[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 144 (Friday, November 3, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2076-E2077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  TRIBUTE TO BILL BARRETT OF NEBRASKA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 31, 2000

  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, the respected representative of 
Nebraska's Third Congressional District, the Honorable Bill Barrett, is 
retiring from this House at the end of the 106th Congress. Bill has 
served five productive and distinguished terms in this House. I know 
that Bill's presence here in Congress will be sorely missed. I wish 
Bill the best of luck in the coming years. The gain of Lexington, 
Nebraska is a loss for this body and the American people.
  Bill Barrett was elected in 1990 and his constituents have sent him 
back every election since, and by resounding margins I might add. As 
Chairman of the Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation and Credit 
Agriculture Subcommittee, Bill has served not only the needs of his 
mainly rural Nebraska constituents, but the needs of farmers across the 
nation. In 1996 Bill was instrumental in passing the Federal 
Agriculture Improvement Reform Act or FAIR Act--legislation authorizing 
the majority of U.S. agricultural programs until 2002. And Bill has 
been a leader in his efforts to improve education in rural communities 
across the United States, particularly as a respected Member of the 
Education and the Workforce Committee. Bill's hard work and dedication 
on Agricultural matters will be missed, he leaves some very large shoes 
to fill come January.
  Then there is the matter of our resemblance. Some have claimed that 
Bill and I are

[[Page E2077]]

similar in appearance. To compound matters even further, there is a 
third Member, Tom Ewing of Illinois--and Tom is also retiring this 
year--who is said to share our resemblance. Well, I can't say for 
certain which of the three of us gets the better end of that 
comparison, but I do know that I wouldn't mind being confused for Bill 
Barrett when it comes to this enthusiasm for smaller, more efficient 
government. Since helping to bring a Republican majority to Congress in 
1994, Bill Barrett has been a steadfast voice in bringing fiscal 
responsibility back to the federal budget process. His efforts to 
ensure a balanced budget and to restrain federal spending over the past 
ten years have been instrumental in bringing about the budget surplus 
that we enjoy today. That is something that Bill can be very proud of 
during this retirement years.
  I've known Bill and Elsie since I was first elected to this House in 
1992. Bill quickly became a trusted friend, one who could always be 
counted on to provide clear and useful information, wise insight, and 
good, solid counsel. To a freshman Member of Congress in 1992, Bill's 
friendship and wisdom meant a great deal to me. It still does. I place 
the highest value on that friendship.
  I wish Bill and his family heartfelt congratulations on his 
retirement and I thank him for his many years of public service to 
America.

                          ____________________