[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H9028-H9036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1915
  HONORING CONGRESSMAN HENRY WAXMAN AND CONGRESSMAN GEORGE MILLER ON 
                            THEIR RETIREMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2013, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order on 
honoring our retiring Members, Congressman Henry Waxman and Congressman 
George Miller.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I am the chair of the California Democratic 
delegation, and we are losing from our membership two spectacular 
Members who have served with tremendous distinction for 40 years each.
  Representative Miller and Representative Waxman were the final two 
remaining Members of the House elected as part of the historic 
Watergate class of 1974. Both were instrumental in passing the 
Affordable Care Act of 2010, which is the culmination of a nearly 
century-long struggle to guarantee that every American has access to 
quality and affordable health care.
  Representative Waxman was one of the most prolific lawmakers in 
American history. He has a long record of not only legislative, but 
oversight achievements. He was elected, as I said, in 1974 and 
reelected 17 times. He chaired the Energy and Commerce Subcommittees on 
Health and the Environment, the Energy and Commerce Committee from 2009 
to 2011, and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from 
2007 to 2009.
  He left his mark all over this body, but the five areas that he will 
be remembered most about is health care, consumer protection, 
environmental protection, telecommunications policy, and just many good 
government laws.
  Some of the most important bills that he either wrote or coauthored 
include: the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments--we can recall when we 
couldn't breathe in Los Angeles, and that is no longer the case because 
of Henry's leadership and work preventing smog, air pollution, acid 
rain, and the depletion of the ozone layer; the Medicaid and CHIP 
expansion gave coverage and access to health care for children and 
working families; and his nursing home reforms helped protect the most 
vulnerable people in America.
  The Hatch-Waxman generic drug act gave rise to the generic drug 
industry, and the Orphan Drug Act gave hope to families across the 
country whose family members had diseases not lucrative prior to the 
act. From the Ryan White CARE Act to the Nutrition Labeling and 
Education Act to the cigarette and smokeless tobacco health warning 
laws, Henry has been recognized as a leader here.
  His oversight efforts were simply marvelous. Looking at waste, fraud, 
and abuse, he identified over $1 trillion in wasteful and mismanaged 
Federal contracts, including billions of dollars in wasteful spending 
in Iraq and in response to Hurricane Katrina. His oversight of the 
tobacco industry and the Wall Street collapse are known throughout the 
country. He has over his 40 years here provided tremendous service to 
our country.
  Our colleague, Representative George Miller, has similarly left his 
mark not only on this body, but on this country and indeed on this 
world. Our friend, George, is an aggressive and unapologetic 
investigator on behalf of taxpayers into the health and safety of 
children and workers.
  He took on asbestos executives, for-profit colleges, subsidized 
agribusiness, mining corporations, oil companies, and administration 
officials of both parties. Why? To stand up for the little guy who 
didn't have a voice.
  He chaired three committees during the past 40 years, the Select 
Committee on Children, Youth, and Families from 1983 to 1992; the 
Committee on Natural Resources from 1992 to 1994;

[[Page H9029]]

and the Committee on Education and Labor from 2007 to 2010. He is a 
longtime cochair to the Democratic Steering Policy Committee. He is 
among the 50th, as is Henry, consecutive longest-serving Members of 
Congress in history out of more than 10,000 Members.
  His list of accomplishments is too long to read, but they certainly 
include fair pay for women; investigating sweatshops not only here, but 
around the world; fighting for pension reform; standing up for 
occupational safety and occupational disease compensation; 
international labor standards; the minimum wage; antidiscrimination 
laws; and the defense of the right to organize and collectively 
bargain.
  The notable legislation written or cowritten by George Miller 
include: the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007; the student loan reforms of 
2007 and 2010; the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002; the California 
Desert Protection Act of 1994; the Education for All Handicapped 
Children Act of 1975, now known as the Individuals With Disability Act; 
and the Pay-As-You-Go Act, PAYGO, passed in 1982 to reduce the deficit 
and instill greater discipline in the budget process and to ensure that 
military and nonmilitary spending were treated under the same rules.
  He played a key role in shaping the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act, the response to the worst American recession since 
the Great Depression.
  California is proud of our two colleagues, and many Californians and 
indeed some honorary Californians are here tonight who would like to 
say a few words to honor these two outstanding men.
  First, I yield to the gentleman from California, Mr. Alan Lowenthal, 
who represents a district in southern California for his tribute.
  Mr. LOWENTHAL. I thank the gentlewoman from San Jose for yielding to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I am really humbled to have a chance just to say a few 
words about George Miller and Henry Waxman. As a new Member, I have had 
the wonderful experience of spending my first 2 years as both Mr. 
Waxman and Mr. Miller kind of conclude a great career.
  A little bit first about George Miller: as we pointed out, he is a 
progressive, he has fought for the environment, he has protected it, he 
has been a leader in the Natural Resources Committee, and he has fought 
to protect public lands such as in the 1994 California Desert 
Protection Act and created Death Valley National Park and Joshua Tree. 
He was the chief sponsor of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act 
of 1992, also to protect the fish and wildlife.
  I came also to the legislature, to the Congress, after chairing 
education in California, and George Miller was a champion and a leader 
here, and we all looked up to him. As was pointed out already, he did 
great work on helping to draft the No Child Left Behind Act, and he was 
a great supporter of school modernization and community colleges--
finally, about George, passion, humor, respected by all, and a zest for 
political combat.
  On the other hand, let's see what people say about my good friend 
Henry Waxman. Like myself, Henry's grandparents were Jewish immigrants. 
We both served in the legislature. The Washington Post said that 
Henry Waxman is to Congress what Ted Williams was to baseball: a 
natural.

