[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H9036-H9039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING CONGRESSMAN DOC HASTINGS ON HIS RETIREMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2013, the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris 
Rodgers) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority 
leader.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the subject of our Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, tonight we celebrate my friend 
and esteemed colleague, Chairman Doc Hastings, for his 20 years of 
dedicated service in the United States House of Representatives.
  Doc has been a constant source of wisdom, of compassion, of patience, 
and of leadership for our Chamber, and I know that he will be sorely 
missed by all who have had the pleasure of working with him.
  Every day he has represented the people of the Tri-Cities, Yakima, 
Moses Lake, and all of Central Washington with his tireless commitment.
  When he first came to Congress in 1995 to represent Washington's 
Fourth Congressional District, he came with his sleeves rolled up ready 
to get things done. He didn't come to seek the spotlight. He came to 
Congress to help the people of Central Washington in every way he 
could, to make their lives better, and that is exactly what he has 
done.
  In his years on Capitol Hill, Doc has been a humble leader and a 
masterful legislator. It was in 1974 when Doc entered politics. He was 
elected Franklin County Republican Party Chair and served Franklin 
County with his tremendous work ethic and attention to detail.
  As a proud early supporter of Ronald Reagan, it wasn't long before 
Doc was chosen as a delegate for Ronald Reagan at the 1976 Republican 
National Convention.
  He went on to serve as a faithful representative in the State 
legislature

[[Page H9037]]

from 1979 to 1987. He first ran for Congress in 1992 and came up a 
little short, but that didn't deter him. In 1994 he ran again, and he 
soon came to our Nation's Capitol after winning a race against then-
incumbent and current Governor of Washington State, Jay Inslee.
  That year, Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives 
for the first time in 40 years, and Doc embodied that spirit of hard 
work and determination. In all the years I have known him, I have 
marveled at his ability to get things done without seeking the 
limelight.
  When I came to Congress, I quickly learned that when Doc spoke, 
people listened. It is because of him that BPA rate increases in the 
Pacific Northwest were limited. It is because of him that those back 
home didn't see their electric rates skyrocket.
  And it is because of his relationships, both here and at home, that 
we have been able to build upon the foundation of our economy. It is 
because of him that we have been able to move forward on so many 
effective economic solutions for the Pacific Northwest.
  Doc has been a steady hand and an instrumental leader in his 
chairmanship of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and on the 
House Committee on Ethics.
  In his recent work as Natural Resources Chairman, Doc worked to 
reform the 24-year old Endangered Species Act in an effort to improve 
species recovery, reduce ESA-related litigation, and ensure taxpayer 
dollars are spent efficiently and wisely. He worked to make the law 
work for both species and for people.
  His focus has always been on making laws more efficient and effective 
to help people, and this is no exception. Regardless of the issue, 
whether it is energy, healthy forests, protecting our dams, irrigation, 
agriculture, or manufacturing, Doc has championed countless policies 
that have driven our economy in the Pacific Northwest.
  Serving as founder and chairman of the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, 
Doc has tirelessly educated his colleagues about cleaning up nuclear 
waste created by World War II and Cold War-era nuclear weapon 
production programs. The program includes waste at Hanford site, which 
is the world's largest and most complex environmental cleanup effort, 
and it is Doc who has worked to ensure that cleanups move forward 
safely and efficiently, and it is Doc that helped the Tri-Cities 
community prepare for the post-cleanup era.
  It goes without saying that those in Washington State are better 
because of Doc's service. As cochair of the bipartisan Congressional 
Northwest Energy Caucus, Doc has worked to promote cooperation on 
issues that impact the continued availability of low-cost hydropower.
  He gave us the opportunity to work together on policies like 
protecting the Northwest's important source of renewable hydropower, 
addressing the future of the Columbia River Treaty, protecting the 
Snake River Dams, and integrating wind energy into BPA's transmission 
systems.
  Under Doc's guidance, we have had the opportunity to collaborate to 
promote a strong future for our regional power system.
  As a master of all things rules, he knows the rules better than just 
about anyone. The Speaker could always turn to him when he needed a 
steady hand who understood the rules.
  What I admire most about Doc is that he is kind and selfless. He is 
as kind and selfless as he is brilliant.
  When our son, Cole, was born, and after he was diagnosed with Down 
syndrome, Doc was the one that welcomed us back and introduced Cole to 
the world on the House floor. He is an invaluable legislator, an 
unmatched mentor, and a man I am proud to call my friend.
  Doc's family has always come first. His wife, Claire, has been his 
partner, by his side 20 years now in service, and I can say from 
experience it is not easy to have your family on one coast when you are 
on the other.
  Claire and the entire Hastings family have always been a source of 
continued commitment and unconditional love, and I know Doc feels so 
blessed to have had that unwavering support.
  I thank the Hastings family for sharing with America a tremendous and 
invaluable leader. His heart has always been with his children and 
grandchildren, and I know that he will be glad to be able to spend some 
more time with them.
  Doc has filled the role of dean of the Washington delegation, and he 
is going to be missed. While this great leader will no longer walk the 
Halls of Congress every day, this institution is better and stronger 
for having had him here. Doc will be missed every day, but his legacy 
will live on in Congress and, of course, all across Eastern Washington.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), 
chairman of our Appropriation Committee.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding. I will not be lengthy, but I will be very serious.
  There are very few people that I have served with in this body these 
34 years for me who has more respect and more friends than Doc 
Hastings.
  We are personal friends. We are professional friends. And when our 
wives are back home, we frequently have dinner together, and we talk a 
lot of politics, we talk about things going on at home, talk about 
things going on here in this body and the world.

