[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 59 (Monday, May 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2978-H2982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NAMING ROOM IN CAPITOL IN HONOR OF FORMER REPRESENTATIVE G.V. ``SONNY''
MONTGOMERY
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 491) naming a room in the House of
Representatives wing of the Capitol in honor of former Representative
G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 491
Whereas former Representative G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery of
Mississippi, from the time of his election to the House of
Representatives in 1967 and his beyond his retirement in 1996
through the present day, has faithfully and continuously
facilitated the ``House of Representatives Prayer Breakfast''
at 8 a.m. every Thursday morning in Room H-130 in the House
of Representatives wing of the Capitol with a dedication that
is indelibly etched in the memories of the many Members who
have attended that weekly event: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the room numbered H-130 in the House of
Representatives wing of the Capitol is named in honor of
former Representative G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentlewoman from the District of
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled to be able to bring this resolution to the
floor to honor our good friend and former colleague, Sonny Montgomery,
and certainly to recognize that the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pease)
is the driving force by which this has been brought to the floor today
to name room H-130 in the Capitol as the G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery
Room.
As many Members know, Sonny served in this body for 30 years. He was
[[Page H2979]]
born in Meridian, Mississippi, attended Mississippi State, and served
in both World War II and the Korean War. He served in the Mississippi
National Guard for 35 years and retired at the rank of major general.
Sonny was a tireless advocate for veterans' programs and chaired that
committee for 14 years. He is a former President of the Congressional
Prayer Breakfast and was the first Member of Congress to be asked to
lead the Pledge of Allegiance when it became a permanent part of our
daily operations in the House on September 13, 1988.
He made numerous trips abroad on behalf of veterans, led the American
Delegation to the 40th and 50th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion.
{time} 1445
He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star,
Meritorious Service Award, Mississippi Magnolia Cross Award and
numerous other awards. In addition to his being a personal friend of
mine, we share a common crisis, an honor which I guess both of us could
just as well have done without. He had a very serious operation on his
back performed by the chief of neurosurgery at Bethesda Naval Hospital
and when I had a broken neck in an automobile accident, I turned to
Sonny to see where I should go and what we should do. His
recommendation was such a good one because the chief of neurosurgery
out at Bethesda put me back together as well. So Sonny and I have both
been put back together by the same neurosurgeon.
As I say, I very much appreciated his wonderful and very important
advice, but I think it is an honor we both could have done without. He
is a dear friend. I am thrilled that we have this before us today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I
rise in strong support of this resolution in honor of Sonny Montgomery.
I am very pleased to note that the gentleman is present in the House
today. It seems like old times, and it is where so many of us believe
he belongs.
Chairman Montgomery, elected to the House in 1966 to represent the
Third District of Mississippi, ably served the people of his district
for 30 years. He is best known as the most formidable champion of
veterans and veterans' rights and benefits. During budget negotiations
at the beginning of the 104th Congress, he was able to resist major
budget cuts which would have negatively affected veterans and their
families. He could always be relied upon to be on the case for those
who had been on the case for the Nation in fighting its wars.
Montgomery was known as a caring but stern, an artful watchdog for
the men and women of the armed forces, unwilling to compromise on
issues that he believed would weaken programs and benefits for
veterans. Those veterans remain grateful for his service and so does
this House.
In light of that service, we believe it is fitting to name H-130 in
honor of Sonny Montgomery.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GILMAN. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to be able to rise in support of H. Res.
491, naming a room in the Capitol in honor of G.V. Sonny Montgomery, a
former colleague, a retired general and a great friend to all of us,
but particularly to the veterans.
I had the pleasure of not only serving with Sonny but having an
office next door to him for many years, allowing me the opportunity to
often bring in veterans from my own district to meet with the chairman
of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and he was always so gracious.
