[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 142 (Wednesday, November 19, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8121-H8126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1745
REMEMBERING CONGRESSMAN BILL FRENZEL
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Joyce). Under the Speaker's announced
policy of January 3, 2013, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen)
is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
general leave
Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous materials on the subject of my Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Minnesota?
There was no objection.
Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, tonight, I rise with several of my
colleagues to honor the work and memory of Congressman Bill Frenzel,
who passed away on Monday. Congressman Frenzel represented Minnesota's
Third Congressional District for 20 years, first elected in 1970 and
retiring in 1990.
Actually, Mr. Speaker, many of us tonight had already planned to
speak today to express our love and appreciation to Bill from this
floor, even before we learned of his death.
Now, it just feels too late, in a way, but one of the benefits of
extolling the virtues of people greater than ourselves is that we
become better still, so we are keeping with that plan tonight.
I must admit, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, that as I stand here in
this Chamber, where Bill did some of his best work, my heart is more
full of emotions than my head is full of ideas, and there are many
facts that I could recite about the service of Bill Frenzel; instead, I
am going to try to capture the man that I knew, the man that we all
knew, and the man that we all truly loved and respected.
When I received the news that Bill passed away on Monday, there was a
scrap of paper hanging on my wall in my Washington office and also a
scrap of paper hanging on my Minnesota wall that became my prized
possessions. They are two vintage Frenzel doodles.
There are hundreds of them out there--whimsical, fantastically
detailed little drawings that Bill Frenzel did while he was on the
phone, while he was in committee meetings, listening to testimony, or
during debates. Such was the hyperactivity of this brilliant mind, that
when he was required to sit still, his drawing hand had to be moving.
I say that to convey the idea that Bill Frenzel was just more alive
than most people that you meet. He was always thinking. He was always
creating. He was always pushing positive ideas, and in the interactions
that I had with him, it was like he was always leaning forward at you
at an angle, like a person walking boldly into a stiff wind.
Bill Frenzel was a serious legislator, often pouring over line by
line of the Federal budget. In fact, that practice continued after he
left Congress. Every year, he would make a phone call to my office,
requesting his copy of the annual Federal budget.
It is amazing to me that anyone would even want this massive document
sitting on their bookshelf, but what is truly amazing is that Bill
would actually go through this budget line by line for decades after he
left this institution.
Bill believed in and dedicated his life to doing the greatest good
for the greatest number of people, and for Bill, the way that he did
the greatest good for the greatest number of people was by promoting
and advancing international trade.
I suppose it began by looking at the great good being done around the
world
[[Page H8122]]
by many outstanding companies that operate out of the district that we
represent in Minnesota, companies that feed and restore health to
millions and billions all across the borders of the world.
Bill believed--and he was absolutely right--that there is no force in
the modern world that has done more to raise people out of poverty, to
foster the spread of human rights, or to expand democracy than
international trade.
Within Bill's own lifetime, the United States and Germany and Japan
were mortal enemies, doing terrible violence to each other's lands and
peoples, but through the experience of being trading partners, they
have become our best friends and our best allies.
For three decades, there was no stronger advocate for international
trade that was more persuasive than Congressman Bill Frenzel. He was
the indispensable man, in many ways, in the passage of the North
American Free Trade Agreement, which has benefited all of the people of
our continent immeasurably and has been the model of our agreements now
for all over the world.
Just last month, in October, Bill received the Mexican Order of the
Aztec Eagle--that is the highest honor of the nation of Mexico that can
be given to a noncitizen--in appreciation of his work on the North
American Free Trade Agreement.
In 2000, he also received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and
Silver Star, from the Emperor of Japan for his efforts to advance trade
and the U.S. relationship with Japan.
He deserves America's highest honors as well. He worked across the
aisle as a consensus seeker because he understood that relationships
matter, that relationships make a difference, especially on the big
issues like Social Security reform, budget reform, tax reform, welfare
reform, and, of course, trade agreements.
After retiring from Congress in 1991, he became a guest scholar in
economic studies at The Brookings Institution, and he remained very
active in public policy, being appointed to governmental panels by
Presidents on both sides of the aisle.
