[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H952]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SUPPORT AND GOOD WISHES TEMPER A SERIOUS HEALTH CHALLENGE

  (Mr. VENTO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. VENTO. Madam Speaker, I know a few of my colleagues have noticed 
I have not been around the last month or so. And believe me, spending a 
month in Minnesota in February is not necessarily a voluntary decision 
that one might make. I would much rather have been with my colleagues.
  As my colleagues know, I have returned from experiencing a serious 
illness. But I wanted to point out some of the experience I had just 
briefly, and I will try to be brief.
  But I think the true mark of who we are as persons is who we can call 
our friends. If we are fortunate, we have those friends to fall back on 
and lean on during the unexpected events of our lives, the 
disappointments and the challenges.
  I rise to say that I feel that I am very fortunate and blessed to 
call so many of my colleagues and many others my friends, especially 
during this period in my life as I do face this serious health 
challenge.
  Simply put, the outpouring of affection that I have received has been 
overwhelming from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and from my 
constituents, my friends, and from my family. Cards and letters, calls 
and visits, not to mention their prayers, both spoken and unspoken, are 
very much appreciated. They have lifted the spirits of my staff, my 
family, and certainly myself.
  In early February, I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, 
mesothelioma, which required aggressive treatment. A month ago, I 
underwent pretty aggressive surgery. In the near future, I will receive 
chemo and then radiation treatment on top of that.
  I am surely in the middle of a 10-round major event of my life. But 
my spirits are good, as my colleagues can tell, and I am optimistic. 
And I am greatly reinforced by the outpouring of support that has been 
so generously offered.

                              {time}  1830

  The past 2 months have given me good cause to reflect upon and to 
genuinely appreciate the value of our collective experience; victories 
savored, setbacks endured and shared values and, to be sure, challenges 
ahead.
  For the past 24 years in this body, I have had the privilege to serve 
as a Member. It is an honor and I have been reminded most vividly of 
the strong bond that has been established with my constituents in 
Minnesota and the role of service in the United States Congress, and 
the important work with other public servants similarly charged. Good 
people, good Americans.
  Too often in my experience, it has served some political cynical 
purposes to denigrate public service. I regret that. It is my belief 
each of us should aspire to inspire others, young people in particular; 
to give of ourselves and themselves, as we have done; to define the 
differences between skepticism and cynicism. Indeed, in serving the 
people's interest we should be proud and respectful. When direction is 
lost, when purpose is needed, no further than the words of Minnesota's 
happy warrior and my mentor serve us well, the very embodiment of 
public service, Hubert H. Humphrey, to guide us, and I quote, ``If 
there is dissatisfaction with the status quo, good. If there is 
ferment, so much the better. If there is restlessness, I am pleased. 
Then let there be ideas and hard thought and hard work,'' end quote.
  Together, as Members of Congress, we would do well to strive to serve 
as Minnesota's Humphrey instructed us to make people's lives better, to 
provide opportunity and to give new hope. To me, the key of all we have 
done and continue to do is that we have done this together.
  So as I make my plans to meet the new health challenge, I am grateful 
that I am not making this journey alone but with so many cheering me 
on, my friends supporting and encouraging me. In the words of Tennyson, 
I intend to continue to strive, to seek, to find, and as most of my 
colleagues who know me well, not to yield.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my constituents, my colleagues, my friends 
all, for the outpouring of concern and the care as I have faced this 
challenge. I am very grateful.

                          ____________________