Sonny Montgomery was elected to the House in 1966 from Mississippi,
in which post he served for some 30 years, as chairman of the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs for 14 years, and served for 25 years on the
Committee on National Security. I had the opportunity to work with
Sonny on both of those issues affecting our Nation's veterans as well
as our Nation's national security and can say without any reservation,
it was always an honor, a privilege and a pleasure to work with Sonny
Montgomery. He was a great friend to all veterans and to members of our
armed forces and will always be remembered for his tireless efforts in
providing and securing passage of the GI Montgomery bill, something
that helped to educate thousands upon thousands of discharged veterans.
Moreover, this measure is even appropriate, since it was Sonny
Montgomery who arranged the House prayer breakfast every Thursday
morning in H-130, the room which we all join in honoring him by naming
it as the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Room. Sonny facilitated the House
prayer breakfast in that room ever since he was first elected from
Mississippi 30 years ago and until his retirement in 1996.
Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of our colleagues to support
this resolution on behalf of all veterans, on behalf of all his former
friends in the Congress. I once again thank him for all of his efforts
on behalf of all of us.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
distinguished gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking
member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me
this time. I want to compliment the chairman of our committee again on
bringing forth this very well deserved and truly earned recognition for
a beloved colleague. I want to thank the gentleman in the chair, our
Speaker pro tem, for his cosponsorship of the legislation as well.
General Montgomery, and that is how most of us referred to him, is
one of those rare people who have served in this body who was not only
respected by diligence, by hard work, by command of the subject matter,
as a master of the issues over which he held jurisdiction, but at the
same time truly beloved of Members on both sides of the aisle, as was
evident by the remarks of our distinguished chairman the gentleman from
Pennsylvania; a vigorous and formidable champion of veterans rights, of
veterans benefits, because he had served our country nobly and
understood the sacrifices that the men and women made who went forth to
defend freedom and advance the cause of righteousness for our country.
Never was his command of the subject matter and his respect more
tested than at the beginning of the 104th Congress when there were
major budget cuts across the board, submitted by the administration,
coming from the House Committee on the Budget that would have
significantly reduced benefits for veterans and their families.
Singlehandedly, Chairman, former Chairman, no longer Chairman
Montgomery was the voice of reason, of responsibility, the architect of
veterans legislation for so many years. Singlehandedly by that stature,
he was able to protect those benefits, preserve veterans from
unjustified cuts, to remind us all of why we have a veterans program,
and that we have and will continue to have an obligation to serve the
veteran, his widow and orphan.
Seven-term chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, author of
the veterans education bill that now bears his name, a watchdog for
veterans, a compassionate voice but as the gentleman from Pennsylvania
said, a prayerful voice. And as the gentleman from New York also
mentioned, founder of the House prayer breakfast, to bring Members
together for at least one day a week on one subject on which all could
agree, and that is respect for our maker and the author of life.
We do not name rooms in this august building lightly or frequently.
When we do, it must be with great consideration of the role, the
contribution that the person we are so honoring has offered to our
Congress and to our country. The name must be as distinguished and as
hallowed as this building. I think those terms of respect reflect
properly the service and the career of G.V. Sonny Montgomery, the
gentleman from Mississippi, for whom we designate H-130 in the U.S.
Capitol to be named in his honor.
[[Page H2980]]
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker).
Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for
yielding me this time. I rise in enthusiastic, even joyful support of
this legislation, because it will designate H-130 in the United States
Capitol as the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Room.
For 30 years, Sonny Montgomery served my State of Mississippi and the
Nation with honor and distinction. His legislative accomplishments on
behalf of our veterans and in the area of national defense serve as a
testament to his effectiveness as a Member of the House of
Representatives. Just last week, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs he
once chaired held hearings to raise benefits on the Montgomery GI Bill,
an education measure which is credited with saving the all-volunteer
force. He is still known as ``Mr. Veteran'' on Capitol Hill, and Sonny
is beloved in our home State of Mississippi for his tireless work on
behalf of our men and women in uniform.
But we are not here to talk today simply about legislative
accomplishments. We honor Sonny Montgomery today for another role which
he takes just as seriously today as he did during his three decades in
this Chamber, and I refer to his leadership in the House prayer
breakfast group.
