Sen. Patrick Leahy bid farewell to Vermont lawmakers on Wednesday afternoon at an emotional ceremony at the Statehouse.
Leahy is stepping down after serving eight terms in the U.S. Senate.
Members of the Vermont House and Senate gave Leahy several standing ovations to recognize his work on several issues over the years. That includes human rights, national security, environmental policies, and his world wide effort to ban the use of land mines.
Leahy told the crowd that he's been guided by one major principle during his career.
"I think of Vermont as a place where you can develop your conscience. I think... the U.S. Senate should be the conscience of the nation and sometimes is," he said. "And I've been willing to trust Vermonters."
Gov. Phil Scott told the gathering that Leahy has had an enormous impact on the state of Vermont.
"I'm not one for going over the top, but it's not an exaggeration to say that Vermont would not be anywhere near what we are today without Sen. Leahy," he said. "While he's physically been in Washington, his heart is always here in Vermont."
Scott also said Leahy is largely responsible for Vermont receiving more than $2 billion in federal COVID relief funds over the past two years.
At the end of his remarks, Leahy told the crowd that "this is one of the greatest thrills in my life."
When he steps down in January, Leahy will be the third longest serving senator in the history of the U.S. Senate
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