  Ralph Nader once said that Henry Waxman is the only argument against 
term limits. Senator Alan Simpson once said that Henry Waxman is 
tougher than a boiled owl, and The Los Angeles Times describes 
Representative Henry Waxman's tenacity as legendary.
  We all know his work on the environment, I am just going to point 
that out, is legendary not only in terms of the Clean Air Act 
amendments, but he is also known for the Safe Drinking Water Act 
amendments; laws reducing childhood lead exposure; the Formaldehyde 
Standards for Composite Wood Products Act; reduction of greenhouse 
gases; and taking on, as we all know, the tobacco industry.
  In keeping with his role as the defender of the environment, Mr. 
Waxman has served as the chair of the House Safe Climate Caucus. It was 
a distinct honor for this new Member to serve with him, Henry Waxman, 
and a greater honor to be selected as the next chairperson of the Safe 
Climate Caucus.
  Mr. Speaker, I only hope that I and every Member of this body can 
live up to the amazing legacies of public service that George Miller 
and Henry Waxman have left this Congress.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored now to yield to the 
gentlewoman from California, Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leader of our California 
Democratic delegation. Zoe Lofgren, thank you for bringing us together 
this evening for a very bittersweet circumstance, that is to say how 
proud we are to honor the leadership of two great giants of the 
Congress, Henry Waxman and George Miller. How sad we are that they are 
leaving us.
  I come to the floor, Mr. Speaker, today, to join in celebrating two 
of the most accomplished Members of this great body, and when I say 
``most accomplished,'' I am not just speaking in the context of the 
present Congress.
  I am talking about two of the most accomplished Members of this great 
body of all time, a pair of Californians with 80 years between them, 80 
years of service in the House, retiring with unparalleled record, 
certainly an unsurpassed record of legislative achievements to their 
names, Congressman Henry Waxman and Congressman George Miller.
  I am proud to do that as a Californian and to thank our chairwoman, 
Zoe Lofgren, again, for this opportunity.
  As they depart for new endeavors at the end of this session, which is 
in about 48 hours, each of them leaves a legacy of leadership that is 
felt in the lives of everyday Americans, and that is so important.
  In doing so, they are both pioneers. For four decades, Henry Waxman's 
name has been synonymous with responsible action, extraordinary 
legislative skills, passionate public service, and bold leadership on 
behalf of the people of Los Angeles, whom he represents, and the 
American people. Time and again, Henry has been the first to appreciate 
the seriousness of the challenges before us and the first to bring 
forward solutions to resolve them.
  Time does not allow, and other Members will mention so many 
accomplishments, but I just want to focus on from the start, this is 
where I saw up close and early, from the start in the early dark days 
of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Henry Waxman fought to invest in AIDS 
research, support treatment, and care prevention and pass the landmark 
Ryan White CARE Act.
  Long before the rest of our Nation awakened to the gathering storm of 
climate change, early on, Congressman Waxman worked to create bold new 
protections for the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the Earth 
we call home.
  From the first days of his long career, he recognized the urgency of 
delivering quality, affordable health care to all, and together with 
some of our other colleagues, with his leadership as chair of the 
Energy and Commerce Committee, we honored that commitment with the 
Affordable Care Act.
  Also working on the Affordable Care Act from his committee, the 
Education and Labor Committee, Chairman George Miller has left an 
indelible mark on the laws and the Members of this august body. George 
has been the model of a serious and substantive legislator, a champion 
of working people who has had his hand in some of the most innovative 
and important legislation of our time.
  Members over and over--some already have and others will--talk about 
his legislative accomplishments. I just will name some. I mentioned the 
Affordable Care Act; Lilly Ledbetter, the first bill signed by 
President Obama to end discrimination in the workplace; the repeal of 
Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the last bill that passed by a House Democratic 
majority; ending discrimination for women in the workplace, for men and 
women in the military.
  One thing I want to mention, this PAYGO--because again this is 
something I saw firsthand. George Miller put together the initiative 
for pay as you go, so that we were not increasing the deficit as we 
made investments for our future.

[[Page H9030]]

  It was 1982; we were at a midterm convention of the Democrats in 
Philadelphia. George Miller had the resolution to pass PAYGO. It was 
very fiscally sound and responsible. It passed. The resolution passed. 
It was so revolutionary that they never had a midterm convention again 
because it was really there not to make speeches but to make change.
  In any event, they made that change, and it didn't become effective 
really until several more years later when President Clinton became 
President of the United States, and then we want on a pay-as-you-go 
basis, so whatever we were doing, we were not increasing the deficit.

                              {time}  1930

  So he has been a deficit hawk, a very progressive, liberal deficit 
hawk in the lead on that subject.
  So when he was doing the earned income tax cut; Healthy, Hunger-Free 
Kids; ENDA--really, we haven't passed it yet, but George has advanced 
it in the House any number of times--early childhood education to 
lifetime learning, I keep coming back to the children.
  I have said that when people ask me what are the three most important 
issues facing the Congress, I always say the same thing: our children, 
our children, and our children. Their health, their education, the 
economic security of their families, the air they breathe, environment 
in which they live, a world at peace in which they can reach their 
fulfillment. No one in the Congress has done more for our children, our 
children, our children than George Miller, George Miller, George 
Miller.
  So his focus on the children, but having them live in a world at 
peace has taken him outside of our country. So forceful was he in his 
advocacy for children in other countries, for fairness and opportunity 
and social justice, that he became a subject of the Salvadoran death 
squads. They tried to search him down in the United States because he 
was such a fierce champion for fairness in their country as well.
  So here we are--two great, very committed people. If you ask them 
what the secret of their success would be and how they achieved so 
much, they will be modest--well, sometimes. But what they will both 
tell you separately and the guidance they give the rest of us, just 
stick with it. Just keep on working. Just make sure that the other 
side, whoever that might be, knows you are not going to go away because 
you have a goal that is responsible, you have an urgency for the 
people, and you will make sure that you make the difference.
  In many ways we all live in a nation shaped, defined, and 
strengthened by George Miller and Henry Waxman. Their keen vision, 
abiding determination, courageous leadership have put them in the ranks 
of the greatest legislators in our history. When they leave this House, 
we can be certain that they will use their extraordinary knowledge and 
talent in new venues and in new ways to serve America's children and 
families.
  As we acknowledge them and express our appreciation to them, we also 
have to acknowledge their spouses. Janet Waxman and Cynthia Miller have 
contributed 80 years of being spouses to Members of Congress. That is 
really almost like 80 years each. That is twice as long as serving, to 
be a congressional spouse with all the sacrifice that that involves.
  Tonight we say a heartfelt ``thank you'' not only to George and Henry 
and voice our gratitude to them, but to the Waxman and Miller families 
for sharing these great men with our great Nation.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to our colleague from California, 
Mr. Mark Takano.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady, the dean of our 
delegation in California. I come to the floor with tremendous pride and 
a heavy heart as we say good-bye to two of the greatest liberal 
legislators California has ever known--Henry Waxman and George Miller.
  I had the honor of receiving Henry Waxman's endorsement for my very 
first congressional bid in 1992, but I had been an admirer of his long 
before that. I believe Henry's career will be judged favorably by 
history.
  Going back to his cofounding of the Los Angeles County Young 
Democrats with Congressman Howard Berman back in 1973, his passion for 
social justice has long been storied. I have to say, as a Member from 
the Inland Empire where we suffer from some of the worst air quality in 
the Nation, I am grateful for Henry's commitment to clean air.
  He has been a stalwart of progressive values, conducting powerful 
investigations on water pollution, AIDS, and tobacco, to name a few. 
Who else could have cajoled executives of tobacco companies to claim 
that nicotine was not addictive under oath? Only Henry.
  Let me turn to the other liberal titan, George Miller. George's work 
on education and labor issues are unparalleled, from leading the effort 
that raised the minimum wage in 2007 to his commitment to protecting 
Pell grants and expanding college accessibility for all students.
  His support of my bid to the Education and the Workforce Committee 
made one of this teacher's lifelong aspirations a reality. To honor 
George, I plan on renaming the committee Education and Labor when we 
retake the majority.
  George's passion and presence on the House floor and in committee was 
powerful and will be missed.
  The commitment that both these men had to the right issues, not 
always the easy or popular issues, makes them true public servants and 
examples for the rest of us to follow.
  While there is no question that both Henry and George have earned 
their retirement, the House is losing two of its fiercest liberal 
voices. I am humbled to have served one term alongside these gentlemen, 
but selfishly wish that I could work with them for many more years.
  In departing, they are leaving big shoes for the rest of us to fill, 
but I can safely speak for all of us when I say to Henry and to George: 
It has been an honor.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to Congresswoman Jackie Speier, my 
neighbor in the San Francisco Bay area.
  Ms. SPEIER. I thank the California Democratic leader and want to say 
very simply that Members come and go on the Hill, but some you can't 
imagine leaving. Tonight I rise to honor two public servants whose 
departure will leave an extraordinary void for years to come. Like the 
giant redwoods of California, these men are giants of the Congress.
  Representatives Henry Waxman and George Miller have honorably served 
the State of California and this Chamber for a combined 80 years--we 
have heard that earlier--exactly 40 each. Both arrived in the shadow of 
Watergate, ushering in a new era of strong congressional oversight. 
They led some of the most significant legislative achievements in our 
history and set the gold standard for active oversight for all who 
follow.
  Representative Waxman, the mustache of justice, never backed down. 
His book chronicling his congressional investigations, ``The Waxman 
Report,'' is the bible for conducting effective oversight and holding 
industry and government officials accountable.
  His work combating the tobacco industry is one of the greatest public 
health achievements of the last century. But it is only one of many 
accomplishments, including the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water 
Act, the Affordable Care Act, and holding the Bush administration 
accountable throughout the Iraq war.
  His truth serum inquiries caused plenty of CEOs to squirm and brought 
American consumers cleaner air, water, and quality of life. His stature 
in this Congress is iconic, and his oversight techniques are legendary. 
He will always be remembered as the grand inquisitor.
  Representative Miller was mentored by Phillip Burton, who famously 
said: People sent me to Congress to kick A and take names. Well, George 
Miller took that to heart, making his presence felt on the House floor 
through passionate speeches and actions to match. He didn't mince words 
or volume.
  George looks like a warm teddy bear, but much like a teddy bear, he 
is ferocious in protecting his children, all the children in this 
country. He worked to protect educational opportunity for low-income 
students and children with

