[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 151 (Monday, October 28, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H6811-H6814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1930
                  REMEMBERING THE HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2013, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased tonight to lead a Special 
Order in memory of the life and service of our dear friend, our 
colleague from Florida, Mr. Bill Young. We will hear from members of 
the Florida delegation and also from leaders from the committee on 
which he was a leader, himself.
  To lead off tonight in our Special Order in that vein, I am very 
pleased to yield first to the chair of the Appropriations Committee of 
the House of Representatives, on which Mr. Young served so 
distinguishably, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers).
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Let me thank my colleague from Florida for 
yielding me this time.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today with a very heavy heart to honor the 
memory and service of our dear friend and colleague, Bill Young.
  Bill served in this House and he served this country for decades with 
compassion and distinction. I have not known this institution without 
him--most of us are in that same situation--and I believe it will take 
a long time to fill the hole that his absence has left. As an 
appropriator, he was a role model for all of us. When I became chairman 
of the committee, I knew I had some very large shoes to fill in 
following in the footsteps of Chairman Young, among others. He fought 
with determination and enthusiasm to make this country a better place.
  Bill was a champion for our troops and veterans especially, both in 
the Halls of the Congress and outside. His fierce determination and 
dedication to our troops and veterans never wavered. As we all know, he 
and his dear wife, Beverly, were to be found very frequently at 
Bethesda or at Walter Reed in the city or at a hospital overseas where 
troops were sick, and they spent hours and hours helping those who were 
injured.
  He was, of course, the chairman of the Defense Subcommittee on the 
Appropriations Committee for many years. He also served on the Military 
Construction and Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee, and his thumbprint is 
very visible in the improved medical care and in the quality of life of 
our troops, among the many other issues that he held dear to his heart.
  Bill was a leader in this House who was able to make his mark with 
grace and fortitude. He was a lion about the things that he cared 
about; but he was a gentle lion, and he did things with grace and with 
a quiet voice until you crossed him on the betterment of our troops. 
Then Bill Young would let you know where to get off.
  I will miss Bill Young greatly as I know all of us will. My prayers 
are with his family, with Beverly, with his many friends, and with all 
of those who had the privilege of knowing and working with Bill Young. 
He will be greatly missed.
  Mr. MICA. I thank the gentleman.
  We are also pleased to have with us tonight a distinguished leader of 
the Florida delegation and now the dean of the Florida delegation--our 
senior member--to pay tribute to Bill Young. I yield to the gentlelady 
from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Chairman, thank you for the time.
  A good man, a warm friend and a true patriot, Bill Young was an 
example for all of us here in Congress, and it was an honor and a 
privilege to serve with him. Madam Speaker, the loss of Bill's 
experience and knowledge will be felt by everyone in this Chamber.
  The consummate gentleman from Florida, Bill was always ready to 
listen to his colleagues on both sides of the aisle, greeting everyone 
with a smile. Both principled and honest while maintaining civility 
with his colleagues, Bill never allowed differences of opinion to 
devolve into partisan bickering, and he worked with Republicans and 
Democrats to balance our budget as chairman of the House Appropriations 
Committee.
  A tenacious public servant, Bill dedicated his life to his 
constituents. His number one priority was ensuring those who serve our 
country get the help and the services they need to be successful. 
Improving the quality of life for veterans and for all Active Duty 
personnel, including those in the Reserve and the National Guard, was 
Bill's mission. Bill was always there for those returning from combat, 
visiting and helping our wounded warriors with his wife, Beverly, and 
providing for our veterans at the medical facility in Bay Pines, which 
now bears his name.
  As chairman of the Appropriations National Defense Subcommittee, Bill 
oversaw spending by the Pentagon and worked to ensure the readiness of 
our military in combat. His efforts helped not just those in his 
district but Americans across the Nation. His legacy will be seen 
around every corner, from the beaches of Pinellas County to our 
fighting forces around the world.
  A genuine statesman, Bill's accomplishments are as varied as they are 
numerous. He fought to protect Florida's environment by blocking 
drilling close to our gulf coast and in helping to restore eroding 
beaches. With Beverly, Bill helped create a national bone marrow 
registry with almost 10 million donors registered thus far. Just as he 
fought for his own district, he could always be counted upon to help us 
with our constituent needs.
  In 1991, in his district, he saved MacDill Air Force Base from 
closure; and a year later, he helped rebuild and protect Homestead Air 
Reserve Base in

