[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 193 (Monday, December 17, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H15504-H15507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MOURNING THE PASSING OF CONGRESSMAN HENRY J. HYDE

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 843) mourning the passing of Congressman Henry 
J. Hyde and celebrating his leadership and service to the people of 
Illinois and the United States of America, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 843

       Whereas all Members of Congress affect the history of the 
     United States, but Congressman Henry J. Hyde leaves a legacy 
     as one of the most principled and influential public servants 
     of his generation that will endure for many years;
       Whereas millions of men and women across America mourn the 
     death of the distinguished former Congressman from Illinois;
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde, upon his graduation from high 
     school, earned a scholarship to play basketball at Georgetown 
     University, and participated in the 1942 NCAA national 
     championship basketball tournament;
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde served valorously in the United 
     States Navy from 1944 to 1946 in the South Pacific, New 
     Guinea, and the Lingayen Gulf and continued to serve in the 
     Naval Reserve until 1968;
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde returned to the United States from 
     active duty in 1946, graduated a year later with a bachelor 
     of arts degree, and went on to earn a law degree from Loyola 
     University Law School in 1950;
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde served in the Illinois House of 
     Representatives from 1967 to 1974;
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde was elected to serve Illinois's 6th 
     Congressional District in the United States House of 
     Representatives in 1974;
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde will be remembered for his 
     impassioned opposition to abortion, and the Hyde Amendment, 
     which banned the federal funding of abortion;
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde was named chairman of the Committee 
     on the Judiciary in 1995 and played a vital role in the 
     passage of key elements of the Contract with America, and as 
     a skilled lawyer and someone who loved the practice of law, 
     he understood and respected the rule of law as an essential 
     part of American democracy;
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde was instrumental in the early 1980s 
     reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and known 
     for initiatives including the Family and Medical Leave Act, 
     nutrition programs for women, infants, and children, Federal 
     standards for collection of child support, and landmark 
     patent, copyright, and trademark reform legislation;
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde was named chairman of the Committee 
     on International Relations in 2001 and worked across the 
     political divide to successfully enact legislation to address 
     the burgeoning international HIV/AIDS crisis, and also 
     succeeded in enacting landmark foreign assistance 
     legislation, including the creation of the Millennium 
     Challenge Corporation, and the expansion of United States 
     funding for microenterprise initiatives aimed at helping the 
     poor and vulnerable;
       Whereas during his long distinguished career, Henry J. Hyde 
     played an integral role in debates over United States-Soviet 
     relations, Central America policy, the War Powers Act, the 
     Taiwan Relations Act, NATO expansion, and the investigation 
     of the Iran-Contra affair;
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde highly respected the institutional 
     integrity of the House of Representatives, and was a forceful 
     advocate for maintaining the dignity of the House and for 
     recognizing the sacrifices and struggles Members make while 
     in its service;
       Whereas in 2006, Henry J. Hyde retired from the House of 
     Representatives, where he maintained ties of bipartisan 
     civility throughout the more than 3 decades of dedicated 
     service;
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde was awarded the Nation's highest 
     civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on 
     November 5, 2007, for tirelessly championing the weak and 
     forgotten and working to build a more hopeful America; and
       Whereas Henry J. Hyde has been characterized as a 
     statesman, a constitutional scholar, a person with sharp wit 
     and a keen sense of history, a passionate orator, a 
     compassionate man, and a person with a distinguished career 
     who has left an indelible mark on the legacy of the United 
     States House of Representatives: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses its appreciation for the profound dedication 
     and public service of Congressman Henry J. Hyde;
       (2) notes that he was preceded in death by his late wife 
     Jeanne Simpson and his son, Henry ``Hank'' Hyde;
       (3) tenders its deep sympathy to his wife, Judy Wolverton, 
     to his children, Robert, Laura, and Anthony, and to the 
     entire family of the former Member of Congress and staff;
       (4) directs that the eulogies offered concerning the life 
     of the Honorable Henry J. Hyde, former Representative from 
     the State of Illinois, be bound and printed as a House 
     document; and
       (5) directs the Clerk of the House to transmit a copy of 
     this resolution to the family of Congressman Henry J. Hyde.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Crowley) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. 
