[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 135 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H9245-H9252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE JOSEPH M. McDADE, MEMBER OF CONGRESS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 7, 1997, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) is
recognized for 60 minutes.
General Leave
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on the special order to follow.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joe McDade, one of
our colleagues, indeed, one of the most illustrious colleagues many of
us have had the privilege to serve with in this Congress.
As we know, Joe is retiring after 18 terms in the Congress, 36 years
of service to our country. Indeed, Joe McDade is an extraordinary
person, an extraordinary Pennsylvanian, an extraordinary American. He
is one of the most highly respected Members of this Congress, and for
good reason. Joe McDade, if he has been anything here, he has been a
builder. He has been a positive force, not only for his district and
for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but for the United States of
America.
Joe McDade has made an imprint which will last for generations.
Indeed, as a senior member of the Committee on Appropriations, Joe
McDade was deeply involved in providing for the strong national defense
which was so crucial in leading to our winning the Cold War. As a
member of that Committee on Appropriations, as well as his service on
other committees, Joe McDade was deeply involved in the economic
development, not only of his district, but of Pennsylvania and the
Nation.
Mr. Speaker, we honor Joe McDade here today because he is so
deserving of the honor, and, not only the honor, but the respect and
the gratitude of not only the Members of this body, but of the entire
country, and certainly of Pennsylvania and his beloved Congressional
District.
Joe McDade has been through some grossly unfair times, but he has
emerged unscathed; not only unscathed, he has not only survived, he has
prevailed, and he has prevailed with the blessing and the respect and
the support of everyone who knows him. His honor, his integrity, his
character shines as an example to all of us.
So we salute this giant, and we salute his wife, Sarah, and his
family, and we say Godspeed, because we know Joe will have many, many
months and years of opportunity to continue not only enjoying the
fruits of his labor, but of continuing to make a contribution to his
state and to the country.
So I would conclude by saying to our colleague, Joe McDade, that as
long as our Pennsylvania mountains turn green in the springtime and as
long as our rivers run down to the ocean, your impact will be felt by
future generations of Pennsylvanians and of Americans, because you, Joe
McDade, have made a positive impact for the future of our country.
I am pleased to yield to the distinguished senior Democrat of our
Pennsylvania delegation (Mr. Murtha).
Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, Bud Shuster and I came to Congress about the
same time, and Joe McDade at that time was a legend. He came 10 years
before we came to Congress, and he has dedicated himself not only to
the people of Pennsylvania, but to the people of this Nation.
Joe and I feel that our finest hour since we have been in Congress
was when we were the chairman and ranking member of the appropriations
subcommittee on defense during the war. Everything that happened during
the war, we worked on, we had something to do with it. Before that, we
made sure the appropriations were available to have the readiness that
was necessary for that war to be carried out to the tremendous
conclusion it was carried out to. Both of us supported George Bush,
President Bush, in everything that he did, and I think we played a
major role in getting the authorization to go to war and the
appropriations necessary for that to be carried out adequately.
But, just as important as that is the impact Joe McDade has had in
this Congress with withstanding the prosecution by the Justice
Department, the unfair prosecution.
They came to his home and for six years they harassed him. They tried
to get him to give in.
They had a frivolous case. They leaked information. I sat beside Joe
McDade, as the rest of us did in Pennsylvania. We knew that any charges
they brought against him would be frivolous and that it would be
inadequate, and we knew Joe, how honest he was. In all the years that
he served on the defense subcommittee, which had as much as $300
billion in it, never once did he try to get something done for
financial reasons. Everything he did was what was good for the country.
So when they finally indicted him, the charges absolutely would have
been devastating to the House of Representatives. If he had been
convicted, it would have meant that every campaign contribution was
considered a bribe. If he had been convicted, it meant that every
honorarium would have been considered an illegal gratuity. The impact
it would have had on the Congress would have been chilling.
The Justice Department was trying to intimidate the House of
Representatives, and Joe McDade withstood this tremendous pressure. It
affected his health, it affected him emotionally, and it affected him
physically. I watched him endure this. He and Sarah put up with this
tremendous challenge, and they overcame it.
When it went to the jury, the jury decided in a couple of hours that
the whole case was frivolous, that what they were doing was outrageous,
and the procedures were outrageous. I am proud to say that the House of
Representatives passed overwhelmingly a bill to force the Justice
Department to follow the ethics of the states that they are practicing
in, and certainly that is not too much to ask.
[[Page H9246]]
But think what he has done in protecting the House of
Representatives. The ordinary citizen cannot raise $1 million to
protect themselves. The ordinary citizen has to give in. Why in some
cases does the Justice Department brag about a 98 percent conviction
rate? Because people have to give in. They have to compromise. They go
after the sons or daughters of the families with unjust situations.
Joe McDade is one of the finest people to ever have served in this
great institution. We are at the pinnacle of power. This country right
now is the most influential it has ever been, economically and
militarily, and we can be proud to say, myself and those who have
served with Joe McDade, what an outstanding American he is and what a
tremendous service he has done to this country and to this great House
of Representatives.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the distinguished
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers).
Mr. ROGERS. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise also to pay tribute to our friend, a true
patriot, a true statesman, a man we are all proud to call our friend,
the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Joe McDade. In his service for his
district for 18 terms, a remarkable span of over 35 years, he has
provided a source of inspiration for many of us, including this Member,
in the initiatives and policies he has pursued and the way in which he
has done so. Whether it was his focus to create new and better
opportunities to the small businesses in his area, or his efforts to
protect and restore the environment, or his pursuit to secure funds for
hospitals, highways and schools, Joe McDade has led by example.
