[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 140 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1947-E1948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE JERRY SOLOMON

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. BOB STUMP

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 6, 1998

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I've been pleased to call Jerry Solomon of 
New York my friend for 20 years.
  Jerry Solomon was the guy you always wanted on your side in a 
legislative battle. You always knew where he stood. You always knew his 
word was his bond.
  It was as if he never left the Marine Corps, and in his mind he 
probably never did. Jerry Solomon wore an American flag pin on his 
lapel and his love of country on his sleeve. Few members could match 
his tenacity and his sense of loyalty. Never were those qualities more 
on display than when the House acted on national defense and veterans 
matters.
  More recently we've seen another side of Jerry Solomon. It was his 
sense of fair play. His chairmanship of the Rules Committee made him 
the legislative traffic cop in the House. He took his role seriously, 
and his integrity earned him the respect of majority and minority 
alike.
  His idol was Ronald Reagan, whose determination to rebuild our 
military found its staunchest House advocate in Jerry Soloman. Our sons 
and daughters in the military have always been very special to him. He 
wanted nothing but the best for them both during and after their 
service.
  Veterans have no greater friend than Jerry Solomon. He enjoyed a 
close relationship with that other giant of veterans' legislation, our 
former colleague and committee chairman Sonny Montgomery of 
Mississippi. Their collaboration was a golden period for America's 
veterans and an inspiration for those of us who followed them.
  Jerry Solomon's proudest moment was that brisk October day at Fort 
McNair in 1988 when President Reagan signed into law his bill elevating 
the Veterans Administration to a full, cabinet-level department. That 
will be his lasting legacy and monument.
  We will miss his passion, his perseverance, and his patriotism. 
``Semper Fi'' was never just

[[Page E1948]]

a slogan for Jerry Solomon. It was his attitude towards his fellow 
Marines, his fellow veterans, his family, his friends, his district, 
his country, and this House.
  We are coming to the end of an era, and this House just won't be the 
same without him.
  Well done, Jerry. There's life after Congress. May yours be full and 
rewarding.

                          ____________________