Lungren) each will control 20 minutes.

[[Page H15505]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the 
subject matter of this resolution, H. Res. 843.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the service of our former 
colleague, a Member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Hyde, who 
served in the House of Representatives from January 3, 1975, to January 
3, 2007, and served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, as well as 
chairman of the International Relations Committee.
  Mr. Hyde's life was a good, long life and a complex life as well. Mr. 
Hyde graduated from high school and earned a scholarship to play 
basketball at Georgetown University. He participated in the 1942 NCAA 
basketball tournament. As a college basketball fan, I think that may be 
the height of his career. But that was only the beginning.
  He went on to serve valorously in the United States Navy from 1944 to 
1946 in the South Pacific, New Guinea, the Guinean Gulf, and continued 
in the Reserves well into the 1960s.
  Mr. Hyde was elected to serve his constituents in Illinois' Sixth 
Congressional District, I think where he certainly contributed mightily 
and tremendously to the advancement of the Congress, as well as our 
country.
  I had the great opportunity to serve with Henry Hyde as a member of 
the International Relations Committee, a somewhat junior member, then a 
mid bench member. I always enjoyed the banter with the chairman; quick-
witted, and incredibly intelligent, steeped in history, understood 
every bill that was before him, and understood where he stood on those 
issues.
  And although Mr. Hyde and I did not agree on every political issue, I 
admired his tenacity. I admired his demeanor. I admired the way in 
which he handled himself, both in committee, on the floor, and as a 
person.
  I also had the opportunity to travel with Mr. Hyde on a trip to a 
country that is near and dear to both himself and myself, the country 
of our ancestry, Ireland. I know that he was proud of the work of the 
advancement of peace and justice in Ireland, in all of Ireland, and 
worked mightily towards that end.
  But Mr. Hyde had numerous accomplishments. And I'll leave that to my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle to advance today. But I would 
urge the adoption of this resolution, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support 
of H. Res. 843, mourning the passage of Congressman Henry Hyde and 
celebrating his leadership and service to the people of Illinois and 
the United States of America.
  And at this time I would like to recognize for 5 minutes the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam), who is the prime sponsor of this 
legislation, and the successor to Henry Hyde in that seat from the 
great State of Illinois.
  Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, a special word of thanks to the majority 
leader, who worked hard to get this resolution on the floor, and to him 
I'm deeply grateful.
  You know, there's been a lot said about Henry Hyde over the past 
several weeks, particularly since his passing and in the weeks prior to 
that when he received the Medal of Freedom from President Bush in a 
White House ceremony that he was unable to attend due to his illness.
  And we've often focused in those comments on his conduct here in the 
House of Representatives, Mr. Speaker, but I would like to give just a 
little bit of a glimpse of what he was like back at home, because the 
same shadow that was cast here in the Capitol was similarly cast in the 
Sixth District of Illinois, which is the west and northwest suburbs of 
Chicago. There, he was Henry Hyde who would be routinely introduced at 
various gatherings, and in partisan gatherings he would oftentimes get 
a standing ovation from a very grateful group of Republicans. But all 
across the aisle, both sides of the aisle, people were able to approach 
him, and they would often think of him, really, as an alderman for that 
area, or almost a city councilman. And by that I don't mean anything to 
negate his status, but simply, his accessibility as a Member of 
Congress, which was something really to behold. You could routinely 
find him in his district. He would fly back and forth every week into 
O'Hare Airport, which was right in the middle of his Sixth District of 
Illinois.
  And I think that he was one of those people that, when you think 
about Congressmen, you think about the very best and the very 
brightest. And I would submit that when, from 1974 all the way up 
through his retirement, when people contemplated Henry Hyde, he was 
contemplated in a way that was a positive reflection on this 
institution. When people thought of him, they thought, You know what? 
That's the way a congressman is supposed to be. That's the way a 
congressman is supposed to handle himself. That's the way a congressman 
is supposed to interact with people on his own side of the aisle and, 
even more importantly, with people on the other side of the aisle.
  His legacy is one, and his name will inextricably be linked with the 
pro-life movement. He was a passionate advocate, as we all know, for 
the unborn.
