[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 6, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E10]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            COMMENTS ON 1ST SWEARING IN--THE 106TH CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN E. SWEENEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 6, 1999

  Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, my 
newly confirmed colleagues of the 106th Congress. I am truly honored to 
be here today joining this distinguished group of Americans from across 
our great nation. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the U.S. Capitol 
today with these Members of the 106th Congress is an honor exceeded 
only by that of representing the wonderful people of the 22nd District 
of New York.
  Mr. Speaker, I am truly humbled by the awesome responsibility and I 
am invigorated by the challenge before me--to carry on the tradition of 
my esteemed predecessor, Jerry Solomon, and to advance policies 
beneficial to the 600,000 people I now represent.
  Today is a day dominated by idealistic visions and profound rhetoric. 
While I bring with me today the ideals of freedom and opportunity, I am 
riveted in the reality that these notions must be translated into 
concrete results in people's everyday life. Bringing tax relief to hard 
working families, promoting economic development to create new job 
opportunities, taking significant steps to ensure a safe and drug-free 
environment in our schools--All these examples make a difference in the 
homes of the people of the Hudson Valley and Adirondack Mountains of 
New York and all will be my priorities as I take the oath of office 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my family, those that are here 
today and those that could not make the trip, for all their love and 
support as we begin this new endeavor. I would like to thank 
Congressman Solomon a truly great American, for his two decades of 
dedicated and tireless service to the citizens of the 22nd District of 
New York. And thank you to those same citizens that have entrusted me 
to advance their views here in the U.S. Capitol.

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