[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 20, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               THE DEATH OF U.S. SENATOR CHARLES H. PERCY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who 
served Illinois, our country, and people from other nations around the 
world for decades before his death this weekend at age 91. That man is 
Senator Charles H. Percy of Illinois.
  Already, his life, legend, and list of accomplishments as a Senator, 
a statesman, and a larger-than-life political figure are well 
documented. Others have articulated these things far better than I 
could today, and I am confident that history will record them well.
  But, Mr. Speaker, what I wish to convey today are the warm and 
wonderful stories and the testimonies about Chuck Percy that have only 
come to me from those who knew him and loved him and from those whose 
views and sentiments I hold in the highest regard. Their stories are 
not always well suited for publication or for statements on the House 
or Senate floor; but they are funny, warm, endearing, and genuine. They 
reflect the incredible love of life, humanity, and humor that made 
working for or with Senator Percy so incomparable. These volunteers, 
former Members, and political leaders cannot address the House about 
him today; but I can, and it is my honor to do so.
  They are some of the finest leaders of Illinois today, like State 
Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, who launched her first campaign for 
office years ago after serving as a Percy campaign coordinator. They 
are State Treasurer Dan Rutherford and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, who 
served on the Youth for Percy brigade. They are former Congresswoman 
and U.S. Labor Secretary Lynn Martin, whose very first campaign as a 
volunteer was to help elect Chuck Percy. Then you've just heard from 
Representative Dave Dreier on his reflections of his being with Chuck 
Percy.
  If you talk to them, they will say that his enthusiasm and commitment 
to making a better State, country, and world are what motivated them to 
answer the call and launch their own political careers. His energy and 
enthusiasm, his openness to differing views, and his passion for 
improvement were infectious. They will tell you of a dark moment of 
loss or sadness or disappointment in their lives when he was there for 
them with a loving phone call or note. He was, in a word, an 
inspiration to all of them.
  They are former Illinois Governors Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar, whose 
natural talents thrived under Chuck Percy's guidance and inspiration. 
He saw in them the makings of outstanding leaders, and they succeeded 
in their own rights. He never looked over his shoulder, worrying about 
those who might challenge his own leadership. He embraced them, 
encouraged them, and made their success his success. Unlike others in 
politics today, his generosity to others was boundless and without the 
slightest hint of envy or competitiveness. With Chuck Percy, there was 
no zero sum; there were only pluses for everyone.
  They also are the other leaders outside of Illinois, like the former 
HUD Secretary and USTR, Ambassador Carla Hills, who first headed 
Percy's Alliance to Save Energy in the 1970s when it became clear to 
Percy that our reliance on foreign oil was unsustainable.

                              {time}  1210

  They are former Senator Fred Thompson, in whom Percy saw a brilliant 
prosecutor and future star of the Senate. They are those who went on to 
become leaders in their own countries, like the late Prime Minister of 
India, Rajiv Gandhi and President of Lebanon Rafic Hariri, both of whom 
strove for peace and tragically were cut down by assassination.
  They are Federal district and appellate judges and a Supreme Court 
Justice, whose service to our country might never have been possible 
were it not for the fact that Chuck Percy believed in them and believed 
that the cronyism and corruption in judicial selection must end. He saw 
in them a commitment to the law, the Constitution, and justice, and 
with them helped to transform the Illinois bar from one of the most 
corrupt in the country to one of the most respected.
  Last but not least, there are thousands of staff members and 
volunteers whose lives were forever changed and guided by this dear man 
whom they referred to simply as ``CHP'' or ``The Senator.'' They are a 
formidable network of outstanding individuals who are as devoted to him 
as they are to each other and to public service. Each of them has gone 
on to do good things because of the confidence that he inspired in them 
and his belief that everything is possible if only you want to work 
hard enough for it.
  They are my constituents and volunteers. They are my chief of staff, 
Kathy Lydon, and chief of volunteers, Carolyn Stillman, and many others 
and all the outstanding people that I have met through their 
fellowship. They are hundreds of Illinois and Washington businessmen, 
lawyers, teachers, homemakers, and, yes, even reporters whose lives 
were forever changed by this very special man.
  To a one, they will say, ``There is no one, no one quite like Chuck 
Percy.''
  So today, Mr. Speaker, I want to say to them and to the Percy family, 
Loraine, Sharon, and Senator Jay Rockefeller, Roger and Penny, Gail and 
Wade, Mark and Leslee, and all of their wonderful children, 
grandchildren, and families, our thoughts and prayers are with you. We 
thank you for sharing this wonderful man with us, with the people of 
Illinois, America, and the world.

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