Of particular interest to this member and the constituents I
represent has been Joe's dogged determination to fund environmental
infrastructure, providing millions of dollars for water and sewer
improvements, flood control, abandoned mine stabilization and the like.
Many of us take for granted these commonalities of clean water and
modern wastewater treatment facilities, but I can tell you firsthand
what a difference these initiatives make in people's lives. An effort
such as these can literally turn the tide against unemployment, with
good paying jobs, local citizens working better, and creating the
environment that people are proud to call home.
We could go on and on about Joe's accomplishments, but I believe his
record speaks for itself. For me it has been within the inner workings
of the Committee on Appropriations where Joe has served since 1965 that
we have come to know him best. But whatever his subcommittee
assignment, Joe provided leadership when we needed it in a bipartisan
fashion. When compromise was needed, Joe was there to broker the deal.
Likewise, when a firm hand was needed, Joe was there to throw down the
gauntlet. Needless to say, Joe got things done.
His latest accomplishment and example of his natural leadership came
in the fiscal year 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations
bill, just finished, where he serves as the Subcommittee Chairman. I
can say that given the circumstances he had to endure this year, the
1999 bill was the finest we have seen brought to the floor. He
certainly saved his best for last.
In closing, I will simply say it has been an honor, a pleasure, to
serve with the gentleman from Pennsylvania. He has given us leadership,
he has given us courage, and an overwhelming devotion to the American
people for nearly four decades, and this institution will not be the
same without Joe McDade.
Whatever his endeavors in the future, we know that it will always
display the same compassion, understanding and devotion, as he always
has here in this body.
We wish Joe McDade and his family all the best, and we will truly
miss him here.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished Congressman
from Pennsylvania, Mr. Kanjorski.
Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a Member of Congress that
shares a common border with the 10th district in northeastern
Pennsylvania. The name ``Joe McDade'' is famous. As a matter of fact,
he came to this Congress as the immediate successor to the Honorable
William Scranton, who later went on to become an outstanding Governor
of Pennsylvania and the United States representative to the United
Nations. Joe McDade followed in his tradition, and for 36 years has
been as an individual more responsible for the economic recovery of his
district and northeastern Pennsylvania than any other Member.
{time} 1830
He also, in the course of his service to his constituents, raised
bipartisanship to a new level. An immediate predecessor of mine was the
honorable Daniel Flood, and Joe came as a junior member to Congressman
Flood, but together worked for the benefits of northeastern
Pennsylvania, to such an extent that in 1972 when Flood Agnes struck
northeastern Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley, it was not one Congressman
that represented the 11th district, Dan Flood, that worked alone; it
was two Congressmen. The people of my district will always be in debt
to the honorable Joe McDade.
Mr. Speaker, I may say for my colleagues, those of them who have not
had the honor and privilege of visiting Joe's district of northeastern
Pennsylvania, take an opportunity and also take a lesson. Anywhere you
travel in the 10th congressional district of Pennsylvania and you
mention the name Joe McDade, whether it be Republican, Democrat or
Independent, there is only high respect to the individual as a person
and for his public service. They have memorialized that throughout that
district with McDade Park, the McDade Highway, and on and on. Mr.
Speaker, he will live for centuries to come because of his good
efforts.
Mr. Speaker, we are working together, I hope, to see that a further
tribute be paid to our great friend and our great Congressman and an
outstanding Member of this House, and my good friend, Joe McDade.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. As he well knows, we
are indeed working on a further tribute for the distinguished gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. McDade).
I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate my
colleague yielding and taking a moment to speak about our dear friend,
Joe McDade. I would like to mention 3 elements of my own relationship.
I would like to mention a bit about Joe McDade as a leader, a bit about
him as a professional, and a bit about him as a friend.
Mr. Speaker, I must say that there are many in Washington over the
years who inspire. Few in my lifetime in public affairs have been more
inspiring than Joe McDade. He is a leader's leader.
In California in one of our great buildings there is inscribed,
``Bring me men to match my mountains,'' and if there is a man who
matches anybody's mountain, it is Congressman Joe McDade. For all of
these years, holding nearest to his heart the importance of this
institution and making certain that the institution remained as strong
or much stronger than before he dreamt of coming to the Congress
himself.
As a professional, he has been an inspiration for me in my committee
work over the years. I will never forget the Joint Chiefs of Staff when
Joe took them on a tour of the world regarding personnel, and he knew
more about that subject than anybody in the room. He was an inspiration
to those who would but learn by listening to him as a leader.
As I friend, I cannot match Joe as a friend anywhere, one of the
great men of the Congress who I am proud to say is my very dear friend.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
I am pleased to yield to the distinguished gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden).
Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues
tonight to pay tribute to our good friend, Joe McDade. It has been
said, and we all know what honor and distinction Joe McDade has served
with for 36 years, and what he has done for this country and for
Pennsylvania and for his district. But what I will always remember is
how Joe McDade helps all of us help our constituents.
I will just give my colleagues two examples. Joe McDade and Paul
Kanjorski and myself have the great honor
[[Page H9247]]
of representing the anthracite coal fields of northeastern
Pennsylvania. There was a time when coal was king. That is no longer
true, but we have a lot of hard working miners in our 3 districts,
primarily mine and Paul's, not so much Joe's anymore. Joe realized that
this was a clean-burning fuel, and it was something that we needed to
help maintain and sustain and create jobs and through his efforts on
the Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations, we were able to find
alternative markets that helped the miners of Schuylkill and
Northumberland and Lackawanna Counties. And my constituents in
Northumberland County on the Susquehanna River who are constantly in
peril of flooding, and in the winter of 1996 found themselves facing
difficult situations and a serious flood situation. Through the help of
our good friend, my good friend, Joe McDade, we were able to secure
funds for flood control that helped the City of Sunbury and the Borough
of Northumberland, as well as the Borough of Milton.