[[Page H6812]]

my congressional district after the devastation of Hurricane Andrew. 
Through his vital efforts in my district, the Miami River dredging 
project was completed--a project that continues to generate billions 
for the shipping industry, to create jobs and to spur economic growth 
in south Florida. It couldn't have happened without Bill Young. Bill 
was instrumental in assisting Tampa Bay residents and those in my south 
Florida community and, indeed, across our country.

  A true gentleman, a public servant and a friend, Bill Young deserves 
all of our thanks, Madam Speaker. He will be forever remembered as a 
champion not just for Florida but, indeed, for our entire great Nation.
  I thank the gentleman for arranging this Special Order.
  Mr. MICA. I thank the gentlelady.
  Mr. Young was respected not only by his Republican peers and 
colleagues but by peers on both sides of the aisle. So I am pleased now 
to yield to a senior member of the Florida delegation on the other side 
of the aisle, the cochair, Mr. Hastings.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Thank you very much. I appreciate you, Mr. 
Mica, my colleague, for arranging this Special Order, and it is special 
that we come here to speak about a gentleman who was special to us all.
  Madam Speaker, obviously, we are here with heavy hearts and with 
great sadness tonight in our honoring of a friend and a colleague, 
Congressman Bill Young.
  Bill was an assiduous public servant and a tireless advocate for all 
Floridians; but above all, he was a man of integrity and a true 
statesman. The House of Representatives will not be the same without 
him. He served in Congress for 42 years; and I, as well as others, am 
deeply honored to have had the opportunity to serve alongside him for 
the past two decades. He dedicated himself to providing for our 
Nation's servicemen and servicewomen and was a powerful voice for 
America's best interests at home and abroad. His distinguished career 
has left its mark on the lives of countless Americans.
  When I first came to Congress in 1992, I met with Bill Young and Sam 
Gibbons. They were on opposite sides of the aisle, but were dear 
friends, dedicated to Florida and to making the Florida delegation 
strong. I remember vividly learning from both of them through the 
years. In addition, throughout all of the travails of hurricanes and 
disasters, Bill Young stood with all of us who suffered during those 
periods, and he did everything he could to bring resources to Florida 
and to this Nation during disasters.
  My first experience with an earmark was when Bill became chairman of 
the Appropriations Committee. I didn't know much about the process, but 
I knew that I wanted to get money in the budget to contribute to the 
African American Research Center in Fort Lauderdale in my congressional 
district. When I went to him, I was nervous because I wasn't sure how 
it would be handled, and he calmed me very easily by saying, It is 
done. For sure, he had had a hand in the development of that particular 
research center, which stands, and I honor him for having assisted in 
bringing resources there.
  Last week, Speaker Boehner said:

       It has only been a week since we began trying to imagine 
     the House without Bill Young--an impossible task in its own 
     right--and now he is gone. In our sorrow, we recall how not a 
     day went by without a colleague seeking Bill's counsel as he 
     sat on his perch in the corner of the House floor.

  I certainly had the distinction of going to that corner and 
consulting with him.
  President Obama said in his statement:

       Congressman Young will be remembered for his advocacy and 
     support for the armed services, servicemembers and their 
     families, as well as for his statesmanship and his long 
     history of working across the aisle to keep our country 
     moving forward.

  Defense Secretary Hagel said:

       He will be remembered as a passionate advocate for the 
     welfare of America's servicemembers and military veterans. 
     Though his loss will be felt by many, his legacy and 
     commitment to a strong national defense will always inspire 
     us.