[[Page H9031]]

disabilities from preschool to graduation. Even in his final days of 
service, he has worked to expand access to early childhood education 
through a new White House initiative.
  He has also been an unwavering champion for working families and our 
environment. He fought pay discrimination with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair 
Pay Act, has worked to keep college accessible for all, and conserved 
the California landscape through his tireless efforts to preserve San 
Francisco Bay.
  As chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, Mr. Miller 
helped pass the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992, which 
increased water allocations for San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-
San Joaquin River Delta, and he spent the last 20 years defending those 
precious gains which benefit the bay area's wildlife, endangered 
species, and commercially critical salmon runs.
  When George Miller arrived in D.C., he was intent on extending 
affordable health care to all, and thanks to his leadership on the 
Education and the Workforce Committee, nearly 11 million people are 
newly ensured under the Affordable Care Act. It is not often that 
Members achieve such lofty goals in Congress, but his masterful work 
has led to a law for the history books.
  Henry Waxman and George Miller have represented the great heights in 
this Chamber and what can be achieved. I hope that we can all learn 
from their example and emulate their legacies.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Santa 
Barbara, Congresswoman Lois Capps, our friend and colleague.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the dean of our California 
delegation for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with such great pride--also mixed with a heavy 
heart at our pending loss--we gather here this evening to honor two of 
the giants of the House of Representatives, and they are friends, 
friends to me, friends to us all, George Miller and Henry Waxman.
  Henry and George are two of America's greatest public servants, each 
serving their California constituents and serving the Nation for almost 
40 years. But it is not just their longevity that makes them so 
notable. They have been incredibly effective.
  They have used each of their days here in this institution to improve 
the lives of all Americans. They have taught us who served with them by 
their example to do the same. They have made their footprint, their 
imprint on this place indelible for all ages because they have focused 
on all Americans, and particularly the vulnerable.
  Each of them has been especially skilled and adept at combining their 
keen knowledge of how to get things done here on the Hill with their 
ability to dive deep into policy and to see how average Americans, 
everyday Americans, are affected back home in their districts--all 
Americans. When you look at any major piece of domestic policy over the 
past 40 years that they have served here, their imprint is felt.
  For example, Henry Waxman was so intimately involved in our Nation's 
best efforts to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid coverage, to improve 
access to generic drugs so that all Americans can afford their 
medicine, to protect our air and water. These topics have been covered, 
have been mentioned, but they are major pieces of legislation. And he 
has led us in moving toward a clean tech energy economy.
  Henry Waxman literally wrote the laws that have improved the lives of 
so many, including the Ryan White CARE Act for HIV treatment and 
prevention, the landmark Clean Air Act amendments of 1990, the 2009 
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
  Henry, working with you on the Energy and Commerce Committee has been 
one of the greatest joys that I have experienced here in Congress.
  Similarly, George Miller has been such a stalwart in protecting 
middle class families, the ones I worked with in the school district 
that I used to represent, similar to all the school districts across 
this country.
  You have promoted education and opportunity for the least of these, 
for all of these.
  He authored the last increase in the Federal minimum wage. He passed 
the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act so that we could address pay 
discrimination. Imagine what that means to every woman, every family in 
this country because of this legislation.
  He has led efforts to reform our Nation's education system. As a 
school nurse, this hits home with me.
  He has made college more affordable, to protect our environment and 
our coastal communities from increased oil drilling. That is an issue 
that you empowered me to focus on when I came here as a new Member of 
Congress.
  It must be noted that thanks to each of these Members, to the work 
that you did on the Affordable Care Act, so incredibly important each 
of you were to this major landmark passage, families now can have the 
peace of mind knowing that they are not going to go bankrupt just 
because they get sick.
  And while we are going to deeply miss you here in this place next 
year, as we gather to vote tomorrow, you look around this Chamber 
during that vote, you can see each of the people you have mentored 
during your time here, including me.

