[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 23, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H8106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE PASSING OF HON. HAMILTON FISH, JR., A FORMER MEMBER OF CONGRESS 
                             FROM NEW YORK

  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is my sad duty to inform this body of the 
passing of our former colleague who was one of the outstanding Members 
of this body in this century.
  Hamilton Fish, Jr., served in this Chamber for over a quarter of a 
century, from his first election in 1968 until his retirement in 1994. 
Throughout his career in this House, Ham Fish earned respect on both 
sides of the aisle and throughout the Nation for his commitments to 
civil rights and justice, and to commonsense principles of government.
  As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, the spotlight of the 
Nation shown on his wisdom during the hearings on the impeachment of 
President Nixon. In later years, Ham Fish served as ranking Republican 
on that committee, where he was known for championing the revision of 
immigration law and of continuing the battle against prejudice, 
discrimination, and hate.
  Ham Fish brought to this Chamber a sense of dignity and a sense of 
decency. As the scion of a family whose record of public service goes 
back to the days of the American Revolution, he compiled a record of 
which we can all be proud.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have served with Ham Fish, and I was 
privileged that Ham was my friend.
  To his widow, Mary Ann, to his four children, and to his 
grandchildren, we extend our deepest condolences. Ham Fish was a true 
gentleman, and he will be missed.

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