[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 72 (Thursday, May 20, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H3394-H3404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    EXPRESSING THE GRATITUDE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO ITS 
           PARLIAMENTARIAN, THE HONORABLE CHARLES W. JOHNSON.

  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 651) 
expressing the gratitude of the House of Representatives to its 
Parliamentarian, the Honorable Charles W. Johnson, and ask unanimous 
consent for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                               H. Res. 651

       Whereas Charles W. Johnson was appointed to the Office of 
     the Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives in May 
     1964 and, over the ensuing 40 years has continuously served 
     in that Office under seven successive Speakers, the past 10 
     years as Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives 
     under the appointments of three successive Speakers;
       Whereas Charles W. Johnson has unfailingly endeavored to 
     apply pertinent precedent to every parliamentary question, in 
     recognition of the principle that fidelity to precedent 
     promotes procedural fairness and legitimacy; and
       Whereas Charles W. Johnson has institutionalized in the 
     Office of the Parliamentarian his demonstrated commitment to 
     consistency in parliamentary analysis: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives expresses its 
     profound gratitude to the Honorable Charles W. Johnson for 
     his unrivaled record of devoted service and steady, impartial 
     guidance as its Parliamentarian.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The gentleman may inquire.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, is a motion to table this resolution in 
order at this time?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), 
the distinguished Speaker, will control 1 hour.
  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
after which I yield my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) and 
ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control that time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, 40 years ago Charlie Johnson, fresh out of 
Virginia Law School, came to work for the Office of the 
Parliamentarian. Little did he know that 40 years later, almost to the 
day, he would be announcing his retirement from that same office.
  Charlie, we are going to miss you.
  You have been a rock. You have advised seven different Speakers and 
countless Speaker pro tems on how they should rule on various 
parliamentary questions. You have advised thousands of Members and even 
more staff in how to draft their amendments. You have given us advice 
on committee jurisdiction, the favorite part of my job.
  The Parliamentarian in the House takes on special significance, more 
so than any other legislative body. You

[[Page H3395]]

have to be exceedingly fair and judicious, and have to be seen as fair 
and judicious by both sides. And I know that is not always easy.
  Charlie replaced Bill Brown as Parliamentarian. Bill started the 
process of demystifying the precedents used by his predecessor, Lew 
Deschler. That is a pretty good pedigree of institutional knowledge. 
Charlie has continued to make the Parliamentarian's office more 
accessible and more open to Members and staff.
  Charlie is a man of many talents. He is dedicated to education and 
talks endlessly about his beloved Camp Dudley, a place for kids to 
learn about the great outdoors. He is a baseball fanatic, a southpaw 
who pitches batting practice for the Los Angeles Dodgers. And he has an 
avid interest in the English House of Commons. In fact, he is writing a 
book with his counterpart in London comparing our procedures with those 
of the Parliament.
  I am sure he thinks he will get the chance to spend more time with 
his lovely wife Martha and his two boys, Charles and Drew, once he 
retires, but let us not kid ourselves. If I know Charlie Johnson, I 
know he will keep as active as he ever has with his many interests in 
many things.
  I have asked John Sullivan to replace Charlie, and he has accepted 
the offer. John is well respected by both Republicans and Democrats and 
has served in the Parliamentarian's office since 1987. John is a 
graduate from the Air Force Academy and got his law degree from Indiana 
School of Law. John is an avid college basketball fan whose allegiance 
tends to flow to any team that Bobby Knight coaches. John is an able 
successor to Charlie Johnson, Bill Brown and Lew Deschler, and he will 
do a fine job.
  Once again, best wishes to Charlie Johnson in his golden years. We 
wish you the best.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) is 
recognized.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield half of my time to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Pelosi) and ask unanimous consent that she be 
allowed to control that time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1015

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  To the gentleman from California's (Mr. Dreier) question as to 
whether it was appropriate to table the resolution, I think we should 
have tabled the letter.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with personal and official pride that I rise to 
pay tribute to Charles Johnson on his retirement as House 
Parliamentarian and to thank him for his many years of outstanding 
service to this body.
  To praise Charlie Johnson is easy, and it is one thing that brings 
Democrats and Republicans together. I have only served for 17 years of 
Charlie's 40, and during that time I have observed, and we have all 
witnessed, profound changes in how this body conducts its business. But 
through every change and difficult time, the House has always been able 
to count on the expert, honest, and fair advice of Charlie Johnson.
  Charlie began his service in the House in 1964, as acknowledged by 
the Speaker, shortly after graduating from the University of Virginia 
Law School. When he was appointed House Parliamentarian in 1994, he 
joined a distinguished line that includes Clarence Cannon, Lewis 
Deschler, and Bill Brown. Think of this, my colleagues: Charlie is just 
the third Parliamentarian since 1928.
  Respected on both sides of the aisle, Charlie was first appointed by 
a Democratic Speaker, Speaker Tom Foley, and reappointed by Republican 
Speakers Newt Gingrich and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert).
  Charlie exemplifies the best of this House. With his unquestioned 
integrity and keen intellect, he has consistently maintained the 
highest standards of nonpartisanship and scholarship for the Office of 
Parliamentarian. Charlie has guided us carefully, but firmly, through 
turbulent floor debates; and he knows of what we speak here and has 
provided sound and discreet advice to individual Members and staff.
  He has served as a mentor to the outstanding Parliamentarians that 
serve under him, among them his respected successor, John Sullivan. And 
we are all pleased with the Speaker's announcement that John Sullivan 
will be named the Parliamentarian; and that, of course, is the 
suggestion of Charlie Johnson. So respected is he that he can even 
suggest his own successor.
  On top of everything, Charlie Johnson is truly a kind man. The 
Speaker and others will reference Camp Dudley, one of his acts of 
kindness.
  As a San Franciscan, and, Charlie, I am going to spill the beans on 
you, I am delighted that Charlie is also a devoted San Francisco Giants 
fan. But Charlie is not just a fan. When he leaves us, he will take up 
his true calling as a major league batting practice pitcher, beginning 
with a Dodgers-Expos game soon.
  Perhaps, Mr. Leader, we can use our collective influence to have this 
event covered by C-SPAN. Maybe we could just do it right here on the 
floor and then it will be covered by C-SPAN.
  Although Charlie will relinquish his daily duties here, Charlie's 
dedication to this House, of course, will remain. Charlie will continue 
the difficult, but essential, work on the Precedents of the House of 
Representatives.
  Earlier this week when the Speaker told me of the news of Charlie's 
submitting this letter, which I agree should be tabled, I received the 
news with mixed emotions. We all know how great Charlie is as the 
Parliamentarian and what a great friend he is to many of us, but of 
course we want to see him go on after 40 years to fulfill himself 
personally in other ways. And so we know he will teach professionally 
at the University of Virginia Law School and he will collaborate with 
the Parliamentarian in the House of Commons of the U.K. on a book of 
parliamentary procedures that will surely be a great contribution on 
that important topic.
  But I was delighted to hear Charlie talk about his own personal 
plans. Of course he will have more time with his wonderful family, and 
he is very lucky his grandchildren live in the region. In fact, we are 
lucky his grandchildren live in the region because hopefully that will 
mean that Charlie will visit us frequently.
  As you leave us, Charlie, please go forth with the knowledge that 
anyone who values the work of this House of Representatives indeed 
values the work of democracy, is deeply in your debt, and that goes 
well beyond those of us who have served here, with the knowledge that 
you will be deeply missed and with the hope for us that you will visit 
us often. Good luck to you. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. 
Thank you. And thank you to your family for sharing you with us.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with mixed feelings that I come to the House today 
to wish farewell to our respected and beloved Parliamentarian Charlie 
Johnson. It is a happy day because it provides us with an opportunity 
to recognize one of the true giants of the United States House of 
Representatives and finally give one of our often underappreciated 
officials his due and also because we know he is on his way to a happy 
retirement.
  But it is a sad day, as well, for the House is losing one of its true 
institutions. For more than 4 decades, Charlie has provided Members of 
both parties the benefit of his guidance and his judgment and his 
experience. Charlie is an honest man, one of the few in Washington 
whose staff can honestly claim that they rarely make mistakes and 
honestly claim that they take responsibility for them when they do.
  For instance, when I took over as majority leader, Charlie and I 
often butted heads over the length of floor votes. I urged the Chair to 
gavel votes closely right at 15 minutes, even as Members were 
scrambling to the floor to cast their votes. I thought that imposing a 
little discipline in the voting would encourage a more efficient use of 
floor time in the House.
  But Charlie's experience taught him the value of tolerance and 
understanding in these matters; and particularly during certain votes 
late last year, I finally saw the wisdom of Charlie's way of thinking 
in leaving some of those votes open. For those of you on the other side 
of the aisle, that was a Tom DeLay's idea of a joke.