Just 2 months ago--in fact, in September, President Obama reappointed
him to the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and
Negotiations. That is a position that he was first appointed to by
President George W. Bush in the year 2002.
He also cochaired the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a
bipartisan organization dedicated to educating the public about the
impact of fiscal policies.
I will just tell you, personally, Mr. Speaker and Members, that I
will miss my conversations with Bill Frenzel. I got together with him
every 3 or 4 months over coffee, where he would share his years of
wisdom, his experiences, and his insights that he gained during that
tenure in public service.
There is no doubt that he was a good friend and a mentor in many
respects; however, there is no temptation for any of us to try to do a
Bill Frenzel imitation because there will never be another like him.
For me, Bill absolutely inspires me to be the best that I can be and
search for ways that I can do the greatest good to help the greatest
numbers of people.
I offer my condolences tonight, Mr. Speaker, to the Frenzel family;
to his wife, Ruthy, who was always by his side; and to his three
daughters, Debbie, Pam, and Mitty.
I also want to give thanks to Minnesota's Third Congressional
District voters for electing him in the first place and for giving me
an amazing set of shoulders to try to stand upon, as well as my thanks
to God for the life and service and the example of Congressman Bill
Frenzel.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the Congressman from the Eighth Congressional
District of Minnesota, Mr. Rick Nolan. Congressman Nolan has a very
unique perspective on his friendship with Bill Frenzel, serving with
him both in Congress, as well as in the State legislature in Minnesota.
I will just say that, as two public servants of Minnesota for a
number of years, both in and out of office, their paths crossed many
times, and their friendship exemplifies, I think, Bill's friendly
nature and willingness to work with people on both sides of the aisle
to get things done for the country and our State.
Mr. NOLAN. Thank you, Representative Paulsen, and thank you for
helping to organize this tribute to a truly great native son of
Minnesota, who made us all so proud in so many ways that, as you said,
Eric, it is hard to enumerate all of them.
When it came to public service, when it came to governance, when it
came to bipartisanship, when it came to doodling, when it came to
baseball--I mean, the list just goes on and on. He truly made us proud
in so many ways.
I too want to recognize other friends of the Frenzel family who are
here. As you said, Bill and Ruthy were inseparable. They were clearly a
team, and that can be so valuable and so important to the success of a
legislator, a great public servant, and Bill was so proud of his family
and the girls, Debbie and Pam and Mitty. He talked about them often.
I want to thank the family for being there for Bill and for helping
to give him the strength to carry on and do all the great things that
he did.
As Eric mentioned, we served together in the State House of
Representatives. Bill had been there before me. I followed him to the
Congress. Again, obviously, he had been there before me, but he was
always such a good friend, offering all kinds of guidance and help
negotiating the ways of the State House and the State and the ways of
the U.S. House and the ways of the government here.
He was just a wonderfully good friend and a good mentor. I shall
always be forever grateful for his mentoring and his guidance, and that
was something he did for anyone who had the good judgment to take
advantage of it because he was always open. He was always available. He
was always there for you, and he was always so incredibly well-
prepared.
The thing I liked most about Bill was that he was so respectful of
everyone else and their ideas, and you knew if you had an idea--whether
it was a good one or a bad one--you were going to get a hearing with
Bill Frenzel, and if it was a bad idea, of course, he would be the
first to tell you and tell you why.
Quite frankly, more often than not, he was right, and that was just
such an important lesson that he gave to all of us and inspired us all.
When it came to things like--Eric mentioned the budget. Most Members
will maybe read the summary. Bill Frenzel, he read that thing in its
entirety.
He knew where every nickel and every dime was going, and he
understood the consequences of it. When it came to trade policy, the
same thing. He knew of all of its implications. He understood
international trade.
In fact, in many ways, he was an inspiration to me outside of
politics as well, in no small measure to the benefits that he
articulated to trade because when I left this Congress--what, some 34
years ago--I went into export trading because I had heard Bill Frenzel
talk about the incredible opportunity that we had with our technology,
our ability to produce food, our ability to produce good consumer
goods, our ability to produce things that improve the lives of people
all over the world and why not get out there and aggressively export
those goods and those services, which is what I ended up doing for 32
years before I had the weak moment and came back to this institution--
no, I am just kidding. I am delighted and thrilled to be back here.
