[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 130 (Monday, October 7, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H7136-H7141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H7136]]
  EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR PRIME MINISTER OF GREAT BRITAIN FOR HIS 
LOYAL SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP IN WAR ON TERRORISM AND REAFFIRMING STRONG 
     RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE OF UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 549) expressing appreciation for the Prime Minister 
of Great Britain for his loyal support and leadership in the war on 
terrorism and reaffirming the strong relationship between the people of 
the United States and Great Britain.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 549

       Whereas the people of the United States and Great Britain 
     have a history of shared values and mutual respect for one 
     another;
       Whereas the Governments of the United States and Great 
     Britain are close allies and share a deep and abiding 
     friendship based on a shared commitment to democratic values;
       Whereas the United States and Great Britain understand the 
     commitment to defend freedom and democracy regardless of the 
     costs involved;
       Whereas British Prime Minister Tony Blair has displayed 
     exceptional leadership in the war on terrorism; and
       Whereas the United States and Great Britain have been 
     provoked into a war on terrorism that threatens the security 
     of both nations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses sincere appreciation for Prime Minister Tony 
     Blair for his leadership in the war on terrorism;
       (2) expresses its deepest sympathy to British victims of 
     terrorism and their families, including the 67 British 
     citizens who were victims of the terrorist attack on 
     September 11, 2001;
       (3) commends the efforts of British intelligence and 
     defense agencies for their continued efforts in the war on 
     terrorism; and
       (4) reaffirms the strong and special relationship between 
     the people of the United States and Great Britain.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include therein extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) 
for introducing House Resolution 549 expressing appreciation to the 
Prime Minister of Great Britain, Tony Blair, for his loyal support and 
leadership in the war on terrorism and reaffirming our strong 
relationship between the people of the United States and Great Britain. 
We know who our friends are in times of need. By this measure, some of 
our closest friends can be found in the United Kingdom.
  Following September 11, our British partners offered critical 
assistance in military deployments in Afghanistan. They cracked down on 
terrorist activities in their territory and are working side by side 
with our forces in Afghanistan. Our Nation is also working closely with 
the British with regard to intelligence-sharing, asset freezes, and 
taking joint action to uproot terrorist organizations.
  Prime Minister Tony Blair personally has shown an exemplary level of 
courage and leadership, not only through his support for our campaign 
against terror in Afghanistan but our campaign to rid the region of 
weapons of mass destruction and to end the tyrannical rule of Saddam 
Hussein.
  Accordingly, it is fitting that we commend Prime Minister Blair and 
the British people for their support and steadfastness during these 
most difficult days.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Graves).
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for 
yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud sponsor of House Resolution 549, 
a resolution thanking Prime Minister Tony Blair and the British people 
for their support in this war on terrorism.
  Throughout the 20th century, the United States and Great Britain have 
worked to ensure greater freedom throughout the world. From the 
victories of World War I and World War II to the collapse of the Soviet 
Union and the Berlin wall, the United States and Great Britain have 
stood shoulder-to-shoulder against evil and oppression. In times of war 
and in times of peace, the British and the American people have a 
special bond that is unique among modern nations.
  Now the world is engulfed in yet another battle against those who 
seek to terrorize free people. While the face of evil has changed over 
the past 100 years, our alliance with the British has grown stronger. 
Through a military alliance that has spanned both a great ocean and 
decades of war and peace, we have worked together to fight for freedom 
and restore peace to a world always threatened by tyranny. The strength 
of our alliance has been enhanced by the strength of the leadership of 
both nations.
  Winston Churchill proclaimed to Nazi Germany and the world that 
Britain would never fall to totalitarianism. Shortly before the United 
States was attacked in Pearl Harbor, Churchill proclaimed to Britain 
and the world: ``Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently 
overwhelming might of the enemy.''
  On September 11, we all witnessed the terrible capabilities of our 
enemy. But with the help of Great Britain and many other devoted 
allies, the United States refused to stand down in the face of this 
deadly enemy. Prime Minister Tony Blair rallied his people and worked 
tirelessly with countries around the world to assemble support for the 
cause of freedom. His leadership in this war has been exemplary.
  The Prime Minister understands that this war is not about ideology or 
religion. He understands that the threat posed to America is the same 
threat posed to his own people. Like America, there is always a voice 
of opposition, but, again, he understands that this war is about 
protecting that voice. Because the voice of dissent is one part of the 
voice of freedom.
  From the initial horrors of September 11 to the new phase of the war 
on terrorism, Prime Minister Tony Blair has stood with America and the 
cause of freedom. I am personally grateful for his leadership, and I am 
proud to sponsor this resolution thanking him and the British people 
for their sacrifices of yesterday and their sacrifices to come.
  With the leadership of President Bush and Prime Minister Blair, I 
look forward to a future where the American and British people live in 
peace and in a world free from tyranny.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the remainder 
of time on our side be controlled by the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Reynolds).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. I would 
like to commend my colleague, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves), 
for introducing such a timely resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, a nation discovers its true friends in times of crisis. 
Since the tragedy of September 11, America has found that it has many 
friends around the globe. Mr. Speaker, we have seen that the United 
States has a tremendous friend and ally in the war on terrorism in 
Great Britain. No head of state has been more supportive of the United 
States in this battle than British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
  Since September 11, British troops fought alongside U.S. forces to 
liberate Afghanistan and to root out terrorists. Britain acted as the 
lead nation for the international security assistance force in 
Afghanistan until the mission was turned over to Turkey. Humanitarian 
aid has flowed from Britain to Afghanistan, and the British government 
has enacted new counterterrorism legislation.
  In short, Mr. Speaker, the United Kingdom has stood shoulder-to-
shoulder with the United States in the war on terrorism. In the 
horrendous terrorist attacks of September 11, Britain