  It is the height of irony that our friend would pass at Walter Reed 
Hospital. No one in this body spent as much time with our military at 
Walter Reed and around this country as did Bill Young. He, of course, 
has a legacy that is far excellent in that arena and also in bringing 
resources to the area that he served as well as to other areas around 
this Nation.
  Tonight, I join with the people of Florida in keeping Beverly, Bill's 
sons, grandchildren, family, friends, and staff in my thoughts and 
prayers during this time of enormous sadness and loss.
  Once again, I thank you, Chairman Mica, for arranging for us to have 
the privilege of honoring this great American.
  Mr. MICA. Thank you.
  Now, in continuing hearing from the leadership of our delegation, I 
am pleased to yield to the chairman of the Florida delegation, the 
gentleman whose district is adjacent to Mr. Young's, to the south, Mr. 
Vern Buchanan.
  Mr. BUCHANAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the memory of my dear friend, 
colleague and mentor, Congressman Bill Young.
  For over four decades, there has not been a stronger voice in this 
Chamber for our brave men and women in uniform other than Bill Young. 
My district was just south of Bill Young's district, and we have almost 
90,000 veterans. There is nobody who has benefited, I think, in terms 
of a district more than our veterans have in terms of Bill Young's 
leadership and in what he has brought to Pinellas County and to the 
State of Florida. He was an inspiration to so many because he 
personified the most important virtue of public service--he did it for 
others.
  As dean of the Florida delegation, Bill provided wisdom and counsel 
to Members on both sides of the aisle. He served this great institution 
with devotion, civility, and distinction. I am honored personally to 
have served with this extraordinary man. With his passing, the State of 
Florida and the Nation have lost an outstanding lawmaker, statesman, 
and public servant. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during 
this difficult time.

                              {time}  1945

  Mr. MICA. I am pleased now to recognize another colleague across the 
aisle. Again, Bill Young's friendships and his service included 
everyone in the House of Representatives and in the Congress, so I am 
pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from Ohio, Marcy Kaptur.
  Ms. KAPTUR. I want to thank Chairman Mica so very much for the 
privilege of extending the deepest condolences of the people of Ohio to 
the Young family, to the constituents of Congressman Bill Young's 
district in Florida.
  It was such a privilege to know him. Truly, he was not just a 
vigilant patriot, though that surely would have been enough, but he 
really was a man of the House. He belonged here, and his people knew 
that for over four decades.
  When I think of Bill Young, I think of words like ``courage,'' 
``perseverance,'' ``insight,'' and ``fair play.'' He had a gentlemanly 
demeanor at any time that I ever encountered him. He had a respect for 
regular order, for the gavel, and for seniority, which I share. He had 
a fortitude about him that people in my part of the country call real 
``spunk,'' and he had a sparkle in his eye and an easy smile and an 
understanding. He was such a real human being.
  Part of that is the fact that he grew up very poor in Pennsylvania in 
a coal town in an old shack. He really knew what poverty was. He didn't 
have an easy childhood and he never forgot that. Yet he rose to be a 
master appropriator. In that capacity, he was not imperious but 
collegial, and he handled the gavel with fair play.
  He loved his wife, Beverly, so much. I can still see her sitting in 
the gallery or coming unannounced into a committee meeting. He loved 
his family and he loved Florida.
  He worked so hard for the men and women in our armed services and our 
veterans, certainly in his own State where right near him is the Bay 
Pines Veterans Medical Center, the fourth largest veterans facility in 
the country, but also all the operations of SOUTHCOM, as in his last 
decade of service dealing with all that we have to on the Defense 
Subcommittee in terms of the wars being conducted in Afghanistan and, 
of course, Iraq. He was engaged in all the intelligence at the

[[Page H6813]]