For Bill Frenzel, I feel so much better prepared than I was, quite
frankly, when I served years ago, thanks in no small part to Bill
Frenzel.
When it came to the rules of the House, Bill understood the
importance of the integrity of this institution better than anyone, and
I suspect Bill would be on the floor here today, from time to time,
calling for the reestablishment of regular order because Bill was never
afraid of anyone else's ideas. In fact, he welcomed them.
Bill and I and others, we served in a time when, if anyone had a good
idea, they could offer it to the rest of the Chamber in the form of an
amendment, and we could debate it, and we could argue it, and we did it
in committee, in full committee. We did it in conference committee.
[[Page H8123]]
Bill Frenzel understood that that was the foundation of
bipartisanship, that was the foundation of a Congress that was
effectively governing and getting things done, and that was perhaps his
greatest contribution to all of us because only through that process do
we get to know one another and build respect for one another and learn
where those areas for common agreement and fixing things and getting
things done comes from, and we have Bill Frenzel to thank for that.
I would be remiss if I didn't talk about his doodling. You know, it
was amazing. You would be in a committee or you would be in a hearing,
and Bill would be busy doodling away. You would think he wasn't paying
any attention at all.
Suddenly, he would rise, and he would have a question, and it was
like the best question that anybody asked. He obviously had a two-track
brain. One hand was doodling, but, boy, he never missed a thing. He
never missed a thing, and that was Bill Frenzel.
Speaking of those doodles--and, boy, they are treasured. To have a
Bill Frenzel doodle that has been autographed, I mean, in this town,
that is like having a Picasso. These were great doodles, as you have
seen, the intricacy and the geometry and the creativity of them. It is
just amazing, and how he could do that was amazing as well.
Of course, he was a great Minnesota sports fan, the Vikings, the
Twins, the North Stars, you name it. He was one of the stars on the
Republican baseball team. He always showed up in those games with his
Minnesota Twins jersey on. They used to win a lot of games back in the
day.
Then Marty Sabo came along and started managing the Democrats, and
things turned on them, but Bill was a great ballplayer. He loved
Minnesota. He loved Minnesota sports, and he was just a wonderfully
good friend.
As I said in the beginning, whether it was governing, whether it was
baseball, whether it was doodling, whether it was family, whether it
was bipartisanship, advising Presidents, welcoming new Members,
advising and helping others, there was just no greater mentor, no
greater public servant that Minnesota ever had in the wonderful Bill
Frenzel.
His life will continue to be an inspiration for all of us going
forward. Truly, our State, our Nation is a better place for Bill
Frenzel.
{time} 1800
His inspiration will enable all of us to continue that great
tradition forward and continue to make this great Nation of ours a
better place to live.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my fellow Members for the opportunity to stand
here and pay homage to a great Minnesotan and a great public servant
for our State and our Nation.
Mr. PAULSEN. Well, I thank the gentleman for sharing his perspective,
his stories, and some fond memories. I appreciate that very much, and I
know the family does as well.
Next I will yield to the gentleman from Maryland, Steny Hoyer, the
minority whip who served for a decade, Mr. Speaker, with Bill Frenzel
until Bill retired in 1991. And that relationship continued after
Bill's retirement as both had a passion for working on the Federal
budget and bridging the gap between Republicans and Democrats when it
comes to our country's spending and tax policies.
Mr. Speaker, Congressman Hoyer I think often pointed out Bill's
willingness to put all things on the table when it comes to the budget
to find common ground with his counterparts on the other side of the
aisle. I am happy to yield to the gentleman.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Congressman Paulsen, who
represents the district that Bill Frenzel represented.
I came here, Mr. Speaker, in 1981. Bill Frenzel was a Member of
Congress at that point in time, and as Congressman Paulsen pointed out,
we served together for the following 10 years. But as he also pointed
out, we continued to work thereafter because of joint interests that we
had.