[[Page H7137]]

lost 67 of its citizens. The U.S. has expressed its sympathies to the 
families of these British victims.
  Mr. Speaker, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has shown 
extraordinary leadership in the war on terrorism. This resolution 
recognizes his leadership and expresses the appreciation of the 
Congress and the American people. I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, ever since a young Staff Sergeant first climbed into an 
Army Air Force bomber for the first of 35 missions that would win him 
the Distinguished Flying Cross during World War II, the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Gilman) has been serving his country with honor and 
distinction. Through a congressional career that spans three decades 
and, before that, service in the New York State Assembly, the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Gilman) has earned a national and international 
reputation for leadership, fairness, and compassion.
  Whether combatting world hunger or fighting for freedom for those 
unjustly imprisoned, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) has been 
a recognized leader in human rights and foreign affairs, earning praise 
for his work from every cosponsor of the globe. But despite his great 
presence on the world stage, it is evident through his tireless 
advocacy for those he represents that his feet remain firmly on the 
ground in his home community of New York's Hudson Valley.
  Listing the awards and honors that the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman) has earned throughout his career would take far more time than 
allotted, but they are tremendous evidence of the fondness and the 
respect that the gentleman earned throughout his career from those he 
has so passionately and ably represented.
  As the dean of our New York delegation, the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Gilman) has been looked to for his leadership and counsel. On so 
many issues that affect not only his district but our entire State, our 
Nation, and the globe, the gentleman was there fighting just as hard, 
just as passionately for every resident of our State.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my community, my State, I want to extend my 
thanks to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) for all he has done 
to make New York a better place. His wisdom, commitment, and leadership 
will be sorely missed.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor one of my 
closest friends and colleagues who has announced his retirement, a 
great friend of us all, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), and I 
do mean gentleman.
  The gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) has provided 30 years of 
service in the House, representing Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, and 
Westchester Counties. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) has a 
distinguished record in the U.S. Air Force: from 1942 to 1945 as a 
Staff Sergeant in the 19th Bomb Group of the 20th Army Air Force flying 
35 missions over Japan and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and 
the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters.
  Here in the House, he served as ranking minority member on the 
Committee on Post Office and Civil Service from 1989 to 1993, earning 
the reputation as a key spokesman for a safe, equitable workplace for 
civil service and postal service employees.
  Of course, probably the most distinguished thing that the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Gilman) has done in the House has been the 6 years 
he served as chair of the Committee on International Relations. What a 
sterling chair he was. He and his wife Georgia and myself and my wife 
have been friends. We have taken trips, and we have done so many things 
together. I really treasure our friendship.
  In reapportionment, districts change. My district takes over some of 
the area that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) has represented 
so ably for 30 years in Rockland County.
  I just want to make my colleagues aware of what happened about a 
month ago in Rockland County. There was a tribute to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Gilman) which was on local cable. I went there to offer 
my words of tribute, and the place was packed. You could not even get 
in the room, there were so many people in so many walks of life, from 
both political parties, all kinds of community people going and singing 
their praises about the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
  Everybody was saying the same thing: There was no better person who 
was more dedicated, who was just an all-around wonderful individual, 
who loves his job. People say in Rockland County, if there are two 
people in the room, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) would be 
there, because he realizes that it is his responsibility and his honor 
to be there.
  When I think of the kind of representative that we all try to be, I 
can think of no better role model than my good friend, the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Gilman). I want to say that New York's loss is 
certainly going to be the United States' gain, because we know that the 
gentleman is going to continue with public service and have a position 
of even higher importance.
  As the dean of our delegation, as somebody who has worked so hard on 
the Republican side, the dean of the Republican side, there has been no 
truer friend to all of us in New York than the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Gilman). So I want to say to the gentleman that it has been a 
pleasure and an honor to be his friend, to be his colleague. We will 
always be friends.
  Again, in Rockland County, it is very big shoes to fill. While no one 
can really fill the gentleman's shoes, I am going to try just a little 
bit. So I thank the gentleman, and I know that he is going to move on 
to bigger and better things, but we are going to remain close and 
remain friends, because that is the kind of person that the gentleman 
is.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Cox).
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, we are here in form, importantly, to discuss a 
resolution about the Prime Minister of England, about Tony Blair. It is 
fitting that we are here paying tribute to someone who is standing with 
America in tough times, because the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman) has always stood for America in tough times.
  It has been my privilege to serve with the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Gilman) for 14 years here in Congress, but the gentleman's career 
goes back many more years before that. His whole life has been devoted 
to service to his country.
  We can see in this unique combination of good manners and high honor 
on the one hand and toughness and courage on matters of substance on 
the other hand that in the annealing fire of combat in World War II the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) was tested and found completely 
capable of taking on the challenges of our country. He was a Staff 
Sergeant in World War II in the 19th Bomb Group of the 20th Air Force. 
He flew 35 missions over Japan, and it is during that time that he 
earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, as my colleague, the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Engel), mentioned, in addition the Air Medal with 
oak leaf clusters.
  He came home from defending America overseas to defend America at 
home, working as the Assistant Attorney General of the State of New 
York. He also served as counsel to the State legislature, and then went 
on to become a member himself for 3 terms.
  He then went on to serve 15 terms in this body, and he has attained 
every honor that this House can bestow. He has been chairman of the 
Committee on International Relations, chairman of the Subcommittee on 
the Middle East and South Asia, vice-chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources of the Committee on 
Government Reform, and the list goes on.
  When I first brought a bill to the floor of this House in 1989, it 
was a human rights measure to grant refugee status to Ukrainian 
Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholics who were being persecuted in the 
Soviet Union.

                              {time}  2000

  And Ben Gilman was here on the floor arguing in support of my bill.

[[Page H7138]]