So Joe, on behalf of the constituents of the 6th congressional
district, thanks for all you do for all of us.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas).
Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. It is
true in the early 1960s, a handsome guy from Scranton was elected to
the House of Representatives. He came from a great family, a great
background, beloved of the area and the community, well-known in all of
Pennsylvania. Of course I am speaking of Bill Scranton. And then, when
Bill finished his distinguished service here in the House of
Representatives, we drafted him to become governor of Pennsylvania. Lo
and behold, the mold that he had set, Bill Scranton had, was filled
immediately by Joe McDade who, with his gentleness, his ability to work
with people, has accomplished all of the matters to which reference has
been made here this evening with which I concur.
But I think the real sign of the Joe McDade that we all know and
respect came one day when, as I learned later, in a golf tournament
involving Members of the House, the contest for longest ball was in
progress, and at the end of the day it was announced that Joe McDade,
little Joe McDade had the longest drive, some 325 yards. This went
unheralded, because Joe McDade never bragged about his feats on the
golf course. He was always quiet and worked with people and never
bragged about anything.
Well, that, to me, is how he operated in the Congress of the United
States. He always hit the long ball, but always with dignity, always
with respect for the other, always without heralding his efforts,
always without seeking to take credit for it.
But here tonight, as we bestow our tribute to him, as did the golfers
on that day when they acknowledged that he was the long ball hitter, we
here tonight say, he hit the long ball for Pennsylvania throughout all
of his tenure in the House of Representatives.
Mr. SHUSTER. I thank the gentleman. I am pleased to yield to the
distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Mascara).
Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and
allowing me to honor Congressman McDade.
Mr. Speaker, as this Congress comes to a close, we will be saying our
fond farewells to one of this institution's finest legislators, Joseph
McDade. As the longest serving Member of his party and the most senior
Member of the Pennsylvania delegation, Joe McDade has made a lasting
contribution to this institution.
From his ranking position as vice chairman of the Appropriations
Subcommittee on Defense, Joe McDade pressed for a stronger defense to
match the Soviet military buildup of the 1980s. He has also worked hard
helping constituents devastated by the closing of coal mine operations
to find new careers through job training and increased local
investment. The University of Scranton, in his hometown, has honored
his commitment to the community by dedicating the Joseph M. McDade
Center of Technology after its proud son.
Joe McDade has always devoted much of his time to the Washington D.C.
community, serving as a trustee of the Kennedy Center, the National
Cultural Center, and also as a member of the board of trustees of the
Ford's Theatre. The Pennsylvania delegation will greatly miss the
friendship and leadership that Joseph McDade provided throughout his
lifetime of service in the House of Representatives.
Mr. Speaker, I can say as a Member of the 104th Congress, one of 13,
Joe, you have made me feel welcome, and when I had a project that
needed some help, you did not care whether I was a Democrat or not, and
I will never forget that. Joe, I wish you Godspeed, and God bless you.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the distinguished
Chairman of the Committee on Rules (Mr. Solomon).
Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Chairman, the distinguished
gentleman from Pennsylvania, because I would like to take a few
minutes. I do not have any prepared remarks either, but when I came
here 20 years ago, looking around this Chamber and wondering who you
can trust, who you can take their word for, and when I looked at Joe
McDade and talked to you and others, because I served on your committee
when I first came here 20 years ago, and you said Joe McDade is a man
of integrity, he is a man you can trust, he is a man that will always
tell it like it is. It did not take long for that to prove true,
because in all of the years that I have had the privilege of working
with that gentleman over there, he is one of the most respected Members
of this body, and I greatly admire and respect him. I know every other
man does too, and woman, of this body.
Joe, we just wish you Godspeed. I think that you are not the type of
person that just goes and retires in a rocking chair. You will seek a
new career and you will be a great success, because you are a great man
and a great American, and we salute you, sir.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle).
Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere admiration
and great fondness for Representative Joe McDade. It is clear from the
number of Members who have gathered here this evening to pay tribute to
Joe that he will not just be missed by one party or the delegation of
one State, but by a vast and diverse group of people.
As a Member who personally strives to put progress above
partisanship, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the
opportunity to work with and, more importantly, to learn from, Joe
McDade as well as Jack Murtha, both of whom have an outstanding
reputation in this regard.
The list of accomplishments that have been amassed since Joe was
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1962 is both long and
impressive. Equally impressive is the list of accomplishments that Joe
has helped other Members to achieve. Joe, I cannot thank you enough for
the concern that you have shown for the interests of the 18th
congressional district. Locks and dams 2, 3 and 4 on the Monongahela
River, DOE initiatives and the Pittsburgh supercomputer, just to name a
few.
Without question, Joe, your presence will not be easily replaced. I
will miss you both personally and professionally, and I wish you and
your family, your wife, Sara and your children, Joseph, Aileen,
Deborah, Mark and Jared, all the best. Joe, take care and God bless.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the distinguished
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon).
Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished
leader from Pennsylvania for yielding, and I rise to pay my personal
respects to my leader and my mentor for the past 14 years. I say 14
years, even though I am only in my 6th term, because if it were not for
the gentleman that we are honoring tonight, I probably would not be
here.