I think Congressman Nolan caught the essence of Bill Frenzel very
well, and I would associate myself with his remarks. But I would also
add that the American people want us to work together. What I have said
since the election is, look, all 435 of us share two things in common:
one, we are all Americans; two, our people all sent us here to make
America better. Those two things we share in common. And we share the
expectations of the American people that we will do that which we can
agree on together and not allow that on which we do not agree to
undermine our ability to work on that on which we do agree. Bill
Frenzel got that message. Bill Frenzel lived that kind of life. Bill
Frenzel was that kind of Member of Congress.
Bill Frenzel could be pretty sharp. I don't mean bright, I mean
sharp-tongued, if he thought if you were you were going off, as
Congressman Nolan said, in the wrong direction. I am happy to say that
I was never the object of that, but Bill Frenzel wanted you to be
candid, be straightforward, be intellectually honest and not play
games. He was prepared and, in fact, did the same.
Bill Frenzel in his private life working with Brookings continued his
public life's commitment to rational, responsible government. As
Congressman Paulsen pointed out, I am a very big advocate of fixing our
debt, fixing it in many ways through the kind of policies that Bill
Frenzel recommended, policies which say to both sides, look, we both
have interests; we have got to accommodate those interests, but we have
got to accommodate a bottom line. Be real, in other words.
Mr. Speaker, Bill Frenzel was a Republican, I am a Democrat, but we
were first Americans. I felt it a great honor to learn from Bill
Frenzel, to respect his intellect and his insights, and to respect the
quality of his service and his willingness to work with others to do
what the American people expect all of us to do: make their country
better.
Mr. Speaker, I rise with Mr. Paulsen to honor an American who served
his country well, an American of whom we can all be proud, of which his
family clearly is proud, and rightfully so. But his colleagues were
proud of him on both sides of the aisle.
I want to say to his wife, Ruth, we send our sympathies, but we share
with you that pride in Bill Frenzel's contribution to his country, to
this institution, and to each of us.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a friend and former member of
the House who passed away on Monday.
Bill Frenzel served the people of Minnesota's Third District for
twenty years.
Bill was a Republican.
I am a Democrat.
That difference did not stand in the way of the respect I had for him
or our friendship as colleagues in this House.
Though we did not agree on every issue, Bill and I found common
ground on our shared concern for fiscal sustainability and the
necessity of compromise to achieve bipartisan progress.
As a Korean War veteran, a businessman, and a legislator, Bill
exemplified the highest American values of service to community and
country.
In the years following his retirement from the House, where he had
served as ranking member on the Budget Committee, he continued his
service by remaining a powerful voice for bipartisan budget solutions
and a more sustainable fiscal future at the Brookings Institution.
He also served as a co-chair of the Committee for a Responsible
Federal Budget.
We need more people in Washington like Bill who believe strongly in
the importance of bipartisan compromise when it comes to our budget and
making the tough choices necessary to afford the investments we need to
make in a more competitive economic future and greater opportunities
for our people.
I join in offering condolences to his wife Ruth and their three
daughters--Deborah, Pamela, and Melissa--their grandchildren, and the
entire extended Frenzel family.
May Bill's memory inspire greater bipartisan cooperation in this
House in the months and years ahead.
Mr. PAULSEN. I thank the gentleman for offering his perspective, as
well, in those unique stories and reflections from a bipartisan basis
on a truly great American, as Mr. Hoyer had mentioned.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I will yield to the gentleman from Texas,
Kevin Brady, my colleague and a good friend who is a very distinguished
member of the House Ways and Means Committee. He is also the former
chairman and a member of the Subcommittee on Trade. Congressman Brady
is another Member of Congress that benefited greatly from the wealth of
wisdom that Bill Frenzel imparted on important
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issues like trade and the Federal budget. I know I can speak for many
members of the Ways and Means Committee when I say that the work that
Bill did at The Brookings Institution, as well as the Committee for a
Responsible Federal Budget, has been beneficial to all of us.
I yield to the gentleman.
Mr. BRADY of Texas. Congressman Paulsen, thank you for allowing me to
join you tonight.
Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor our late colleague and friend,
Bill Frenzel, who faithfully and with great distinction served his
constituents in Minnesota for 20 years and, I would say, served his
country for a lifetime.