During my entire time here, Ben and I have worked together on issues 
that we both care about, including the Congressional Human Rights 
Caucus. We have served together on the Committee on Government Reform.
  Since 1994, Ben has been a leading member of the Republican Policy 
Committee, which I chair. He chaired the Speaker's Working Group on 
North Korea, on which I was privileged to serve, and brought so many of 
the issues of human rights abuses and the threats of weapons of mass 
destruction to the world's attention there. We worked together on the 
Speaker's Advisory Group on Russia, and Ben's experience and knowledge 
of U.S.-Russia relations has proved to be a tremendous asset in helping 
to shape that report on a decade of U.S.-Russia relations.
  Together we have co-sponsored countless bills, including the Eastern 
European Democracy Act, the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, and the 
Iraqi Liberation Act. Ben and I worked closely on the Iraq bill 
frequently mentioned in newspapers these days and around the world; it 
is now getting comments because of its emphasis on regime change. I was 
honored to be the sole co-sponsor of that bill, which passed this House 
on a vote of 360 to 38 4 years ago on October 5, 1998.
  As evidenced by the current debate in Washington, Ben's legislation 
calling for support for the Iraqi opposition groups that would foster 
regime change in Iraq was farsighted, necessary and important and will 
be the follow-on policy after this current conflict.
  Mr. Speaker, I have the utmost respect for the gentleman. He is one 
of the best friends that I will have in my career. He has a knack for 
moving beyond partisan lines because he always stands for what is right 
and that always attracts followers. I hope that the gentleman and 
Georgia and his family will now have a little bit of quiet time now 
that he is moving on from the House. But I know that he will not have a 
whole lot more time because I know he will remain as a leader for the 
United States, and in all the things that I expect he will be doing, 
the gentleman can count on my support and his colleagues' support; and 
I wish the gentleman Godspeed.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Rangel), the ranking member of the Committee on Ways and 
Means and the dean of the New York delegation.
  (Mr. RANGEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, so many times we see Republicans coming on 
over to the Democratic side and Democrats going on the other side and 
some of the newer Members wonder, What is that all about? Well, it is 
about what they call the good old days. The days where people were 
elected to represent their districts and at the same time thought that 
we could disagree without being disagreeable. And if they had any 
problems in trying to figure out what type of legislator that I am 
talking about, I refer them to my friend, my brother, my colleague, Ben 
Gilman. And I say ``brother'' because we can have a lot of problems 
with our brothers, especially on some of the votes that he is being 
lauded for on the other side.
  But one thing is abundantly clear, that he believed in everything 
that he was doing, and that he would put himself out of the way to try 
to listen to the problems of different people in different parts of our 
country or in different parts of the world.
  Ben and I traveled all over fighting the scourge of drugs. It was one 
task force that no one really volunteered to go on. We went into the 
mountains, the valleys. We stood in Colombia and saw what the rebels 
have done. We have known the list of people that have died in these 
countries fighting the drug traffickers. We went into Mexico and saw 
just how corrupt they were and stood up against them. And I do not 
think in any of these countries whether anyone knew who the Democrat 
was and who the Republican was because we went there together as 
Americans. We went to the United Nations as Americans, and we worked 
and fought on so many issues that both of us are proud of. We have so 
many friends outside of the Congress; and, indeed, I was so privileged 