[[Page H3396]]

  Along with Charlie's experience, we will also miss his undying 
support for the Amherst College Lord Jeffs, which, to those of you who 
follow the perennial NESCAC, the cellar-dwellers, know, is vocal, 
enthusiastic, and honestly a little sad.
  Seriously, Mr. Speaker, the job of the Parliamentarian is a job of 
trust, of integrity, and of honesty. These are the qualities without 
which no description of Charlie Johnson would be complete. The House 
has been honored by his service, and we have been honored by his 
presence.
  Good luck, Charlie. God bless you and your family, and of course we 
always thank you for your exemplary and distinguished service to the 
House of Representatives and to this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Dreier) and ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to 
control that time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the very 
distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), ranking member on the 
Committee on Rules. He and the Committee on Rules and staff, as well as 
other Members, know full well the quality of the excellence of the work 
of Charlie Johnson, and I ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to 
control that time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the Democratic whip.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from 
Texas, the ranking member of the Committee on Rules, for yielding me 
this time.
  Those who will speak have been here for some years. Most of us who 
speak are known as institutions. We love this House. We believe this 
House plays a very unique role in this democracy. It is called the 
People's house, a House to which one can be elected but not appointed. 
It is a House where the passions and wisdom of the people are joined in 
this crucible of decision-making process. It is a House that is 
composed of persons of different views, different regions, indeed 
different races and nationalities. It is a House where our Founding 
Fathers designed American democracy to be realized.
  And in that context it is extraordinarily important to have a House 
that plays by the rules. Our Founding Fathers knew that if we were to 
have democracy, it would have to be governed by rules.
  The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), my good friend, the 
former majority leader, is on the floor; and I have heard him say so 
often that democracy is a substitute for war.
  In that context, it is sometimes confrontational; and we need a wise 
person helped by wise staff to, in effect, be the referee, to say to 
both sides that we are a democracy and we resolve questions in a 
peaceful way, perhaps animated, perhaps heated, but nevertheless in a 
way that seeks to realize the dream of our Founding Fathers, a dream 
which has been sustained now since 1789 because of people like Charles 
W. Johnson, III. Not elected to serve but selected, selected by persons 
who themselves are elected and who know the value of this institution 
and the absolutely essential position that Charles Johnson III was 
called to serve in.
  I am not objective. Those of us who speak will not be objective. We 
are his friends. We are his admirers. We are appreciative of the 
service that he has given to this House but, much more importantly, to 
this country. He is wise. He is also thoughtful. He is also caring of 
the institution, its staff and its Members but, most of all, of his 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues to thank Charlie Johnson for 
his service. Charlie's service will be long remembered. He will write a 
book, and like his predecessors, that book will be used for generations 
to come to help manage this center of democracy, the people's House.
  I somewhat lament the fact that Charlie is leaving and will be 
replaced by John Sullivan, not because John Sullivan is not a worthy 
successor, but because I prefer Gary Williams to Bobby Knight, and Drew 
went to the University of Maryland and therefore leavened Charlie 
Johnson's University of Virginia experience.
  But, Charlie, as you leave, as we honor you, as we thank you, we wish 
you God speed and wish you many years of the kind of productivity and 
success that you have enjoyed here in this House. You have been and 
continue to be a great American in the tradition of your predecessors 
who ensured that the people's House would be revered by its Members and 
respected by those it serves. Godspeed.

                              {time}  1030

  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a very challenging time for all of us, because 
Charlie has been such a great friend and enormous asset to this 
institution.
  Many of us are proud to be institutionalists, and as the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) said, I am one of them; and there are an 
awful lot of people here who, over the last decades have seen attacks 
made on this institution itself, but many of us, you included, Mr. 
Speaker, have had a strong commitment to this institution.
  The Office of the Parliamentarian began in 1857 when Speaker James L. 
Orr of South Carolina appointed Thaddeus Morrice as ``Messenger.'' 
Morrice was said to have a marvelous memory and his ability to recall 
the House precedents and other decisions of the Chair required him to 
be near the Speaker in his role as presiding officer of the House.
  The title was later changed to ``Clerk to the Speaker,'' then to 
``Clerk at the Speaker's Table,'' and in 1927 to ``House 
Parliamentarian.'' The first person to actually have the title of 
Parliamentarian was Lehrn Fess.
  Today, we are honoring Charles W. Johnson, III as he steps down from 
that most important position. There are few people, including those 
Members who have been elected to serve, who have contributed more to 
this institution than Charlie Johnson.
  In fact, Mr. Speaker, I believe that Charles W. Johnson, III is the 
greatest Parliamentarian to have served this House and our country. His 
dedication and service to this great institution is unparalleled in our 
history.
  Oh, yes, great men have served before, as we have heard, but he has 
distinguished himself from them by his desire and ability to not only 
assist the Speaker and other presiding officers, but to reach out and 
teach Members and staff the rules of this institution.
  Moreover, he has been an example as to how we should conduct 
ourselves in office and in life. He has always been a gentleman who has 
dealt with Members honestly and fairly. He has worked with Members from 
both sides of the aisle evenhandedly and without prejudice. His advice 
and counsel have always been sound and thoughtful. He has been steady 
and consistent, even when there has been turmoil in the House and in 
the country at large.
  Charlie has helped this institution during some of the most trying 
times that our country has endured. He has competently served this 
House and our country by assuring that this great Chamber proceeds in 
order when there has been chaos and conflict in the world around us. He 
has been at our side from the Vietnam War to the War on Terror.
  There is not enough time to ever fully explain how much Charlie has 
contributed. Every piece, every single piece of legislation, every 
amendment considered, every motion, every floor event, every law 
enacted over the past several decades, bears his mark. Who else among 
us can actually say that?
  I am humbled at the thought of how much he has done for me personally 
as a Member of this body and as chairman of the Committee on Rules. He 
has assisted me through major reforms and minor jurisdictional 
squabbles.
  But today I want to say thank you very much, Charlie, not only for 
what you have done for me, but I want to thank you for what you have 
done for this great institution, the greatest deliberative body known 
to man and to our country as a whole.

[[Page H3397]]

  Yesterday morning, not unusually, the House Committee on Rules 
convened at 7 a.m. to proceed with consideration of the Department of 
Defense authorization rule and the conference report on the budget. At 
the end of that meeting, I joined with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Frost), the ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules, in 
asking for an agreement to be unanimous, and, thank heavens for you, 
Charlie, no one did call a vote, but we unanimously did pass a 
resolution that had been crafted by our able Staff Director, Billy 
Pitts, who, as you know, is a great institutionalist and very committed 
to this body, and Kristi Walseth, who worked in fashioning the 
resolution.
  I should say that we actually have many more staff people on the 
House floor, I think, than Members at this moment, because there are so 
many staff members with whom you have worked closely. I mentioned Billy 
Pitts, but I want to say on behalf of the bipartisan staff membership 
of the House Committee on Rules, working closely with you and your 
team, I see here on the floor Seth Webb and a number of people from the 
Speaker's office who work, I know, very closely with you. These staff 
members will not have an opportunity to speak here on the House floor, 
but I know that every single one of them would want us to express our 
appreciation to you for your effort.
  I would like to take just a moment to read the resolution, which we 
overnight have gotten on parchment, and I am going to personally 
present to you here. This was voted unanimously by the Committee on 
Rules at 7 o'clock, foggy, yesterday morning.

