[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H2719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HONORABLE ROB PORTMAN

  (Mr. CANTOR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and a little bit of 
sorrow that I rise this evening to recognize the fact that this may 
very well be one of the last nights for one of our very esteemed 
colleagues to serve on the floor of this great House.
  I have gotten to know the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) over the 
last several years. I have had the privilege of serving with him on the 
Committee on Ways and Means and at the Republican leadership table. I 
do not believe that there is a finer or more dedicated public servant 
to serve in this House. There is no question that he has the respect of 
all of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle for his seriousness of 
purpose, for his understanding of the issues, and mastery of the 
legislative process. It will truly be a loss for us in the House, but 
we are also fortunate as Americans that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Portman) will go on to serve this great country and serve our President 
hopefully in the very near future.
  So it is with a bittersweet good-bye that I do say and congratulate 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman).
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. CANTOR. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
  I would just like to add my voice, and I know the Chamber is not as 
full as it should be for this occasion, but I have served in public 
office for approximately 30 years. I am relatively quiet, but I do a 
lot of observation. And I have noticed over the years that there are 
some people who are simply very outstanding by making a lot of noise 
but not doing much.
  The people I prefer, whom I have observed also, are those who do a 
great deal but do not make a lot of noise about it. And the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Portman) is in the latter category. I have watched him 
over the years I have been here. An outstanding person, very hard 
worker, always behind the scenes, not asking for credit or bragging 
about what he has done. This is what makes the government work. This is 
what made the House work. And I want to express my appreciation to the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) and wish him the best of everything 
in his new position. I am sure he will do equally well in that position 
and will continue to serve this country well.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Foley), another fellow member of the Committee on Ways and Means.
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
  I too want to commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman), 
particularly his family for willingly sacrificing him both to the 
service in this Congress as well as the endeavor he is about to 
undertake.
  The President chose wisely. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) has 
been one of the most intellectually honest, sincere members of our 
committee. He has tackled the tough issues. He has faced them head on. 
He comes from a very important State. He understands the dynamics of 
trade. It is good to have a friend at Trade. I am particularly 
delighted.
  But I honestly and sincerely wish him God's blessing as he proceeds 
to help our Nation, strengthen our economy, deal with our allies, 
create new opportunities. We are blessed with the fact that when trade 
is done mutually and satisfactorily, we open up democracies. We change 
patterns of behavior. We bring down the walls of communism by opening 
the hearts, the minds, and the wallets of the oppressed.
  So his job is significant, it is important, and he is not only 
suitable to the task, but he is genuinely one of the best 
representatives our President could have chosen. And I wish him God 
speed.

                          ____________________