to be a part of his wedding to his beautiful Georgia.
  I do not know basically what he wants for the future. And I do not 
even know how his political career was cut so short so fast. But I know 
one thing, whatever he decides to do with the rest of his beautiful 
life, that I am not going to allow what happens in this floor or what 
happens in Albany to stop the wonderful friendship that my family has 
enjoyed with Ben and his family over the years.
  And for the new Members, if they do not know what I am talking about, 
ask people about Ben Gilman. Members can do their job and be faithful 
to their party. Members can fulfill their commitment to their 
constituents and their country, but they just do not have to be mean-
spirited about it.
  We love Ben and we are going to miss him.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. McHugh) of the north country.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I had another appointment, and I was disappointed 
because I thought I would not have the chance to be here; but I did not 
want to let this opportunity go by without joining in at least for a 
few moments in adding my words of great admiration and best wishes to a 
very, very dear friend and a remarkable colleague, Ben Gilman.
  Mr. Speaker, as we have heard and we will continue to hear, Ben has 
accrued a litany of achievements, any fraction of which would make each 
and every one of the 435 Members of this House very, very proud. During 
his 3 decades of service to his constituents and the American people, 
Ben has done so much for so many, not just here at home, but Ben, as we 
have heard, through his leadership on international, particularly, 
humanitarian and veterans issues.
  It is indeed, as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) suggested, 
disappointing that politics beyond the control of an individual 
politician takes away from our ranks such an illustrious Member. And, 
frankly, Mr. Speaker, that is the only way that Ben Gilman could have 
been removed. Because as former House Speaker Tip O'Neill said, ``All 
politics is local.'' And the local people of New York State understood 
the compassion and great devotion that Ben brought to this job and has 
brought each and every day.
  Former President Truman said, ``If you need a friend in Washington 
get a dog.'' Well, if President Truman was with us today, I think he 
would amend that to saying ``or Ben Gilman.'' A leader, a compassionate 
man, a dedicated legislator to those principles which have guided him 
his whole life, but to those of who have known him perhaps best, always 
a friend. Something that is unfortunately very, very hard to find in 
Washington.
  I had the honor of serving with Ben not just on the Committee on 
International Relations, admiring and looking in amazement at his 
leadership as he guided that somewhat difficult committee at times to 
do even better things as each individual Member would have envisioned 
unto him and herself; but also on the Committee on Government Reform 
where I had the chance to serve as chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Postal Service, Ben was there every minute providing guidance and 
instructions and leadership.
  So to Ben and Georgia, we certainly wish them every continued success 
and Godspeed, and on behalf of not just the New York State delegation 
and his colleagues but all Americans. We thank him so much for his 
service.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Hinchey).
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I join the other Members of this House in 
paying tribute to a great veteran in service of his country, Benjamin 
A. Gilman.
  It has already been mentioned how he served this country as a member 
of the United States Army Air Corps in the Second World War, rising to 
the office of Staff Sergeant and serving in 35 missions, and how he 
earned the Distinguished Service Cross in service to his country.
  Ben Gilman also went on to serve his country in the State legislature 
of the State of New York, serving for 3 consecutive terms before he was 
elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1972 where he 
has served for 3

