[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 191 (Thursday, December 13, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15475-S15476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 405--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. Sessions, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Smith, Mr. Graham, Mr. 
Inhofe, and Mr. Corker) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 405

       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

[[Page S15476]]

     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.

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