[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO REPRESENTATIVE WALTER CAPPS

  (Mr. BECERRA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to add my words on behalf of a 
friend and someone who unfortunately has left us, Mr. Walter Capps.
  Walter, as most folks also remember, ran earlier in 1994 for election 
and did not win. He barely lost. And in 1996 he did win. I attribute 
his first loss to the fact that he did not run as a politician. I 
attribute his win the second time because folks finally had a chance to 
see shining through the real qualities of this gentleman. He came up 
here to serve, and he came up here as Mr. Smith in that movie came up 
here to serve, and it is unfortunate that he is gone.
  Most folks do not recognize, as well, that a year and a half ago 
Walter nearly lost his life in a car accident that almost took his 
wife's life, as well. He survived that, and I felt the Lord kept him 
here for a reason. Perhaps now, with his death, maybe he did; maybe he 
now wants us to take a look at not just what it means to live, but also 
what it means to die.
  I am very saddened to lose a friend, Walter Capps. I think this whole 
institution is saddened. Unfortunately, the American people, as they 
did not know about his near fatal car accident, as they did not know 
about his first loss, probably did not get enough time to know this 
man, who would have been a unique and essential man to the Congress of 
the United States. I extend my condolences to his family.

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