[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 66 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3628-H3629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTRODUCTION OF THE HONORABLE ROBERT A. BRADY

  (Mr. BORSKI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor today to introduce to 
my colleagues the newest Member from Pennsylvania's first district, Bob 
Brady. On last Tuesday's special election, he is replacing our former 
colleague, the Ambassador to Italy, Tom Foglietta.
  The minority leader mentioned there was no contest. Mr. Brady won 
with an

[[Page H3629]]

overwhelming 77 percent of the vote in his special.
  He is a carpenter by trade. He is a builder, a consensus builder. For 
the past 12 years, he has been the Democratic Party chairman in the 
City of Philadelphia and has done an exceptionally good job. In my 
view, he is the best chairman the city has ever had. His ability to 
build consensus is what makes him such a great chairman and I believe 
will make him such a great Member of this body.
  When the special was called, Mr. Speaker, and when Bob Brady 
announced his intentions to seek this seat, and I believe most of my 
colleagues understand that the First Congressional District of 
Pennsylvania is a majority-minority district, more African-Americans 
than there are white, but when Bob Brady announced his intentions, the 
support that he received from the district was overwhelming from all 
sides, corners, races, religions, and an absolute true testament to the 
kind of a person he is.
  He has demonstrated through his tenure as a chairman the ability to 
work across the aisle and certainly among the races. It is my great 
honor to be able to introduce him here today.
  Mr. Speaker, I would first like to yield to my colleague, the 
gentleman from Philadelphia (Mr. Fattah).
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Borski), the senior congressman from our city, for yielding. I 
also would like to welcome and add in part to this introduction of 
Robert Brady to the United States Congress.
  This body is made up of Members who come here from all walks of life 
and who have a desire to serve the public. Bob Brady is going to fit in 
extraordinarily well, because he has walked through all of the shoes of 
the lives of millions of people in the southeastern area of 
Philadelphia region. He has worked with people to help constructively 
engage them in the political process.
  He is someone I have known for at least 2 decades now who has worked 
with me and worked with others in Philadelphia to help us as we strive 
to serve in public life. I want to welcome him, acknowledge his family 
who I know very, very well, his wife and his mother and others who are 
here. But I just wanted to say to my friend, welcome to the United 
States Congress.
  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Weldon).
  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for 
yielding to me, and let me join in this side of the aisle in welcoming 
our newest Member to Congress.
  Bob, you represent the American dream. You are here today with your 
family and your friends and all those carpenters and those building 
trade workers around Pennsylvania and the region are here with you 
because they understand the fight that you have taken, the fight for 
jobs and better working conditions for people throughout our region.
  As you know, I represented at one point in time or another probably a 
third to a half of the district that you now have. I had southwest 
Philadelphia and the Delaware County waterfront area that is now a part 
of your district. They are all good people. They are just like you.
  The reason why Bob Brady is going to be such a great Member of 
Congress is he has never forgotten his roots. He understands that this 
job in the end is really about helping those people that you have 
walked the streets with, that you have actually helped in constructing 
our city and our region. We are all very happy and pleased to have you 
here.
  As a Republican with the great State of Pennsylvania, we join with 
you as what is a tradition in our State, bipartisan cooperation on 
behalf of our people. Congratulations and best wishes.
  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Fox).
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to also rise to 
salute our newest congressman, Congressman Bob Brady from Pennsylvania, 
who, as discussed earlier by prior speakers, has always been someone 
who has been a consensus builder, but he is also a coalition builder, 
someone to bring disparate groups together for a common good.
  He has always been a great listener. To be a great congressman, you 
have to be a good listener. As a people person, he will work to make 
sure that, not only make sure the First District is represented, but he 
also has a regional view to not only what is good for Philadelphia, but 
what is good for Pennsylvania and what is good for the Nation.
  Knowing of his principles and his core beliefs, we will have a great 
congressman come forward to help make this Nation stronger and help 
make this House stronger.
  Congratulations to Bob Brady and his family, and we are looking 
forward to serving with him.
  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to introduce to you 
a man of the people to the people's House, Congressman Bob Brady.

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