                              {time}  1945

  So while you and your family are going to enjoy a very well-deserved 
retirement next year, the legacy that you are leaving in this Chamber 
will live on for a very long time.
  On behalf of this Chamber, this Congress, Californians, in my 
district and throughout the State, and all Americans, I thank you, each 
of you, both of you.
  Ms. LOFGREN. At this point, I yield to the gentlewoman from 
California, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, our colleague.
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for 
yielding this time to me.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, we are here to thank and honor two of 
California's greatest congressional legislators and our dear friends, 
Henry Waxman and George Miller.
  This is an especially, as the Leader has said, bittersweet and 
poignant time because they are our dear friends. We are so proud of 
them, and we are going to miss them dearly.
  The reason why Henry and George are so significant here in this body 
are that they are the architects of the most significant legislation of 
the last 40 years. You think about anything we have done in this House, 
whether it is health care, environment, energy, consumer protection, 
communications, workforce protection, education opportunities, it goes 
on and on. The reason why they have been so successful and why they are 
so dearly respected and loved is that they are men of the House, they 
are men of the people. They love this institution and they honor this 
institution, and so this institution honors them. They are people, 
individuals, who understand this country and understand what makes it 
great, understand that it is the people that they are going to be 
helping.
  Henry has been a dear friend of mine for over 30 years and his 
absence will be keenly felt in the Halls of Congress and in the Energy 
and Commerce Committee, on which I serve. In his four decades here, 
Henry has been a stolid advocate for his constituents in Los Angeles 
and for this whole Nation and the world too.
  On the Energy and Commerce Committee, I have worked closely with 
Henry to tackle a number of critical issues facing the country. The 
Affordable Care Act will forever stand out in my mind as one of the 
committee's greatest accomplishments, and Henry has been a true leader 
in that passage.
  We worked together to combat climate change, eliminate the harmful 
formaldehyde emissions, promote strong net neutrality rules, and expand 
access to Internet services for more Americans. He has been a true 
leader.
  We are also saying good-bye to my really good friend, George Miller. 
During my time in Congress, he has become a trusted friend and 
colleague. He led the fight on raising the minimum wage and fighting 
for a vibrant education system.
  But what I remember the most and cherish the most about him is that 
he leaves such a great legacy on water law and policy in California, 
from his historic California water reform law that requires the 
balanced use of our State's scarce water resources to the many battles 
on the floor fending off ill-conceived attempts to drastically change 
the distribution of our precious water resources.

[[Page H9032]]

  With the departure of Henry and George, Congress is losing champions 
of the people whose knowledge and passion will not soon be replaced, 
but they leave many of us behind who understand how important it is. We 
say farewell to them, but we also wish them well, and certainly wish 
their families well.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Napa, 
Congressman Mike Thompson.
  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank our California 
delegation leader for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize two men that I have had the 
high honor and the great privilege to serve with for their last 16 
years in Congress: George Miller and Henry Waxman. And I have had the 
unenviable task to try and represent part of George's old district and, 
I will tell you, you have got to work about three times as hard just to 
try and catch up to where he has been.
  When I was first elected to Congress, I learned quickly that none of 
us are able to accomplish anything without the help and the sacrifices 
of those who came before us. For many of us, myself included, none have 
helped or sacrificed more than George and Henry. They fought the good 
fight, they have won some incredible battles, and America is a better 
place for it today.
  George, I remember, I don't know about fondly, but I remember like it 
was yesterday, joining forces with you to reverse a water decision that 
a former administration had made that killed 80,000 spawning salmon in 
my district and economically devastated the area that I represented. 
Had it not been for you, those people would still be washed up on the 
rocks. But we came on this floor together and, with your guidance and 
you as my mentor, we were able to help those folks weather that very, 
very terrible time. I appreciate your help, and so do they.
  It has been said that any of us who experience any success at all in 
Congress do so on the shoulder of giants. This institution has seen 
many giants, but none larger than Henry Waxman and George Miller. They 
are great legislators. They have legislated successfully on everything 
from health care to education to tobacco to natural resources. They 
have fought the fights that have made American people live a better 
life.
  We will always read in our history books about the great men and 
women who have worked in this magnificent institution. I, for one, am 
thankful that I had the opportunity to serve with two of them. They are 
living legends, and we should all recognize how fortunate we have been.
  Their work and their accomplishments will endure long past their 
retirement, and our country will forever be a stronger and better place 
because of George Miller and Henry Waxman. Thank you, thank you, thank 
you.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague from over the 
mountains, Congressman Sam Farr.
  Mr. FARR. Thank you very much for yielding and being chair of the 
California Democratic delegation, the largest single delegation in the 
United States Congress, with its champions of note, George Miller and 
Henry Waxman.
  This is a historical room and this is a historical moment, and that 
is why it is being recorded and being covered by C-SPAN. This room is 
historic in that the leaders of the world come to speak here to joint 
sessions of Congress. We are every day surrounded by the reliefs on the 
walls here of 23 of the greatest lawgivers in the history of the world, 
and we are reminded that one person can make a difference.
  Tonight, we honor two people, each who have made one hell of a 
difference. I don't think that I have ever met--and my contacts with 
these two gentlemen goes way back with George Miller when he was 9 
years old. He was the pudgy little kid and I was the tall skinny kid. 
Now I am the pudgy little kid and he is the tall skinny kid.
  But he had a dedication for the out-of-doors. We went camping, 
fishing, and skiing. Our fathers, who were both State senators, 
introduced us to politics at the State level, and both of us ended up 
as staff members in the California State legislature, where, in 1968, 
Henry Waxman was elected. And George on the Senate side and myself on 
the analyst side, but mostly on the assembly side, I worked a lot with 
Henry Waxman because I was doing constitutional revision work, and one 
of the few things that Henry was interested in was constitutional 
revision. This is really about the history of the state of the 
Constitution, and he carried these really complicated constitutional 
amendments to clean up the Constitution. I just remembered the 
dedication. The style was always one of intellect, very legal, lawyer-
like, quiet, but everybody respected him, and we got a lot done.

