[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.

                          ____________________