[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN HONOR OF THE BIRTHDAY OF MRS. HELEN GINGREY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take my time this evening 
to address the House regarding a very important person, someone who has 
meant so much to me and without whom undoubtedly I would not be here 
today. Mrs. Helen Gingrey turned 85 last Saturday, February 8, 2003.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that you and Members of the House of 
Representatives will want to join me tonight in saying, Happy Birthday, 
Mom.
  It is important in this day and age for children to grow up in a 
strong family environment like the one my parents provided for me. I 
would hope that as I embark on my tenure here, representing the 11th 
Congressional District of Georgia, that my colleagues and I would 
always keep an eye on how our actions will affect the American families 
who are struggling to stay together and to make ends meet.
  My mother has had a great life and has been a blessing to both her 
community and to her family. She is the daughter of Irish and Scotch 
immigrants. She was born in New York City in 1918. She grew up in 
Astoria of the Queens Borough. She married my dad when she was 19 years 
old. He was a native of South Carolina and had come to New York at age 
16 in near poverty with little means of support. Shortly after their 
marriage, they moved back to South Carolina, to Edgefield, the 
birthplace of Senator Strom Thurmond, and began to raise their family, 
me and my two brothers.
  My dad died 22 years ago. My mom and dad were high school graduates 
who worked hard in one small business after another. They never had the 
opportunity to go to college, but they struggled to make sure that 
their three sons; my brother Bill, my brother James and myself, 
attended college. The ideals my parents instilled in us are the ones of 
hard work, good education, personal responsibility, respect for others, 
love of family and love of country. These are not only good principles 
for rearing children, but also good guidelines for the initiatives we 
will work on here in this 108th Congress.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to use the example and the 
principles of Mrs. Helen Gingrey and all loving mothers like her to set 
an agenda that will work to strengthen and support the most vital 
component of our great Nation, the American family.

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