       Whereas Charles W. Johnson, III has served the House of 
     Representatives with dedication and devotion in the Office of 
     the Parliamentarian since May 20, 1964; and
       Whereas Charles W. Johnson, III learned the Rules, 
     practices and precedents of the House under the tutelage of 
     Lewis Deschler, who served the House as Parliamentarian from 
     1928 until 1974, and his good and great friend W. Holmes 
     Brown, who served as the House Parliamentarian from 1974 
     until 1994; and
       Whereas Charles W. Johnson, III has used those lessons to 
     honorably serve as a universally respected Parliamentarian of 
     the House from 1994 until today; and
       Whereas Charles W. Johnson, III has, as a teacher of House 
     rules, its practices and precedents, taught respect for the 
     institution of the United States House of Representatives to 
     countless Members of Congress and their staff; and
       Whereas Charles W. Johnson, III has provided to the 
     Committee on Rules countless hours of advice and counsel as 
     well as assistance in its work as the traffic cop of the 
     House; and
       Whereas Charles W. Johnson, III has ensured that the Office 
     the Parliamentarian will continue to operate with the high 
     standards and non-partisan manner that he and his 
     predecessors have demanded by assembling a knowledgeable, 
     skilled and experienced staff who serve as a vital part of 
     the operation of the House; and
       Whereas Charles W. Johnson, III, or ``Charlie'' as he is 
     known in the House, will continue to serve the House as he 
     continues the work of Lew Deschler and Bill Brown by 
     finishing the Precedents of the House; and
       Whereas his good humor, kind smile and love of baseball 
     will be missed by all who know him in the House of 
     Representatives; and
       Whereas Charles W. Johnson, III will officially retire from 
     the United States House of Representatives on May 20, 2004, 
     exactly 40 years after he first came to this body: Now, 
     therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Members of the Committee on Rules 
     express their deep and lasting appreciation for the service 
     Charles W. Johnson, III has given to the Committee, the House 
     of Representatives and the people of the United States of 
     America.

  I look forward to giving this to you personally, Charlie.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you and the Democratic leader 
for bringing this resolution to the Floor this morning so that Members 
of the House may pay tribute to our friend Charles W. Johnson.
  Charlie is taking leave of his position as Parliamentarian of the 
House today, exactly 40 years after he began as a young lawyer fresh 
out of law school in the Parliamentarian's office. On his last day in 
the House it is only fitting that the Members of this body can take the 
floor to pay tribute to him and express our gratitude and our 
friendship.
  To say that Charlie is a creature of the House or a servant of this 
institution does him a disservice, for without him, many of us would 
never have learned the intricacies of the Rules of the House, its 
practices and its procedures. Without his sage advice and counsel, so 
many of us, as well as our staff, would be lost in the maze of 
legislative practice.
  His office, just off this floor, is more than just an office; it has 
served as a focal point for discussions both pointed and prosaic, 
political and procedural, but always, always, non-partisan.
  Quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, Charlie is the institution. During his 40 
years as a Parliamentarian, he has served Democratic Speakers and 
Republican Speakers. He has shown fairness to all and malice to none. 
Not an easy task, where tempers can run high and where blame is easily 
cast.
  He has served through peace and war and through times of great 
national triumph and tragedy. Charlie has always risen to the 
challenge, and in doing so, has challenged so many of us to do so as 
well.
  Charlie took over the job as the Parliamentarian in 1994 following 
the retirement of his dear friend and colleague Bill Brown. Just as 
Bill was a voice of calm, deliberative reason, so is Charlie. Far too 
often we, as Members, fail to recognize the importance of those 
qualities in the people who ensure that the business of the House can 
proceed, regardless of which political party holds the majority. I know 
that it is often the case with regard to Charlie and the entire staff 
of the Office of the Parliamentarian.
  Charlie is so good at what he does that he makes the job look easy. 
But I, for one, know it is not. But his talents, his intellect and his 
love for this institution have made our job as legislators all the more 
easy, and I am grateful.
  When I was first elected to the House 26 years ago, I became only the 
second freshman Member in the 20th century to take a seat on the 
Committee on Rules. Had it not been for Bill and Charlie, my 
acclimation to that difficult post would have been far more difficult. 
I know because of their patient tutelage, their willingness to just sit 
down and talk, their careful guidance, my knowledge of the Rules and 
how to use them now runs both deep and wide.
  I want to take just a moment, Mr. Speaker, to kind of talk about my 
personal experience with Charlie and his office.
  From time to time, I, my staff, would go to see Charlie and we would 
ask very direct questions, questions that were vital to formulating 
strategy on our side of the aisle. What he would do would be to respond 
to every question and to answer every question truthfully. He did not 
go beyond that. He did not try to suggest what strategic steps we 
should take. He only answered what we asked. And I know he did that for 
the other side as well.
  He was truly acting in the best, non-partisan position in helping us 
as partisans understand what we could and could not do. But he never 
went beyond that. He never said, ``By the way, you know, you could do 
this also.'' And that is the role of a Parliamentarian, to answer 
truthfully the questions of both sides of the aisle, and then let those 
Members on both sides of the aisle figure out where they go with the 
information.
  I cannot tell you how important that is to the functioning of this 
body and how important it has been to me as a Member to know that I can 
go to someone and get an honest answer; who will answer my questions, 
but who will not necessarily go beyond that. And I respect that.
  I know we will all miss Charlie, but I also know we all wish him 
well. He has earned the respect of hundreds of Members and more staff 
than he can count. He is a man of the House and a deep and true friend 
of the House. He has ensured that his office will continue to serve the 
House by assembling a talented staff.
  I owe him so much, and there are not words to express my deep 
gratitude and affection. I can only wish you the best, Charlie. And 
while I know he has taken great pains to ensure the institution will go 
on without him, I know it will not be the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H3398]]

  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I am happy to yield 1 minute 
to my friend, the gentleman from Sanibel, Florida (Mr. Goss), the very 
distinguished vice chairman of the Committee on Rules.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman for 
yielding me time.
  I too wish to associate myself with the praise and gratitude for the 
man and his service to our institution. I would characterize Charlie as 
the true north on the compass of this institution and the man who had 
the good judgment to understand when magnetic declinations were in 
order. He has had seasoned patience with seasoned Members, and he has 
had extraordinary patience with new Members, to try to explain how 
things happen here. I think many of us feel that his personal judgment 
is as much a hallmark as the knowledge of the institution, which is 
matched by none.
  The reason I asked for time to speak is that Charlie will always be 
in my memory on a fateful day in this country, September 11, 2001. The 
Speaker of the House desired that the House be opened for a prayer on 
that fateful day even as events were transpiring around us. It was not 
the right time, there was concern about precedent. Parliamentarians 
always worry about precedent.

