[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 79 (Thursday, June 6, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E827-E828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING CONGRESSMAN JOHN DINGELL AS THE LONGEST-SERVING MEMBER IN 
               THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 2013

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, for this West Virginian, the next stroke of 
midnight will be a bittersweet minute. The torch of longest 
Congressional service will be passed between two giants of the 
Congress, Robert C. Byrd and John Dingell. It will be a bittersweet 
moment for me because the breaking of even one of the many legislative 
records Senator Byrd set by serving West Virginians pulls at our 
State's heartstrings.
  And I hesitate in even mentioning that, come tomorrow morning, 
Senator Byrd's record of the longest Senate tenure in history will 
still be intact, not because I fear my dearest friend would switch 
legislative bodies and pursue with gusto that momentous record. No, Mr. 
Speaker, I am hesitant because this body cannot afford to lose John 
Dingell to such an effort.
  On the sweeter side of the moment, Mr. Speaker, I believe the history 
of our future will reveal there are few other than John Dingell, who 
could so ably and humbly bear such a significant mantle as the longest 
serving member in Congressional history.
  Since I come from a State that understands tenure is no vice; let me 
clear up any misunderstandings about this milestone.
  The real record we are celebrating today, the real measure of the 
man, is not about any length of service. Today is a celebration of John 
Dingell's depth of service. Here in the People's House, in the glare of 
the most strict term limits I have ever heard anyone propose, Members 
either deliver for their people every two years or the people deliver 
Members back to their homes.
  That John Dingell will have served longer than any other Member is a 
true testament to his service to the people of Michigan, a badge of 
respect he has earned in this House, and a lesson for all who will 
listen today.

[[Page E828]]

  Looking at the two of us, the gentleman from Michigan and me, at 
first blush the casual observer might think Big John and I cannot see 
eye to eye on much at all. John Dingell always looks deeper, into the 
smallest of details. The fact is the two of us have enjoyed over three 
and a half decades of working together on a number of fronts.
  As the youngest member of the 95th Congress, I was outranked by John 
Dingell in more ways than one when I came to Congress. But not once in 
all our years of serving in this body, has he shown me any less 
courtesy, less attention, or less respect than he would to those with 
far more seniority than I.
  Call it statesmanship, shrewd politics, or simply sheer human 
decency; it is darn effective, when someone of John Dingell's stature 
listens to you.
  Members of Congress cannot serve, produce, and deliver for their 
Districts and States without listening. That includes back home as well 
as here in the halls and cubby holes of the Congress. Listening is the 
first chapter in the book of Congressional comity.
  In an institution designed to reach consensus through the art of 
compromise, the entire Congress can take a page from Representative 
John Dingell's playbook. The Congress and the entire country would most 
certainly be well-served.
  Godspeed to John Dingell and his dear wife, Debbie.

                          ____________________