[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H4127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THANK YOU, SAM GIBBONS, FOR SHARING YOUR LIFE WITH US

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Meek] is recognized during 
morning business for 2 minutes.
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to think the gentlewoman 
from Florida [Ms. Brown], my colleague, for having put this together. 
And I would like to say to this Congress and to the world, seldom will 
they have a chance to either serve or even know a man like Sam Gibbons.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an unusual occurrence to have someone like Sam and 
to have a man who is a hero and a legend in his own time. He is a 
legend and he has made Florida proud. He is not one with a lot of talk 
and fanfare about Sam Gibbons. He does the job and history will 
replicate and document that Sam Gibbons was a hero.
  He spent 50 years since he was in World War II. He has a memory that 
is replete with all of these memories and all of these facts and all of 
the tax laws and he helped to make them. He helped to bring about some 
of our most famous educational programs. But he is a son of Florida, 
both in uniform and out.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Florida is serving his 17th term in 
the Congress and I am so pleased that I had a chance to serve with you, 
Sam, and to learn about your wonderful family. And I was most proud of 
you, Sam, when the President designated you as his personal 
representative.
  This is the first time I have been to this floor talking about Sam 
Gibbons. I could come back every day of the year and I would say 
something new every time about Sam Gibbons. I saw him on television as 
he attended the ceremonies in Normandy last year and how he stood 
upright and how he spoke forthrightly about his love for this country 
and for his love of democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, what an outstanding job he has done for all of us as the 
ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means and how he 
was the chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade. Sam knows trade like no 
one else in this country and he does not mind sharing that information 
with you.
  He is recognized for domestic policy as well and it is sort of hard 
to capsulize you, Sam, because you are an enigma. You have it all. You 
have the political know-how. You have the love of the people. You have 
the love of the State. And, Sam, again and again, we pay tribute to 
you, a strong America, a good hero a power, a pioneer, and a man who 
knows it all.
  Thank you very much, Sam, for having shared your life with us.

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