[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING JOHN D. DINGELL FOR HOLDING THE RECORD AS THE LONGEST SERVING 
                 MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2009

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as do so many, to honor John 
Dingell as he achieves a great milestone: our longest-serving House 
member.
  In December 1955, at the age of 29, John won a special election to 
replace his father. 19,420 days later, we honor him and his spectacular 
record in serving the people of the United States and of his Michigan 
district.
  In December 1955--just to give you a sense of the eras, then and 
now--Rosa Parks took a stand by refusing to give up her seat on a bus 
home from work in Montgomery, Alabama.
  Today, as we honor John, we have an African-American President.
  People make change--and John Dingell has made more than his share.
  As Chairman, now Chairman Emeritus, of the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, he has carried perhaps the broadest portfolio of any House 
member in history, from energy, trade and telecommunications to 
Medicare, Medicaid, consumer protection and government oversight and 
investigations--Energy and Commerce handled up to 40% of all House 
legislation in some sessions.
  An avid outdoorsman and former forest ranger, John was an 
``environmentalist'' before the word ``environmentalist'' existed.
  He was instrumental in the passage of some of our nation's most 
important environmental laws, including the Endangered Species Act, the 
National Environmental Policy Act, and the 1990 Clean Air Act.
  And John almost single-handedly has created the Detroit River 
International Wildlife Refuge, which began in 2001 with some 400 acres 
and has grown since then to encompass over 4,000 acres from River Rouge 
to Lake Erie.
  He has been steadfast in supporting health care for all Americans. 
Each Congress, he sponsors a national health insurance plan--picking up 
the baton from his father who first introduced it in 1943. He fought 
for the Patient's Bill of Rights and the Children's Health Insurance 
Program. And he was the presiding officer as this House passed Medicare 
in 1965.
  Together, John and I worked on identifying the persistence of the 
``glass ceiling'' which limits the advancement of women in the 
workplace.
  John could not have known in 1955 the changes he would see, and the 
change he would make, as a member of this body. It has been a career of 
accomplishment--but now, also, it is a career of longevity.
  Martin Luther King once said ``It is the quality, not the longevity 
of one's life that is important.'' But John Dingell has had BOTH 
quality and longevity. May he keep up the great work.
  John, please accept my humble congratulations and extend my love to 
Debbie and your family.

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