As you can tell from my accent, I am not from Minnesota. I am from
Texas. I had a chance to meet Bill when I started on the Ways and Means
Committee where I now serve with Mr. Paulsen, who is one of our,
frankly, most respected members, and his predecessor, Jim Ramstad, as
well, all following in the Bill Frenzel mold.
When I started on Ways and Means, I just came quickly to appreciate
his willingness to share his vast wealth of knowledge on trade issues,
big and small. Even though he was no longer an elected official, I was
always struck by Bill's just endless willingness to give of himself, of
finding ways to advance the cause of free trade and economic freedom
throughout the world.
I think it is important to note that historically in Congress, trade
has always been a bipartisan issue, Republicans and Democrats working
together; and throughout his career, Bill's constructive work across
the aisle exemplified the best of this ideal. Everyone knew he was open
to new ideas, was a straight shooter, respected others, and worked hard
to get people to come and arrive at a consensus.
Quite simply, Mr. Speaker, Bill was elected to do a job, and he just
wanted to get things done. And, boy, did he get things done in the
trade world. From working on GATT, the Uruguay Round, normal trading
relations with China, NAFTA, and helping set the foundation for the
World Trade Organization, Bill was at the center of the trade world as
a respected Member of Congress and as a thought leader on international
trade when he retired from public life.
The truth is Bill Frenzel believed in economic freedom. He believed
in our right to buy, sell, and compete around the world with as little
government interference as possible. He believed families should have
choices, but no government anywhere should decide what is on that
grocery shelf and what price you paid for it. That was your choice.
That was your economic freedom.
He knew that while America was free, we would see so many ``America
need not apply'' signs around the world; and he knew if we tore them
down and gave our American businesses and workers--our Minnesota
businesses and workers--a chance to compete, in fact, we would not just
grow customers around the world, we would grow jobs here at home. So
his leadership on trade, his fingerprints on all things trade can be
found not only here in the United States but in foreign capitals around
the world where his counsel was sought by many and he was respected by
all.
Mr. Speaker, Bill's contributions to our Nation and to this body will
always be remembered, and he leaves a towering trade legacy on which we
can all build economic prosperity for generations to come. I hope his
family understands how special he is that so many of us who you may not
have known before, we all consider ourselves Bill's fans and friends.
Mr. PAULSEN. I thank the gentleman. As he mentioned, the members of
the Ways and Means Committee absolutely do look at Bill Frenzel as an
important role model and inspiration as we look to tackle continued
problems and opportunities down the road.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I will yield to my colleague from Minnesota
(Mr. Ellison), another Member, like Bill, who is committed to serving
the people of Minnesota in the Fifth Congressional District, his
constituents.
Bill Frenzel, as was mentioned, was always someone that was willing
to work across the aisle to get things done and accomplished here in
Washington. I think all of us in the Minnesota delegation are thankful
for the example set by Bill for working together, and we see that
example still today. I know I have worked with Congressman Ellison on
similar issues for our constituents back home, and I think that we can
thank Bill Frenzel for setting that spirit of cooperation that preceded
us both.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman.
Mr. ELLISON. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Congressman Paulsen, I appreciate your holding down this Special
Order tonight.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is absolutely true that all of us owe a debt
of gratitude to people who walked before us even if we never had the
pleasure of knowing them and meeting them.
I am one who believes I owe Bill Frenzel even though I never had the
opportunity to get to know him. But it doesn't matter, because Bill
Frenzel served the people of the State of Minnesota. He got up every
day, and he did his best by them. He has a reputation for reading the
bills, understanding the issues, and arguing with passion for values
that he held in the best interests of the people whom he represented.
For that, I always have to take my hat off to a man such as Bill
Frenzel.
Bill Frenzel made a good reputation for Members of Congress who would
come to Minnesota before I ever got here. Before I ever got here,
people like Bill Frenzel made it so that our colleagues would greet us
and expect us to be thoughtful and hardworking like he was, because he
laid down that path before we ever got here. So I have had the pleasure
of reading about Bill Frenzel since he left us for his reward, and I
knew well of him before that.
