[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 136 (Wednesday, December 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2239-E2240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMMENDING CHAIRMAN HENRY HYDE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 27, 2006

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend 
Chairman Henry Hyde on a remarkable career and to congratulate him on 
his retirement from the U.S. Congress.
  Chairman Hyde has honorably served the citizens of Illinois' 6th 
District since 1975. He has an impressive record of legislative 
accomplishments, has led two powerful committees and has been conferred 
8 honorary degrees.
  I have had the honor to serve under Chairman Hyde on the House 
International Relations Committee for the past four years. During a 
time of growing international pressures, he has led this committee with 
skill and dignity. His commitment to the integrity of the House has 
taught me a great deal about the legislative process. His respect for 
the minority, interest in listening to all voices and his common-sense 
leadership has been critical in ensuring civil debate and productive 
solutions to extremely difficult problems.
  This leadership was evident during the successful passage of the 
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, PEPFAR, which has helped to 
bring needed urgency and attention to this global crisis. Mr. Hyde and 
his committee staff enabled me, as a first term member, to ensure that 
my amendment to set aside 10 percent of funding for orphans and 
vulnerable children was passed as part of this bill. The enactment of 
this legislation is a testament to Mr. Hyde's ability to bring people 
and ideas together to make a real difference for families around the 
world.
  In March of 2005, I had the pleasure of traveling with a 
congressional delegation led by Chairman Hyde to Mexico and Panama. We 
had the opportunity to meet with President

[[Page E2240]]

Vincente Fox of Mexico and President Torrijos of Panama to discuss 
issues of mutual importance to our countries. It was a wonderful 
experience for me to see firsthand the respect that leaders around the 
world have for Mr. Hyde.
  Chairman Hyde has been a mentor and a friend and I will miss his 
leadership in the U.S. House. I thank him for his service to the 6th 
District of Illinois, the country and the world, and wish him the very 
best in his retirement.

                          ____________________