[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H11580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DEDICATION TO HON. RAY THORNTON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Packard] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this time to honor a dear 
friend and colleague of mine, Ray Thornton. Ray will be leaving this 
body soon and before he goes his dedication and fellowship deserves 
high praise. As chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee on 
Appropriations, I would like to thank him for his assistance as ranking 
member.
  Ray assumed the ranking member position this year with great 
enthusiasm and skill. I appreciated his input as well as his 
willingness to work in a friendly and bipartisan way. Together we 
accomplished a great deal. To date, the legislative branch is a full 12 
percent leaner than it was 2 years ago and serves as the model for 
rightsizing the rest of Government.
  Ray contributed tremendously to this effort. He supported and 
advanced our efforts to find additional opportunities to save dollars 
and increase efficiencies here in the legislative branch.
  The Legislative Branch spending bill is primarily about people. Ray's 
administrative background, as a former University of Arkansas 
president, proved invaluable. As Ray and I worked together to rightsize 
this institution, time again he brought his management orientation to 
task.
  Unfortunately, we may be losing Ray to another branch of government 
as he works to assume a judgeship on the Arkansas Supreme Court. His 
dedication and enormous talents will certainly continue to prove 
beneficial to the people of Arkansas. While I wish Ray well in his 
future endeavors, I will miss him as my colleague here in the House and 
on my subcommittee.

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