But I will simply say that there are many people in this world whom
we owe a great debt of gratitude to, who paved the way and carved a
path for us, whom we never had a chance to thank personally. As a man
who believes in reality beyond this one, I just hope that Bill Frenzel
knows that I am grateful to him, and I thank him for his great service
while here.
Mr. PAULSEN. I thank the gentleman because those words he mentioned
about being hardworking and thoughtful certainly reflect Bill Frenzel's
spirit which we need to continue to embody on this House floor.
Mr. Speaker, next I will yield to the Congresswoman from Minnesota,
Michele Bachmann, my colleague and good friend. She is the
Representative from Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District and
somebody who, like me, has served after Bill Frenzel's congressional
career came to a conclusion but has benefited also, I think, from
Bill's service. As we know, she will also be leaving our delegation and
retiring from Congress, and we are thankful for her service to
Minnesota. I know that she will look to the example that was also set
by Bill Frenzel and stay very active and involved in public policy
issues that face our country even after her House tenure comes to an
end soon.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman.
Mrs. BACHMANN. I want to say thank you to my wonderful colleague,
Erik Paulsen, who has exemplified the spirit of Bill Frenzel in the
Third Congressional District seat; and it really is because our former
colleague, Bill Frenzel, set a standard.
Mr. Speaker, we would like to think in Minnesota that we are a
trendsetter, and we have often called ourselves the Brainpower State.
Well, could the Brainpower State have ever been better exemplified than
by a man like Bill Frenzel? He really was a thinking man's person. He
also was an individual who was completely willing to open himself to
new ideas from other Members. I think it is very evident from the
Members that we heard from this evening on both sides of the aisle that
this was a complete, unfettered outpouring of not just admiration, but
love--love and appreciation for what this man did.
As Representative Paulsen had just said, I will, too, soon be leaving
this House floor. This will be one of the last speeches that I ever
give from this privileged well. There is no greater bastion of a few
square yards of freedom than this area. We are allowed to do this. I am
allowed to speak here tonight because I was privileged to be given an
election certificate just like Bill Frenzel. He earned the trust, he
earned the admiration, and Bill earned the respect of the people in the
Third District. One thing I can tell you, Bill
[[Page H8125]]
Frenzel never disappointed. He kept faith with those who gave him that
election certificate.
Mr. Speaker, I know when I first ran for Congress, it was in 2006. I
began the journey a little bit before then. And as I was in Minnesota,
usually all of us made our way over to the Third Congressional
District, because in the Third Congressional District resided a lot of
the people who paid for the campaigns in the State of Minnesota. And
everyone knew Bill Frenzel.
So I would meet and have lunch, breakfast, and dinner, and lunch,
breakfast, and dinner, and coffees and coffees with people in the Third
Congressional District. When it came to finding those who wanted to get
behind efforts in Minnesota in running for campaigns on either side of
the aisle, it was usually out of the Third Congressional District.
Mr. Speaker, this is what I want the family, who this evening--for
those who are watching across the Nation on C-SPAN, it is important to
know that Bill was so highly loved. His family is here this evening.
They are joined here in the gallery, and they are able to hear what
every family needs to hear.
{time} 1815
Yes, there is sorrow at the passing of a loved one, but there is also
great joy. Joy that is made in reliving memories, memories of those we
admired, those we served with, those that we loved. It is good to
remember them forever. It helps to deepen in our memory book the
importance of what this life meant; Bill's meant something. Bill
contributed, Bill was a positive force for good, not just for the Third
District, not just for Minnesota, but for the Nation. It was his
character, first of all. That is what I want the family to know.
When I sat down in coffee after coffee, breakfast after breakfast,
inevitably, Bill's name came up. I am sure that Erik Paulsen would
agree. Bill's name came up. Why? Because people would say to me,
``Michelle, you know Bill Frenzel, don't you? Bill is a friend of
mine.'' I heard that over and over and over: ``Bill is a friend of
mine.'' He was a respected colleague, yes; a thinker, yes. But he was
people's friend.
So people would always speak with Bill in the terms of raising the
bar and setting a standard.