Back in the mid 1980s when my colleagues in Delaware County suggested
I consider running for Congress, I said, what does this entail? They
said, we want you to go down to Washington and meet with this fellow
named Joe McDade. Now, I had heard of Joe's name and his reputation,
but I had not had the honor to meet him.
I came to Washington and met with him. He gave me some very wise
advice about campaigning and what it would
[[Page H9248]]
take to win the seat, and while I did not win the seat that year I lost
by 400 votes out of 249,000, I did come back the following year and,
winning by 60,000, Joe took me under his wings.
It was Joe McDade who got me a seat on the Committee on National
Security because Joe was our point person on the committee on
committees. And it was over the first few years in that committee that
I saw Joe McDade as a leader, not just on behalf of Pennsylvania, and
not just on behalf of national security, but a leader on behalf of this
country.
Without a doubt, Joe McDade has had on the Republican side as much
impact on the security of our Nation and the ability of our troops to
respond around the world as any other single Member, certainly in my
lifetime. That reputation continues today, and it will be very
difficult for anyone in the Republican Party to top. Working together
with our colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), Joe
McDade and Jack Murtha formed a team that has been unbeatable in this
institution.
But, Mr. Speaker, as one looks to a person like Joe McDade, who not
only was the key leader for our commonwealth in so many different
areas, and not just his role on the Committee on National Security
where he was a key leader for Members on both sides of the aisle, but
as the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) said earlier, a leader
for us in the Congress to make sure the integrity of this institution
would be forever retained.
I think the greatest legacy of Joe McDade is something we all strive
for when we come here, and that is when we leave, what will people say
about us? Now, we are all considered politicians, because that is our
business. But I think we all seek to attain the moniker of statesman,
and Joe, without a doubt, has achieved that title.
He is truly a statesman, because in the 12 years I have been in
Congress I have never heard Joe McDade utter one bad word about any
other Member of this Congress, Republican or Democrat, irregardless of
what that Member might have done.
{time} 1845
But likewise, in my 12 years in Congress, I have never heard any
Member of this institution, in either party, utter any disparaging
comments about the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade). In
fact, every time Joe McDade's name is discussed, it is always in the
context of a gentleman, a leader, a friend, a true statesman; someone
who has set the tone, and a role model for every future official who
will serve in this great institution.
I thank my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Joe McDade), for being such a friend and role model for all of us.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the distinguished
gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan).
Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues today
in tribute to a great legislator and friend, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade), of Pennsylvania's 10th District.
As other speakers have noted, the service of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) has impacted his country and his district
in a very powerful way. His is a distinguished career, and it has
earned the admiration of Members on both sides of the aisle.
It is difficult in a few moments to give due credit to a Member's
service in this House, and it becomes particularly impossible when that
service spans almost four decades, and is so full of accomplishments.
But I would like to note in particular our appreciation for the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. McDade's) work on critical defense
issues, for his leadership in addressing national energy problems, for
his stewardship of historical, cultural, and environmental resources,
for his success in stimulating small business development, for his
efforts to improve housing in rural areas, emphasizing the needs of the
elderly, the handicapped, and low-income families, and for his focus on
parks and recreation.
The record of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. McDade) is one of
solid achievement, and it is a compliment to his constituents that they
have faithfully recognized the value of his service.
For those of us who had the pleasure of working with him, it is no
mystery why he is so effective. It is because of his strong work ethic,
his sharp intellect, and his gentlemanly manner. That last trait is
what I will remember most about serving with the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade). I will always admire how he shows
kindness, without fail, to everyone around him. He is a model of
congressional courtesy, and it is a joy to work with someone who is so
good-natured, so polite, so decent in every situation.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) is, in every
respect, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, and will be greatly missed by
us all. As we salute his service, we offer our warm wishes to him and
his family, his lovely wife Sarah and their five children. We thank the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. McDade), and wish him our best always.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the distinguished
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling).
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
Mr. Speaker, when I came to the Congress of the United States, the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) was already a king on the
Hill. My dad said, you will want to get to know the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade). He said, you will want to get to know
him for two reasons. First of all, he is a wonderful gentleman, but
secondly, you are going to need him. It did not take me long to realize
that I truly was going to need him.
Scranton, the Scranton area, is going to lose just an outstanding
legislator, but even more than that, we in the Pennsylvania delegation
are going to lose one wonderful leader. It did not take me long to
realize that if my businesses were going to survive, having so many
that deal with defense in my area, I had better get to know the
gentlemen from Pennsylvania, Mr. Joe McDade and Mr. John Murtha, very
well. I can go next door and get transportation, but I have to go a
little further away in order to get all of that kind of help.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) became a real mentor
of mine. There is one thing, however, that always surprised me about
Joe, which is that he speaks two languages. What always confused me is
how could he get down there in the well and know which language to use,
but he never slipped up. He always used the correct language.
He is just one wonderful gentleman, and we are going to miss him, but
more importantly, the residents of the Scranton area truly are losing
an outstanding legislator. I wish him the best, and many, many years of
happiness. Come back and tell us what we are doing wrong, get us
straightened out. We know the gentleman will, in a kind, gentle way. I
thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) for his service
to the country.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. McHale).
Mr. McHALE. Mr. Speaker, when I arrived in the Congress some 6 years
ago, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) had already
served here for three decades.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) is present in the
Chamber as we speak this evening. I say to the gentleman, I hope he has
some sense of not only the respect that we feel toward him, but the
deep affection we feel for him.
Many Members of this House over a period of time will, through their
own actions, earn respect. We certainly hope that to be the norm. No
Member of this House is more beloved than the gentleman is. When I
first arrived here, I talked to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
McDade) on numerous occasions about the assistance that he and the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. John Murtha) could give to me and to
my district before the Committee on Appropriations. I was a junior
member of the other party, and despite that fact, every time I needed
help, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) was there.
