[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 190 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S15251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 402--RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF HENRY
JOHN HYDE
Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cornyn,
Mr. DeMint, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Sununu, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Allard,
Mr. Bunning, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Ensign, Mr.
Coleman, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Thune, Mr. Bennett, Mr.
Crapo, Mr. Craig, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Sessions, and Mrs. Smith) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary:
S. Res. 402
Whereas Representative Henry John Hyde of Illinois was born
in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, on April 18, 1924;
Whereas Henry Hyde excelled as a student both at Georgetown
University, at which he helped take the Hoyas basketball team
to the National Collegiate Athletic Association semifinals in
1943 and from which he graduated with a bachelor of science
degree in 1947, and at Loyola University Chicago School of
Law, from which he graduated in 1949;
Whereas Henry Hyde served his country for his entire adult
life, as an officer of the United States Navy from 1944 to
1946, where he served in combat in the Philippines during
World War II, in the United States Navy Reserve from 1946 to
1968, from which he retired at the rank of Commander, as a
member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1967 to
1974 and Majority Leader of that body from 1971 to 1972, as a
delegate to the Illinois Republican State Conventions from
1958 to 1974, and as a Republican Member of the United States
House of Representatives for 16 Congresses, over 3 decades
from January 3, 1975, to January 3, 2007;
Whereas Henry Hyde served as the Ranking Member on the
Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Representatives from 1985 to 1991, in the 99th through 101st
Congresses, and as chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary
of the House of Representatives from the 104th through 106th
Congresses and the Committee on International Relations from
the 107th through 109th Congresses;
Whereas, in his capacity as a United States Representative,
Henry Hyde tirelessly served as a champion for children, both
born and unborn, and relentlessly defended the rule of law;
Whereas Henry Hyde demonstrated his commitment to the rule
of law during his tenure in the House of Representatives,
once stating, ``The rule of law is no pious aspiration from a
civics textbook. The rule of law is what stands between us
and the arbitrary exercise of power by the state. The rule of
law is the safeguard of our liberties. The rule of law is
what allows us to live our freedom in ways that honor the
freedom of others while strengthening the common good. . . If
across the river in Arlington Cemetery there are American
heroes who died in defense of the rule of law, can we give
less than the full measure of our devotion to that great
cause?'';
Whereas Henry Hyde was a key player in some of the highest
level debates concerning the response to the terrorist
attacks on our Nation on September 11, 2001;
Whereas Henry Hyde received the Presidential Medal of
Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor, on November 5,
2007, at a ceremony at which President George W. Bush
explained about Representative Hyde, ``He used his persuasive
powers for noble causes. He stood for a strong and purposeful
America--confident in freedom's advance, and firm in
freedom's defense. He stood for limited, accountable
government, and the equality of every person before the law.
He was a gallant champion of the weak and forgotten, and a
fearless defender of life in all its seasons.'';
Whereas Henry Hyde's greatest legacy is as the author,
during his freshman term in the House of Representatives, of
an amendment to the 1976 Departments of Labor and Health,
Education, and Welfare Appropriations Act--commonly referred
to as the Hyde Amendment--that prohibits Federal dollars from
being used to pay for the abortion of unborn babies, which
conservative figures estimate has saved at least 1,000,000
lives;
Whereas Henry Hyde lived by the belief that we will all be
judged by our Creator in the end for our actions here on
Earth, which he once explained on the floor of the House of
Representatives by saying, ``Our moment in history is marked
by a mortal conflict between a culture of life and a culture
of death. God put us in the world to do noble things, to love
and to cherish our fellow human beings, not to destroy them.
Today we must choose sides.'';
Whereas Henry Hyde selflessly battled for the causes that
formed the core of his beliefs until the end of his life, and
was greatly respected by his friends and adversaries alike
for his dedication and will remain a role model for advocates
of those causes by virtue of his conviction, passion, wisdom,
and character; and
Whereas Henry Hyde was preceded in death by his first wife,
Jeanne, and his son Hank, and is survived by his second wife,
Judy, his sons Robert and Anthony and daughter Laura, 3
stepchildren, Susan, Mitch, and Stephen, 7 grandchildren, and
7 step-grandchildren: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) notes with deep sorrow the death of Henry John Hyde on
November 29, 2007, in Chicago;
(2) extends its heartfelt sympathy to the family of Henry
Hyde;
(3) recognizes the life of service and the outstanding
contributions of Henry Hyde; and
(4) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit a copy
of this resolution to the family of Henry Hyde.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, I am introducing a Senate
resolution to honor the life and work of Congressman Henry John Hyde of
Illinois. I authored this resolution because I knew Henry Hyde for over
20 years. In fact, he and I were 2 of 16 Republicans who were first
elected to the House of Representatives in 1974.
Congressman Hyde was a true leader in the House of Representatives.
He proved his leadership by authoring the ``Hyde Amendment'' to help
protect the lives of unborn children. Because of this long-standing
policy, innocent lives have been saved and taxpayers have not been
forced to fund abortions.
Henry Hyde was intelligent, as was proved during his tenure as
chairman of two different committees--the House Committee on the
Judiciary and the House Committee on International Relations. In his 32
years in the House of Representatives, he was dedicated to the rule of
law as well as the expansion of freedom around the world.
He was a great Representative for the people of his district, and he
leaves an important legacy for our Nation. It is with great respect
that I introduce this resolution in his honor.
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