I hope that I was able live up to that standard of a Bill Frenzel for
my brief 8 years in Congress. I give Bill a lot of credit. He served
for 8 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He served for 20
here in the United States Congress. Think of that: 28 years of public
service. That is amazing. I was able to put in 8 here. Think of 20
years here, pouring out his life on behalf of this Nation. It really is
an accomplishment.
To think that during all of those years it wasn't that Bill just had
1 good year or 2 good years, Bill had 20 great, fabulous years that not
only can the family be proud of but that our Nation, and, as a fellow
Minnesotan and successor colleague, I am proud of.
I also just briefly want to mention one thing that Bill also did for
his Nation, and that is he was willing to lay down his life when he
served our country in the Navy. He was a veteran. I am thankful for
what he did.
The Holy Scriptures say: ``Greater love hath no man than this, but
that he would lay down his life for his friend.''
Bill Frenzel willingly put himself on the line so that he could do
that. Thank goodness, his life wasn't required and he came back to
serve in this distinguished body. As a distinguished man, he singularly
served this body.
And so with great humility I want to say again to Ruthy, to the three
girls, to the grandchildren: Be so proud of the legendary Bill Frenzel.
His name will not be forgotten in this institution. His work won't be
forgotten in this institution.
As one who is about to depart, I can tell you, you think about that:
What I did here, did it matter? The speeches I gave, the work I did,
the late nights, the early mornings, the weekends--the sacrifices that
he made and the sacrifices that you as a family made.
Bill would be the first one to say, I couldn't have done this without
Ruthy, I wouldn't have done this without the girls, I couldn't have
done it without those who loved me. He would be the one to say that.
So I thank the family, Mr. Speaker, who are in the gallery, for what
you did to support this legendary man because he made a distinct
contribution, and he couldn't have done it without you making that
sacrifice.
So I am very grateful for what they did. I thank God our country is a
better place because of Bill Frenzel.
Mr. PAULSEN. I thank my colleague. As you mentioned, he was a
veteran, a public servant, a thinker, opening himself to new ideas and
certainly offering ideas himself.
There is sadness, but, as you mentioned, great joy as we reflect on
the opportunities to be a role model to help others. So I thank the
gentlelady for her comments tonight.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to note that several Members were unable to
attend and be with us on the floor tonight, but they will be submitting
statements for the Record. These Members include Congressman Paul Ryan
from Wisconsin. He is the next chairman to the Committee on Ways and
Means. Although their time in Congress did not overlap, I know that
Congressman Ryan valued his friendship with Bill Frenzel and often
sought his counsel on trade and other matters while he was still
learning his ropes on the Committee on Ways and Means. In fact, when we
had our coffees together, he would often reflect and ask questions
about Congressman Ryan and his future.
Congressman Dave Camp, the current chair of the Committee on Ways and
Means, as well may offer some comments. We had a conversation earlier
today and also reflected on the contributions that our former colleague
Bill Frenzel had made to the institution at the Committee on Ways and
Means.
Mr. Speaker, on Monday, we lost a true leader, a true role model who
represented the absolute and very best in public service. Bill Frenzel
was a statesman who continues to be an inspiration in many ways to the
folks in this body and on this House floor and all of those who
continue to be focused on issues like tax reform, welfare reform,
budget reform, and advancing a trade agenda and economic freedom
throughout the world.
And so tonight, as we close, we close noting that we are honoring an
American that contributed greatly to giving the greatest good to the
greatest number of people. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, this past week, we lost one of
our former colleagues, Bill Frenzel. Bill served in the House for 20
years, during which he gained a vast amount of knowledge and an even
greater amount of respect. He was a leading voice for fiscal
responsibility, serving as the ranking member of the House Budget
Committee. He also served on the House Ways and Means Committee,
specifically the Subcommittee on Trade. He took on the work with
relish, serving as a congressional representative to the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in Geneva for 15 years. He was so
knowledgeable on the topic that he was indispensable--so much so that
after he left Congress, three successive presidents sought his counsel.
Bill's hard work won him respect in the House and around the world.