highest levels and kept his good measure. His endurance and his heroic 
battles in these years that all of us witnessed showed the true measure 
of the man.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, I would just like to say I will be seeing 
Bill Young in all the old familiar places, not just here on the floor, 
but as we travel in codels to some of the most godforsaken places on 
Earth, as we visit some of the highest level research facilities in our 
country and our men and women in uniform. I shall always remember Bill 
Young and be grateful for having been able to serve with him.
  Mr. MICA. I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Miami, Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart, another Florida colleague, who is also a 
gentleman who served with Mr. Young distinguishably on the 
Appropriations Committee.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Chairman Mica, thank you for bringing us together 
today.
  Madam Speaker, you have heard of Bill Young, the statesman, and that 
he was. We all know how he was, perhaps, the best friend and strongest 
ally of our troops, men and women in uniform, those in battle, those 
currently in uniform, and those who are veterans.
  But those of us who worked with him and got to know him here know 
him, frankly, almost as like a godfather to all of us. There is not one 
time that we didn't go to him that he would not be helpful.
  I remember after those storms in Florida, when we had a bunch of 
hurricanes, going to see Bill Young about getting help for the folks 
who had been hurt by the storms. His wisdom and his desire to help was 
always so present. He was always helpful, whether it was Everglades 
restoration, because he was also such a champion for the environment. 
Again, always with a smile.
  Then I got to know him better when I, again, served with him in 
Appropriations and was able to see how he mastered that appropriations 
process like, frankly, potentially nobody before him and I think 
potentially nobody after him will again.
  But I will tell you, Madam Speaker, the part that to me was a real 
privilege was that he was one of the people that I whipped. He was on 
my whip card. So I would go on different issues and talk to him about 
the issue and find out if he was leaning one way or another. Every time 
I went there, what I got from Bill Young was, frankly, a lesson. He 
instructed. I was never able to inform him about what the issues were; 
he informed me. He instructed me like he always instructed all of us. 
And always, Madam Speaker, with that incredible, warm smile, with that 
warm, firm handshake, which he had until the very end.
  He never complained. We all know that for a long time he was in pain 
and yet never complained. He always wanted to make sure that you were 
feeling good, and he always wanted to know what he could do for you, 
never asking for himself.
  I said recently--and I have got to find out who said this--but I 
heard or read someplace that ``to be a great man you first have to be a 
good man.'' Madam Speaker, Bill Young was a great man for so many 
reasons: for all that he did for this country, for all that he did for 
the State of Florida, for all that he did for our troops and the 
environment, the way he helped his colleagues, or how generous and how 
humble and how caring and loving he was. He was an incredibly, an 
incredibly good man. And yes, if there is anybody that applies to, that 
before you can become a great man you have to be a good man, if there 
is anybody that that describes, it is our chairman, Bill Young.
  To his family, to his constituents, to the troops, and the veterans 
who are, in essence, his family as well, our deepest condolences. Bill 
Young is irreplaceable. There will never be somebody like him again.
  What a privilege and what an honor. One of the privileges and honors, 
the greatest privileges and honors of my life, was to be able to work 
with him, to get to know him, to be his friend.
  So again, to his constituents and to his family, our condolences. We 
will miss him, and he will never be forgotten.
  Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I am now pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), again, reaching across the aisle 
with the respect and esteem in which Mr. Young was held.
  Mr. FARR. Thank you, Congressman Mica, for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I feel it is a very special privilege to be able to 
pay honor to our colleagues here. I think of Bill Young as being one of 
the lions, one of the giants of this institution, because he really 
used the institution for what we all get elected to do.
  First of all, he loved public service. He was in an elective office 
for 52 years between State and Federal Government. He also served in 
the National Guard Active Duty and reservist for 15 years. His life was 
about service. He used his service here in Congress to be what I think 
this institution is all about: it is about leadership; it is about 
friendship; and it is also about accomplishment. I don't think anybody 
has had a better record of accomplishment in so many different fields.
  I came here in 1993, and I had the largest military base in the 
United States close--Fort Ord, California. I got to know the people on 
the Defense Appropriations Committee. On my side of the aisle was Jack 
Murtha. It seems like Jack's best friend was a Republican on the other 
side of the aisle, Bill Young. Jack said, You better go tell Bill 
everything you have told me about needing some help.
  We were trying to convert swords to plowshares by building a brand-
new university to serve the underserved population in Fort Ord, and we 
needed appropriations for it. Bill just jumped on it. He knew the 
purpose. Even though he was a strong warrior, he really realized that 
this was the future after a base was closed.
  I invited him out to the district. He came to Monterey, California, 
where we still had the Defense Language Institute. Bill went in there 
and saw that all the languages we were teaching were the old tape 
recorders where you had to wind and rewind. He said, My God, you need 
some modern equipment, and put in appropriations to get that equipment. 
He visited the Naval Postgraduate School and got a lot of really 
interesting feedback from soldiers who had just come out of theater.
  But his and Jack's friendship--Jack Murtha, who predeceased him--was 
just remarkable in this House. If there is a legacy here, it is their 
legacy. It is how two people being on Appropriations Committee should--
and we all need to go back to what we have been calling regular order, 
where we come here to accomplish things, to fix things that are broken. 
Bill Young was probably the first, if any, who would talk about needing 
to bring back the ability to help areas that just don't get formula 
money--earmarks. If you disclose of them and go through a process so 
that you don't have the client-assigned stuff, these things are good, 
particularly for rural Americans, and particularly for areas where 
people are really poor.
  I think my favorite story is that when he came out to the Defense 
Language Institute, came on military air, Beverly, his wife, insisted, 
since I represent Carmel, that I get our former mayor, Clint Eastwood, 
to have lunch with them. So we arranged that at Clint's Mission Ranch.
  On the way from Monterey over to Carmel, we passed by the beach, and 
there is a stranded sea lion there. Beverly gets out and says, We've 
got to take care of the sea lion before anything else, and had the 
entire crew of the airplane--because she insisted they had to come to 
lunch with her, they had to help get the sea lion. Well, we had marine 
mammal rescue, and they eventually showed up.
  But when we got to the restaurant, I don't think anybody thought that 
the whole crew was going to come. Bill was insistent, no, everybody is 
equal here. It didn't matter whether you were a Congress member or just 
a crew member; you were going to get a chance to have lunch with Clint 
Eastwood.
  We had a lot of laughs, a lot of discussion about things. Then that 
led to--and I hadn't realized it. Bill was a big animal rights 
supporter. He and I authored a bill with his friend, Bob Barker, who 
was here. I met Bob Barker through him. Bob Barker, ``The Price is 
Right,'' had dedicated a lot of his life to banning elephants in 
circuses. Bill said, I am going to author that bill. So we did a 
bipartisan author, and Bob Barker came. In fact, we

