[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H1709-H1710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RICHARD K. ARMEY ROOM

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 19) designating the room numbered H-236 in the 
House of Representatives wing of the Capitol as the ``Richard K. Armey 
Room''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H. Res. 19

       Whereas, at the end of the 107th Congress, Representative 
     Richard K. Armey retired after 18 years of distinguished 
     service in the House of Representatives, including service as 
     the Majority Leader for 8 years, the longest tenure of any 
     Republican Majority Leader in 92 years: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the room numbered H-236 in the House of 
     Representatives wing of the Capitol shall be known and 
     designated as the ``Richard K. Armey Room''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Burgess) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).
  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, House Resolution 19 designates room 236 in the House 
wing of the United States Capitol as the Richard K. Armey Room. Former 
Majority Leader Dick Armey represented the 26th Congressional District 
of Texas for 18 years, and his dedication to the 26th district and to 
the State of Texas had no bounds. He represented the constituents with 
honesty, integrity, and was passionate about his fiscally conservative 
principles. I now represent this same district and will follow in the 
same spirit. The people of this district, the State of Texas, and our 
great Nation are better off as a result of Dr. Armey's leadership in 
Congress.
  Former Majority Leader Armey was the first of his family to attend 
college. He rose from humble beginnings in rural North Dakota to the 
pinnacle of American government. His was not a path of privilege but of 
hard work, dedication and strong beliefs. He earned a bachelor's degree 
from Jamestown College, a master's degree from the University of North 
Dakota, and a doctorate from the University of Oklahoma.
  In 1984, Dr. Armey was elected to his first of nine terms in this 
body. He quickly made a name for himself as someone dedicated to sound 
public policies based on conservative principles. During his time in 
the House, he was instrumental in passage of public housing reform, 
closing of obsolete and unnecessary military bases, and farm 
legislation reform, each of which saved the American people money and 
allowed the Federal Government to better serve the communities 
impacted.

                              {time}  1530

  Dick Armey was also a steadfast conservative who advocated 
fundamental tax reform and brought the implementation of the flat tax 
to the national stage. These achievements and ideas all came as all of 
Dick Armey's accomplishments came, through hard work, persistence and 
dedication.
  In 1992, Representative Armey was elected to the position of 
conference chairman of the House Republicans, the top policy position 
within the Republican Conference. In 1994, when Republicans won a 
majority of seats in this House of Representatives for the first time 
in 40 years, Representative Armey was elected to serve as majority 
leader, a position he held for 8 years, one of the longest terms of any 
majority leader in the history of this body.
  In addition to his leadership roles, Majority Leader Armey also 
served as cochairman of the Joint Economic Committee and as chairman of 
the Select Committee on Homeland Security, which was responsible for 
writing the legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security.
  The naming of Room 236 as the Richard K. Armey Room is a fitting 
tribute to a dedicated public servant. I support the legislation and 
encourage all of my colleagues to do the same.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H1710]]

  Madam Speaker, H. Res. 19 would designate Room 236 in the House of 
Representatives as the Richard K. Armey Room. H-236 is located in the 
Capitol and currently serves as a meeting room.
  Mr. Armey retired at the end of the 107th Congress after serving 18 
years in the House. He was born in Cando, North Dakota, in 1940. After 
graduating from the local high school, he attended Jamestown College in 
Jamestown, North Dakota. He received his Master's Degree from the 
University of North Dakota and his Ph.D. from the University of 
Oklahoma.
  Mr. Armey taught for many years, holding positions at the University 
of Montana, West Texas State University, Austin College and North Texas 
State University. While at North Texas State, he was the Chairman of 
the Economics Department for 6 years.
  In 1992, Congressman Armey became the chairman of the House 
Republican Conference, and in 1994 he became the majority leader.
  Designating this room in the Capitol is an appropriate recognition of 
Congressman Armey's civic contributions and his dedicated public 
service.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Iowa (Mr. Nussle).
  Mr. NUSSLE. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas for 
yielding me time.
  Madam Speaker, this is a great pleasure for me. This is my 
resolution, and I cannot think of a prouder resolution and a more 
meaningful one to me to bring forward than this resolution here today.
  A person's work here in Congress speaks much louder than rooms that 
are named after them or statues that may collect dust in the hallways. 
It is right and fitting and appropriate that we name this room after 
Dick Armey, but I can tell you that the Dick Armey I know cares very 
little about what room is named after him. He cares much more about the 
legacy he has left for his children and grandchildren and this great 
country we call America.
  Some would say that the beauty of our democracy is that when somebody 
leaves the United States Congress they are quickly forgotten. In some 
respects that is sad, because we have some great Members who come 
through our body on both sides of the aisle, Members who go on to 
bigger and better things, some might say in the United States Senate or 
the other body as we refer to it, maybe down in the administration, 
maybe they go home and raise their family, open a business, teach 
school, whatever it might be. But the beauty of our system and our 
democracy really does lie in the fact that it is we the people, and 
that while one great Member passes, a new great Member can hopefully 
fill those shoes as we move forward.
  Dick Armey speaks often about something very simple that I happen to 
believe is very profound. ``Freedom works'' is a slogan that he has 
coined, to some extent. It is a long way of saying we hold these truths 
to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and endowed by their 
Creator with certain inalienable rights, that of life, liberty and the 
pursuit of happiness.
  It took a long sentence to get that out back in 1776, but today we 
can say it very simply as freedom works; freedom works in America, 
freedom works in our economy, freedom works in our workplace. Freedom 
may even work in Iraq. Freedom works in a lot of places, in a lot of 
places that we call America, and Dick Armey has helped bring freedom to 
our country.
  It is an unusual procedure to bring a resolution to the floor to name 
anything in the United States Capitol. We do so only under very unusual 
circumstances. If you walk through the halls, you will find many great 
leaders with their name on the door. I believe it is appropriate that 
we take a pause today and name a room. But the name that I think that 
Dick Armey would find most appropriate on any room in this Capitol 
would be freedom.
  The nice thing about this is that while I introduced this resolution, 
I did so with the full support of the Speaker of the House. I talked to 
him first, because you do not name rooms in the Capitol without talking 
to the Speaker. I also know I have the support of my entire conference. 
But what is even more enjoyable is to know we have the support of both 
sides of the aisle. Democrats who may have disagreed with Dick Armey 
during his term had an enormous amount of respect for him, even though 
there was disagreement oftentimes, and that is true, I think, for many 
leaders that Republicans look to on the Democratic side as well.
  This is a bipartisan resolution. Former leader Armey is here in the 
Chamber today. I just want to say to my friend that this is as 
meaningful a public gesture as we can make, and we mean it with as much 
heartfelt wishes for you and your wife Susan, and the recognition that 
what you have done here has not been forgotten. Even though freedom 
works, our country continues, our democracy will flourish, and the 
Congress will continue to hopefully do good things that you will find 
enjoyable to watch from your new chair and your new seat.
  Thank you very much for your service. We look forward to the 
opportunity when we can unveil this room some time in the near future.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
  Madam Speaker, the gentleman from Iowa is quite correct that it is 
hard to leave a legacy. The majority leader himself pointed out how 
service in this body does take a fair amount from one's family and 
one's time with one's family. I am aware of the fact that the retiring 
majority leader is expecting two grandchildren next month, and what a 
wonderful legacy it will be for those children when they visit the 
Capitol in years to come, to visit Room 236, the Richard K. Armey Room.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 19.
  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. BURGESS. 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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