Mr. Speaker, I can speak in the next few minutes about the tremendous
contribution the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) has made
to
[[Page H9249]]
the University of Scranton, my father's alma mater. At that school, I
say to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, as well as here in the halls of
Congress, there is a clear recognition of all that the gentleman has
done.
I think back on the definition of courage that was brought forward by
Ernest Hemingway, one of our great writers. Mr. Hemingway once said
that courage is best defined as grace under pressure. During the 6
years that I have served with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe
McDade), there have been times when, unjustly, he faced a great deal of
pressure. He continued to perform his duties on behalf of the people of
the 10th District of Pennsylvania with unfailing consistency and
dedication. He has been courageous in the truest sense of that word.
I say to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade), we will
deeply miss him, not only as colleagues but as friends. We hold for him
an unlimited degree of personal affection.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the distinguished
gentleman from California (Mr. Cox).
Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to be up here with my colleagues on such a
wonderful occasion to pay tribute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Joe McDade). It has been mentioned that he came here so many years
ago during the Kennedy administration. He was a wonderful lawyer in
private practice after having graduated from law school at Penn.
He went to the University of Notre Dame, which befits his Irish
background. It is hard for me to pay tribute to that part of his
background, inasmuch as I am an alum of the University of Southern
California, and Notre Dame has, particularly in recent, I should say
decades, whupped the Trojans.
What can we say about a man who comes to Congress, serves 10 years as
a Republican, and while he is picking up the Republican nomination,
wins the Democratic primary as a write-in? What can we say about
someone who, at this juncture, still more decades later, can sit here
on the floor and listen to Democrats and Republicans come up and praise
not only what he has done for all of us, leading by example, being our
friend, but what he has done for the country?
One of my colleagues just mentioned that no one in Congress has done
more for the national security. For all those years that we had a
military buildup, the appropriators, the Committee on Appropriations,
was looked to to put money into the Pentagon in order to win the Cold
War, but we too little recognize what they have done even more
recently.
Since America won the Cold War, due to the determination and
leadership of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) and a
handful of others like him, we have been able to pare back that
spending. Since America won the Cold War, we have saved a cumulative
total of $1 trillion on Pentagon spending. We owe that, as well as the
victory that preceded the peace dividend, to leaders, chief among whom
is the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade).
Mr. Speaker, I have had a chance to go out to dinner with Joe and his
family, and in particular, his youngest son, who is just a shade older
than my oldest. It is a lot of fun to see the family side of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) and Sarah. I cannot
imagine, after having been in politics as long as the gentleman has,
that he can be so upbeat and provide so much spirit to the rest of us,
having taken the body blows that are often traded in politics, survived
them, but excelled, in spite of them, to remain a gentleman, to remain
humble, and to always keep his smile. That is the strongest and best
example the gentleman can provide to every one of us.
The gentleman has served our country well, he has bettered this
institution, he has led by his example, he has left many friends. We
love him very much.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentlewoman
from Florida (Mrs. Meek).
Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Florida. I was not aware that this was happening this afternoon, and as
God would have it, I passed through here after a markup and I saw the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) sitting over in the
corner.
I must say, Mr. Chairman, that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Joe McDade) to me is sort of a renaissance man. He covers all aspects
of what we do here in the Congress. He has a very big heart for all
people.
I met the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) first when we
served on the Subcommittee on Energy and Water. Never have I worked
with anyone with such a strong gentleness of purpose. He knew exactly
the whole entire field. He did not mind sharing with those of us who
knew less. He was fair. He had good judgment. Most of all, Mr. Speaker,
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) is a very intelligent
man, able to talk on almost all the subjects and more that we know
about.
I love the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade). I have seen
him go through the ups and downs, and he is a man for all seasons. He
can face adversity and still do a job. He can face adversity and still
smile and talk and shake hands with his colleagues.
I am very, very sure, Mr. Speaker, that when the history of this
Congress is written, the name of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
McDade) will be very high at the top of those who achieve the kind of
good will, the kind of working with others, that he has done. He is a
credit to this House. He is a credit to the Congress. The people of
this country, I am sure, will always worship the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade).
I want to say to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade),
God bless me for having crossed your path. I thank the gentleman.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the distinguished
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf).
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to pay tribute to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade). I did not know this was taking place. I
happened to look at the television in my office. I just wanted to come
over and pay my respects.
I was a staff member for a Republican Member of Congress years ago,
Congressman Biester, and I always admired the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) then. Then I got a job as congressional
relations assistant to Secretary Rogers C.B. Morton. I remember, my
first visit here on the Hill was to pay a courtesy call by the office
of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. McDade) for Mr. Morton, who was
then Secretary of the Interior.
Mr. Speaker, I have learned a lot from the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade), and I have admired him. The gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) lived, in some respects, in my
congressional district for a long period, in Arlington. Everything the
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek) said was exactly true. The
gentleman has always had a great disposition, and I just want to second
literally everything that has been said, but kind of present my body
here as a living testimony of my admiration and respect, and look
forward to really a good friendship for many, many years to come. May
God bless you, Joe.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Pastor).
Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I too was walking through the hall and heard
the accolades that were given to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Joe McDade). I have to tell the Members, I have to take at least a
minute to let the gentleman from Pennsylvania and the Speaker know that
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) is a great man.
Back in 1991 when I first came to Congress, I did not know too much
about Congress, nor did I know too many Members of Congress, except the
ones from Arizona. However, there was a gentleman here who shared a
story, who shared a smile, and shared some advice.