                              {time}  1045

  Charlie found a way for us to get the House opened, the prayer said, 
and the House evacuated. And I have, to this day, that official Record 
hanging on my wall in my office and it will always be a memory of my 
life. Because I think it was very important that that day was recorded 
that way about this institution, and it would not have happened without 
him, of course.
  Charlie is well regarded here and overseas, as we know. I have talked 
to parliamentarians, as I am sure others will testify, who come and 
wonder how this democracy works; how the people's House works. He has 
imparted that knowledge and wisdom and judgment around the globe, and I 
have heard it expressed many times from visitors who come here.
  He has added value. He has brought credit to our institution. We are 
going to miss you a lot, Charlie, and I wanted to say thanks.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the dean of the House.
  (Mr. DINGELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise with great personal sadness about 
the departure from this institution of a great friend, wise counselor, 
mentor, and superb public servant. I do speak, however, with pride 
about the accomplishments of Charlie Johnson, who has served us, the 
House, and his country well.
  He is in all particulars a great patriot and a great American. He has 
been wise counselor to us, mentor; he has given us good advice; and he 
has seen to it that we understood the history and the traditions of 
this institution.
  He has served us in the great traditions of Clarence Cannon, Lewis 
Deschler, Bill Brown, and now the fine work which he has done. He is 
going to be missed by this institution. He has served as an example to 
all of us and to those who will follow in his particular task as 
Parliamentarian.
  It has been his responsibility to see to it that the House function 
as it should, in accord with the great traditions that we have here of 
respect, of decency, and of love of this institution. And for that and 
all of the other things that we can say good about Charlie, we have to 
recognize that we should say thank you; that we should say well done; 
that we should wish him well for what it is that he has accomplished.
  The House is a better institution for his wonderful service to this 
body. And all of us here, as individual Members, particularly those of 
us who have had frequent occasion to consult with him about the rules, 
about the traditions, about how this institution does work and how it 
should work have a special reason to be grateful to him and to have a 
special burden of gratitude to him for what he has done.
  I am proud, indeed, that he has been my friend. I am grateful to him 
as my mentor. I am appreciative to him of his wise counsel and 
guidance. And I know that I am not alone in feeling a singular debt of 
gratitude to my good friend, our Parliamentarian, as he leaves us.
  I would note that other Members have these same feelings and all have 
good reasons. And I would note that the House of Representatives is a 
better institution, and one more in keeping with the traditions and 
with the principles and practices, and in keeping with what it is we 
would like to say it was, a great institution, the House of the people, 
and a place which serves all of us.
  All of us have reason to miss him, and we will indeed. We will wish 
him well. We will pray that God will be good to him and that He will 
give him many years to enjoy a reflection upon the great service which 
he has given to this great country.
  I say again to him, Charlie, well done, good and faithful servant. 
You have made this a great institution, and we are all grateful to you. 
Thank you, my friend.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri).
  (Mr. PETRI asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, it is with a sense of real loss that I first 
heard the news that Charlie Johnson was leaving after so many years of 
dedicated service to all of us in the House, and I want to take this 
occasion to join with my colleagues in paying tribute to him today.
  I personally take great comfort in seeing Charlie each day at his 
post on the Speaker's podium, monitoring our proceedings, guiding the 
Member who has been appointed to preside over the House, and making the 
determinations and rulings needed to keep this House running in a 
manner that respects the rights and the privileges of all Members. I 
know that we are in good hands.
  The person who serves as Parliamentarian influences the daily 
activities of the House, and though not known by many Americans, has 
had a great impact on some of the most dramatic moments that have 
occurred in this Chamber. From his perch, he literally has a front seat 
to history. I am sure at times he found himself in situations he never 
expected; but through it all, his behavior was beyond reproach.
  Perhaps what impressed me most as I got to know Charlie over the 
years was his commitment to and interest in parliamentary procedure, 
not only here in the U.S. but in other legislative bodies as well. 
Charlie often traveled to consult with others and has participated in 
conferences and hearings explaining our rules and procedures.
  Speaking from my own experience, he joined us on trips to London as 
part of the British-American Parliamentary Group. He spent at least 
part of the time consulting with his counterpart in the British 
Parliament regarding a cooperative project on parliamentary procedures 
and comparing the two institutions.
  Charlie was an educator. In addition to writing and editing books 
about parliamentary procedure, he spent a lot of time meeting with 
school kids and others to explain how our House works and the 
importance of parliamentary procedure and its literal impact on the 
history of our House and this Nation.
  As he leaves us, we can thank him too for the way he ran the Office 
of Parliamentarian and mentored the deputy and assistant 
Parliamentarians under his direction. His deputy, John Sullivan, will 
become the Parliamentarian next month. This also reflects well on the 
standards Charlie set for his office.
  I will miss Charlie, but I will value always his integrity, 
professionalism, his attention given to each Member no matter what 
party they may have represented, his principled advice and conduct, his 
love and respect for the House and its traditions, and, most 
importantly, for his friendship.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), the former Democratic leader of the House.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I found out something I did not know about 
Charlie today. I found out from our leader that he is a San Francisco 
Giants fan. If I had known that, I would not have come today.
  On a more serious note, I have had some time lately to do some things

[[Page H3399]]

that I usually have not had time to do, so I have been watching on 
television the early part of the proceedings here in the House, and I 
hear these rules being explained. I have tried to put myself in the 
shoes of an average citizen, and I think it is gobbledygook, and I do 
not understand what they are talking about. But that really is the 
magic of this place.
  As the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) said earlier, I am fond of 
saying that politics is a substitute for violence. It really is. And 
the only thing that allows us to resolve our differences peacefully is 
that we have a process. We have rules. We have laws. We have 
parliamentary procedure. And that process is what makes this place work 
and makes democracy work in our country.
  The keeper of those rules has been our subject today, Charles 
Johnson. He has done it, in my view, as well as it can be done. He has 
always been fair. No one questions his judgment or his enunciation of 
the precedents of the House, whether it comes down in your favor or it 
does not. He is a professional. No one ever doubts his knowledge or his 
dedication to knowledge about the process.
  Finally, his character, his human character, has been impressive to 
everybody who has come in contact with him. Whether a Member, staff, 
people visiting, everyone knows that this is a man of great character.
  I guess the best story I can tell to kind of sum up my feelings about 
Charlie is that we had a common friend, someone that I went to 
Northwestern University with and was one of my best friends there, 
wound up at the University of Virginia Law School and became a friend 
of Charlie's. So we, in that common friendship, got somewhat of a 
personal relationship; and we, unfortunately, saw our friend die of 
cancer some years back. But even with that personal relationship I had 
with Charlie, I never, ever felt that in anything he did while I was 
leader or in anything I have done here was anything other than fair. 
Never prejudiced. Never giving in to human relationships. Always 
calling it the way he saw it and making judgments on the process, which 
is at the heart of our democratic experiment, fairly and with honesty 
and good character.
  Charlie, we truly will miss you. We welcome the successor, who is 
going to do a great job; and we wish you the greatest time in 
retirement that anybody could ever have. Thank you.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), a Member who has chosen to 
retire at the end of this term but has served extraordinarily well on 
both the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on 
Financial Services.
  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me this time and for his statement.
  It is people that make an institution function, that make it great, 
that sustain and build respect for it; and Charles W. Johnson is 
certainly one of those people. He has helped the Congress respect and 
assert the best traditions and decorum of the House.
  I said to him, Charlie, you cannot retire before I do. I will miss 
you too much. And yet I guess we were born in the same vintage year. 
Nevertheless, we have great respect for John Sullivan, and we look 
forward to his service here as Parliamentarian.
  I think it was just a few minutes ago that the distinguished 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) said Charlie Johnson is not only a 
knowledgeable man but he is a wise man and a caring man, and that is 
certainly the case. I respect the contributions so much that he has 
made to help young people who have less advantages than most others.
  Charles Johnson has had a tremendous and very positive impact on the 
U.S. House of Representatives during his service here, 40 years to the 
month in the Office of the Parliamentarian, and 10 years as our 
Parliamentarian. Tremendous service!
  I remember a day back on January 21, 1997. I do not preside over the 
House that much, but it has been my lot to preside on some of the most 
difficult days, and I recall that difficult and historic day. And it 
was the strategy and advice of Charles Johnson that helped set the tone 
and the order and demeanor of the House that day, through me, which was 
so crucial. I thank him for that and for so many other occasions.
  It has been my privilege to travel with Charlie as I led the House 
delegation to the NATO-Parliamentary Assembly, and not only going to 
Brussels but, as the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) said, 
visiting the House of Commons where Charles Johnson is very well known. 
Charlie has lots of friends there and in the leadership of the House of 
Representatives.
  If Charlie and this Member ever talk about nonessential things here, 
like sports, we have talked about college football. And I have never 
until yesterday really known how much of an interest Charlie Johnson 
had in baseball. But I think I am shortly going to join him as a fan of 
the San Francisco Giants. A couple of years ago, the Wall Street 
Journal ran a piece on the chronic shortage of left-handed batting 
practice pitchers in major league baseball. So shortly thereafter, 
Charlie's ability to throw strikes from the port side was tested as he 
auditioned and then he started pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers 
when they came to Camden Yards to play the Orioles. Then he pitched for 
them in Philadelphia, helping the Dodgers, and soon they became better 
hitters of left-handed pitchers.
  If it had not been for yesterday's rework of the schedule because of 
rain, I understand he would have been doing the same thing for the 
Dodgers in the Phillies' new stadium. So that is a remarkable side of 
Charlie that I did not know about at all.
  Mr. Speaker, as he leaves here, our outgoing Parliamentarian is going 
to be working with the recently retired Clerk of the British House of 
Commons, William McKay, on an updated comparative book on Parliament 
and Congress. Charlie's appreciation of the value of comparative 
studies through his work with counterparts in other countries, 
especially with that Mother of all Parliaments, has played an essential 
role in the development of programs of mutual exchange. You have heard 
that already referenced. People on every continent know Charlie Johnson 
because they have worked with him in their parliamentary efforts. So he 
is going to be working with Sir William in that respect.
  Mr. Speaker, if it were consistent with American tradition, we would 
make you Sir Charles. But, nevertheless, we know that this is going to 
be another major contribution and it has some impact here. As you leave 
the House, Charlie Johnson should feel good to know that the recently 
established Office of Interparliamentary Exchange reflects his interest 
in improving not only the conduct of activities here in this parliament 
but in parliaments around the world.