  He did his duty in the impeachment of President Clinton. But those 
things, while they're formative, and they're very interesting, and they 
are who he was, sort of the lead gets buried if you stop the Henry Hyde 
story there, because he was someone who was also very active and a 
partner in trying to reach out to come up with the funds and the 
support to take on HIV/AIDS globally.
  And he was far ahead of his time. He was one who broke from his ranks 
and voted in favor of the Family and Medical Leave Act, much to the 
chagrin, at the time, of many in his party who subsequently have come 
to see the light of that courage of his convictions.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, in closing, this is a time of reflection and 
it's a time of honoring the legacy of a great man. And I think the 
words of Paul Johnson, a great British historian, come to mind when he 
wrote a history of the American people. And the British historian 
Johnson said, to paraphrase, he said this: All kinds of factors go into 
how history comes out. Just all kinds of things. But without question, 
the single most important factor are the people who are in charge at 
the time.
  And I think all of us today rise and acknowledge that Henry J. Hyde 
and the oath that he took and the way in which he carried himself in 
office was a great credit, not only to this institution, but a great 
credit to our country.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield once again to my good 
friend from the territory of Samoa, Representative Eni Faleomavaega, 
for as much time as he may consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, again I want to thank my good friend 
from New York for yielding me such time to say a few words in honoring 
this gentleman.
  As I'm sure that I did not want to miss this opportunity to stand 
here on the floor and to express my feelings of this great American, as 
I'm sure there may have been a Special Order already taken where 
Members could speak and giving their sense of tribute to Congressman 
Henry Hyde.
  I thank the gentleman from Illinois for his sponsorship of this bill, 
and want to thank the members of the Illinois delegation for their 
sponsorship of this legislation to honor my good friend and dear 
colleague, the late Congressman Henry J. Hyde, whom I've had the 
distinct privilege of serving with him when he served as chairman of 
the House Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. Speaker, Chairman Hyde and I did not always agree on the issues 
and bills that were brought before our committee, but one thing that I 
valued tremendously concerning the character of this great leader, and 
that is he respected the opinions of others, even though they may 
differ from his.
  Chairman Hyde was a great leader, a man of principle, and a true 
patriot

[[Page H15506]]

and a statesman. And above all, Mr. Speaker, he was my friend.
  I'm reminded of a Chinese proverb, Mr. Speaker, and the proverb 
states, ``There are many acquaintances but very few friends.''
  Congressman Henry Hyde was my friend. Have a good journey, Henry.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, one of the most 
fortunate things I've had happen in my life is that I was able to serve 
for 12 years with Henry Hyde; 10 years during the first period of time 
I served, and then the first 2 years of my return to the Congress. For 
10 of those years, well, all 12 of those years, I served on the 
Judiciary Committee with him, and he was, in my mind, a great man.
  We all have our heroes, I suppose, in life. My dad's a hero of mine. 
Ronald Reagan was a hero of mine. Mother Theresa is a hero of mine. And 
in this House, Henry Hyde was and continues to be a hero of mine.
  Recently, we have had a lot of debate and discussion in the national 
press about the appropriate place for religion and religious values in 
public debate. The speech given by the former Governor of 
Massachusetts, Governor Romney, has been called the speech reminding 
people of the speech given by another gentleman from Massachusetts some 
40 years ago, President John F. Kennedy. And in their own way, they 
were both outstanding speeches.
  But one of the speeches I recall on the same subject was given by 
Henry Hyde. It was the speech he gave at my alma matter, the University 
of Notre Dame, in the same year that Governor Cuomo gave a speech to 
the university, attempting to the address the question of what the 
proper role was of religious values in public life.
  Now, it was particularized in the fact that both Governor Cuomo and 
Henry Hyde were Roman Catholics. But what they said there and what 
Henry said there is not limited merely to a Catholic in public service, 
but goes to the question of what someone who has deeply held religious 
values should do when confronted with the great ideas of their time.

                              {time}  1530

  Perhaps the greatest example in political history is that of Sir 
Thomas Moore, also known as St. Thomas Moore, immortalized in the great 
play, ``A Man for All Seasons,'' when he attempted to try and deal with 
the tremendous disconnect at times between what in the secular world 
appears to be an obvious conflict between deeply held values and your 
responsibility as an elected or appointed figure.
