Ciscomani Honors the Life and Legacy of Senator Jon Kyl

Tucson, AZ - U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani is honoring the life and legacy of Senator Jon Kyl, who passed away on September 17.

After Senator Jon Kyl's passing, Rep. Ciscomani submitted the following text into the United States Congressional Record, to honor and remember the significant impact he had on Arizona and our nation.

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life and legacy of Jon Kyl, a towering figure in the history of Arizona, who sadly passed on September 17, 2026.

Among the many thoughtful, forceful leaders our state has benefited from since joining the union in 1912, Jon Kyl was in a class all his own. His accomplishments as a member of this body and as a Senator are the stuff of legend. The Arizona that my family and seven and a half million others call home is a state that Jon Kyl helped shape.

Born in Nebraska and raised in Iowa, he moved west, looking forward to the future ahead of him. Jon Kyl earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in 1964. This year, 2026, marks the 60th anniversary of his graduation from the University of Arizona law school. What he has achieved since then is an inspiration to anyone who aspires to a career in public service.

Over the course of his 26 years in office, Jon Kyl forged a reputation as a tireless workhorse and a principled leader. He also was a formidable campaigner, an articulate messenger and a fierce debater. Unlike me and many of my colleagues, Jon Kyl never lost an election.

His experience, judgment, and common sense are why Arizonans entrusted him with the responsibility to be our advocate in Washington. These are the same reasons I trusted him also. Among the very first I ever cast as a naturalized American, was a vote for Jon Kyl as United States Senator in 2006.

Senator Kyl set a high standard for representing Arizona in Congress. I believe everyone who knows him can agree that he is the truest embodiment of the word 'statesman.' He always prioritized the long-term good of our country over party or personal gain, and he did so with a moral compass that was spot-on.

Senator Kyl had a significant impact on me throughout the years. He was generous with his time even before I was elected, and after I became a Member of Congress, he gave me invaluable advice that went beyond the job. He shared with me how to take care of my family while working for the people of Arizona, words of wisdom which I still hold to.

I was extremely honored at the opportunity to speak on his life and legacy at the University of Arizona's inaugural Kyl Institute for National Security Forum in January. To know such a man as Jon Kyl was a privilege. I was proud to share how he impacted me and countless others, along with this amazing state we call home.

Senator Kyl had an indelible influence in Arizona, and I am proud to have witnessed the ways in which he served so faithfully. I thank him for all the work he did. The great state of Arizona would not be the same today without it.

In regard to his wife Caryll, his children and grandchildren, and all his loved ones and close friends, I am truly sorry for their loss. May my dear friend rest in peace."

Rep. Ciscomani will be attending Senator Kyl's memorial service tomorrow, October 24.

You can find Rep. Ciscomani's congressional record honoring Senator Jon Kyl HERE.

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