                              {time}  1100

  So Charlie Johnson, best wishes to you and your family. Thank you for 
your public service and your service to the U.S. House of 
Representatives. You will be greatly missed.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry, is it correct that the 
Speaker accepted Mr. Johnson's resignation?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The gentleman is correct.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I appeal the ruling of the chair.
  Mr. Speaker, I often refer to Archie the cockroach. This is my 
political bible, and Archie has something for almost every occasion. 
One thing he said once was ``Boss, I believe the millennium will come, 
but there is a long list of people who have to go first.'' I think 
Charlie misunderstood. Charlie, Archie was not talking about you, and I 
hope you reconsider.
  Mr. Speaker, for 40 years Charlie has been at the center of every 
effort of this institution to live up to the responsibility which it 
has to the oldest democracy in the world. Democracy can thrive only 
when all of our citizens believe that there is at least one place, some 
forum to which they can go in order to make their case and to have 
their arguments heard. They do not have to win, but they have to know 
that there is a place where they will receive a fair hearing. When that 
happens, democracy thrives; and when it does not, democracy dies a 
little.

[[Page H3400]]

  I think more than anyone in this institution, Charlie Johnson has 
dedicated himself to see to it that on this floor, democracy thrives. 
He has been dedicated to the proposition that the rules ought to be 
applied in a way that enabled the majority to meet their 
responsibilities to govern and at the same time to enable the minority 
to offer and be heard on its alternative visions.
  To the extent that the House has on occasion not been used that way, 
the fault certainly does not lie on the shoulders of Charlie Johnson. 
Charlie Johnson, I think, has met his responsibility to the 
institution, to the country, to both political parties; and we are all 
the better for it.
  I know people have said a lot of good things about him today, and I 
know that on occasions like this people often exaggerate. For instance, 
I understand that Charlie's own wife was watching this on C-SPAN, and 
she heard so many good things about him that she rushed to the Chamber 
to see if we were talking about the same fellow. We are, Charlie. We 
are all talking about you. If Dick Bolling were here, who was my mentor 
in this place and who as a Member I think knew more about the rules 
than any other Member I ever knew, if Dick Bolling were here today, he 
would say, ``Well done, thou good and faithful servant.''
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Savannah, Georgia (Mr. Kingston), the very distinguished vice chairman 
of the Republican Conference.
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to say a few remarks about our 
great friend and departing parliamentarian. If Members think about the 
world we live in today and all the technology and all the feats of 
engineering, we take so much for granted. We get in our cars, and our 
cars are almost a mechanical and a computer platform now, and we never 
marvel, we never question. We just flip a switch, and we expect 
something to happen. We take it all for granted.
  That is somewhat how we are as we come down to the floor of the 
House. As 435 independent contractors, we come down here and we expect 
bills to be on the table, we expect to have a learned staff who can ask 
why a certain amendment was germane and why it was allowed and why it 
was not allowed. We expect to have some professionals who can keep 
their eyes on our distinguished brethren and sisters on the Committee 
on Rules, for example.
  We need a neutral body as our motions flow that can say this is how 
the procedure must go on. And I think the House should be very proud of 
what Charlie and his entire team have done and all of the staff members 
that make this body click. Lord knows what would happen if we did not 
have this. We might look like the U.S. Senate.
  I do not know if my words will be taken down, Charlie. I know there 
is a whole list of things I am not supposed to say. For example, I 
cannot turn to my friend, David Obey or John Lewis and say, John. I 
have to say my distinguished friend from. Right now, this is like 
fingernails going against a blackboard. He keeps Members like me who 
can be somewhat flippant, who might say the wrong thing, who may 
deserve to have words taken down. He is the guy who says I may agree 
with what he just said about the fellow Member of the House, I might 
agree with his politics, I might disagree, but I am going to stick with 
the rule books. We need to have somebody like that. And he keeps people 
like the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) watching that clock.
  There was a great TV commercial of Motel 6 years ago. Tom Bodett made 
famous the line, ``I am going to keep the light on for you.'' I always 
liked that because my mom would keep the light on for us when we were 
teenagers going home because the light represented security, the light 
represented home and wisdom and fairness. Charlie has kept the light on 
for all of us for many, many years, a source of wisdom, a source of 
fairness, a bright spot no matter what the legislative agenda of the 
day was; and we thank Charlie for all of his hard work.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Waxman).
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, so much of the time in this institution in 
recent years has been partisan, rancorous comments back and forth, 
difficult feelings among the Members; and this year, which is an 
election year, has exacerbated all of that. So it is important to note 
that Democrats and Republicans are joined together because what we are 
all experiencing is a significant loss for this institution, for the 
people's House, the House of Representatives.
  Charlie Johnson has served as an integral part of the legislative 
process, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work with 
him over the years. We have been the beneficiaries of his intellect, 
thoughtfulness, and integrity time and time again. Several years ago, 
Charlie noted that his predecessor, William Brown, had set a standard 
of ``intellectual vigor, sharing of information, and a sharing of 
responsibility with a grace that was accompanied by a total devotion to 
the House of Representatives.'' Charlie has more than met that 
standard.
  He does serve an important role, but it is more than just the role he 
serves. He has embodied the person that all of us can look to as one 
who will judge the issues with fairness based on the rules, based on 
the idea that laws govern not just individuals, and that when he makes 
his determination on all of the precedents and the exact wording of the 
rules, we know that is the course that we all have to agree to.
  I came here from the California State legislature, and I think many 
legislatures are like this, the speaker has complete control. The 
speaker gets to appoint the Members to the committees and the chairmen, 
and assigns the members' offices and staff, and the speaker can make 
the rulings, and it is the speaker's authority alone to make the 
rulings.
  So when I came here, I was surprised to find out that the Speaker 
could not just make a decision that benefited those of us on a certain 
side of the issue. He had to go to Charlie Johnson to find out what the 
rules were, and he had to abide by that decision.
  I have come to realize how important that is for an institution to be 
able to have someone with such integrity and knowledge that we can look 
to to be the final say on what the rules are because we have to follow 
the rules in this institution and in a country that looks to the rule 
of law as essential.
  I have come to recognize that as important, just as I have come over 
the years to recognize even the importance of seniority, which I more 
and more appreciate the longer I am here.
  I want to say that I have not only benefited from Charlie's wisdom 
and advice but from his friendship. I have not had the opportunity to 
travel with him. Maybe now that Charlie is leaving, we will have to go 
on an Elder Hostel trip together because we are advancing in age. He 
has been a terrific friend to me, someone I have tremendous respect 
for, and it is shared by everyone in this institution. He is certainly 
going to be missed.
  This is a change that many of us hoped we would not see, not only 
with Charlie's absence but a change in his guidance for all of us; and 
I join all of my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, liberals and 
conservatives, in supporting this resolution to thank him for a job 
well done.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Buffalo, New York (Mr. Quinn), another Member who unfortunately has 
chosen to retire at the end of this term.
  (Mr. QUINN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues this morning, 
mostly in leadership positions, who have come to the floor this 
morning, Charlie, to talk about your wisdom and fairness and work 
ethnic; and I want to associate myself with their remarks, of course. 
But I am one of those dozens of the Speaker pro tempores. Charlie has 
made us all look good, both on C-SPAN and back home for our 
constituents, and for our colleagues here in the Chamber.
  I was in the chair one day and some rule question came up. After I 
answered it, my mother called me on the phone and said, ``How did you 
know all of those rules so quickly?''
  I said, ``It was easy, Charlie Johnson was there.''
  She said, ``Who is he?''
  I said, ``Well, he is the guy that does the trick. He talks into the 
microphone

