[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 74 (Tuesday, May 6, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H3062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WELCOMING THE HONORABLE DON CAZAYOUX TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
Jefferson) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. JEFFERSON. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Louisiana delegation, 
we are proud to welcome Don Cazayoux to this magnificent House.
  He understands the values of faith, family and public service. He 
grew up in New Roads, Louisiana, has been married for 21 years to a 
retired school teacher, Cherie, and they have three children, Michael, 
Chavanne and Katie, who are all here today, I am sure. He has served in 
the State House since 1999, and he has, of course, been well qualified 
before that, having served in a number of public service offices, 
including as the District Attorney of Pointe Coupee Parish.
  Now, I might say a lot of things about his former preparation for 
this, but let me say this, as we grow older, we get to know folks 
through our children. My daughter is the best representative I know of 
what we all know now about Don Cazayoux. When she first started in the 
Louisiana State House, Don Cazayoux was already there. She told me she 
met this wonderful young man who was helpful to her.
  After she got to know him a bit better, she said he was a very 
thoughtful representative. As she got to know him even more, she said 
he was a very decent man.
  On the recommendation of my daughter, he was helpful, he was 
thoughtful, and he is thoroughly decent. Through that description, I 
think we all will get to know him as well.
  I am proud, on behalf of all of us here, to present this wonderful 
young man, who is a cousin of Lindy Boggs, who is here with us today.
  For the last several years, Charlie Melancon and I have met in a 
phone booth over here as the total Democratic caucus of Louisiana. Now, 
Madam Speaker, we may need different accommodations because of this 
election.
  May I ask Mr. Cazayoux to please come to the microphone. We welcome 
you.
  Mr. CAZAYOUX. Thank you, Madam Speaker, Members, for the warm 
welcome. I am honored to be the newest Member of this body.
  I want to thank my family, who is here; my wife, whose goodness 
inspires me, Cherie; my children, Michael, Chavanne and Katie, who 
remind me why we are here, why our decisions are so important for the 
future.
  I want to introduce you to my parents, Donald and Ann Cazayoux; Ann, 
whose compassion taught me to be compassionate; my father, whose sense 
of humor taught me to have a sense of humor, especially about myself; 
my Uncle John Wayne Jewell, who has a small-town private practice of 
law and taught me all about public service. I want to thank him and my 
Aunt Martha for her commitment to justice; my mother-in-law, Bonnie, 
for her goodness; Lindy Boggs, my model of leadership. Thank you for 
being here, and for the rest of my family and friends, without whose 
help I could not be here, physically here, period.
  I also want to thank the members and the constituents of my district 
for electing me and for challenging me to come here to work with you to 
meet the demands that they face every day to solve the problems in a 
commonsense, fiscally prudent manner in terms of health care, the price 
of gas or what have you.
  Thank you so much for welcoming me, and I look forward to working 
with each of you.

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