[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.
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