[[Page H6814]]

linked up with Kim Basinger, the movie star, who was very interested in 
that issue. We went on, and we didn't win that bill, but we won the 
puppy mill bill, and we won some other humane treatment of animals. He 
was really interested in that.
  But best of all, I think he left a legacy that we need to get back 
to: a legacy of production, a legacy of comradery where we really like 
each other, and a legacy that takes care of not only all the soldiers--
because they didn't care what rank you had; if you were a person in 
uniform, you were all equal and being treated in the most respectful 
way--but he also did that for people of less fortune and for animals 
who need a voice in Congress as well. What a wonderful man.
  Beverly and your sons, I really am going to miss going to 
Appropriations Committee and seeing Bill there. So Beverly and your 
three adult sons, Rob, Billy, and Patrick, we all share your grief, and 
Congress will certainly miss Bill Young, a great man in this 
institution.
  Mr. MICA. I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida, the Honorable Gus Bilirakis, another Florida colleague, and he 
also has a district that is adjacent to Mr. Young's.

                              {time}  2000

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life and 
service of someone I admire greatly for his wisdom and humility, by 
dear friend and mentor, Chairman Bill Young.
  While I always referred to him as ``Chairman'' because of the respect 
he commanded, he used to beg me not to use that term, insisting, in his 
typical humble fashion, as Mr. Farr alluded to, that we were all equal 
in this Chamber.
  Over the past five decades, the Chairman graciously served Florida 
and the Tampa Bay area, leading many projects and initiatives to 
promote economic growth and create jobs back at home. His contributions 
to his district, the entire Tampa Bay area, and to the military in 
particular, are immeasurable.
  He was instrumental in saving MacDill Air Force Base and helped grow 
Tampa Bay into a hub for our defense industry. In addition, he played a 
significant role in winning critical funding for Bay Pines Veterans 
Administration Medical Center, which supports a large number of 
veterans in our area. For his efforts, my colleague and I have joined 
together in support of renaming this valuable medical facility in his 
honor.
  His contributions also extend to higher education with his role in 
developing centers of excellence in technology and marine science at 
the University of South Florida.
  Finally, we will all remember his work on behalf of sick children in 
creating a national registry for bone marrow donors.
  While the Chairman came from humble beginnings, he has left behind a 
rich legacy that we, as Members of Congress and Americans, must all 
aspire to achieve. The Chairman was never afraid to reach across the 
aisle and always worked for the greater good.
  I am extremely thankful that I was able to express my gratitude and 
admiration to him last week when I visited him at his bedside. I told 
him how much his colleagues and constituents loved him and appreciated 
all he did for them.
  In closing, I wanted to share a few words from a final letter my 
father, former Congressman Mike Bilirakis, sent to his former 
colleague:

