[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 22 (Monday, February 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF REPRESENTATIVE JOHN P. MURTHA OF 
                              PENNSYLVANIA

  (Mr. KANJORSKI asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. KANJORSKI. As most Members of this Chamber know, we recently lost 
a dear friend and colleague. Congressman Jack Murtha passed away on 
February 8 after complications from gallbladder surgery.
  Jack recently became the longest-serving Member of Congress from 
Pennsylvania ever. Jack was dedicated to his country, our military 
troops, and the people of Pennsylvania that he represented for 36 
years. He will be greatly missed by our delegation, our State, and the 
entire Nation.
  On Wednesday, there will be a Special Order following votes in memory 
of Jack Murtha. Anyone wishing to speak may contact my office for that 
privilege.
  In closing, I respectfully request a moment of silence in memory of 
our dear friend, Jack Murtha.
  I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts).
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, I first got to know Jack as a freshman 
legislator in the Pennsylvania House of 1973-1974, where he and I 
served together until he was elected to Congress in 1974. We were both 
Vietnam veterans--the only two in the State house, so we had something 
in common with that that we chatted about.
  Jack served his community in western Pennsylvania as both the State 
and Federal Representative for nearly four decades, and he will be 
missed by his hometown of Johnstown and residents of the 12th 
Congressional District.
  He served his country as a Marine drill instructor. As an officer, he 
remained in the Reserves after leaving full-time service in 1955. He 
volunteered to return to full-time service in 1967, and he served 
honorably in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star with Valor and two Purple 
Hearts.
  Even after being elected to the House in Congress, Representative 
Murtha continued his service in the Reserves, finally retiring as a 
colonel in 1990. Just a few weeks ago, he became the longest-serving 
Pennsylvania Member of the House of Representatives.
  He will be dearly missed by his wife of 55 years and his children and 
grandchildren that he leaves behind. I join with my colleagues in the 
Pennsylvania delegation to extend our condolences to his family and 
friends.
  Tonight, we honor his service.
  The SPEAKER. Will all Members please rise for a moment of silence.

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