  George, George is like his dad. He is the fiery one. In fact, this 
podium right here I saw broken by George hitting it. This is a new 
podium, ladies and gentlemen, thanks to George Miller. Now it is 
adjustable and all kinds of things it didn't used to be in the old 
days.
  Look, behind us is the American flag. There are 50 stars on it. 
Everybody knows those represent the 50 States. In my opinion, they are 
going to remind us of the 50 pieces of major legislation that each one 
of these Members carry. Now, a lot of these people that come through 
here are famous, and we have had Senator Kennedy and so on being in 
this House, and we think of the legislation they have created. Look, 
these gentlemen have done more for this Nation in major legislation 
than any people in either the Senate or the House.
  In fact, little known, but George Miller would have been the Speaker 
of the House when Nancy Pelosi wanted him to run, and he said: ``Nancy, 
this is your job, we are going to make history with you.''
  These two gentlemen are some of the greatest people that have ever 
served in the United States Congress, and I hope the record will 
remember all of their incredible accomplishments because we are a 
better country and a better world for their service. We are going to 
greatly miss them.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from East Bay, 
Congressman Eric Swalwell, a new Member of our delegation.
  Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, it is truly an honor to pay 
tribute to two legislators, two lions of the United States Congress 
whom I am honored to have had the privilege to serve with for 2 years.
  Henry, it is often said that there is nothing more important than 
one's health, and no one has done more to improve the health of 
Americans than the gentleman from California, Henry Waxman. He provided 
better health care for the elderly and poor through improved Medicare 
and Medicaid programs, offered Federal help to those with HIV and AIDS, 
and vastly expanded the use of less expensive generic drugs, on and on 
and on.
  Henry also worked to advance public health by improving the 
environment in which we live. This included pushing for legislation to 
protect the quality of our air, water, and food.
  Now, George, my neighbor, just to the north, I will never forget the 
first day I met George. It was in our caucus meeting. He came up to me 
and he said, ``How old are you?'' I told him I was 31 years old. He 
said he was about the same age, just a little bit younger, when he was 
elected. He gave me one piece of advice. He said, ``You are not elected 
in this town until you are reelected. You go home every single weekend 
and you represent your constituents.'' I saw George every single 
weekend flying home on that plane, and I never felt sorry for myself 
because I know that George went home for the past 40 years every single 
weekend.
  He has also stood up and advocated for working families. I am 
fortunate that, besides what he has done for advocating to increase the 
minimum wage, he came out to my district and talked to our local 
brothers and sisters in labor about how he can teach me to work with 
them and listen to them and advocate for them. He stood up for children 
to make sure that poor kids across our district, across northern 
California, have access to education and a better chance to expand upon 
that freedom to dream.
  But I think one of the greatest things about George is not just the 
legacy and the legislation that he is leaving, but also the Members 
that he has mentored. When you look at the bills George has passed into 
law, it inspires you to be a part of a place that can do good and can 
do better.

[[Page H9033]]

  But, perhaps, my favorite memory of George is coming down onto the 
House floor as George has given an impassioned floor speech. George 
tends, as you know, to go just a little bit over time, but when he 
starts to go over time he starts to raise his voice and he starts to 
bang and bang and bang on that podium as he is standing up for working 
families and children in our country, and the poor Speaker tries to 
gavel him down. But never, never, never has anyone been able to gavel 
down George Miller and what he has stood up for in this Congress.
  Long live your memory, George, long live your legacy, and may you 
continue to inspire all of us to do better.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to our new colleague from North 
Bay, Congressman Jared Huffman.

                              {time}  2000

  Mr. HUFFMAN. I thank the gentlewoman.
  I also rise to join my colleagues in honoring two of the alltime 
greats of the United States Congress, George Miller and Henry Waxman.
  As many of my colleagues have said, these two will go down in history 
as some of the most able policymakers, intellectual engines, and 
progressive champions in the history of the House of Representatives.
  People around this country benefit every day from their work in this 
body from the clean air and clean water that we have because of their 
work; to human rights and workers' rights; to education to consumer 
safety; to public land protections; and safer, more affordable 
pharmaceuticals. The list goes on and on. Let's not forget the millions 
of people in this country today that have access for the first time to 
affordable, quality health care because of the very important and 
historic health care act that they helped bring into law.
  This Special Order doesn't give us anywhere near enough time to do 
justice to these two legislative titans' accomplishments, so I will 
just mention two that have special meaning to me personally.
  Henry, your work to expand the scope of the Clean Air Act and 
strengthen its enforcement has been tireless, and over the decades, it 
has meant huge improvements to the public health care of the American 
people.
  Henry was one of the leading architects of the Clean Air Act 
amendments of 1990 that targeted environmental hazards like acid rain, 
smog, and the thinning ozone layer, and through this work, he helped 
lay the groundwork for President Obama's important efforts to combat 
climate change by improving fuel efficiency and cleaning up our power 
plants.
  Henry has also led the Safe Climate Caucus, a bicameral effort that 
is attempting to create a climate policy in exile, if you will. 
Inevitably, the science of this issue will catch up to the minds of our 
colleagues across the aisle; as well, the duty to future generations 
will catch up to the hearts of our colleagues across the aisle.
  In the meantime, Henry, the work that you have done in this House has 
helped keep a positive track on climate change alive, and the work that 
we accomplish in the years ahead will absolutely be standing on your 
shoulders.
  George Miller is my neighbor to the east. Among many, many things, he 
worked for years to bring California water policy into the modern era, 
culminating in the Central Valley Project Improvement Act signed into 
law in 1992 by Republican President George H.W. Bush.
  For the first time, under the CVPIA, the Federal Government was 
required to consider the impacts to California's fish and wildlife when 
managing the Central Valley Project, one of the world's largest water 
management systems, but also one that did enormous damage to fish and 
wildlife. It moved the pendulum too far in one direction, and it had to 
be reset, and that is what George Miller did.
  The CVPIA encouraged more efficient water use, established 
conservation requirements, and water metering. It started to reform the 
antiquated water contracts that gave away public water for 40 years at 
a time at below-market rates.
  The law that George Miller authored also helped pave the way for the 
restoration of the San Joaquin River which once supported one of the 
largest salmon runs on the Pacific Coast.
  Although we will miss their daily leadership in our delegation and in 
Congress, I know that their body of work will continue to stand the 
test of time. The people of California have been very fortunate to have 
Congressman Miller and Congressman Waxman representing them for the 
past 40 years, and it has been a privilege and honor for me to serve 
with them for the past 2 years.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to our distinguished colleague from 
Los Angeles, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard.
  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Tonight is a bittersweet event for all of us of 
the California delegation. While we are here to celebrate the 
accomplishments of our colleagues Henry Waxman and George Miller, we 
are also here to bid farewell to these outstanding statesmen who have 
made indelible contributions to the House of Representatives and to our 
Nation.
  When I came to Congress in 1993, they had served 18 years as 
colleagues of my father, former Congressman Edward R. Roybal, who had 
great respect for these men. As a freshman Member, I remember being 
very much in awe of them and their accomplishments. Henry was already 
considered the health guru, and George was well-established as a leader 
in education and labor policy, but their contributions to our country 
had just begun.
  As a Member of the House for the last 22 years, I have seen firsthand 
the expertise, the passion, and the courage with which they fought for 
policies and laws to improve the quality of life for all Americans.
  While their accomplishments are much too many to mention, Henry will 
always be remembered for his championship of universal health coverage, 
his efforts to ensure the affordability and availability of 
prescription drugs, and his leadership in tobacco cessation policy.
  George's legacy will be his stewardship of a fair minimum wage, 
worker protections through secret ballots, and his staunch advocacy for 
school modernization and student aid expansion.
  My constituents and all Americans, including future generations, will 
benefit from the educational opportunities, labor protections, clean 
air and water, and expanded health access that were made possible by 
these two California statesmen with whom I have the privilege to serve. 
I will always cherish the opportunities I have to collaborate with them 
on issues like adult immunization, newborn screening, and education 
technology.
  Henry Waxman and George Miller will leave a void that is nearly 
impossible to fill and a heritage of critical policy imperatives that 
will define our efforts in health, education, labor, and environmental 
justice for many Congresses to come.
  These men truly understand the meaning of the responsibility of 
serving in the House of Representatives. I wish them Godspeed, good 
health, and sincere thanks for their lifetime of service in doing the 
people's work in the people's House.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield to our colleague 
from New York, an honorary Californian and a fellow fan of these two 
great Members, Congressman Paul Tonko of New York's 20th District.
  Mr. TONKO. Thank you to the gentlewoman from California for yielding.
  It is an honor this evening to join in the tribute to two very strong 
individuals who have represented their districts so very well, 
Representative Waxman and Representative Miller.
  One of the benefits and one of the opportunities that comes the way 
of Members of this House is to stand alongside men and women of 
greatness who lead not only their home district and State, but the 
Nation--and the world, for that matter. This evening, we recognize the 
contributions of Henry Waxman and George Miller.
  When I first arrived in the House some three terms ago, my first 
assignment was on the Education and Labor Committee. I thank you, 
Representative Miller for being an outstanding chair who enabled me to 
join in your sound efforts in providing for the empowerment of 
children, the strengthening of workers, stamping out gender 
discrimination, and all sorts of work that addressed not only issues of 
your

