[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HONORABLE JOHN D. DINGELL'S 
                SERVICE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DAVID E. PRICE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2005

  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join 
colleagues in recognizing and honoring John Dingell as he celebrates 
his fiftieth anniversary as a member of the House of Representatives.
  As a young political scientist teaching about the Congress and doing 
research on the committee system, I knew a good deal about John Dingell 
before I joined him in the House in 1987. I studied his role, along 
with his friend and colleague John Moss, in shaking up the Commerce 
Committee in the 1970s, decentralizing the then-Chairman's authority 
and greatly stepping up oversight of the executive. I came to the House 
hoping that I could someday become a Commerce member myself. By then, 
John was chairman, and the Committee was the ``place to be'' for an 
activist member, known for its broad legislative reach and vigilant 
oversight.
  As it happened, my region had its full quota of Commerce seats, and I 
successfully pursued Appropriations instead. But I have continued to 
admire John's work, now as ranking member. He is totally dedicated to 
this institution as the keystone of American democracy, and he fully 
understands the importance of active, assertive committees to the 
institution's capacity for deliberation and sound lawmaking.
  John richly deserves the fulsome tributes we have heard from senior 
and junior colleagues, of every partisan and political stripe, upon 
this fiftieth anniversary of his winning the seat vacated by his 
father's death in 1955. Many have also mentioned Debbie Dingell, John's 
wife and partner in service. Debbie has been an invaluable resource to 
the House Democratic Caucus in planning issues conferences and other 
activities, and I recently was privileged to serve with her on our 
national party's Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and 
Scheduling.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join in tribute to John and Debbie 
Dingell--to thank them for their dedication and perseverance, for their 
effectiveness as advocates and public servants, and for what they have 
meant to each of us and to our country as champions of this 
institution.

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