[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H10943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE DAVID E. BONIOR, MEMBER OF CONGRESS

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, like my colleagues, I was actually 
over in my office and did not know that this was happening today. But I 
have had the honor to serve five terms in this House and served with 
David for many years as part of the whip operation, and for somebody 
who comes from Texas and sounds like I do, to get to know David and to 
appreciate him and to realize he is a very low-keyed individual, but, 
as someone said earlier, very competitive, because I also have had the 
opportunity to play basketball with him, and not just try and pass or 
defeat legislation. So he is competitive, but he is very low-keyed.
  Typically if I have something to say, I am not only out there and in 
your face, but David is very quiet about it. So I appreciate that, and 
I think a lot of us could emulate what he does.
  But working with him for these 9 years, I appreciate not only his 
inward strength, but also his dedication to the issues. It helps 
having, even though, again, a very urban district in Houston, and David 
being from Michigan, having a lot of blue collar workers, some of the 
same demands are in Michigan on the economy as we have in Houston, 
Texas, a very industrialized district.
  So I just appreciate, Dave, your work here in the House. Like say, I 
have only seen you the last five terms, but the American people and the 
people of Michigan owe you a debt of gratitude for your work here in 
the House.
  Obviously, if it does any good for somebody who sounds like me to 
come up and knock doors in Michigan, I will be up there.
  So, David, obviously we will be serving with you for the next year. 
But not only as our whip, but also just as a person, we will miss you, 
and I know I will too. Thank you, Dave.

                              {time}  1245

  (Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey asked and was given permission to speak out 
of order for 5 minutes.)

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