[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 158 (Thursday, October 18, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H11734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WELCOMING THE HONORABLE NIKI TSONGAS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER. The Chair recognizes the distinguished dean of the 
Massachusetts delegation, Mr. Markey.
  Mr. MARKEY. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the entire Massachusetts 
congressional delegation, it is my great pleasure and privilege to 
introduce the newest Member of the 110th Congress, the gentlelady from 
the Fifth Congressional District of Massachusetts, Niki Tsongas.
  Niki Tsongas is the eldest of four sisters who grew up in a military 
family bouncing between air bases all across the United States, Europe, 
and Japan. In 1967, while her father was stationed at the Pentagon, she 
met her future husband, our late distinguished House colleague, Paul 
Tsongas, while he was working just across the street as an intern in 
the office of then Fifth District Congressman Brad Morse.
  Niki was Paul's soul mate and his strongest supporter when he ran 
successfully to join us here in the House of Representatives in January 
of 1975 and for the Senate in 1978. She was at Paul's side when he ran 
for the Presidency in 1992 and when he fought so valiantly against the 
cancer that finally claimed him in 1997.
  Over the years, Niki Tsongas has been a social worker, a community 
leader in Lowell, a lawyer, and an educator. As a community leader, she 
has had a passion for social and environmental justice, which she 
brings with her as she arrives in Congress. And through it all, she was 
an amazing mother to three daughters, Ashley, Katina and Molly.
  Lowell and the Merrimack Valley has a strong industrial past, and 
nobody will better represent the roll-up-your-sleeves, hard work 
persona of this area like Niki Tsongas.
  In January, our delegation was proud to cast our votes for the first 
female Speaker of the House. Today, I am proud to introduce the first 
female Member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation in 25 
years.
  I give you the distinguished gentlelady from the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas.
  Ms. TSONGAS. Madam Speaker, it has been a real honor and pleasure and 
treasure to be sworn in by the first female House Speaker. Thank you so 
much.
  And I want to thank Ed Markey and the members of the delegation who 
have been so supportive of me as I have journeyed through this most 
remarkable campaign. It was hard fought, but here we are. Thank you so 
much for all of the help you provided. It is my great honor to be part 
of this most remarkable institution. Thank you.
  My race was about a lot of things. But as we approached the end, it 
was so valuable to me to be able to say that I want to come here and 
have my first vote cast to be around children's health.
  There is nothing more fundamental to the long-term capacity of this 
country than to take care of its most vulnerable citizens. And so for 
me to arrive on this day and cast my vote to override the President's 
veto is something I will always remember, that I was part of this great 
debate around the future of our country, the generational 
responsibility we have both to our young and to our old, and to be here 
on this most remarkable day.
  I am going to keep this short. We have a lot of work to do. That is 
one thing I learned throughout this campaign; people want change. They 
want us to come to the table, solve problems and move this country 
forward, and I am happy to be here to be part of that most remarkable 
opportunity. Thank you.

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