[[Page H9034]]

home State of California and my district in New York, but the entire 
Nation--and the world, for that matter. It has been an empowering 
statement.

  To Henry Waxman, the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce 
Committee when I joined earlier in this third term, it was an honor to 
join with you, Henry, and to recognize the great work that you have 
done on climate change and energy issues, certainly on public health, 
from the warnings of tobacco to affordable prescription drugs and to 
move forward with the Affordable Care Act.
  It has been an honor. It has been a great treasure to call you 
colleagues and friends. I want to thank you for your intellect, the 
institutional memory that you carry with you, and the passion that you 
poured forth for your State, your country, and the world.
  Thank you so much for your service. We will deeply miss you.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield to our colleague from 
Maryland, Congressman Chris Van Hollen.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. It is an honor to stand with the California 
delegation tonight in saluting two extraordinary Members of the United 
States Congress, George Miller and Henry Waxman, two friends, two 
individuals who have been an inspiration to me and so many other 
Americans.
  What is extraordinary about these two men is that they greeted every 
day of their 40 years here in the United States Congress as if it were 
their very first day, with the same determination, with the same drive, 
with the same passion to make our country a little better place than 
they found it.
  Make no mistake, they came here on a mission to build a more just, a 
more inclusive Nation, where every American has a fair shot at the 
American Dream, and through that determination and that perseverance, 
they succeeded.
  If you look around the country today, in almost every aspect of 
American life, these two gentlemen have left their mark, from health 
care to education to workers' rights to protecting our environment. 
They have changed the arc of American history.
  One quality really stands out when I think about both these 
individuals: fearlessness and moral courage and a willingness to take 
on the most powerful special interests on behalf of the common good, no 
matter the personal risk, no matter the political cost.
  They have been warriors for the public good, sometimes happy 
warriors, sometimes just tough warriors, but always standing up for 
what is best in America. It is the job of those of us who remain here 
to dedicate ourselves to carry on the work that these gentlemen carried 
out for the love of their country.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to another distinguished gentleman 
from Maryland, Congressman John Sarbanes.
  Mr. SARBANES. Thank you for yielding.
  It is a privilege to rise and acknowledge the incredible service of 
George Miller and Henry Waxman. I had the honor of serving with both of 
them on each of their committees, the Education and the Workforce 
Committee in the case of George Miller, and the Energy and Commerce 
Committee and the Oversight Committee with Henry Waxman.
  As public servants, they are unrivaled. At a time when unfortunately 
many Americans have become cynical and wonder whether their voice is 
heard here in Washington, these are two individuals that when you look 
back over their careers in public service, you cannot have a shred of 
cynicism because they got up every day determined to do the right thing 
to help people across this country.
  In the case of Henry Waxman, his fight on behalf of consumers is 
legendary. His work to guarantee access to affordable health care is 
before us every day. His desire to see that every citizen be able to 
live in a world where they have clean air and clean water, a world that 
is protected against the ravages of climate change, is his legacy. In 
fact, when it comes to climate change, I think we can say he is the 
conscience of the Congress.
  In the case of George Miller, he is somebody who was deeply committed 
to making sure that the next generation had decent educational 
opportunities and fought for that during his entire time here in this 
Congress; of course, he was always putting the priorities and the needs 
of working families first.
  If legislating is a profession, then these two individuals reached 
the height of that profession. They knew the substance of the work. 
They fought hard for what they believed in, but they knew how to reach 
compromise when it was demanded.
  As people, they are both decent, ethical, and caring, and most 
importantly, down to Earth, getting up every day saying, ``I have got a 
job to do,'' and going out to do it. We will miss them. We thank them 
for their service. As long as we have the privilege of serving here, we 
will cherish their legacy.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey, 
Rush Holt.
  Mr. HOLT. As one who has also chosen to step aside at the end of this 
term, I want to recognize and thank two legislative giants, Henry 
Waxman and George Miller. They came at the same time. Although they are 
very different people, each shows compassion, courage, determination, 
persistence, powerful mind skill, and even good humor in accomplishing 
all these things that we have heard about tonight.
  I have seen their personal qualities up close. I have been with Henry 
as he stands for fairness and justice in Israel. I have been with 
George Miller as he inspects the vanishing glaciers that are the 
victims of our climate change.
  They have worked, as you heard, on elementary and secondary 
education, worker protection, health care, communication, clean air, 
clean water, sustaining lands and climates. They will not tolerate 
those who violate workers' rights, family welfare, and individual 
opportunity, in America or elsewhere.
  We have heard about Central America. I was with George Miller in 
Chile this year when he received the highest medal that country gives, 
the O'Higgins Medal, for activities that he did as a freshman from this 
House when he went to Chile and courageously stood up in the face of 
Pinochet's terrorism to defend labor and individual rights.
  We could go on far beyond the hour that is allotted here. Simply put, 
their record puts to rest any claim that government doesn't work, that 
government can't help people, that special interests always prevail. It 
makes us proud to be Members of this body. It makes us proud to be in 
the United States of America.
  Thank you, George and Henry.