  Similarly, in a closer period of time in our history, a work that 
influenced the speech of John Kennedy was a great writing by John 
Courtney Murray called, ``We Hold These Truths.'' John Courtney Murray 
was a tremendous Jesuit priest and political theorist whose work 
probably was the greatest influence in the Catholic Church during the 
Second Vatican Council in understanding what political liberty was all 
about. And I have used both of those writings in trying to understand 
what my obligation in life is.
  But ranking alongside both of those works is this work by Henry Hyde 
called, ``For Every Idle Silence.'' He took that from a statement by 
St. Ambrose. He said, Not only for every idle word but for every 
silence must man render an account. Henry Hyde believed that.
  In the speech at my alma mater, Henry Hyde said in 1984, ``This must 
be an election year. Everyone is talking about theology.'' The reason I 
mention that is here we are 20-some years past that time, and there are 
those that believe that this issue is arising for the first time, and 
somehow we have some difficulty in understanding what it's all about.
  So I would just like to reflect on a few words of Henry Hyde in that 
speech which perhaps would give us some direction as we approach that 
same issue this year. He said, ``First and hopefully most obviously, we 
are not arguing about the creation of a theocracy or anything remotely 
approaching it. We're not talking about declaring ourselves a Christian 
Nation or a Nation under any religion.''
  But he said, ``We are, as our coinage and our Pledge of Allegiance 
asserts, a Nation `under God': that means a Nation under God's 
judgment, constantly reminded by our smallest coin that the true 
measure of ourselves comes from beyond ourselves. Again, for the church 
as well as for democracy, let us preserve the integrity of both the 
political process and the church.''
  And he went on to say, ``In the second place, we are not arguing 
about whether `religion and politics should mix.' This formula, so 
simple, is also deceptive and disorienting. Religion, the expression of 
what theologian Paul Tillich called our `ultimate concern,' and 
politics have `mixed,' intermingled, shaped and influenced each other 
centuries before the conversion of Constantine.''
  And Henry goes on to say, ``And this has been true of our American 
experiment as well. The claim that American religion has always been 
`intensely private between the individual and God' would surely have 
come as news to John Winthrop and the Pilgrims, to Jonathan Edwards, to 
the Abolitionists, to Lincoln, to 15 generations of the black church, 
and not least to American Catholics taught by the magisterial John 
Courtney Murray, architect of the Vatican Council's `Declaration on 
Religious Liberty.' Throughout our history, religious values have 
always been a part of the public policy debate. Religious values, 
particularly the Judeo-Christian tradition's insistence on the inherent 
dignity and inviolable worth of each individual human life, lie at the 
root of what Murray called the `American Proposition.''
  ``Yes,'' Henry says, ``other influences shaped the Founders of our 
Republic. Enlightenment modes of political philosophy play their 
important role, too. But to borrow a phrase momentarily from the 
Marxists, `it is no accident' that Benjamin Franklin, one of the 
deistic Founders, proposed as a device on the Great Seal of the United 
States a picture of Moses lifting up his staff and dividing the Red Sea 
while the Pharaoh was overwhelmed in its waters, with the motto 
`Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.'
  ``Jefferson, often considered the most implacable foe of `mixing' 
religion and politics, countered with the suggestion that the Great 
Seal depict the children of Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by 
day and a pillar of fire by night.''
  Henry Hyde understood that we are influenced and informed by our most 
deeply held beliefs and that it is not un-American to bring those to 
the debate. He also suggested that what we also understood was that we 
should not establish any particular religion or demand the American 
people bow to any particular religion.
  Henry Hyde gave us tremendous guidance, and for those in the debate 
involved today, I would suggest they might want to look at Henry's 
book, ``For Every Idle Silence,'' including that speech at Notre Dame 
which he entitled, with his usual good sense and humor, ``Keeping God 
in the Closet, Some Thoughts on the Exorcism of Religious Values from 
Public Life.''
  Henry Hyde was a remarkable man. He had a great wit about him. You 
could argue on the floor with him as strongly as possible, and he would 
come over across the aisle, punch you in the arm and tell you a joke. 