Each Thursday when the House is in session, Members of Congress meet
in H-130 of the Capitol at 8 a.m. to pray, to sing hymns, enjoy food
and fellowship and to share their faith. Sonny is the unofficial leader
of this weekly gathering. He served as President of this informal
group, and for so many years thereafter, he was responsible for
reporting on Members, their families, staff and others who were ill or
otherwise in need of prayer. He is also known, Mr. Speaker, as a
zealous guardian of this one hour per week. Over the years, committee
chairmen, House leaders on both sides of the aisle and even Presidents
of the United States have heard from Sonny when they would schedule
important meetings that conflicted with the House prayer breakfast. He
would politely but firmly suggest that perhaps another meeting time
would be more appropriate.
Sonny has always said that Thursday was the best day of the week for
him, because it starts with the House prayer breakfast, and I agree. He
was one of the first people to greet me when I joined that group in
1995, and to this day he is still one of the first people to greet me
on Thursday mornings when I walk into H-130 for our prayer breakfast.
Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to our former
colleague and friend. I urge unanimous support for this legislation.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering), Sonny Montgomery's
Congressman.
Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in proud support of H.Res. 491. It
is a difficult challenge to follow someone like Sonny Montgomery in
Congress. But I have the great privilege of today representing
Congressman G.V. Sonny Montgomery. And I have the opportunity to see
his mark, his legacy throughout my district. If my colleagues go
through or travel through the Third District of Mississippi, they will
see the G.V. Sonny Montgomery VA Hospital. If they go to the small town
of Forest, Mississippi, they will see the G.V. Sonny Montgomery
International Airport, or the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Industrial Park, or
the National Guard complexes across the district. His name and his
imprint is all over the Third District of Mississippi.
The gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker) mentioned his role as Mr.
Veteran and National Guard and what he has done for the men and women
in our Armed Services. His legacy is rich and it is full, and it is
well-deserved. But his legacy and his story would not be complete if we
did not also talk about his role, his leadership, his contribution in
the congressional prayer breakfast. Every Thursday morning, it is time
for Members of Congress, Republican and Democrat, from all over the
country, all regions, to come together, put our differences aside, and
try to unite as we call upon our Creator and as we pray for our
President, our Nation, and for the men and women who serve in this body
and their families.
{time} 1500
His responsibility each Thursday is to give the report on the sick
and the wounded.
When I was first taking office, I was going to my swearing-in
ceremony, and Congressman Montgomery blessed me with his presence and
his advice and counsel at that event where my family, my friends and
people important to Mississippi came. He stood and he said, ``You know,
I have got some bad news for you, Chip, today. I know it is a great day
for you, but I have also got some bad news. After serving this district
and my country for 30 years, there is not a building left on which you
can put your name.''
Never did I know that we would start naming rooms in this building
for him as well. I give him a hard time, that the only chance I have to
name anything after me is my children. I have five boys, and that is
the only hope, the only chance, that I have, because his name is
throughout Mississippi and his legacy and his presence is continuously
there.
But I have great privilege today of being part of this event as a
cosponsor of this resolution, to have a fitting tribute for his role in
keeping this House together throughout his 30 years of service. Many
times in great conflict and controversy it was the voice of ``Sonny''
Montgomery and the Prayer Breakfast that brought everyone together. It
was his gentle but strong voice that could do so.
If the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle) were here, he would
tell the story of how, as a freshman coming to Congress, and this is a
Member from Pennsylvania who serves on the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs today, how he was able to land a slot on the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, but he wanted a particular subcommittee, and he went
to then Chairman ``Sonny'' Montgomery and asked for a position on a
subcommittee, a position that ``Sonny'' currently held on that
subcommittee, and the only way that the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Doyle) would get a slot was if someone would give their position
away.
It was ``Sonny'' Montgomery who sacrificed his own seat on that
subcommittee so that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle) could
serve, and he asked one thing, one thing in return: Please come to the
Prayer Breakfast every Thursday morning, and as anyone knows, every new
Member and every old Member here has heard from ``Sonny'' Montgomery
inviting them, inviting them again and again to come join us Thursday
morning at the Prayer Breakfast.