I got to know the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) a
little bit. He went through some very hard times, but I have to tell
the Members, he is a man that, under adverse situations, still kept a
smile, kept the positive attitude, and was very friendly to everyone in
this House.
Mr. Speaker, I had the honor of being under the gentleman's
leadership in the Subcommittee on Energy and
[[Page H9250]]
Water. I have to tell the Members that he was a leader for the entire
committee. He treated every Member with respect. He treated every
Member in the way that all of us want to be treated.
I never saw him get cross, but I have to tell the Members that there
were many department heads from the Department of Energy or Corps of
Engineers who would come and testify, and he may not have agreed with
them, but he was always, in a very positive manner, letting them know
that their policy was not going to work in this Congress.
{time} 1900
I have great admiration for Joe McDade. I wish him well. He served
this House well. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the distinguished
gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh).
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Shuster) for organizing this wonderful tribute to our good friend and
colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. McDade).
The gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) alluded to his Notre Dame
background and his Irish heritage. I too am of Irish heritage. This is
a little bit like an Irish wake, a lot more subdued than a lot that I
have been at. But the good news is that the honoree is quite alive and
lively to hear these nice things, and what a treat it is for all of us.
Congressman McDade got me started off on the Committee on
Appropriations. To this day, he still refers to me as ``mayor,'' having
appointed me to the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia of the
Committee on Appropriations, and I had no idea what a challenge that
would be. But he was always there with advice and counsel along the
way, as he has been on so many things.
Congressman McDade is a friend, not only of mine, but of my family.
My dad, Bill Walsh, who served with Joe back in the 1970s sends his
regard and his best wishes. And Joe never hesitates or forgets to ask
about dad, and he is doing quite well.
Congressman McDade is a man who never forgot where he came from. He
has the same positive outlook about life in spite of all of the
difficulties that you go through in public life, quick to smile, quick
with advice, thoughtful, serving on the Committee on Appropriations and
being in conference meetings when things get hectic and tense.
Joe always spoke with authority and with knowledge of the issues. If
there is one thing that separates the wheat from the chaff in a
legislative endeavor, it is when someone with authority and knowledge
speaks. Everyone else stops, and they listen because chances are they
are listening to find a way out of the thicket that they are in.
Joe is always there with that thoughtfulness, with that ability to
help us to get through to work out the compromise, to make things work.
It is that approach to government that has inspired so many of us to
try to capture that same view and to continue that fine tradition that
he has laid down for all of us.
So, Joe, thank you for everything. Both personally and as a citizen
of the United States, we owe you a great deal.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the distinguished
gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton).
Mr. HOUGHTON. Mr. Speaker, I wish there were more discussions like
this, people from both sides of the aisle talking about positive things
and talking about individuals like Congressman McDade.
But I want to admonish Congressman McDade. You do not want to inhale
everything that has been said, because so many nice things have been
said about you.
I look at Congressman McDade in a couple of ways. First of all,
having been in business so many years, the one thing you want in a
director or employee or a stockholder or somebody when times are tough
is somebody who is going to be with you. And you do not know what it
is. You do not know what you are going to ask of them, but you have a
sense in their character that they are going to be there.
I know this personally because of a situation that occurred, not only
in Mr. McDade's State, but in mine in 1972 when we had Hurricane Agnes,
and there was terrible flooding. The response from people like Mr.
McDade and his associates was extraordinary. We literally could not
have gotten through that if it had not been for the efforts of the
people up there who lived and breathed it and understood it and
suffered through it.
So I do not think anybody in the area that I represent will ever
forget that. It is something to remember. It is something important to
all of us.
The other thing is I have always felt that we have a limited period
of life, and time is the most precious thing. Many times, it is more
important who you do something with than what you do. The fact that we
have been able to do something with you, Joe, has made it all worth the
ride. I thank you very much for that.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. English).
Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply grateful for
the chance to participate in this tribute. Joe McDade has been a great
friend to all of us. He has been an institution within this
institution, and that is for a variety of reasons.
Joe McDade is a great gentleman, as has been noted here. For that
reason, he has, almost unique in this institution, a set of warm
relationships that cut across party lines.
He brings to the House an institutional memory that I think we all
value. He is a master mechanic of the process. He is also someone who
has been willing to lend his wise counsel to junior Members like me.
Joe, I can remember a lot of projects you and I have worked on
together where your advice has been critical to my getting it done;
first and foremost, my getting on Ways and Means as a freshman. I will
always be grateful to you for your essential role in that.
You have been a huge champion of all of Pennsylvania. I will tell
you, as long as I am in this body, I will aspire to be like Joe McDade.
We already have, though, one small thing in common, and that is we both
had big shoes to fill as freshmen, because we succeeded popular Members
who were elected Governor.
There is a gentleman, Joe's predecessor, and who still is his
constituent, who sent me a statement that I would like to read because
it encapsulates my sentiments about Joe McDade. He wrote: ``Joe McDade
is not only the best Congressman this District has ever had but we
think he is the best Congressman any District ever had!''
``He thinks deeply, he works hard and he gets things done in the
right way.''
Signed Bill Scranton.
I could not have said it any better myself.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from
New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen).
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman
for yielding to me and to join with many of my colleagues in
recognizing Congressman Joe McDade.
For those of us who were lucky enough a week or so ago to attend
Joe's retirement dinner, the film that was shown at that dinner
captured you from your earliest days as a child throughout your entire
public career. It made many of us new to this institution have a
greater appreciation, not only for the institution, but for the major
role you played in representing our Nation and most particularly the
State of Pennsylvania for so many years.