                              {time}  2015

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Blumenauer).
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, just squeaking under the wire, and I am 
not going to do a George Miller imitation, talking over the Speaker and 
pounding the lectern, nor am I going to try and repeat what has come 
before us in terms of talking about the legendary accomplishments of 
the two gentlemen. I just want to mention one.
  When I first came here, I was privileged to be part of a small 
discussion group of faith and politics. It had Henry and George, and it 
opened a face to me of people who cared about their colleagues, an 
extraordinary kindness that both had given to me and my family, and had 
given a face to this institution that is too often missing now. And I 
think that may be their greatest contribution.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, we are through with an hour. We could have 
filled many hours, but we say goodbye to these two colleagues. Eighty 
years of experience and expertise will leave this Chamber.
  I looked--in 1974, the top of the charts was ``The Way We Were,'' 
that was the song, but also on that chart was a song called ``Rock 
On,'' and that is what we want our two colleagues to do.
  We are in their debt. We are impressed. Our country and our world is 
a better place because of their wonderful service.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank two of the finest legislators 
in California's history for their contributions to our nation and to 
this body over the past forty years.
  Henry Waxman and George Miller were both elected in the post-
Watergate Democratic

[[Page H9035]]

wave election of 1974--one from Southern California, the other from 
Northern California. They have served together through many legislative 
battles that have shaped the modern history of our country, and they 
have each chaired committees during times of momentous change and 
achievement. It has been my privilege to call both of them my friends, 
and it will be my disappointment to see both of them leave this House 
when they retire at the close of the 113th Congress.
  Henry Waxman has spent his four decades in Congress as a tireless 
fighter for clean air and water, a stronger economy that creates 
opportunities for all Americans, and a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. 
He worked hard to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco and 
worked across the aisle to help lower the cost of drugs used to treat 
those with rare diseases. Henry wrote major legislation on food safety 
to inform consumers about the nutritional value of what they eat and to 
keep chemical pesticides out of the fruits and vegetables we feed our 
children.
  He and George Miller both helped lead the effort to pass the 
Affordable Care Act and expand access to affordable health insurance to 
more Americans.
  George has served as Chairman of both the Natural Resources Committee 
and the Education and Labor Committee--now called Education and 
Workforce. On the first, he oversaw the passage of legislation that 
created new national parks, like Joshua Tree and Death Valley, and he 
worked to protect wildlife across the country and around the world. On 
the Education and Workforce Committee, of which he is still the Ranking 
Member, George helped write legislation to reform and expand student 
loans, was instrumental in crafting the new G.I. Bill to send Iraq and 
Afghanistan veterans to college, and worked to pass the College Cost 
Reduction Act to make higher education more affordable for all 
Americans. He and I worked together in 2009 to enact statutory PAY-GO 
rules to ensure that Congress must pay for what it buys--rules George 
pioneered in the early 1980's when he wrote the first PAY-GO 
legislation.
  Both George and Henry will leave big shoes to fill in the next 
Congress, and I look forward to working with the Democratic Members 
their constituents chose to succeed them in order to carry forward the 
work they have been engaged in for forty years. I join with a grateful 
nation and a grateful House in thanking them both for their many years 
of distinguished service to Congress, to the people of California, and 
to the United States.
  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the legacy of 
public service for two of our departing colleagues, Rep. George Miller 
and Rep. Henry Waxman.
  I have had the pleasure of serving alongside Reps. Miller and Waxman 
for over twenty years and it is with great respect and admiration that 
I say goodbye to them as colleagues, friends and brothers-in-arms.
  Since 1975, Henry and George have not only served the people of their 
districts but also our nation as champions of progressive democratic 
ideals and stewards for the tenets established by our founding fathers. 
Their legacy as effective legislators is virtually unmatched in the 
House of Representatives and serves as a reminder that constructive 
work can lead to positive results in this legislative body.
  George and Henry together claim responsibility for enacting some of 
the most important legislation that has come before Congress over the 
last century. Henry's leadership on the Clean Air Act, the Ryan White 
CARE Act, the State Children's Health Insurance Program or the Family 
Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act are only a few examples of 
his passion and dedication. George's leadership on the California 
Desert Protection Act, the Davis-Bacon Act, and the Fair Minimum Wage 
Act were a result of his endless tenacity and compassion.
  I will always remember how instrumental each of them was in securing 
the enactment of the Affordable Care Act; what seven presidents could 
not accomplish over so many decades, President Obama principally 
accomplished because of the relentless efforts of each of them.
  Whether we found ourselves in legislative foxholes or at the vanguard 
of new ideas and solutions, we were always in it together for the 
American people. Their efforts were always led by the desire to serve 
the best interests, ideals and policies for our nation.
  Mr. Speaker, many are called to public service, but few leave 
legacies that endure the way that Rep. Henry Waxman and Rep. George 
Miller's legacies will endure. As they move on to the next stage of 
their lives, with their health intact and their heads held high, let us 
be thankful that we had these champions of American democracy and 
patriots for America's freedom for forty years.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, Henry Waxman is one of the most prolific and 
successful legislators in modern congressional history.
  After 46 years of serving his constituents in Los Angeles County--my 
fellow Californian, a champion for health care, for the environment, 
and consumers--is retiring at the end of the 113th Congress.
  Since 2009 Congressman Waxman has served as Chairman and Ranking 
Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, a committee with broad 
jurisdictions that reach into the daily lives of millions of Americans. 
His legislative achievements are unparalleled--
  The Infant Formula Act, to improve the quality and integrity of 
infant formula;
  The Orphan Drug Act, which gave pharmaceutical companies incentives 
to develop treatments for rare diseases they had previously ignored;
  The Hatch-Waxman Act to create the first ever pathway for generic 
drugs;
  The Clean Air Act to address the problems of urban smog, hazardous 
air pollution, acid rain, and the depletion of the ozone;
  The Ryan White Care Act, groundbreaking legislation to provide 
medical care for Americans living with HIV/AIDS;
  The State Children's Health Insurance Program to ensure all children 
had access to health insurance;
  The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act to restrict the 
marketing of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to children and give the 
FDA jurisdiction to regulate these products; and
  The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, arguably the most 
important and far-reaching legislation passed by Congress in a century, 
creating a framework for universal health coverage for the American 
people.
  Rep. Waxman has also authored laws that improved the quality of 
nursing homes and home health services and that set policy for 
childhood immunization programs, vaccine compensation, tobacco 
education programs, communicable disease research, community and 
migrant health centers, maternal and child health care, family planning 
centers, health maintenance organizations, and drug regulation.
  Rep. Waxman is a strong advocate for women's health, supporting 
family planning programs and the right of women to freedom of choice 
with respect to safe and legal abortions.
  From 1997-2009, Rep. Waxman served as either Chairman or Ranking 
Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, conducting 
investigations into a wide range of important topics from the high cost 
of prescription drugs to waste, fraud and abuse in government 
contracting. He also formed a Special Investigations Division that 
prepared hundreds of investigative reports on local and national topics 
for Members of Congress.
  Mr. Waxman's contributions to our country span 40 years in Congress 
and six years in the California State Assembly. He and his wife Janet 
have been married for 44 years, they have two children and five 
beautiful grandchildren, Ari, Maya, Noa, Eva, and Jacob. It's been a 
great honor to serve with Henry Waxman and I wish him and Janet my full 
wishes for every blessing.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
one of the great legislators of our time, Congressman Henry Waxman.
  I have had the honor of working with Henry on the Energy and Commerce 
Committee for many years. In that time, we have worked together on 
children's health coverage, affordable prescription drugs, 
environmental protection, and universal health care coverage, the 
Affordable Care Act.
  In Congress, Henry has served as the Chairman and currently serves as 
the Ranking Democrat on Energy and Commerce and previously served as 
the Ranking Democrat for the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
  Henry and I both currently serve as co-chairs of the Democratic 
Israel Working Group where we have worked together in supporting our 
nation's partner in peace in the Middle East, Israel.
  Henry, along with fellow Californian, Rep. George Miller, are the 
last two House Members of the ``Watergate'' Class of 1974 and have left 
an indelible mark on our chamber. Their leadership will be sorely 
missed.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Henry for his years of public 
service on behalf of millions of Americans who have benefitted from his 
work from tobacco regulation and reproductive rights to air and water 
quality standards and ensuring that all Americans have access to health 
care coverage.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two giants of this 
House: George Miller and Henry Waxman, who will be leaving this 
institution at the end of this Congress. They will be missed, but their 
legacies live on the myriad ways that they have made America better.
  Henry and George have made their marks on this nation through an 
unwavering commitment to their ideals, dogged hard work and a 
pragmatism that is too often lacking in this hyper-partisan era. One, 
or the other--or both,

