazardous devices technicians who developed an anti-terrorism strategy that has since protected millions of Americans across the country. As chief, he represented Tulsa in a variety of key law enforcement issues on a national level through the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

With this immensely successful career, it would have been easy for Dennis to retire early or exit public service. But his loyalty to the Tulsa Police Department and the city of Tulsa caused Dennis to answer the call to serve as Tulsa's 41st chief of police in 2024. Dennis always maintained that the safety of his officers was paramount, and he proved this by ensuring they had extensive training and the equipment they needed to protect citizens and themselves. As a leader, Dennis was known both for the care he showed his officers and the professionalism, fairness, transparency, team building, and strategic planning he exhibited at every level to ensure Tulsa continued its tradition of policing excellence.

Under Chief Larsen's watch, the city of Tulsa saw a notable, double- digit drop in crime. Tulsa is a better, safer community because of Dennis's courage, leadership, and service. Standing beside Dennis throughout his career has been another remarkable Oklahoman, Karen Larsen. Married for 37 years, Dennis and Karen share a deep love and faith and are the proud parents of three. In her own right, Karen is a legend in northeast Oklahoma, where she spent 30 years serving the community as an evening news anchor and reporter. A six-time Emmy award winner, Karen's sharp journalism and compassionate reporting won her the respect and appreciation of countless Oklahomans. Dennis and Karen share a true and admirable partnership.

Though he has earned the title of chief, I am extraordinarily grateful that during my time in office I have simply been able to call Dennis ``my friend.'' To me and to my staff, Dennis has always been there when we needed him. Night or day, when a problem arose, Dennis was only a phone call away, and I was always able to rely upon his word when he said something would be done. He is a man of uncompromising integrity and character. It has been my honor to work alongside him all these years. While I will miss calling my friend to ask about law enforcement issues, I look forward to calling him to ask about the trips and adventures he and Karen will take together. They have more than earned a long, peaceful, and blessed retirement with plenty of time spent with the kids and grandkids. Hopefully, for Karen's sake, there are quite a few destination vacations already planned.

Dennis and Karen, thank you my friends for all that you have given to the people of Oklahoma. We are all grateful, we wish you the very best, and we know that our State is better today because of all you have done for us. May God continue to bless you both in your many days ahead.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the retirement announcement of Rich Brierre as the executive director of the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG) in Tulsa, OK. Under his leadership, the Tulsa region has experienced significant change and growth that will benefit generations to come. The transportation, housing, and economic development projects that have come to fruition over the past two decades can often be directly or indirectly attributed to Rich.

Originally from St. Louis, MO, Rich attended college at the University of Tulsa, graduating in 1973. Upon graduation, Rich started as a housing planner at INCOG, and what began as an entry-level planning position evolved into a remarkable career spanning housing, community development, transportation, environmental planning, and regional governance. Rich has worked at INCOG his entire professional career and has shared his passion for transportation, housing, and community development across Green Country.

In his more than 50 years working at INCOG, Rich has worked on countless projects that have improved communities and quality of life for all those living in the Tulsa region. Whether it was Vision 2025, construction of the Gilcrease Expressway, initiating the Tulsa/West Tulsa Levee project, establishing a new interstate, or creating a new county bridge program, Rich was there in the background ensuring that these major initiatives were pushed forward and completed.

Rich was appointed Executive Director of INCOG in January 2008, replacing long-time director Jerry Lasker. Rich assumed leadership of the region's principal planning organization, serving approximately 50 local governments across the five-county Tulsa metropolitan area. Under his leadership, INCOG continued to expand its role as a regional convener, providing expertise in transportation planning, environmental programs, community development, aging services, land-use coordination, economic development, and public infrastructure planning.

Rich's leadership was anchored in the unwavering belief that the best way forward was always when communities work together across jurisdictional boundaries. This belief was perfectly captured through his contributions in the planning and coordination of Vision 2025, an $885 million public investment initiative that the voters of Tulsa County approved in 2003. The initiative involved substantial coordination among local governments, businesses, and citizens that ultimately brought investments in economic development, education, recreation, and transportation.

One cannot recognize Rich without highlighting his passion for transportation projects and initiatives. Throughout his tenure, he has championed projects designed to enhance mobility, support economic growth, and improve connectivity in northeastern Oklahoma. Among the major infrastructure initiatives associated with his leadership are planning and development efforts related to the Gilcrease Expressway, Creek Turnpike, and the region's expanding trail network. He was able to utilize innovative financing programs to help fund the construction of the Gilcrease Expressway with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and Oklahoma Department of Transportation. His work helped advance the concept that transportation infrastructure should not only move people efficiently but also improve quality of life, create economic opportunities, and strengthen community connections.

