[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 164 (Thursday, November 18, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H12739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE HONORABLE JOE BACA, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

  (Mr. LEWIS of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to 
be cochair of the California delegation. I share that responsibility 
with the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr).
  Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Farr) for remarks.
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
California very much for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, what a great day for the State of California. All of us 
in this House know the honor of being sworn in as a Member of the House 
of Representatives, the only place in Washington where everyone has to 
be elected in order to take the oath of office.
  It is a distinct pleasure that we honor another Californian in that 
regard, a person who has a great deal of experience in public life, and 
brings to this Chamber experience as a member of the board of trustees 
with a community college, was elected to the California State Assembly, 
was elected as the first pro tempore, the first Latino pro tempore in 
California history to that job, served in the California State Senate, 
and now is elected to serve his district in Southern California.
  He is following in the footsteps of a great Member of this House, 
George Brown. We all remember the great service that he gave to this 
country and the deeds that he left, the great record that he left.
  So Joe Baca comes to us with his own career of distinction, and I 
think he will be a great addition to this House. So I congratulate you.
  On behalf of the California Democratic delegation, which I am Chair 
of, along with the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), who is Dean 
of the Republican delegation from California, and as a joint bipartisan 
effort, we welcome the newest Member of our delegation, a delegation 
which has had over eight Members elected in special elections. So we 
know the special moment you are having right now, you are sharing with 
your family who is watching this on C-SPAN, and we appreciate the fact 
that you are here today to get sworn in. Congratulations on a great 
race and a great election.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, Joe, you 
should note with interest that a very sizable number of the Members on 
the floor happen to be from the California delegation. It was not 
always the case that we would have an occasion like this and we would 
have almost the entire delegation present.
  But in recent years, we have had kind of a reawakening of our State. 
In the past, we have often been laughed at by States like Texas who 
come together regularly on issues relative to their own interests. 
Today, California is working together as it never has in its history, 
and our numbers are here to have a positive impact on the country.
  So working with you in the seat of the former Dean of the California 
delegation, you have a great career ahead of you. We look forward to 
your help as we go about attempting to improve the country as we work 
on behalf of California's interest. So welcome, Joe. It is a great day 
for all of us.

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