I wanted to thank Joe McDade, a wonderful Member of Congress for
taking time out as a senior Member of the House to be a friend to a
relatively new Member of the House. I would like to thank him for his
advice over 4 years as a Member of the House, but also for his advice
even before I was sworn in as a Member.
Congressman McDade served as a Member of the House when my father
Peter Frelinghuysen was a Member, and I knew of him, made his
acquaintance, and he befriended me and has been a wise advisor and
counselor.
I would also like to thank Congressman Joe McDade for his
perspective, unique perspective on the appropriations process and on
the committee and for his leadership on that committee, most
particularly for his assistance to my State of New Jersey and
[[Page H9251]]
other States as chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water
Development.
I will particularly remember his admonition never to apologize for
being parochial, that in fact if one is not parochial on any committee
as a Member of Congress, you will soon be replaced by somebody who is
parochial.
I would like to thank Joe as well, Congressman Joe McDade for taking
time out of his busy life to visit my district in New Jersey, the 11th
Congressional District, most particularly the Picatinny Arsenal.
Tobyhanna and Picatinny in some ways are joined at the hip in terms of
serving our national defense. But your personal time and visit to the
Picatinny Arsenal did a lot to boost the morale of many thousands of
men and women who dedicate themselves to the research and development.
Above all, I want to wish Joe and Sarah many happy years ahead and to
say what a privilege it has been to serve with you, as my father did
for so many years in this body.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the distinguished
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson), the newest Member of our
Pennsylvania delegation.
Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) for giving me this opportunity.
Congressman Joe McDade, we thank you for the service you have given,
not only your district of Pennsylvania, but this country. I am going to
give a little different perspective.
I have known Joe 14 years. I have known of him a lot longer than
that. But 14 years ago, when I was running for the Pennsylvania Senate,
we met in Potter County where he was so capably serving that county,
and then we have been friends ever since.
But Joe, I, we have heard here tonight the tremendous admiration in
this body for you. But I can tell you from God's country, Potter
County, where you used to serve them so capably, they respect you. They
are thankful of how you served, and they have a deep affection for you.
In Congress, I serve three counties, one he serves a part of, and the
other two he used to serve. And I can tell you there from Tioga County
and Clinton County, they also have the greatest respect for you, the
affection for you, and they miss you.
His record speaks for itself, reelected overwhelmingly 18 times, many
times by almost unanimous vote. A potential candidate, I think this
says it best, said to me, who really had a shot of being his
replacement, he said ``How can I compete with this record? How can I
compete with the shadow that he has cast with the tremendous affection
and respect in that district?'' I looked at him, and I said you cannot.
I cannot.
He is not the average congressman. He is the exception. He is a
gentle giant, and you cannot compete with him. That man did not run. I
may have discouraged him, but he could not compete; and he should not
run for that reason.
Joe McDade, the Congressman of the 10th District is the exception,
not the rule. He has been extremely effective. But on top of that, he
has been kind. He has been compassionate. He cares about his district,
and he cares about his colleagues. As many have said, he has played a
great influence in the defense of this country, one of our most
important issues we deal with.
Joe, I only regret that I did not have more time to learn from you as
I continue to serve my District. Thank you for being a friend and
neighbor.
Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to join my colleagues
here in the House chamber today to honor and pay tribute to our good
friend Joe McDade of Pennsylvania. I certainly share many of the
sentiments that have been expressed today from the members of the
Pennsylvania delegation, noting the enormous contributions Joe has made
to the state and to the 10th District. His legacy there will be
monumental. But I would also like to remark that his contributions
extend far beyond the boundaries of the State of Pennsylvania. I have
worked with him on the Appropriations Committee since I entered
Congress in 1977, and have come to appreciate his sincere interest in
improving the lives of others, preserving our national heritage, and in
maintaining a strong national defense. I have served with Joe on the
Defense and Interior Appropriations Subcommittees, and I want to
express my gratitude for his insight and his counsel in these two
areas. Joe has been a forceful advocate for maintaining military
readiness and for providing our armed forces with the most modern and
most efficient weaponry. He has worked with members on both sides of
the aisle in defining our defense priorities and in overseeing the
proper expenditure of the nation's defense budget. And on the Interior
Subcommittee I have been proud to work with him on a host of public
lands issues over the years. In particular, though, I have appreciated
his deep concern and support for the National Park Service. He is a
member who has taken the time to learn the problems confronting the
parks, which have struggled to maintain quality during a time of
dramatic increases in visitor attendance. He has become personally
invested in helping the Park Service carry on the legacy for future
generations, and my constituents who treasure three great National
Parks in Washington, are among the millions of our citizens who have
benefitted from his work. In this session of Congress, I have
appreciated all of his help on the important water and power issues
that affect the western states most especially. As chairman of the
Energy & Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee he has always
been open to our views and sympathetic to our issues. And finally it is
important to note as this session of Congress concludes and as Joe
McDade completes his 18th term in office, how much he will be missed
because of the style and the manner in which he approached his work
here in the House. He was always the gentleman, always one who was
willing to find a way to work out problems and to get things done in a
way that, to some, may seem old fashioned. His friendly approach has
been an endearing quality, and I know I can speak for many here in the
House today in saying how much we will miss these qualities here in
this chamber.
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, it is never easy to say ``farewell'' to a
colleague, particularly to a friend with whom you have shared well over
twenty years of service in the House of Representatives.