[[Page H7139]]

decades in elegant and effective service to his constituents in New 
York and the people of this country.
  I can remember the day in 1972 when Ben was elected. In fact, the day 
after he was elected, because on that day he did something which is 
unusual for a successful candidate for public office. The day after he 
was first elected to the House of Representatives, that next morning, 
that morning he was on the street of Middletown, greeting people and 
thanking them for their support in electing him to this distinguished 
office. In the 3 decades that he has served here, he has provided great 
service to the people of our State and this Nation. But mostly he will 
be recognized for his service on the Committee on International 
Relations and its predecessor and his tenure as chairman of that 
committee for three successive terms. He will be recognized as a 
staunch and just defender of the State of Israel. And in addition to 
that, he will also be recognized as one who stood for the oppressed 
minority everywhere in the world.
  Ben Gilman is a great defender of human rights. And he has not cared 
what the human in that sentence looked like or how they prayed or how 
they behaved. No matter what their individuals circumstances, all he 
had to know was that they were suffering in some way and that way was 
unjust, and he was there rushing to their side in all corners of this 
globe.
  It is a pleasure to have served with him now for this past decade, to 
have known him personally as a friend and as a colleague, and to stand 
here this morning with the rest of the Members of this House to pay 
tribute to his great service as an outstanding veteran in service to 
this country.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Kelly).
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to honor my friend 
and colleague from New York. In our military, for New York State 
government, and for the last 30 years here in the House, Ben Gilman has 
always been there for his country and for his fellow citizens. And I am 
honored to have had the opportunity to work with an individual like 
Ben, who has dedicated so much of his life to public service.
  As we all know, as we have all heard, he has had a very distinguished 
career in this body and has been a great leader for us on many fronts 
as chairman of the Committee on International Relations. But I also 
want to say something about Ben's dedication to the interest of his 
constituents in the Hudson Valley. Those of us in the Hudson Valley 
have been particularly fortunate to have Ben here in Congress. He has 
been a tireless advocate for focusing Federal resources on the area's 
needs; and he has been a tremendous partner, and he has been a teacher 
for me in working to improve the region and to bring forth the work on 
the important issues of our area. The Hudson Valley has benefited 
greatly because of Ben Gilman's service in this body.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman today for his service to 
the Hudson Valley, to the State of New York, and to this Nation. I 
thank the gentleman so much for being the person that we all so admire 
for what he has done for all of us.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Ackerman).
  (Mr. ACKERMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to point out to our 
colleagues and the American people who might be listening that we are 
talking about somebody who is alive and well. These kinds of speeches 
are usually made about somebody who has passed from the scene. But Ben 
Gilman is an actual living legend here in the Congress and in this 
great land of ours.
  Mr. Speaker, I have been privileged the years that I have been 
serving here in the Congress to have served just about my entire 
congressional career on the Committee on International Relations with 
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman). We sit on opposite sides of 
the aisle, and we have done that throughout our careers; and I have to 
state that there is nobody that has more respect than does Ben Gilman 
for both sides of the aisle and within the ranks of our committee.
  We do not always agree on every single issue, but we have to respect 
Ben for the positions he takes and the things that he fights for, many 
of which, if not 99 percent of them, I associate myself with.

