[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H7838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING IKE SKELTON

  (Mr. AKIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I also wanted to add my note to the already 
numerous congratulations and praises for Chairman Skelton. I have 
served my 10 years in Congress on the Armed Services Committee. I told 
him the night before last at a reception that I thought that Ike was 
like my big brother down here.
  You know, sometimes as we go on CODELs in the field, and we can talk 
to different level officers, sometimes it's a sergeant, sometimes it's 
a general, sometimes it's in between, how we get different answers, and 
sometimes a well-placed question to the right person is very helpful. I 
am a Republican, and sometimes a well-placed question to a Democrat is 
a very smart thing to do.
  I will ask Ike, I say, I think I have got a bright idea, Ike, but 
what do you think of it? And he will tell me sometimes, Todd, that's 
the dumbest thing I ever heard. And sometimes he says that would be a 
good thing if you can get that done. Because Ike is like a big brother. 
He is a big brother to everybody down here.
  Ike runs a committee the way I understand it used to be done, where 
the objective is to deal with the security of our country, and that is 
the business of the committee.
  So I thank you very much for your great work down here. We are going 
to miss you a lot, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Marine, and my big brother.
  God bless you and Godspeed.

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