He took what he did seriously, but he never took himself too seriously. 
He was an inspiration to me and many others around the world.
  I remember one time I asked Henry, do you ever get tired being 
involved in the debate on the right-to-life, and he said to me, you 
know, I do, but as I get older and think of my mortality, I think about 
the possibility of entering the gates of heaven, and I think of the 
faces of those children whose lives I've saved, standing there saying 
to me, Welcome, Henry, welcome.
  Ultimately, I think Henry's life can be summed up in the last words 
that he gave to the students and faculty of the University of Notre 
Dame in 1984. He said this to those students: ``And so I ask again, do 
you change the world or does the world change you?
  ``There was a `Just Man' many centuries ago who tried to save Sodom 
from destruction. Ignoring his warning, mocking him with silence, the 
inhabitants shielded themselves with indifference. But still he 
persisted, and taking pity on him, a child asked, `Why do you go on?' 
The Just Man replied that in the beginning, he thought he could change 
man. `Today,' he said, `I know I cannot. If I still shout and scream, 
it's to prevent them from changing me!''

[[Page H15507]]

  As Henry said to those students that day: ``I hope you go out and 
change the world!''
  Mr. Speaker, Henry Hyde was the just man. Henry Hyde did work. Henry 
Hyde changed the world. I am thankful for his leadership. I'm thankful 
for him being a colleague. I'm thankful to be able to call him friend, 
and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 843.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers on our side and 
will close, and I will just say that it's been noted to me that it's 
highly unusual for us to have a House resolution honoring a former 
Member but maybe appropriate in this particular case because Henry Hyde 
was an unusual person, and I will just go back again to my experience 
with him on the committee.
  I found him to be very fair, very just, a very abiding chairman, and 
was concerned as much about the decorum of the committee and how we 
conducted the business of our committee as well would be done in a fair 
and just way. That's something that I will certainly remember Henry 
Hyde for.
  I hope as we move forward, not only today or next year, but in 
Congresses to come, that that rapport between Members of both sides, 
regardless as to where we find ourselves on issues, can conduct 
ourselves in a way which would make Chairman Hyde proud.
  The last time I saw Chairman Hyde was where I more often saw him 
sitting, next to the portrait of Lafayette here in the House of 
Representatives in a wheelchair and remarking to him, as always I did, 
Mr. Chairman, how are you, even though he was no longer chairman of a 
standing committee here in the House. For many of us on our side, as 
well as yours, he was always the Chairman, and we say to Chairman Hyde, 
God bless and Godspeed.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I was deeply saddened to learn 
that Henry J. Hyde passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2007. I know I 
join my colleagues both past and present in thanking this truly 
remarkable man for his contribution to this country.
  Former Representative Henry Hyde served his country honorably both in 
the U.S. Navy during World War II and later as a Member of the U.S. 
House of Representatives. Representative Hyde was first elected to the 
House of Representatives in 1975, where he later served as chairman of 
the House Judiciary Committee and the House International Relations 
Committee.
  During his tenure in Congress, Henry Hyde will most be remembered for 
leading the impeachment proceedings against former President Bill 
Clinton and for his staunch opposition to abortion rights, both issues 
on which he and I strongly differed. Despite my opposition, Henry Hyde 
always took principled stands on issues and legislation and personified 
what it means to be called ``The Honorable.''
  Henry Hyde had always been considerate to me, generous with his time 
and extremely helpful to me as a legislator. Not long after I was sworn 
in as a new Member, he acted as a mentor and we became close friends 
despite our political and ideological differences. I was pleased to 
work with Henry on ``The Hyde-Jackson Partnership,'' the effort to 
bring a third airport to the Chicagoland region. On this specific 
issue, I owe Congressman Hyde a debt of gratitude for his leadership, 
public service, experience and wisdom.
  I will miss my good friend and trusted mentor and my deepest 
condolences go out to his family.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join this commemoration of 
the extraordinary life of Henry Hyde, the late, able chairman of the 
House International Relations Committee. The United States House of 
Representatives lost an institutional legend this year, and those of us 
lucky enough to have served with Henry Hyde lost a treasured friend. 
Although Henry and I did not always agree on matters of policy, I have 
a deep and lasting respect for his service to this country.
