[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 161 (Friday, October 3, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE BUD CRAMER AND THE HONORABLE TERRY EVERETT ON 
                     THEIR RETIREMENT FROM CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN A. BOEHNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 2008

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of 
Congressman Terry Everett, who has proudly represented ``Alabama's 
Second Congressional District for eight terms. His work on the Armed 
Services Committee, where he is the Ranking Republican of the 
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, has been integral to our national 
security. Over the last 5 years, Mr. Everett has had oversight 
responsibility for $150 billion in defense funds for our country's 
missile defense, military space and our critical nuclear energy 
programs. He has led efforts to make Congress and the American people 
aware of our reliance on space for both military and civilian 
satellites for our national defense, communications and even financial 
transactions. He has been on the front lines of warning us about our 
vulnerabilities and the need for constant improvement in our ability to 
defend and protect ourselves.
  Congressman Everett has been a tremendous friend to our Nation's 
veterans, who selflessly served to protect our freedoms. Among the 
honor afforded our veterans is the choice to be buried in the hallowed 
ground of Arlington National Cemetery. In 1997, Mr. Everett was given 
the prestigious ``Excellence in Programmatic Oversight'' by House 
Republicans for investigating Arlington National Cemetery burial 
waivers that were being given to people who had not served in our 
military.
  Mr. Everett has been a watchdog on behalf of those who have served 
our Nation, holding the Veterans' Administration accountable for timely 
and quality delivery of benefits and health care for our veterans', 
including investigating concerns about the care quality and 
administrative problems within the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care 
System with hospitals in Montgomery and Tuskegee, AL. Thanks to his 
efforts, those hospitals implemented much-needed health care and safety 
improvements.
  Congressman Everett has also been a friend to American farmers, 
having served on the Committee on Agriculture and fought for the 
interests of American agriculture, which has a $1 billion impact on the 
region he represents.
  Congressman Everett served as an intelligence specialist in Europe 
with the Air Force, which served him well later in life when he was 
appointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He 
also worked as a newspaper reporter, writing at first about agriculture 
and public safety. He spent three decades in journalism, moving from 
reporter to editor to publisher to the top of the top of the ladder as 
owner of a chain of newspapers in the Southeast.
  I thank Congressman Everett not just for his service to the people of 
Alabama's Second Congressional District, but for his commitment to 
ensuring the safety and protection of our Nation. He has been a 
forceful voice for reform to improve the care for our veterans and has 
worked hard for our farmers.
  Mr. Everett's retirement is a great loss for this House. I wish him 
the very best of luck as he begins the next chapter in what has been a 
lifetime of service to his community and his country.

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