[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 172 (Wednesday, December 12, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H9321-H9322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COMMENDING MAJORITY LEADER DICK ARMEY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a few minutes to talk about a 
real stalwart in this House, and to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Armey) for his hard work and to remind our Members about what his 
leadership and effectiveness have meant to the success of our majority.
  When Dick Armey first got to Washington, they said his ideas were out 
of step; but now America has caught up to Dick Armey. He stood firm 
against communism, and the Iron Curtain failed. He insisted that the 
welfare system was broken, and millions of Americans are now earning 
paychecks and have greater self-worth because they have entered the 
workplace. He took on a tough job of realigning our military base 
structure and our Armed Forces are more effective today because their 
bases better support their new mission.

                              {time}  1800

  Dick Armey said repeatedly that punishing success was not part of the 
American dream. And he helped Presidents Reagan and Bush pass pro-
growth tax cuts that raised our economic security. Many Americans now 
understand that a rising economic tide lifts all boats because Dick 
Armey explained it to them.
  He reminded us that God is a part of all of our lives and millions of 
people now question why God has been driven out of our national lives. 
He fought laws that would have weakened our Constitution, and America 
remains the freest and most secure country in the world. He said that 
red tape and unneeded regulations were stifling growth and 
shortchanging job creation and now, despite the blow from September 11, 
our American economy is the healthiest, most vibrant and most 
productive in the world.
  He knew that if Republicans clearly explained our goals as the 
majority party, we would earn broad support from the American people, 
and the Contract With America helped build the first Republican 
majority in four decades.
  He arrives and departs Washington as fundamentally the same man that 
stood next to me to take his oath of office in 1985, but the Washington 
he will leave behind in 2003 is a very, very different place. He is 
just an ordinary man with extraordinary ideas that helped change 
America.
  Since Republicans earned our House majority, the Federal Government 
has grown leaner, more efficient and more responsive to individual 
citizens. These changes happened because people like Dick Armey knew we 
could expect more from our government and they insisted that we do 
better. Our Republican majority has accomplished great things together, 
and our Nation is stronger, freer, and enjoys the highest living 
standards in the world.
  Several broad principles guided our efforts: We believed that freedom 
is not free. We worked to ensure that our Armed Forces and the agencies 
protecting America had all the tools necessary to defend our country. 
We believed that government answers to the people. We worked to make 
the Federal Government more responsive, more efficient and more 
effective in performing its work. We believed that families are 
entitled to keep more of what they earn. We worked to be careful 
stewards of their tax dollars and insisted that every dollar was spent 
as wisely and effectively as it could be.
  So, Mr. Speaker, let me say to Dick Armey, thank you, Dick, very 
much, for everything you have done to keep America strong and free. You 
can be truly proud of what the House has achieved under your 
leadership. There is no doubt that we will continue improving our 
Nation over the course of your final year. We must treasure and build 
upon our gift from previous generations. They left us a great country 
with a big heart, broad shoulders and the courage to chase hundreds of 
millions of dreams.
  Today, the beacon of freedom is burning brightly. We need to stoke 
the flame, lift the lantern higher and lead freedom-loving people 
onward to a better and more fulfilling life.
  I want to extend Dick Armey my deep thanks for everything he has done 
to make that happen. Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me offer a special thank 
you to Susan Armey for allowing America to borrow her husband all these 
years. Our country is a better

[[Page H9322]]

place because of the sacrifices she and her family have made.

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