[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 5, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H10001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             OPENING REMARKS OF THE HONORABLE VITO FOSSELLA

  (Mr. FOSSELLA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, this is truly perhaps the greatest honor 
that could be bestowed upon anyone. The fact that the great people of 
Brooklyn and Staten Island have given me the honor and the privilege 
and the opportunity to serve them in the U.S. House of Representatives 
is something that could not be eclipsed as a public servant.
  On a personal note, let me thank from the bottom of my heart my 
lovely wife Mary Pat; my mother and father, Beth and Vito; and all my 
friends and family who made this journey down to Washington to share 
this special day with me. My son, the essence of our being, is not here 
with us, Dylan, but in absentia. We have our new child to be, my wife 
was expecting our second child yesterday, and she said that if I 
deliver, she will deliver. We are waiting.
  In conclusion, not everyone voted for me yesterday, but to the people 
of Brooklyn and Staten Island and throughout this great, great country, 
the best in the history of the world, let me say that I will never 
break my covenant with them to represent every member of my 
congressional district and to fight for what I believe in, fight for 
this great country, fight for the rights and fight for freedom for all 
of us. Thank you very, very much. This is a tremendous honor.

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