During his tenure as Executive Director, Rich became a skilled advocate for securing Federal and State funding for regional initiatives. Over the past two decades, INCOG has successfully secured more than $80 million in competitive Federal grant funding. Rich was also able to successfully advocate and secure State funding for projects such as the Tulsa/West Tulsa Levee project, the Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) program, and a new program dedicated towards structurally deficient bridges. Beyond large infrastructure projects, Rich has also consistently emphasized housing, community development, and neighborhood revitalization.

Rich was never the loudest person in the room, and in fact, he usually was the quietest. However, over the decades, he became a trusted adviser to local elected officials, civic organizations, State agencies, and Federal partners, helping communities navigate growth, infrastructure investments, and long-range planning challenges. When Rich spoke, people would listen because they knew he was a man of integrity and that his ideas and knowledge of the issues would be respected. He became a subject matter expert on transportation, economic development, planning, and State and Federal programs.

As Rich retires, he leaves behind a legacy that will have a lasting impact across northeast Oklahoma. His expertise and institutional knowledge acquired from his 53-year career will be sorely missed. If you ask him, he has plenty of stories he can share about his former neighbor and Senator Jim Inhofe and numerous other Federal, State, and local officials that he has had the chance to interact with over his career.

Rich currently resides in Tulsa with his wife Claudia, a fellow lifelong INCOG staff member. His daughter Catharine lives and works in Tulsa, OK, and his son Will and family live in Fort Collins, CO. He is an avid cyclist, a member of First Presbyterian Church, and a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. I know that he will enjoy spending even more time with his children and family in the years ahead. Rich, thank you for your leadership.

Mr. President, a lot of words have been said today about our colleague Lindsey Graham and his passing. As the Presiding Officer knows well, where my desk sits, I literally sit and stand directly behind Lindsey's chair--where right now there is a black drape and white roses--where he should be today, but he is not.

We miss our colleague. We miss his humor. We miss his ideas. We miss his insight on a lot of things, his passion for Israel, his passion for national defense, his passion for the life of the unborn, his passion for this body, for our Nation, and for South Carolina.

As much as we miss him here, we also understand full well there is a lot of grieving in South Carolina and especially with his family and with Darline, who will be here tomorrow, being sworn in to this body as she takes her seat, literally sitting in the same chair he was sitting in 2 weeks ago.

So I thought it would be appropriate that we do more than just talk about him. Many of us have actually shared. We are praying for his family, we are praying for his staff, and we are praying for the folks around him. So I thought it would be appropriate here in this body that we don't just talk about him but that we actually fulfill the words that are on the wall in our building where it says ``In God We Trust'' and just to take a moment to just express that.

I am going to take just a moment to be able to pray for Lindsey's family:

Father, I do ask that You would help Darline and help the whole family right now as they grieve and struggle through this: the 10 million emotions that she has to feel right now with the

loss of her brother and with the responsibility of coming to this body to hold this spot for months.

I pray that You give her the strength that she needs, the insight that she will need in the days ahead, and that You would comfort her as she grieves.

For all of Lindsey's family and so many friends, for his staff, God, we ask that You would fulfill what Your word says in Psalm 34:18, where it says that You are ``[near] to the brokenhearted,'' and You ``[save] those who are crushed in spirit.''

We count on that today, Father, because this body will need Your help. Lindsey's family needs Your nearness. The people of South Carolina and so many friends will need that. So, Father, help us as we grieve and help us to be able to honor You in the days ahead. God, I am grateful that You are the One who cares for each of us and that You can be trusted every day. So we are grateful for that. So help us, guide us in the days ahead to do things well and to be able to honor You in our work. That is what we ask in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

I remember the first week that I came into this body. Lindsey caught me just in a random conversation, and he said: You and I are the only Southern Baptists that are in the Senate now. Then he smiled at me and said: You should probably talk about that more than I do.

And I have never forgotten that whole conversation. That was just classic Lindsey. He is a person that loved this body. He loved the country. He loved the people of South Carolina, and it showed. And as we grieve, I pray that we grieve together and that we go again and again and again to the source that hears our grieving and that meets us in our pain.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.