                              {time}  2015

  I want to point out to some of the Members, especially some of the 
younger Members of the House, that some of the most important things 
that they can do here, because especially with the dimension that our 
world is taking today, is to travel. I have had the pleasure of going 
on quite a number of trips together with Mr. Gilman, both when our 
party was in the majority and when his party was in the majority and he 
was the Chairman; and we learned so much on those trips, not just about 
each other, which is very, very important, but about the rest of the 
world.
  Ben did not travel to those parts of the world where people think a 
person goes to because they are luxurious and they are vacation spots. 
I remember once we went to India together and we flew over there 
courtesy of the Air Force, and when we got there, one of the things we 
were going to do besides visiting people of all kinds was to meet with 
His Excellency, the Dalai Lama. There had been a tremendous typhoon 
that had come through the night before. The Air Force thought it might 
be dangerous and then figured out that indeed our Air Force plane could 
not go up to the mountain where the Dalai Lama was.
  Ben was able to talk to the people within the government of India. 
They provided us with a flying boxcar that could actually get up there 
and land, and we did that. It must have been close to 120 degrees in 
that plane without windows. Our lunch melted. And yet Ben was so 
determined that we meet with His Excellency, the Dalai Lama, that we 
made that trip, a very, very difficult trip.
  Ben and I have gone up mountains together. We have done that in 
Colombia where, in meeting to fight the scourge of drugs, something in 
which you have been a leader in for three decades now, recognizing that 
problem way before almost anybody else in this House of 
Representatives, it took close to 1,500 of the national police of that 
country to protect us when we stood overnight there against the drug 
lords in Cartagena.
  So many trips, so memorable, some with our wives when they were not 
as dangerous as others.
  Just on a personal vote, to give my colleagues the dynamics of this 
man's career, I have been serving in the House for 20 years. I was not 
born when Ben Gilman was flying those missions in World War II, in the 
Army Air Corps, serving with my dad. That is how long Ben has been 
serving this country.
  When I grew up as a little boy, sharing a religion and a tradition 
that Ben Gilman does, one that is really a very small percentage, a 
small minority in this country, there were very few people of my faith 
to look up to as role models in the business of politics, elected 
office in America in those days. My mom told me that there was this guy 
in our State in New York named Ben Gilman, who was a great American, 
who stood for great principles and great values; and he was somebody 
that we could all look up to. And, indeed, I did; and it was a blessed 
day that I was elected to be able to serve side by side with Ben Gilman 
and to fight with him for so many of the causes that all of us believe 
in. For that, I have to tell Ben, for that, all of us are very, very 
grateful; and we thank him for his great service.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton), the senior Member from the 
western part of the State.
  Mr. HOUGHTON. Ben, how do you feel about all these nice words being 
said about you? Just do not inhale them.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to do a little more personal approach. Ben 
has had a distinguished career. He has been here for 30 years, been 
chairman of the Committee on International Relations, been on many 
CODELs, co-chairman of the New York State delegation, been absolutely 
wonderful, but, more importantly than that, I would like to say 
something to Ben. He has been a mentor.
  The two best friends I have had in this Chamber have been Hamilton 
Fish

[[Page H7140]]