His legacy is rich, it is one that is embodied in the symbols of this
chamber. If you look directly over the flag it says ``In God We
Trust.'' Directly in front of me in the chamber the historical figures,
the central is Moses, and above me the eagle, the symbol of our Nation,
and under it, E Pluribus Unum, in many there is one. When we are
united, when we have our faith and we are committed to be one, then our
Nation can soar as the eagle and it can do great things for our people.
``Sonny'' Montgomery's legacy is one of doing things that not only
have significance today, but have value for eternity. I am proud to say
that I follow his example, and that he is the Member that I can look
to, and he is the Member who well deserves this honor that we are
giving him today.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). Is there objection to the
request of the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
There was no objection.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton).
Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I add but a word: In my years in Congress
here, I have had the opportunity to serve with many outstanding
Representatives. One of the finest during my era and during all time is
that of G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery, not only an outstanding Member of
Congress
[[Page H2981]]
who represented his district well, kept our country strong as a senior
member of the Committee on Armed Services, as chairman and then later
ranking member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Further than that, he is a wonderful friend, not just to me but to so
many. So this is a very, very fitting and proper tribute to a wonderful
man.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pease), the author of this
resolution.
Mr. PEASE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, very few of our constituents, very few in the world, see
anything of the Congress other than its public side, exemplified in the
letters we write, the speeches we make, the appearances that seem to
define us. That, of course, is a part, a very important part, of what
and who we are. But it is not the whole picture, and it is the other
part of that picture that determines in large measure whether we are
successful in the public part of our lives.
The private lives of Members, their relationships with colleagues,
with family, with their Creator, form, more than anything else, the
real ``who'' that we are, the real persons that succeed or fail, day in
and day out, with the duties we are assigned or which we assume on our
own in this place we know as the House of Representatives.
In days of increasing intervention into privacy, both for the public
at large, and especially for those in public life, something may
perhaps be gained, but much is lost as well. For those in public
office, one of the results of the diminution of privacy has been a
tendency to withdraw further and further from private relationships, a
lessening of personal interactions with others, an unwillingness to
admit, let alone share, feelings and concerns that are inevitably a
part of the human condition.
Without that part of our lives, we are, in fact, less human, and as
such, less capable of doing the job that those who sent us here expect,
to reflect in every way the condition of those we represent, and
through that representation, to interact with others in the common
pursuit of solutions to human problems.
One of the unfortunate results of this trend has been a reduction in
the civility of representative government. As colleagues know each
other less well, it becomes increasingly easier to reduce intellectual
differences to personal attacks, to lose sight of the fact that behind
each idea or policy proposal is a human being entitled to respect,
simply because of his or her humanity.
We may differ in our ideology, but we must never allow that to
intrude on our commonality, as children of God, each created in His own
image.
Former Congressman ``Sonny'' Montgomery is a man who never lost that
understanding and who lives it as an example for all of us every day.
The many Members who share in the weekly Prayer Breakfast are the
beneficiaries of this example, perhaps more than most. His gentle
touch, his genuine inquiries about our families, our health, our
spiritual life, remind us of the human side of this place, so often
lost in the hustle of daily scheduling and the demands of the office
and the institution.
Every Thursday morning at 8:00, for more than 30 years as a Member
and even now after his retirement, ``Sonny'' provides us a reminder of
the best of the traditions of this place, where Members can share the
things in private that they never dare to mention in public; where our
humanness is refreshed and reinforced; and where we come to understand
that each of us, different as we are, remain joint heirs with the
redeemer and common travelers on a road toward the realization of
principles to which we are all committed.
Thursday mornings with ``Sonny'' and our other colleagues provide an
oasis for the spirit, an understanding that each of us is a very small
part on a continuum of the history of a great Nation, an awareness of
how fortunate we are to be here and to share this experience with our
colleagues, also entrusted by their constituents with the future of
this remarkable institution and the Nation it seeks to serve.
