[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 161 (Friday, October 3, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2246-E2247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO RETIRING CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DAVE 
                             WELDON (FL-15)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM H. PUTNAM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 3, 2008

  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a colleague and 
friend, U.S. Representative Dave Weldon who has served this body and 
the people of Florida well over the last 14 years.
  Congressman Weldon has made valuable contributions not only to the 
people of Florida's 15th Congressional District, but also to the U.S. 
House of Representatives and the American public at large, who will 
continue to realize his long-standing efforts and contributions into 
the future.
  As most in this body know, Dr. Dave Weldon, M.D., F.A.C.P. of 
Melbourne, Florida, is a practicing physician and Army veteran. His 
background and expertise have been called upon on numerous occasions to 
strengthen this nation's space program, healthcare policy, energy 
resources, foreign affairs, and veterans' programs among others.
  Dr. Weldon was the first medical doctor to have served in Congress 
from the State of Florida, and continues to treat patients at a 
Veterans' clinic in his congressional district on a volunteer basis. 
Rep. Weldon served on the House Appropriations Committee, and in that 
capacity was a member on various subcommittees, including the Science, 
State, Justice and Commerce Subcommittee, which has funding oversight 
of several key executive branch agencies including NASA. In the 110th 
Congress, he served on the Labor, Health, and Human Services, as well 
as the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittees.
  I have had the privilege to work closely with Dr. Weldon regarding 
many issues affecting Florida, as his congressional district borders my 
own in central Florida. In areas such as the space program and NASA, he 
has become a leader and will be long-recognized. I also worked hand-in-
hand with him during several tumultuous hurricanes, in which he gave so 
generously of his efforts to benefit and rebuild for the people of our 
state.
  His leadership in the House included serving as Vice Chairman of the 
Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, for 8

[[Page E2247]]

years, where he represented the interests of his constituents at 
Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Station, and surrounding 
aerospace community. He is the co-founder and chairman of the 
Congressional Aerospace Caucus.
  Rep. Weldon is also a member of the Autism Caucus, the Cancer Caucus, 
the Renewable Energy Caucus, the Tourism Caucus, and the Military 
Veterans Caucus. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 
453A, known as the ``Rocket Post,'' in Rockledge, Florida.
  Madam Speaker, I rise to again express my appreciation, as well as 
those of the people of the State of Florida and my colleagues in 
Congress, for the dedication of Dr. Dave Weldon in his service in the 
United States Congress. My best wishes go out to him and his family for 
his future endeavors.

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