and Ben Gilman. Hamilton is no longer with us; and, along with his 
lovely wife, Georgia, they have been wonderful friends of Priscilla's 
and mine. But, more important, when a Member comes here, and I did not 
know anything about politics, I had never been in politics before, Ben 
took me under his wing and was always there for me.
  They say a friend in need is a pest. Never would Ben. He was always 
there, always honest, always leading, always inclusive. I cannot tell 
Ben how much I appreciate that friendship, and I trust and hope it will 
continue. So, Mr. Chairman, Charlie, my great friend, sergeant, we are 
going to miss you.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Hamburg, New York (Mr. Quinn).
  (Mr. QUINN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from western New 
York yielding me the time, and for a minute, I am going to read off the 
script, because what I want to say comes from here, not from the paper.
  I am a former educator before I came to Congress, without any 
political experience, much like the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Houghton); and a lot of people teach things in a lot of different ways. 
A person teaches in the classroom, they teach through books, they teach 
through lecture, but they also teach through example. I have only been 
here for five terms, but I want Ben to know that, from a perspective of 
a newer Member, he was teaching, he was helping, he was advising, and 
he probably did not even know it, for people like me, for some of the 
younger men and women who were here.
  We look around and our staff will say, they will us to get some dear 
colleagues signed. Our staff will tell us to go out and call some 
people to get some support of a bill on either side of the aisle. We 
are next-door neighbors in the Rayburn building, and the example my 
staff always tell me is go do it the way Ben Gilman does it. For 
someone to have served that length of time here and to still approach 
the job that way, with the vim and the vigor and the vitality of a 
freshman, says a lot for you and the way you approach your work in this 
Chamber, and it does not go unnoticed. It has not gone unnoticed.
  I speak for many not only in our delegation but in the House on both 
sides of the aisle. That is a real teacher. That is a real friend for 
all of us here. All I want to say is that, on behalf of the people in 
western New York, as you have touched people all across your district 
and the State, the country, the world, for that matter, on behalf of 
the New Yorkers in western New York State, I want to say thanks to you 
and to your wife for the job you have done for all of us, not only as 
constituents but the way we have learned as Members to do the job the 
right way.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Syracuse, New York (Mr. Walsh).
  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for 
allowing me the time to speak.
  Everyone who has spoken so far from our delegation in New York about 
Ben Gilman mentioned that Ben was here when we came. One of the 
remarkable traditions of any great society is the oral tradition. The 
intelligence and the traditions and the history of the Congress have 
been handed down from Ben Gilman's generation to our generation.
  When I came, Ben took me under his wing immediately because he served 
with my father, and he still asks about my dad to this day. That is the 
kind of man that Ben Gilman is. But he took time for everyone, not just 
his colleagues here in the Congress but for his constituents, for 
people who came to him from around the world looking for help to 
support their nascent democratic movement. They always had a listener 
in Ben Gilman.
  He has been a legislator, chairing one of the most important 
committees in the Congress, but he stopped to deal with other Members 
on issues that were germane and important to his own constituency. When 
there was a disaster in his district for onion farmers because of bad 
weather, every single day I saw him on the floor he reminded me not to 
forget the onion farmers.
  He always had a letter under his arm looking for dear colleagues to 
support constituencies throughout the world, in Ireland where he has 
been such a great leader, such a remarkable leader; and I hope he stays 
engaged because their troubles are not behind them yet. And Israel, 
another country that has seen more trouble than its share, Ben has 
always been a friend. I guess that is the way I could find to describe 
him, a friend.
  When we look Ben Gilman in the eye, we see a lot of things. We see 
sincerity. We see a man who has lived a joyous life, but most of what 
we see is kindness, kindness for anyone who reaches out to him. He 
returns it a hundredfold, and I thank him for his friendship and his 
kindness and for his service to the country.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.
  I just want to say, because it has been said so many times before, if 
you have gone on trips with Ben Gilman there has been no one who worked 
harder than Ben on these trips.
  I just want to say, after Ground Zero, all of us as New Yorkers after 
September 11, a few days later we all went to Ground Zero when 
President Bush went there. I think it was 3 days after the tragedy, and 
Ben was just going around to the firemen and the policemen and all the 
people there, consoling them, speaking with them, people from his 
district who will now be in my district. That is just the kind of 
person he is.
  Finally, I want to say, Ben has fought long and hard, and there is no 
better friend of the State of Israel than Ben Gilman. I think Ben has 
heard all his colleagues saying all the things about him that we all 
feel from the bottom of our hearts. We love you.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. 
Kaptur).
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for 
yielding me the time; and I wish to join my colleagues this evening in 
paying special tribute to our dear and able and incredibly hardworking 
Member of this House, Congressman Ben Gilman of New York, an ambassador 
for our country at home and abroad, someone whose knowledge is 
unparalleled.
  As I said recently to the Governor of New York, when the day comes 
for Ben Gilman to cast his last vote here, I would hope that there 
would be a way for him to become an ambassador at large. I would give 
him without portfolio, and I would give him the toughest problems in 
the world, and we have sure got a couple of those right now because I 
know that I would have a completely honest, extraordinarily 
knowledgeable, very experienced diplomat, someone who understands the 
Congress and who has dedicated his life to building peace, to building 
understanding, to building alliances and maintaining those alliances, 
understanding the importance of those alliances and knows world leaders 
on a first-name basis.
  There is not a corner of the world where he cannot go and be 
received. So I think it is important for the American people to know 
that the institutional memory that exists with this man is unparalleled 
in the executive branch. I cannot find one person over there, 
regardless of administration, that can compare to what this man has 
done.
  So I wanted to add my words of commendation this evening to urge the 
Bush administration to give Ben a very brief sabbatical and then give 
him a really hard job and he would have entree here in the Congress 
whenever he would choose to come back.
  I want to thank him for his deep friendship on both sides of the 
aisle, to his wife, Georgia, who is his constant companion, to his 
family. Thanks to the citizens of New York for sending this incredibly 
gifted man to serve in this House.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I agree that we ought to give Ben the hardest 
job and he will handle it very easily.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield the balance of my 
time to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, we have heard from the speakers tonight 
and many members of the New York delegation, on both sides of the 
aisle. The ranking member has yielded his time. I yield the balance of 
my time to

