[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FLOYD SPENCE POST OFFICE BUILDING

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 26, 2003

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I loved Floyd Spence like a brother and he 
would be honored by the fact the House is honoring him in Lexington, 
South Carolina, by naming a post office to commemorate his life and 
service to the United States. He was a dear friend, a colleague, and a 
stalwart for our nation's armed services and the country.
  In addition to his zeal and dedication on behalf of his constituents 
in South Carolina, I admired his outlook on life. Floyd was determined 
to squeeze every drop of life he could from his time on this earth . . 
. and he succeeded.
  He was supremely dedicated to his duty to South Carolina, to our 
armed services, and to the United States of America. I know this 
because I traveled with Floyd to places on every part of the planet to 
inspect our military bases. Wherever we went, he and I were the ones 
who insisted we talk to the enlisted men, not just the generals. Floyd 
served in the military; he and I were among the few Members of this 
House who served in uniform.
  Floyd was a great hero, and a great friend to thousands of people 
here on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, throughout the services, and in 
his beloved South Carolina. I still miss that giant of a man with the 
funny laugh he was quick to share.
  The camaraderie often noted as now missing in the House of 
Representatives has led our critics, and ourselves, to say that we lack 
either bi-partisanship or simple human trust. But because of my 
friendships with so many of my Republican colleagues, most notably my 
friend Floyd Spence, I know the trust we engender here is real and it 
works on behalf of the American people.
  I thank the committee for honoring my friend, our colleague in this 
momentous way. Floyd would be so proud. I am proud for him and his 
family.

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