[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 19, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H3753-H3754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WELCOMING THE HONORABLE RON BARBER TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr.
Pastor) is recognized for 1 minute.
There was no objection.
(Mr. PASTOR of Arizona asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, the world sometimes leads us down
strange and troubling paths, and the fact that we are gathered today
swearing in a new Member of Congress into the most deliberative body in
the world is a tribute to our former colleague Gabby Giffords. It is a
tribute to the resilience of the people of Arizona, a tribute to our
strong and fruitful democracy that has continually endured hard and
challenging times, and it is a tribute to our new colleague, Ron
Barber.
So it is with great pride and renewed zeal for the strength of the
American
[[Page H3754]]
people and for our system of governing that I introduce our newest
colleague, Congressman Ron Barber.
I have gotten to know Ron better over the last few months, and there
is no one who will work harder to make sure that the people of the
Eighth District are treated fairly, with dignity and with honor.
Ron and his wife, Nancy, have dedicated their lives to southern
Arizona. They have run a business for more than 30-some-odd years, a
business that helps young parents provide for their own children.
They've raised their two daughters, Jenny and Crissi, right here at
home in Tucson. They are watching their four grandchildren grow up in
Tucson.
But Ron also wanted to do more for his community, so he spent 30
years with the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities, where he
worked countless hours helping people with disabilities get out of
government-run institutions and back into their communities, fully
employed, contributing to their society, and living with their
families. His service then expanded beyond those with disabilities,
becoming Gabby's district director and coordinating all her efforts to
assist her constituents experiencing personal problems with the Federal
Government. And now these same people are Ron's constituents.
Welcome to the House, Ron Barber.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to my distinguished colleague,
Jeff Flake.
Mr. FLAKE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
On behalf of the Republican members of the Arizona delegation,
welcome, Ron Barber. We are glad to have you here.
Nobody would have wished for the circumstances that made this seat
vacant. We all miss our colleague Gabby Giffords, but it was her wish
that you fill this seat for the remainder of her term. She got her wish
as was the wish of so many Arizonans. Those of us who have worked with
your office, with the capable staff during this trying time, have been
very impressed with your commitment to the State of Arizona, and that
commitment will now continue with your being a Member of Congress.
We welcome you here.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, it is now with great pride that I
yield to our distinguished new Member, Congressman Ron Barber.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized.
Mr. BARBER. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
First of all, I would like to thank the Arizona delegation for that
warm welcome--and all of you--for this amazing welcome on my first day
here.
I also want to thank Speaker Boehner for his long and dedicated
service to our country and for swearing me in today.
And to my family in the gallery and to my grandchildren who are here
on the floor, thank you, all of you, my family, for your support and
love, without which I would not be here today.
{time} 1400
I have the most amazing family. I think everyone would say that, but
I am very blessed to have them in my life, especially over this past
year and a half. And to my high school sweetheart and wife, Nancy, I
love you dearly and look forward to celebrating our 45th wedding
anniversary tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, I stand here on the floor of the House in the very spot
where 5 months ago my friend and my predecessor, Congresswoman
Gabrielle Giffords, bravely delivered her resignation from Congress. I
want to thank the Congresswoman for her vision and leadership and the
inspiration she continues to give to our country. Gabby, southern
Arizona misses you dearly, and we cannot wait to have you home.
Today, as I begin my service in this, the people's House, I'm mindful
that the stakes for our Nation are very high. They are too high not to
set aside political division in favor of seeking common ground, too
high to use our words as weapons, too high to think of those with whom
we disagree as villains. As an Arizonan, I look to the example of
Congressman Mo Udall and Senator Barry Goldwater, two leaders in their
respective parties who disagreed much, but did so without being
disagreeable. They came together many times to do what was right for
their State and their country. I'm going to approach my work for the
people of southern Arizona with an eye not toward partisan victory, but
toward American achievement.
We as a country have much to achieve. We must protect middle class
families at a time when our middle class is slowly disappearing. We
must honor our veterans and military families by ensuring that the more
than 100,000 veterans I represent in southern Arizona and every other
American veteran and servicemember receives the services and benefits
they have earned.
We must ensure the dignity and health of every American senior in
retirement. We must secure our border so that border residents are safe
on their land, and impede the flow of drugs into our communities and
the illegal drug money out of our country. And we must create jobs with
innovative energy technologies, improvements in our essential
infrastructure, and by supporting local small businesses to grow.
I look forward to working across party lines to achieve these goals
for the good of my constituents and for all Americans.
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