[[Page H3401]]

so you hear him, but so nobody else hears him, and he explains the 
rules.''
  Charlie, on behalf of all of the Speaker pro tempores, some with a 
little more experience than others, who you have made look good across 
the country and in front of our colleagues, I want to thank you for 
knowing those rules, for sharing those rules, and for keeping this 
place a place of order when we are in the chair trying to keep order.
  I guess the trick for you then and your staff is to be heard, but not 
to be heard when you do your job best. And I would submit to my 
colleagues here in the Chamber that we all can take a lesson from this 
gentleman as he leaves us. When we do our business, we should try to be 
heard, and maybe not be heard so loud during those times of emotion, 
during those times of debate, during those times of political 
arguments, to be heard, of course, but to not be heard. And Charlie, 
for that service to us as that group of people that chair these 
sessions, and on behalf of all our constituents across the country, I 
want to say thanks for a job well done. We appreciate it. We will 
always remember you.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Spratt).
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I have served in the House for more than 
half of the 40 years that Charlie Johnson has served as 
Parliamentarian. As a matter of fact, I had just become a Member of the 
House with no more than 3 weeks of experience when I wandered onto the 
floor one day, having mistaken the bells and thought there was about to 
be a vote.
  Before I could get off the floor and go back about my business, 
Charlie beckoned me to the chair; and the next thing I knew I was 
wielding the gavel, presiding over the House, never having done that 
before in my life. I was never more thankful to have someone who knew 
what he was doing sitting behind me whispering instructions, and I have 
been thankful ever since that Charlie Johnson was in that position.

                              {time}  1115

  For all those 22 years that I have known him, his chair behind the 
Speaker, his office across the hall have been sources of civility in a 
House that is often contentious, sometimes bitter and pugnacious and 
embattled. For all those years, the Parliamentarian has been an 
authority that everyone in this House, both sides of the aisle, have 
recognized and respected because his rulings and his advice and his 
good judgment have always been based on precedent and on sound 
thinking.
  His office made him powerful. Anyone who became the Parliamentarian 
of the House would be powerful inherently, but his knowledge, his 
ability and his manner made him authoritative. The House could not be 
the House that the Framers intended us to be, the people's House, 
without sometimes passionate, hard-hitting debate; but the House could 
not operate in that mode, sometimes pushing the envelope of civility, 
without a referee that everybody trusted and respected. For a long, 
long time, Charlie has been such a referee.
  My respect for Charlie Johnson on our side, the Democratic side of 
the aisle, was established over the years and well-founded, but his 
great ability, his inherent decent fairness, was recognized to his 
credit and theirs when our Republican colleagues moved into the 
majority and made him their Parliamentarian, too. He proved his 
fairness, his basic inherent fairness, by serving both parties without 
ever breaking stride. I do not think anyone in the years that I have 
served here has ever accused him of bending with partisan winds. 
Charlie Johnson has called them the way he saw them for the last 40 
years.
  The House of Representatives is losing, we should not fool ourselves, 
a huge amount of institutional memory with the loss and retirement of 
Charlie Johnson. Four decades in the Parliamentarian's office, 10 years 
as Chief Parliamentarian, and during all those 40 years he has embodied 
those qualities that we need most in a parliamentarian: erudition and 
evenhandedness, great authority and great good humor, too, and overall 
a keen understanding of this great institution of the Republic.
  He has made the people's House deserve its name. He has helped us 
make this complex system that we call democracy work and work well.
  Though he is leaving, he leaves behind him a legacy that will inform 
the proceedings of this House for a long time to come, and he is 
leaving a well-trained staff of Parliamentarians.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The time of the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Frost) has expired.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent, in light of the 
fact that we have so many requests to talk about Charlie, that we 
extend the debate on this for an additional 5 minutes; and I would like 
to yield that 5 minutes to the control of my friend from Dallas, Texas 
(Mr. Frost).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Without objection, there will 
be an additional 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 additional seconds to the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt).
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I remember when John Sullivan was first 
appointed and moved from the House Committee on Armed Services. The day 
after he took his office as the Deputy Parliamentarian, the staff on 
the House Committee on Armed Services concocted a convoluted 
parliamentary problem, which I presented to him as an innocent junior 
Member of the House, which John was immediately stumped by before he 
realized that it was all a hoax. Today, if we presented him that 
Gordian knot, I think he could probably cut it.
  Charlie, you have taught us not just the procedures of the House and 
taught us well, but you have taught us the reasons that those rules 
must prevail. That is a legacy that will last for a long, long time. I 
think the brooding omnipresence of Charlie Johnson will loom over this 
House for a long time to come.
  Thank you for everything you have done for us and this great 
institution.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry), who often presides very ably 
over this institution.
  (Mr. THORNBERRY asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, Members come to this Congress with a 
policy agenda or a political agenda. We spend our time and effort 
trying to make some change we think is good for the country. Yet there 
is something bigger and more enduring than any one of us or any one of 
our issues. That something is the institution of the House of 
Representatives.
  I believe that every elected Member has a responsibility to that 
institution, but it is the professionals who serve as the officers and 
staff of the House that make sure it is preserved and protected. They 
serve the House and the Nation day and night through heated debates and 
even through long, dull special orders.
  Nobody has served this House more faithfully and more nobly than our 
Parliamentarian, Charles Johnson. He is smart and insightful as his job 
required, but he also has the integrity to be trusted by both sides of 
the aisle during heated debate and controversial rulings. He has a 
sense of history and, I think, a sense of responsibility for this 
institution going back 217 years to the Constitutional Convention on 
through today and on through generations to come.
  The House has been in good hands during Charlie Johnson's tenure, and 
part of his legacy, part of his lasting influence, will be felt through 
his successor. I join in expressing sadness at his leaving, but also 
admiration and gratitude for his service.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Lewis).
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in 
paying tribute to and saying a word of thank you to Charles Johnson, 
the distinguished Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives.
  This is my 18th year of serving in this House, and this Member can 
testify to the fact that Charles Johnson has been a fair, hardworking, 
committed and dedicated public servant. When new Members were given the 
chance to preside over the House, he was always patient and eager to 
help Members make it through the process.

[[Page H3402]]