Congressman Joe McDade's 34 years of service to the people of the
10th District of Pennsylvania is, in itself, testimony to the high
esteem in which Joe is held. Having risen to the level of fourth most
senior Member in the House, there are few Members in this Chamber who
know more about how this institution works and how it has changed over
the years.
Despite the differences in our party affiliations, the close
relationship I enjoy with Joe became much stronger during the years we
served together on the Small Business Committee. The problems and
concerns of the small business community in the Pennsylvania heartland
are much the same as those in Niagara Falls and the rest of my western
New York District. While we might not always vote the same way on most
issues, more often than not, our concerns and interests within the
Small Business Committee reflected a fundamentally similar perspective
and a shared desire to spur small business growth and development.
My relationship with Joe McDade was not just a professional one. On a
personal note, some of the best memories I will share with Joe McDade
result from the many conversations we would have as we walked together
back and forth from the House to our Congressional offices which, for a
time, were across the corridor from each other. The American public
tends to define Member to Member relationships solely by the sharp
debate the television cameras often transmit from the well of the
House. They do not see the many moments when Members of both parties
talk quietly and with a warm camaraderie as they ride the underground
tram or walk across Independence Avenue time after time each
legislative day to answer the call of the House for votes.
It was during these quiet conversations that I got to know Joe
McDade, not only as the Congressman from Pennsylvania's 10th District,
but as a man and a father who worried about his family's well-being. I
learned to appreciate Joe as a legislator, genuinely concerned about
the problems of our nation, and as a colleague who wanted only the best
for the House of Representatives as an institution. I will never forget
our conversations for they conveyed the wisdom and institutional memory
of a man who loved his job and the people he so well represented in
this House.
Let me take this opportunity to formally convey my best wishes for a
most happy, healthy, and productive retirement. Joe, you will be
missed. Godspeed, my friend.
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I am especially pleased to join with my
colleagues in honoring our long-time fellow member and comrade-in-arms,
Joe McDade.
It was with genuine regret that we heard Joe had decided to call a
halt to his long and distinguished career in this legislative body. His
leadership in hundreds of floor debates over these thirty-five years
has left its mark on a great deal of the legislation that has passed
into law. His work in the Appropriations Committee over that time has
won him the admiration and gratitude of both Republicans and
[[Page H9252]]
Democrats, and members on both sides of the aisle have often found
themselves endebted to Joe McDade's highly effective legislative
skills. A great many of us in this body have found him to be receptive
to our needs and hardworking and dedicated in his efforts to see that
important bills were successfully legislated.
He has clearly served the constituents of the 10th Congressional
District of Pennsylvania with particular distinction, and in their
gratitude for his leadership, they have returned him to the House time
and again for a truly remarkable three and a half decades.
In all of his dealings with his colleagues, Joe's genial manner and
Irish good humor has won him the warm friendship of members in both
parties. May he be rewarded in his retirement with further challenging
interests, insights and projects. Perhaps we can look forward to his
producing a book or two, giving us his perspective on what has really
happened on the Hill during this last turbulent one-third of a century,
and offering some advice to all of us in our search for better and more
effective legislation.
Joe's departure will clearly leave a void in this Congress, and we
hope he will make a point of returning to visit the floor on many
occasions so that his mere presence will remind us again that
collegiality and hard work continue to be all important in this body.
Joe McDade, I rise with your fellow members in saluting you for your
thirty-five years of real accomplishment and dedication in the service
of your fellow Americans. You will remain an inspiration for those who
will follow in your footsteps from the great state of Pennsylvania! We
are more than confident you will find many more congenial friendships
and rewarding opportunities throughout the coming salad days of your
retirement. You will be missed! God bless!
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleagues
from Pennsylvania, Mr. Shuster and Mr. Murtha, for taking this Special
Order tonight to honor one of my dearest friends, Joe McDade.
Joe has left his mark on this House in so many ways. As the Senior
Republican in the House, he is a respected Statesman who is looked up
to by so many of our junior members. His wise counsel and advice have
helped maintain the decorum and traditions of this great deliberative
body.
As the senior Republican on the Appropriations Committee, he has
served with great distinction. I can think of no finer tribute to Joe
than in this his final year, our nation will enjoy a federal budget
surplus for the first time in a generation.
Finally, I want to thank Joe for his selfless service as a member of
the Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security to provide for the
needs of our men and women in uniform. His leadership and long hours of
work have ensured that he will leave this House secure in the knowledge
that our troops in the field, at sea, and in the air are the strongest,
most prepared fighting force anywhere in the world.
In addition to his work to provide for the defense of our nation, he
has also worked hard to defend our nation's great treasures which are
our national parks and our environment. As Chairman of the
Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, Joe has reached every
corner of our nation to support critical public works needs, and
through his long service on the Interior Subcommittee, he has protected
our public lands and rebuilt the decaying infrastructure of our
National Park Service.
No where is Joe's work more evident then in the many large and small
towns of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He has been a diligent public
servant for young and old alike. He is revered by the veterans of his
community and you cannot go far in the 10th Congressional District
without seeing another sign of Joe's handiwork.
Mr. Speaker, Joe McDade has given this House and the people of our
great nation 36 years of selfless service. Joe has been a revered
colleague, and devoted member of the Appropriations Committee, and a
warm personal friend. With his retirement, Joe will leave a great void
in this House, but he also leaves those who follow him a lasting legacy
of how one American can devote himself to service to this body and to
our nation. Joe McDade has been a great American, a great colleague,
and the greatest of friends. He will be missed by us all.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I think the outpouring that we have seen
here tonight for Joe McDade shows how much we respect him, we admire
him, and we love him. Godspeed to you, Joe McDade and Sarah and your
family.
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