The human touch that ``Sonny'' brings helps keep in balance the many
and sometimes competing demands placed on each of us. His quiet
commitment to that understanding and to each of us as Members simply as
people has made him truly a Member's Member. In honoring him, we honor
a tradition of the House that he has so faithfully lived and which has
made this place and each of us better.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp), the current
president of the Congressional Prayer Breakfast.
(Mr. WAMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman for
yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, it is a bittersweet day as our vice president of our
current Prayer Breakfast experiences the loss of his son, and we, all
this week, will mourn and grieve and pray and just yearn for that
family and the loss that they have experienced.
But it is a great day that we can recognize ``Sonny'' Montgomery, and
I know ``Sonny'' would also want us all to pause and reflect and share
with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) and his family as they
have lost B.J., their 17-year-old son over this weekend.
But I knew of General ``Sonny'' Montgomery long before I got here,
and I am now in my sixth year, and I was blessed recently with the
House Members asking me to serve as their president. But I knew of
``Sonny'' and the great tradition that he brought from Mississippi
because I went to the same prep school, which was a military school,
the great McCallie School, in Chattanooga, where political leaders like
Governor Carroll Campbell and Senator Bill Brock and Senator Howard
Baker and General ``Sonny'' Montgomery went to school, and business
people, the likes of Ted Turner, a great tradition. ``Sonny'' went
there. He was raised up right.
But he comes every week. Thursday morning, folks, for an hour is a
sacrosanct set aside time. He would want me to recognize that that is a
special hour for Members to come in a non-denominational, interfaith
way, and just share our faith in God and understand the goodness in
each of us, and peel back our heart and share with each other in a
human way so that in the middle of what people see as a war here
sometimes on Capitol Hill, there is peace and tranquility and we all
share in our humanness together.
We sing and we pray and we talk and we fellowship, and it is a great
hour, and every week ``Sonny'' is there, year in, year out, decade in,
decade out, he is the rock, he is the anchor. And H-130 where we meet
in that sacrosanct fellowship every week should be named after him and
in his honor.
So I thank the gentleman from Indiana for this initiative. I thank
the gentlemen from Mississippi that have honored ``Sonny'' today, and
all the Members, because in a bipartisan way, there is no more love in
this institution than the love for ``Sonny'' Montgomery, and I thank
the gentleman for allowing me to honor ``Sonny'' Montgomery today.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would suggest that, particularly for those
of us who had the privilege of serving in the United States Army, there
is one badge of courage which perhaps shines above all others, and that
is the combat infantryman's badge, and with all the honors, with all
the medals that General ``Sonny'' Montgomery has, he wears but one in
his lapel, and that is the combat infantryman's badge. Of course, what
that badge means is that someone privileged to wear it has literally
put his life on the line for his country.
So I know we all join together today to salute this great American,
General ``Sonny'' Montgomery.
Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I support H. Res. 491--Naming a
Room in the House of Representatives Wing of the Capitol in Honor of
G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery. This is a fitting honor for a man who served
his constituents and our Nation as a Member of Congress from
Mississippi from 1967 until the time he retired in 1996.
When I first came to Congress in 1993, Representative Montgomery
served as a mentor and a friend. He was one of my first friends
[[Page H2982]]
when I came to Congress. There was never a time that I went to him with
a problem that he did not listen and provide help and good advice.
Today, he continues to serve the House faithfully by facilitating the
weekly ``House of Representatives Prayer Breakfast'' at 8 a.m. every
Thursday morning in room H-130 in the Capitol.
Representative Montgomery is one of those people who transcended
partisan politics and judged people on who they are as opposed to their
party affiliation. He enjoyed and continues to enjoy a wide circle of
friends here on Capitol Hill.
As Chairman of the Veteran's Affairs Committee for 14 years, the
impact the Representative Montgomery's service to the Veterans of this
country has been enormous. Among veterans, he is widely known and
respected. Representative Montgomery served his country in World War II
and later in the Mississippi National Guard. The House suffered a major
loss when he retired in 1996. The veterans' programs that he put
together still help people across this country and serve as the
foundation and model for successful and meaningful veterans' programs.
Representative Montgomery, thank you for your service.I urge my
colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 491.
The question was taken.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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