The House is a better House, and the country is a better country 
because of Charles Johnson.
  It is my belief that when historians pick up their pens and write the 
history of this House during the latter part of the 20th century and 
the beginning of the 21st century, they will have to write that a man 
called Charles Johnson made a lasting contribution to maintaining order 
and peace in this House.
  But he did more than maintain order and peace with his talents, 
skills and ability. He helped guide this House through some of the most 
important and sometimes bitter debates and discussions. Charles Johnson 
has helped guide this House through the discussion and debate on voting 
rights, civil rights, Medicare, the Higher Education Act, war and 
peace.
  I want to join my colleagues to thank Charles Johnson for all of his 
good work and for his contribution toward the strengthening of our 
democracy. Charles Johnson, Mr. Parliamentarian, we wish you well in 
the days and years to come.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
  (Mr. LaTOURETTE asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, when we are all here on the floor, there 
are often calls for regular order. The fellow who has kept regular 
order has been Charlie Johnson during my 10 years.
  A lot of platitudes have been spoken and they are all well deserved. 
I want to extend my voice in saying thanks for giving me the guidance 
when I have had the honor of presiding over the House from time to 
time.
  I do want to tell just one quick story in the minute that I have been 
given because the majority leader made sort of a joke about the 3-hour 
vote on prescription drugs and some Members in the House, when they 
scream regular order, because we are all busy, we do not take time to 
read the rules, do not know that the votes are a minimum of 15 minutes 
and not a maximum of 15 minutes.
  But I can recall during a rather contentious vote the Republicans 
were up 206-204 and time had expired. A rather excited Member from the 
West Coast, California, came running up, it was not the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Dreier), and said, ``You've got to close this thing 
down. We have to win this vote. You need to shut it down.''
  We looked and saw that earlier in the day 420 Members had voted, we 
were about 10 Members short; it was late in the evening, everybody was 
out having dinner, coming back; it was raining in the Capital. Charlie 
Johnson then said, ``When you're in the minority, you understand that 
you're not going to win a lot of votes here, and when you're in the 
majority you can and probably should win most votes, but what you can't 
do when you're in the majority is steal a vote. We need to keep this 
vote open to make sure that those 10 Members who voted just a half an 
hour ago have the opportunity to be here and cast their ballots.''
  We wound up winning and the Member on that occasion who was excited 
came up later and apologized for screaming. Charlie Johnson has been 
fair, fair to the Republicans, fair to the Democrats, and I shall miss 
him very much.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Cardin).
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I take this time to say thank you to Charlie 
Johnson for his public service. He has never been elected as a Member 
of this body, but he has had as much influence as anyone who has ever 
been elected to this House in preserving the traditions of this great 
democratic institution, and I thank him for that. His contributions go 
well beyond the 40 years of service because what he has done in his 
service will be a lasting tradition in this body and will serve future 
generations.
  He cannot duck a single tough issue, but he has ruled every time on 
the basis of sound precedent without partisan considerations. He is a 
person of the highest integrity, an encyclopedic mind, a person who is 
totally committed to our country and this legislative body.
  Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to take this 1 minute as one Member of 
this body to thank Charlie Johnson for what he has done to make this 
great institution a better place for the future.
  I thank you, I thank you for your friendship, and I thank you for 
your commitment.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to my 
good friend, the gentleman from Atlanta, Georgia (Mr. Isakson).
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I, first of all, associate myself with all 
the kind remarks that have been made about Charlie, but I thought back 
to my first day here. I was elected on a special election, came in, I 
knew no one, and it was a hustle and bustle. Charlie Johnson was the 
guy who got me through that in what was a blur to me.
  Secondly, I am reminded of how great this institution is, and I am 
reminded of three silent factors the public never sees. First is the 
sconce of Moses that looks down upon the Speaker as an inanimate 
object, but as a constant reminder of the integrity we all need. Second 
is our Founding Father, George Washington, whose portrait hangs on this 
side of our Capitol to remind us of where we come from.
  The third silent but very present, day in and day out, person that 
guides the integrity of this most important institution is the quiet 
but effective leadership of Charlie Johnson. This institution has been 
blessed to have leaders of great capability from elected office, but 
from that seat next to the Speaker, we have been blessed to have a man 
who has the excellent commitment to fairness, integrity, responsibility 
and the preservation of this Republic, and that is Charlie Johnson.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. McNulty).
  Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker I am honored to stand here today and 
associate myself with the remarks of Speaker Hastert and Leader Pelosi 
and all of the other Members in thanking Charlie Johnson for his 40 
years of outstanding service to the House of Representatives and to the 
country.
  When I first came to the Congress in the 1980s, I served on a regular 
basis as one of the Speaker pro tems. At that time I knew very little 
about parliamentary procedure and almost nothing about the House rules. 
I thank Charlie and my friend the late Bill Brown and John and Tom and 
Muftia and Gay and all of the others who helped through the years to 
educate me about the House rules and to have that wonderful experience 
which, incidentally, I hope I have again someday.
  Charlie, I would sum it up this way: You are the very definition of 
outstanding public service. I wish you good health and happiness for 
many, many years to come.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, we have many, many Members who want to have 
an opportunity to be heard on this and so, at this moment, I am going 
to ask unanimous consent that general leave be provided so that all 
Members may include statements in the Record upon Charlie Johnson's 
retirement.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my friend from 
Texas (Mr. Frost) be given an additional 1\1/2\ minutes for debate.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 1 minute to my very, 
very good friend, the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Charlie, we are certainly going to miss you. Sometimes that does not 
seem like enough, but all of the Members of the House and the fellow 
staff members here in the House are certainly going to miss you. 
Sometimes simple words are the best.
  Parliamentary procedure, as has been stated here, the Rules of the 
House equally and uniformly applied to all, are what make this 
emotional and sometimes polarized place work. Charlie and I have 
sometimes disagreed about the interpretation of those rules and we have 
debated it a little bit.

[[Page H3403]]

Yielding to the superior wisdom of Charlie, I found out that you can 
end debate with a nondebatable motion here in the House, but if we were 
back in Idaho, you could not do that. We have had some very interesting 
debates.
  I always found, when I practiced dentistry, that when I was hiring a 
new chairside assistant, it was sometimes often easier to hire somebody 
that had no experience because then you did not have to untrain them 
before you retrained them. Sometimes I think Charlie's toughest job 
here is to take some of us who have been presiding officers in State 
legislatures and untrain us of the rules that we learned in our State 
legislatures before he retrained us about the Rules of the House.
  I know that you have done a fantastic job. We have all enjoyed 
working with you. Sometimes the measure of an individual's performance 
is what those around him think about the job that he has done. As I 
have talked to other staff members here, I can tell you one of the 
things that was said yesterday, someone said, ``If I had to think of 
one word to describe Charlie, it would be `integrity.''' That is not a 
bad legacy to leave.
  Thank you, Charlie. We are going to miss you.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).
  (Mr. PASCRELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PASCRELL. Charlie, you have served your country and you have 
served this wonderful House. At a time when we have lost something in 
terms of ritual and ceremony, you have always brought us back to 
reality.

