[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 26 (Friday, February 15, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEATH 
     OF THE HONORABLE TOM LANTOS, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE OF 
                               CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 12, 2008

  Mr. WAXMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in expressing 
profound sorrow at the passing of our good friend, Tom Lantos.
  Tom was neither an ordinary American nor an ordinary Member of 
Congress. His personal experience as a Holocaust survivor--and the only 
survivor ever to be elected to Congress--defined his work in the House 
of Representatives. He bestowed on all of us a unique perspective that 
we both needed and relied on.
  As the founding co-chair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, 
Tom was known to all of us here and throughout the country as the 
conscience of the Congress. From the genocide in Darfur, to the human 
rights crisis in Burma, to the global AIDS epidemic, to modern-day 
slavery and human trafficking, Tom persevered on behalf of the world's 
most forsaken and most forgotten.
  It was an honor to serve with Tom on the Oversight and Government 
Reform Committee and Human Rights Caucus. His contributions to 
Congress, to our democracy, and to the disenfranchised and dispossessed 
around the world will remain with us always.
  On a personal note, Janet and I will never forget Tom and Annette's 
love for one another and their complete devotion to their children, 
grandchildren, and great grandchildren. We are certain the love of the 
Lantos family and the reflection in the days ahead on Tom's 
extraordinary life will carry them through this very sad time.

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