[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 14, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THANK YOU SAM GIBBONS

                                 ______


                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 1996

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. Speaker, I rise not to say 
goodbye but say thank you to a good friend and wonderful legislator who 
truly cares about the people he represented in Congress. I am speaking 
of Congressman Sam Gibbons from Florida who is retiring from the House 
of representatives. I am sad to see him leave because I know how much 
he helped and how much he gave of his time to make sure that everyone 
in his district and in the Nation was heard.
  He is a true public servant who worked to better his district in the 
State of Florida and the Nation as a whole. His 30-plus years of 
dedicated service to the House of Representatives has not only made the 
Congress a better place, it has overwhelmingly enhanced all Members of 
Congress who have had the pleasure to serve with him.
  Senior citizens in my district know who Sam Gibbons is because of his 
stand this year on Medicare and Medicaid issues. He stood up and made 
his voice heard for those seniors who could not come to Congress and 
speak to their own Representatives.
  But, in his tenure in Congress he worked diligently to make the voice 
of the underdog heard. His senior position as ranking member on the 
Ways and Means Committee gave him the ability to keep in touch with 
issues that matter to everyone.
  Mr. Speaker, I will greatly miss Sam Gibbons when he leaves at the 
end of this Congress for all his strength, power, and wisdom. Congress 
is losing one of its best, an American hero, and I know in some 
capacity Sam will continue to work for the Nation.

                          ____________________