                              {time}  1130

  Thomas Jefferson, I am sure, would be very proud of you. Our laws and 
our rules are based upon what he wrote.
  We were brought together 8 years ago when I came into this House by a 
mutual friend. It was the right move. The first person I met on this 
floor was Charlie Johnson.
  And I know you have wished well your successor. I know he will do 
well. I know John will do very well. This is a great institution, 
Charlie, and we will never forget how you served your country.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, we have talked about the contribution 
that our friend Charlie Johnson has made to the rules of the House, and 
that he has provided the context to understand the rules. But I think 
the thing that I have come to appreciate is the human face that he puts 
on it. It is the dimension provided by the outstanding men and women 
who make this place work behind the scenes, that we all come to 
appreciate.
  Charlie, you epitomize those people; and ultimately it is that human 
face that is going to provide the strength to make sure that the House 
follows through on the path that you have charted so ably in the past 
40 years. We greatly appreciate your contributions.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Peoria, Illinois (Mr. LaHood), who, as has been pointed out, time and 
time again so ably presides over this institution as Speaker pro 
tempore.
  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I think people watching this would find it 
kind of odd that I would have to step down off the podium in order to 
speak, but Charlie would never allow me to speak from up there because 
it is not according to the rules of the House.
  And I think people would find it odd that Charlie cannot speak today. 
Charlie has spoken many, many times on this floor through those of us 
who have had the great opportunity and privilege to serve as Speaker 
pro tempore. But it is not according to the rules. And if it is not 
according to the rules, it does not happen. And if it is not according 
to the rules by Charlie Johnson, it does not happen.
  I was quoted in CQ as saying that Charlie runs the House, and I hope 
our leadership does not take offense at that; but Charlie really has 
run the House for many years, and thank goodness for that.
  I think many people do not realize that in 1994 not one of us in the 
majority presided. When we were sworn in in 1995, not one of us in the 
majority had ever presided over the House. And if it were not for the 
magnificent work of Charlie and his entire staff, think of the chaos 
that could be created when we turn over an entire House to a new 
majority of people who obviously maybe know a little bit about the 
rules but not much. And if it were not for the great work of Charlie 
and all of his people, think of the kind of chaos.
  And we were dealing with some really important issues here. I know 
you do not like to hear about the Contract with America, but that was 
the agenda for 3 months, and that was major legislation. And we could 
not have done it, and those of us who had the privilege early on of 
presiding could have never done it. It would not have been possible for 
us if we had not really paid attention to Charlie Johnson and the 
people that work in his office, and they really are the ones that allow 
us to do the things that we were able to do throughout the 10 years 
that we have been in the majority.
  When people say to me, How did you get so good at presiding? It is a 
very simple answer. I listened to Charlie Johnson. That is the answer. 
And when one listens to Charlie, they get good advice.
  I want to say one word about these jobs that we have: we could not do 
without the kind of spouses that allow us to do them, and I want to say 
a word about Martha. Martha is here.
  And, Martha, I want to say to you, thank you for giving us this 
extraordinary human being who has given us so much. We are in your debt 
for the kind of, I think, tolerance that you have lent to the job that 
Charlie has done, the long nights, the late nights, and the good work.
  Charlie, job well done. God speed.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Baird).
  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, on the night of September 11, I began to 
think about what might happen if this institution were to perish in an 
attack, and I asked, who should we talk to to learn the answer to that 
question? And the answer to that was Charlie Johnson.
  Charlie, I want to thank you and your entire staff for your help on 
that issue but, more importantly, for how you help us every single day.
  People around the country see us disagree and bicker all the time 
here, and they say is there not anything you people can agree on? 
Today, my friends, we have agreed on something. We have agreed to honor 
this magnificent individual, his service to our country and the 
principle of the rules that keep our democracy, our Republic, and this 
great body functioning.
  I thank you, Charlie, and I thank my colleagues for their great words 
today. God speed, Charlie.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Charlie, they say that politics is a sea of conflict. If that is 
true, then you have been the steady hand that has guided this ship of 
state, our democratic process, through so many years of calm and 
troubled waters. You will be missed. We have appreciated your service. 
You are the epitome of what public service is all about.
  And, as I encouraged Terry just before his retirement, and I have 
enjoyed the conversations that we have had in regards to the tradition 
and the history and the culture of this place, I encourage you to 
record your memories and maybe put it in book form to share with the 
rest of the world because in so many ways, you are also the repository 
of a lot of the knowledge and memories that are embodied in this place.
  So we all wish you well today. We wish you Godspeed and may you have 
a very long and happy and healthy retirement. Thank you.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Linder), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology 
and the House of the Committee on Rules.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, when the Republican transition occurred in 
December of 1994, I was charged with the responsibility of interviewing 
people and finding hires for the top five positions in the House, and 
one of those was Parliamentarian. I frankly came at it with some 
suspicion. If someone

[[Page H3404]]

could be working so long for the other party in control, could that 
person be fair? And he convinced me over two meetings that his job was 
not to be fair or unfair, but to know the rules. He has proven that he 
does, with an even hand; and I join all my colleagues in thanking him 
in his service to his country.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would like to close again by expressing appreciation on behalf of 
all of the many staff members here in this institution who work so 
closely with Charlie Johnson, all of those who are working for us here 
today and the members of committee staffs and personal staffs who have 
worked so closely with him.
  And I would like to close by sharing with our colleagues a note that 
was handed to me a few minutes ago. It says: ``Dear Charlie, thanks for 
your 40 years of service to the House and our country. I wish you all 
the best. Keep your arm loose. We may need to call you in from the 
bullpen.'' This is a handwritten note from the President of the United 
States, George W. Bush, which I will give to you, Charlie, as soon as 
we have the resolution.
  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to congratulate Parliamentarian Charles Johnson on four decades of 
service to the U.S. House of Representatives, and to wish him the very 
best for a well-earned retirement.
  As all Members are aware, the job of House Parliamentarian is an 
exceedingly difficult one. One must have a scholarly grasp of the rules 
governing this institution, the integrity to be an honest and fair 
judge, and an ability to work with both sides of the aisle in 
contentious moments. Throughout my twenty-five years of service in the 
House, I have seen Charlie exhibit these qualities with the highest 
distinction.
  Charlie began his service in the Parliamentarian's office in 1964, 
shortly after graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law. 
In 1994, he was appointed Parliamentarian by a Democratic Speaker, Tom 
Foley. In a testament to his character, he was then reappointed by two 
Republican Speakers, Newt Gingrich and Dennis Hastert. All Members of 
this body have relied on Charlie's keen intellect and sound judgment, 
day in and day out. He has served with the greatest integrity and will 
be missed. However, all Members welcome his respected successor John 
Sullivan, who Charlie has mentored.
  Fittingly, Charlie will continue to serve our country in other ways 
when he retires from this institution. In collaboration with the 
Parliamentarian of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom, he plans 
to produce a book on parliamentary procedure that will be a welcome 
addition to the field. In addition, after an activity that is dear to 
my heart, he will lend his talents to the San Francisco Giants as a 
batting practice pitcher.
  I want to thank Charlie for his wisdom, his commitment to being a 
nonpartisan advisor, and above all his forty years of service to the 
United States House of Representatives. We thank him for sharing his 
life with us these many years, and wish him the very best in his 
endeavors to come.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, as many have already stated, and as many 
more Members are eager to express, Charlie Johnson's departure will be 
a loss to this great institution we serve, and which Charlie has served 
so well for 22 years.
  I am actually one of the few Members of the House who can say I was 
already here before Charlie was, although he arrived here within only a 
couple of short years after I did. Since that time, we've had the 
opportunity to grow older together.
  Throughout his tenure, Charlie has been a wise counselor, a trusted 
confidant, and an impartial adjudicator who has served both parties 
without pride or prejudice.
  For those who don't readily grasp the significance of the role of 
Parliamentarian, it is the Parliamentarian who makes sure that we can 
continue to conduct the House's business every hour of every day.
  Those visiting, or watching at home on C-SPAN, may understand the 
importance of the House Parliamentarian as Members come and go from the 
Speaker's Chair. When they see Members in the Chair making procedural 
decisions, they also see the Parlimentarian's staff providing helpful 
advice on a timely basis.
  For those of us who serve in the House, the Parliamentarian is an 
absolute lifeline. He's also the occasional judge, father confessor, 
and calm in the storm of the House floor as Members and parties seek to 
advance their own interests.
  Although it seems that we increasingly can't find ourselves in 
agreement on many things, too many things for that matter, one thing 
that is beyond dispute is that Charlie has embodied the ideal of the 
civil servant who tirelessly has served the interests of the American 
people.
  I, like so many others, am proud to have served with him.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, it is with both gratitude and sadness 
that I rise to honor the Parliamentarian of the House, Charles W. 
Johnson, on his upcoming retirement. Charlie has long served the House, 
and he has done so with distinction, integrity, and honor. He has 
embodied the nonpartisan traditions that make the Parliamentarian's 
Office one of the most respected institutions in this House.
  Through our constant debating of matters large and small, Charlie has 
remained a calm head guiding us through our differences with a quiet 
grace. His abiding love for the institution and his knowledge of the 
rules are unparalleled. He will be greatly missed. I deeply appreciate 
his service and wish him well. As he passes into retirement, we all bid 
a fond farewell to an unsung hero who kept the great wheels of this 
democracy turning.
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution, 
and to thank Mr. Charles Johnson, the Parliamentarian, for his service 
to this institution and its members. Those of us who have the privilege 
to serve as committee chairmen know first hand the good work done by 
Charlie and his team of professionals. In many ways, the 
Parliamentarian and his deputies are the grease which makes our 
legislative machine work a little more smoothly.
  Charlie's dedication to this institution spans his 40-year career. 
Beginning his career fresh out of the University of Virginia law school 
in 1963, he guided members of both parties through the shoals of the 
legislative process. Charlie was particularly helpful to those of us 
who were newly elected committee and subcommittee chairmen in 1995 and 
beyond. His advice and counsel have served us all well as we learned 
the sometimes difficult lessons of legislating in the 21st century.
  As anyone who knows Charlie knows, his only greater love than this 
institution is his love of baseball. As he begins his retirement after 
40 years of crouching behind home plate, we all hope he enjoys watching 
the rest of the game from the stands.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish Mr. Johnson well in his retirement, and extend my 
heartfelt thanks for his service.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I 
move the previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________