After he retired from the House, he kept active on fiscal issues,
serving as co-chair of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
In 2000, the emperor of Japan awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun,
Gold and Silver Star. And just this year, Bill received the Mexican
Order of the Aztec Eagle. I think other countries saw in Bill the same
thing we did--a man who loved his country and wanted it to be a force
for good in the world. He understood that trade wasn't a form of
competition so much as a form of collaboration--of countries working
together to build a better life. He understood that the free world was
stronger when we banded together, and he wanted to strengthen those
bonds.
We'll remember his know-how. We'll remember his wit. (He once called
gridlock the best thing since indoor plumbing.) But most of all, we'll
remember his character. He served his country in both war and peace. He
spent his life in public service. He was a Midwesterner, a man of the
House, a voice for fiscal responsibility--an American through and
through.
Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of Minnesota's
true dedicated public servants: former Congressman Bill Frenzel.
For twenty years, Bill represented the Third District of Minnesota in
the U.S. House of Representatives with distinction. During his time in
this chamber, he established himself as an expert in fiscal
responsibility and trade
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issues setting himself apart from his colleagues as a leader on the
Budget and Ways and Means Committees.
His service to our country did not end after his time in the House.
He was instrumental in the passage of NAFTA as a special adviser to
President Clinton and worked with President George W. Bush on the
Social Security Commission and Advisory Committee.
As we honor his career and service, it is easy to see that Bill truly
worked to represent all he served by crossing the aisle, time and
again, to produce solutions for Minnesotans and all Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in sending prayers to Bill's
wife, Ruthy; his daughters Debby, Pam, and Mitty; and the entire
Frenzel family.
Mr. PETERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service
of Bill Frenzel, U.S. Representative of the 3rd District of Minnesota
from the 92nd through the 101st Congress, who sadly passed away on
Monday, November 17th at the age of 86. Bill retired from Congress
right as I was elected to office to serve Minnesota, but I was lucky
enough to have gotten to know him during my tenure in the Minnesota
Senate and later serving as the Representative from the 7th District on
Minnesota. He left a great legacy and was an honorable public servant.
Born in St. Paul in 1928, Bill attended Dartmouth College where he
received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Following
graduation, Bill served as a lieutenant in the United States Naval
Reserve during the Korean War from 1951 to 1954. Prior to his election
to the U.S. Congress, Bill served for 8 years in the Minnesota House of
Representatives, amongst other boards and executive committees. Bill
had a successful career representing Minnesotans during his tenure in
Congress. Rising to Ranking Member on the House Budget Committee, and a
long tenure on the House Ways and Means Committee, he became known
around Washington as an expert in budget and fiscal policy. He served
as a Congressional Representative to the General Agreement on Tariffs
and Trade (GATT) for 15 years. After serving 10 terms, Bill decided to
retire, telling the Star Tribune, ``You ought to go out when you're
hitting .300, rather than deteriorating.''
Following his retirement from Congress, Bill did not slow down. He
served as Chairman of the Ripon Society until 2004, and has been a
guest scholar at the Brookings Institution since his retirement,
serving as a director of the Brookings Governmental Affairs Institute.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Bill as a special adviser to
help work with the Republican party to pass the North American Free
Trade Agreement. Subsequently, President George W. Bush appointed Bill
to the Social Security Commission, and to the Advisory Committee on
Trade Policy and Negotiations. Up until his death, Bill continued to
chair numerous boards and commissions, furthering his legacy as a
devoted public servant and policy maker.
Not only a brilliant mind, Bill had a knack for lighting up a room
around him. He had an engrained sense of integrity that he embodied
throughout his life and career. Known around Washington for his
``doodles,'' Bill was able to maintain a sense of lightness and humor,
while navigating difficult policy negotiations. Bill Frenzel leaves
behind a monumental legacy in Washington and Minnesota, but his
crowning achievement was that of his family: his wife Ruthy and his
three daughters, Debby, Pam and Mitty, and two grandchildren. My
prayers go out to them during this time of grief and loss.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Bill's life and legacy, as he was truly
a giant in Washington and the U.S. Congress. It is in that sense that I
invite my colleagues to join me in remembering his service, and that we
may all serve to honor his work.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would remind Members that the
rules do not permit references to those in the gallery.
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