[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING REPRESENTATIVES J.D. HAYWORTH AND JIM RYUN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2006

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege of working with 
some great men and women over my years in Congress, and I rise today to 
pay my respect to two of my colleagues who will be leaving at the end 
of this year: Representatives J.D. Hayworth and Jim Ryun.
  Anyone who has worked with J.D. Hayworth can readily testify that he 
is a charismatic man of many talents. His career in Congress has been 
highlighted by his leadership on immigration reform, advocacy for 
enhanced border security and prioritization of national security in 
these threatening times. In addition, he has received the ``Taxpayer 
Hero'' award from Citizens Against Government Waste 10 times, and was 
recently awarded the ``Lifetime Tax Fighter'' award from the National 
Tax Limitation Committee. He has also worked tirelessly for protection 
of children. His provisions for a centralized law enforcement database 
of child abusers strengthened the Adam Walsh Child Protection and 
Safety Act, which President Bush signed into law this July.
  These are some of the many distinctive achievements of J.D. Hayworth 
as a public official, but many may not know some of the unique 
characteristics he possesses as an individual. I got to know J.D. 
better when I went and campaigned for him. I met his wonderful family 
and enjoyed their warm hospitality during my times in Arizona. He is a 
loving family man with a great sense of humor. Many may not be aware of 
one of his unique talents. He has an uncanny ability to mimic the 
speech of other Members. His impersonation of Representative Howard 
Coble in particular is one of the best I have ever heard.
  I greatly respect J.D., will sorely miss him, and I hope he will 
consider returning to public office sometime in the near future.
  I would also like to take a moment to honor Representative Jim Ryun. 
He has greatly impressed me with his leadership--both in his public 
office and in his personal life. He has fervently worked for 
traditional family values, fiscal responsibility, immigration reform, 
and improving the lives of our men and women in uniform. For several 
years now, he worked to pass the Military Personnel Financial Services 
Protection Act, which protects service members from coercive tactics 
employed by some credit institutions. This legislation overwhelmingly 
passed the House and paved the way for its companion legislation to be 
signed into law this past September. I was also impressed and touched 
by his eloquence during the debate on the Respect for Fallen Heroes Act 
when he stated, ``Our service members embody the exact opposite of hate 
by sacrificing their lives so that we can keep ours. I pay tribute to 
them . . .'' It is this selflessness and integrity that has made it a 
pleasure to work with him.
  It is also an honor to know him as a friend. Jim is a committed 
family man. He and his wife Anne have worked as a ``dynamic duo'' to 
strengthen and promote family values through their work with the 
Statesmen Leaders Conference and the Congressional Wives' Club. He is 
most famously identified as the man who broke the 4-minute mile, an 
incredible feat of athleticism that many of us, myself included, wish 
we could replicate. But I would not identify him that way. Instead, I 
would identify him most readily with his faith, for that is how he 
lives his life. I have had the pleasure of attending many Bible studies 
with him here at the Capitol, and I have found the source of his 
strength of character stems from his deep faith in God. His love for 
God and his fellow man has inspired many of us, and led some to a 
deeper relationship with God themselves. I value the time I have had to 
work with Jim. I will miss his calming presence and insight in the 
110th Congress, and I pray that God blesses him and his family in his 
future endeavors.

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