       Dear Bill: Since we are roughly the same age (remember, I 
     am 5 months older so we've joked about ``respecting your 
     elders''), we have expected that this day would come for both 
     of us but first for me and not so soon. We grew up in the 
     same Pittsburgh area at the same time--tough depression 
     poverty, which made us tough. We didn't know each other then, 
     but I guess our Lord decreed we would meet in Pinellas 
     County, Florida, years later. We worked hard, climbed out of 
     poverty and became successful--the good old American way.
       Bill, you have earned eternal rest, but our world will 
     certainly miss you. The Florida corner in the House Chambers 
     will miss you as well. Thanks for being my friend and, in 
     many ways, a younger mentor. Thanks for being a great 
     American patriot. Thanks for the good you have done for all 
     of us. Yours has been a life well lived. May your memory be 
     eternal.

  We will certainly miss you, Mr. Chairman.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, at this time I will yield back my time with 
the intent of relinquishing the balance of the time to one of the 
leaders from Florida and also a member of the Appropriations Committee, 
Mr. Crenshaw.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in paying tribute to my 
good friend and fellow Member of Congress, C.W. Bill Young.
  More than four decades ago, I first met Bill when I served as a 
campaign aide to the late Congressman Bill Cramer. Bill Young was a 
Florida State Senator at the time who was seeking the St. Petersburg, 
West Florida Coast Congressional seat being vacated by my boss who was 
running in 1970 for the U.S. Senate.
  Bill Young had already served as a Congressional aide to Bill Cramer 
and then was elected as Florida's first Republican State Senator since 
the Civil War. Bill Cramer when elected was the first GOP U.S. House 
Member since that era.
  As fate would unfold, Bill Cramer lost and Bill Young took his seat 
in Congress.
  I had aligned myself with Florida's West Coast GOP political 
operatives called the ICY Machine. Those were initials for Jack Insco, 
a top Cramer aide and political strategist, Bill Cramer and Bill Young, 
a Florida political powerhouse at that time.
  While my boss lost his election, I gained great experience and 
wonderful friends. Among them, Bill Young, rising GOP star, and his two 
young aides, George Cretekos and Doug Gregory. Both George and Doug 
served with Bill Young for over three decades, during which I was 
privileged to count all among my friends and political allies.
  As an aide to U.S. Senator Paula Hawkins from 1980 to 1985, I had the 
honor of working with two GOP leaders who worked tirelessly for Florida 
and our Nation.
  I must say, two legends with two very different styles. Paula had a 
flair for the media and attention and Bill quietly pursued his 
legislative agenda. Both were highly effective in their own way. Paula 
championed missing children and Bill rose as a champion of our 
military. Now both have joined the ages and are part of the history of 
Congress and the State of Florida.
  Having worked with Bill Young on military issues important to our 
State and Nation as recently as the past few weeks, I can tell you no 
one could be more effective. No one could be more respected or trusted.
  While fond memories of Bill Young continue, his real legacy will 
transcend generations for our military and long benefit our national 
defense.
  For his tireless work on behalf of all Americans and all citizens of 
the Sunshine State, I join my colleagues in this special tribute to 
C.W. Bill Young.
  What a great privilege it has been to share part of my life and grow 
memories with Bill Young. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, 
Beverly, to the Young family and to his devoted staff and constituents.

                          ____________________