[[Page H7141]]

the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), in salute to him, the dean of 
our delegation, and his wife, Georgia, who is in the balcony, for his 
closing remarks.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Flake). The Chair reminds all Members 
that it is not appropriate to refer to guests in the gallery.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)

                              {time}  2030

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Reynolds) for yielding me this time, and the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel) for his kind remarks, and for all of my colleagues who 
were so kind in their expressions of support.
  As the House finishes its work for this year and the 107th Congress 
draws to a close, it is with deep regret that due to my involuntary 
retirement as a result of redistricting I will not be returning to 
Washington in January for the opening of the next Congress.
  I came to Washington 30 years ago, and I had the honor and privilege 
to represent our Hudson Valley region of New York, our State, and our 
Nation during that period of time. That has afforded me the opportunity 
to witness and to participate in a great number of significant events 
in our history: from Watergate, the Vietnam war, to the fall of the 
Berlin Wall, the end of the Cold War during the 1980s and 1990s, two 
Presidential impeachments, the Gulf War, and most recently the World 
Trade Center attacks and our war on terrorism.
  I am particularly proud to have been part of reorganizing our State 
Department, helping to free some political prisoners in Mozambique, 
Cuba, the Soviet Union, and other nations, fighting our war against 
drugs, accounting for other MIAs and POWs, working to eliminate world 
hunger, extraditing criminals from foreign lands, and establishing our 
international scholarships program.
  In looking back, it has been especially gratifying to see how much, 
along with many of my colleagues and staffs, how much we have 
accomplished in promoting peace in Northern Ireland, in Afghanistan, in 
India and Pakistan, in Sri Lanka, and the Middle East, and knowing that 
after I leave here that my colleagues' good work is going to continue 
in those directions. And knowing that our work is not done, I look 
ahead with optimism for opportunities which may arise for me to be able 
to contribute to make a difference.
  I thank my staff, many of whom have been with me for more than a 
decade, for their dedication and their hard work. They have been 
invaluable to Georgia and to me through our years of service, and I 
wish them all success in their future endeavors. And I hope that my 
colleagues will look out for them when they are seeking new positions.
  It is hoped that somehow we have motivated our young people to 
recognize that an average young person from any small town with enough 
determination and perseverance can become a leader, a Congressman, and 
have the opportunity to make a difference in our world. I have always 
held the position of Congressman in the highest regard and tried to do 
my best to serve our constituents and our neighbors with the dignity 
that is befitting this office.
  When I announced my candidacy for the House of Representatives back 
in 1972, it was beyond my wildest imagination that I would still be 
here after these many years working on behalf of our constituents. I 
thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for your warm friendship 
and your brotherhood. It has been a privilege to serve alongside all of 
you, and it is with heavy hearts that Georgia and I have to say good-
bye to this great body at the end of this session.
  God bless you all, and I thank you for your kind words.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Flake). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 549.
  The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore.
  In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of those present have voted 
in the affirmative.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. 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.

                          ____________________