[[Page H9036]]

have been instrumental in almost every major piece of domestic policy 
legislation in the last few decades and have improved the lives of 
countless Americans and millions overseas.
  As long as George and Henry have been in Congress, those who had long 
been ignored by Washington have been heard. Poor people, the sick, 
persecuted minorities around the world, and our nation's children have 
all been lifted up by the work of these two men.
  During his 40 years in Congress, George chaired three committees--the 
Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families, the Natural Resources 
Committee, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce--and 
through them fought for high quality education not just for a select 
few students but for all. He has worked to strengthen environmental 
protections even in the face of aggressive opposition from entrenched 
interests, and for safe conditions and a living wage for workers in 
America and overseas.
  George is blessed with boundless energy and has never been satisfied 
to rest on his laurels--staying engaged to ensure that the bills he has 
passed are implemented and improved upon. He wrote the legislation that 
successfully raised the minimum wage in 2007 and has written the bill 
to increase it again.
  He worked across the aisle to write and pass No Child Left Behind and 
has not wavered from his efforts to improve and fund it.
  Beyond his extensive legislative achievements, George has touched so 
many lives, including mine when I interned in his office as a college 
student. At the time, I never imagined I would one day serve alongside 
him, but it has been a great honor.
  Henry Waxman has similarly focused a wide array of causes, focusing 
on investigating companies whose products had harmed consumers, and 
questioning and holding accountable corporate executives on behalf of 
those who otherwise had no opportunity to seek justice.
  As Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Committee, Henry 
investigated waste, fraud and abuse in the tobacco, finance and energy 
industries to name only a few.
  Conducting investigations and oversight was not enough for him, once 
he exposed wrongdoing, he would work, sometimes for decades, to 
translate his findings into legislation. As Chairman of the Energy and 
Commerce he helped write and oversaw the passage of the Affordable Care 
Act, the culmination of lifelong work on behalf of uninsured Americans.
  Henry's commitment to human rights, especially the persecution of 
religious minorities in the former Soviet Union and Iran has given hope 
to those without hope. His steadfast support of Israel has ensured that 
our two nations will remain allies and partners.
  As dean of the Los Angeles delegation, Henry has been both a leader 
on issues facing Angelenos, and a mentor. I consider myself privileged 
to have had the opportunity to work with him.
  Our state and the nation have been lucky to have the decades of 
service that George and Henry have given us. They will be missed from 
the halls of Congress, but their legacy will continue to shape this 
institution and nation for decades to come.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, for the past 22 years, I've had the privilege 
of working alongside one of the greatest statesmen this institution has 
ever known--Congressman George Miller.
  Throughout his 40-year career, Congressman Miller's work has 
transformed the lives of children and families, hard working people and 
our environment. From our country's education system, to labor, to 
health policy and the preservation of our natural resources, 
Congressman Miller has left lasting and profoundly important imprints 
on our society. From the first day he stepped into the halls of 
Congress and ever since, he's been a true reformer for the American 
people.
  Congressman Miller was instrumental in passing the Lily Ledbetter 
Fair Pay Act, which curbs pay discrimination against women. In 1975, he 
championed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which for 
the first time provided children with special needs a free and 
appropriate public education.
  Congressman Miller paved the way to dramatically improve the quality 
of meals for children at schools with the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act 
of 2010, and spearheaded transformative legislation to save students 
billions of dollars in student loan costs while serving as Chairman of 
the Education and Labor Committee. In 1982, he passed the landmark Pay-
Go Act to reduce the deficit, instill greater discipline in the budget 
process, and ensure that military and non-military spending is 
considered equally.
  Congressman Miller chaired the House Natural Resources Committee and 
delivered the California Desert Protection Act of 1994, which 
established Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and 
the Mojave Desert National Preserve. He also unlocked longstanding and 
fiercely defended taxpayer subsidized domination of California's scarce 
water resources by agribusiness, quite literally saving our fisheries 
and water quality.
  His accomplishments are countless and far reaching, and his tenacious 
pursuit to serve his constituents and the American people resonates 
throughout each and every one of his victories, as well as his defeats.
  Nearly every weekend for 40 years, Congressman Miller has traveled 
home to his district in the East Bay of San Francisco from Washington, 
D.C. It's where he has drawn his strength, his inspiration, and his 
desire to keep fighting the good fight.
  George, you are my brother, my confidant, and I will forever keep in 
my heart the time we spent working together in Congress. I wish you, 
Cynthia, your sons and grandchildren every blessing, and know that your 
tireless spirit will forever be a part of this sacred institution.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
one of the legislative giants of our era. A man who I am proud to call 
my colleague and my friend, Congressman George Miller.
  George first came to Congress as part of the legendary ``Watergate 
Class'' of 1974. In the four decades that George has been a member of 
this chamber, he has played a key role in the passage of some of our 
nation's most import education, labor, and health statutes.
  George has served as chairman of three committees: the Select 
Committee on Children, Youth and Families, the Committee on Natural 
Resources, and the Committee on Education and Labor. He continues his 
legacy of leadership to this day as co-chair of the Democratic Steering 
and Policy Committee.
  George has been a tenacious fighter in support of workers' rights, 
students and teachers, workplace safety, the environment, and a livable 
wage for all working Americans.
  As a card carrying member of the Communications Workers of America 
and someone who shares George's commitment for working Americans, 
Congressman Miller has been a colleague I have continued to look to on 
issues important to the labor community.
  Before I close, I would like to thank George for his decades of 
public service on behave of our nation's working families. Our chamber 
will be losing one of the true lions of our generation and I wish him 
and his family all the best.

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