[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 105 (Tuesday, July 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H5833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN HONOR OF MY SISTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Meadows) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to our great 
country.
  As the fireworks went off and we celebrated Independence Day, July 
Fourth was a reminder of the men and women across this country and 
throughout history that have dedicated their lives to freedom, faith, 
and their families.
  We had a wonderful time with a majority of my family, but I was 
reminded the day following the Fourth of July that this is not just 
about a place where we talk about policy. It is really about people.
  I got a call that my sister, who is fighting a different kind of 
fight--a fight against cancer--was moved to a hospice wing. Truly, as I 
went to visit her, she reminded me, Mr. Speaker, that it is not about 
policy, but it is about people.
  Today, as she fights for her final breath, I want to take a personal 
opportunity to tell the few that are gathered here--and perhaps this is 
only for an audience of one--that an older brother is proud of his 
sister. He is very thankful for the opportunity that he has had these 
last 52 years to know her.
  Lord, as we look at the fight against cancer, it affects every single 
family--perhaps every single Member that is here--and there is nothing 
much that we can be thankful for, other than the time that it permits 
us to say the things that we should have said long ago.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, I stand before this body to thank many of the 
Members who have been praying for my sister, but mainly to say that I 
am proud to be her brother and to serve this country, where we can 
gratefully express our appreciation in a free and unselfish way.

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