  Mr. Speaker, Henry Hyde was a giant. His integrity, intelligence and 
patriotism were of towering proportions. Our friendship always 
transcended partisan political considerations and was reminiscent of an 
era of congressional collegiality. Henry's passionate commitment to 
public service and to the American people will serve as a beacon for 
generations.
  Henry Hyde had a wide variety of legislative feathers in his cap, but 
I wish today to speak about two particularly notable accomplishments. 
The first rightfully bears his name--the Henry J. Hyde United States-
India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act. This bipartisan agreement 
was done with cooperation in both Chambers. It represents the right way 
of legislating--ample preparation, consideration of all ideas, 
bipartisan cooperation, cordial relations with the other body, and keen 
attention to institutional prerogatives.
  Also under Henry's leadership, Congress approved groundbreaking, 
bipartisan legislation to fund the global battle against the scourge of 
HIV/AIDS. The U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and 
Malaria Act of 2003 would not have happened without Henry's strength 
and persistence, and it stands as a testament to his life and work. 
Henry memorably--and astutely--compared the scourge of HIV/AIDS to the 
bubonic plague in its tragic scope. We are now in the midst of renewing 
the mandate of this vital legislation, and Henry's leading role in it 
will be very much on his colleagues' minds.
  A member of the International Relations Committee since 1982, Henry 
was a key figure in debates and decisions about war and peace, 
international arms control, the expansion of NATO, and United Nations 
reform. He also served with distinction on the Judiciary and 
Intelligence Committees, but I will let others speak to his 
achievements there. And of course, the continued, devoted support by 
his constituents through 16 terms in Congress speaks volumes about his 
work on behalf of his district.
  Mr. Speaker, Henry chaired the International Relations Committee for 
6 years, through some of the most pivotal and riveting challenges of 
our times. He wielded his gavel with fairness, intellectual honesty and 
no small amount of wit. Some of us may disagree with some of his 
policies, but he was a true gentleman of the House, and he will be 
deeply and sincerely missed.
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today to honor a great 
American. Henry Hyde was a true gentleman and a greatly respected 
Member of Congress. Many words come to mind when I think of Mr. Hyde: 
leadership, aggressiveness, determination, dignity. Many sought counsel 
from him, including me. He was a tremendous orator, with a keen mind 
and a silver tongue. Members of both parties liked and respected him, 
because they knew that, regardless of party or ideology, they would be 
treated fairly, with dignity and respect.
  Unfortunately, Henry Hyde has been criticized in the press for 
leading the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton, but 
the most important cause he led was to protect life. His political 
career was comprehensive, but it is his work to protect and promote the 
dignity of human life that has had the greatest impact. His efforts in 
this body are unmatched, and he leaves a profound legacy of challenges 
met, obstacles overcome, and grace in tumultuous times. He will be 
deeply missed, and our prayers go out to the entire Hyde family during 
this difficult time.
  I join many of my colleagues in praising the life and work of Henry 
Hyde. The greatest tribute we can give him is to carry on his efforts 
to acknowledge the worth of every single human being, born and unborn. 
I encourage members of this body and our constituents to follow Henry's 
lead and make sure that we honor the value of life.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, with the passing of Congressman Hyde, the 
country lost a true patriot who was deeply dedicated to the American 
people. He had a distinguished career in public service, beginning with 
his time in the Navy during World War II, followed by his service in 
the Illinois General Assembly, and then in the House of 
Representatives. Henry's leadership and steadfastness to principle 
quickly became apparent in the House. He always was a stalwart defender 
of the rights of the unborn, and pushed the Congress to see clearly the 
impact of its decisions on the defenseless.
  I was honored to serve with Henry while he was Chairman of the 
Judiciary Committee, enduring long markups to move the Contract with 
America legislation, equipping our law enforcement with the tools to 
fight terrorism, and combating the scourge of drugs in our society. His 
amiable personality hid an individual who did not shy from a fight, 
especially when it came to upholding the Constitution, the rule of law, 
and other interests of the United States. As a fellow House Impeachment 
manager, and as one of the ``band of brothers,'' I am truly honored to 
call him my brother and I will miss him.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 843, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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