  There is nobody more knowledgeable of politics in America than Doc 
Hastings. He knows every congressional district. He knows the politics 
of that district, and that makes for some great, great conversation.
  But I think the most important thing that I could say about Doc 
Hastings is his character, the character that he possesses. Someone 
once said that ``Character is doing the right thing when nobody is 
looking.''
  I have seen, time and again, Doc faced with an opportunity, perhaps, 
that would have meant taking advantage of someone or not doing the 
right thing, and he always does the right thing. And so that character, 
that inner being that radiates out to the world, comes through that 
balding head and reaches out to the world.
  Most people don't realize that Doc Hastings is one of the biggest 
NASCAR fans in America. He travels to watch the cars. And of course, 
most of those started out in the South and still principally are. But 
Doc loves the NASCAR world, so that makes him a southerner, which is 
another reason I admire the man.
  Well, we are going to miss this man. He has served so well here in so 
many different important roles: chairman of the Ethics Committee that 
looks after the ethics of Members of Congress; of course, on the Rules 
Committee, the hardest working assignment I think anyone has, and his 
service there was superlative; and of course, the chair he now holds, 
that has turned out more bills, I dare say, than any other committee of 
the Congress. I mean, it seems like every day there is a string of 
Hastings bills that are being considered by the floor.
  He is a strong worker, a hard worker. He is conscientious in his 
work. He is approachable and friendly and likes to take advice.

                              {time}  2030

  So we are going to miss this man, and we hope that the folks back in 
the home State appreciate just how well loved Doc Hastings is here in 
the U.S. Congress.
  So, Doc, we will miss you. We want you to come back from time to 
time, and I will even buy you dinner. God bless you.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Thank you.
  I would like to yield to the gentleman from Washington, Mr. Denny 
Heck.
  Mr. HECK of Washington. I thank the gentlewoman from Washington 
State.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge, thank, and pay tribute to the 
service of Richard ``Doc'' Hastings on behalf of the people of this 
country and Washington State.
  I have had the privilege to know Doc more than 35 years, and with 
perverse reference to Mr. Rogers' earlier comments, I even knew him 
when he had hair. I had the great privilege to serve in the Washington 
State House of Representatives with him. We overlapped by 6 or 8 years 
in the seventies and eighties, and as somebody who wears a different 
colored jersey--his is red and mine is blue--and this is me engaging in 
understatements as we had materially different world views--with Doc, 
it

[[Page H9038]]

was never, ever, ever, ever personal. He always has a kind word and, 
frankly, a ready smile for people.
  Doc is now finishing up 10 terms--20 years in this Chamber. I don't 
know that I have ever adequately thanked him for being the very first 
person to come to my office and extend his hand in friendship and offer 
to help me in any way he could 2 years ago--something he probably 
doesn't even remember, so natural an act it was for him but, frankly, 
so meaningful for me.
  Lest I leave the wrong impression about all of these differences that 
Doc and I have--oh, and we do--I also want to assuredly assert that he 
can be every bit as good an ally as he can be an honorable adversary. 
The gentlewoman from Washington State has mentioned several of the ways 
in which Congressman Hastings has worked collaboratively with all of 
us, over a long period of time, on behalf of the interests of 
Washington State: cleaning up Hanford Reservation. I cannot help but 
note his signature on a letter advocating the reauthorization of the 
Export-Import Bank--a very meaningful gesture on his part and of 
tremendous economic importance to our State--and even more generic 
issues.
  As a former U.S. Army Reserve veteran himself, Doc is always front 
and center, standing proud and tall to do what he can on behalf of the 
men and women who have served in uniform in this State.
  I also want to reiterate the gentlewoman from Washington State's 
acknowledgment of Congressman Hastings' skill over the presiding of 
this Chamber. Most people don't understand what an incredible skill 
that is to do it with such seeming ease, not just to have command of 
the rules and of the parliamentary procedures.
  The very manner in which you comport yourself, Congressman Hastings, 
is truly a thing to be admired. You did it with grace.
  Speaking of grace, more than a year ago, one of my dear, dear friends 
and mentors--someone who also wears my colored jersey--former Governor 
Booth Gardner, passed away. Congressman Hastings was one of the very 
first people to take the podium to acknowledge the kindness that 
Governor Gardner extended to Congressman Hastings' family, a gesture 
which he would be very familiar with because it comes so naturally to 
him as well.
  It is a privilege to know you. It is a privilege to have served with 
you lo these short 2 years, but I am very proud to have done so. I am 
proud to have known you all of these years, and I am proud to call you 
friend, Doc. Most importantly, on behalf of all of the people of 
Washington State, including the people of the 10th Congressional 
District, we thank you for your fine, fine public service and for your 
dedication to all of these issues that you have worked on so ably and 
in such a dedicated fashion for so many years. Thank you, sir.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Thank you.
  I would like to yield to the gentlewoman from Vancouver, Washington 
(Ms. Herrera Beutler), our friend and colleague.
  Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Thank you so much.
  Mr. Speaker, it is fun to get to come down here and honor my friend 
and colleague, Chairman Doc Hastings from central Washington. It has 
been a privilege to get to be right adjacent to Doc.
  Cathy, we have been on either side.
  In being the younger member of the delegation, the newest member of 
the delegation, I think your time and your effort and your willingness 
to bring us along--to bring me along--is invaluable. It is impossible 
to overstate the influence that Doc has had on this body over the last 
20 years. He has been a constant advocate, fighting for the people of 
his home and our State--and our region, really--and the rest of 
Washington.
  You have been doing it since I was in high school, studying U.S. 
history.
  Unlike a lot of politicians, Doc doesn't seek credit or run to the 
microphone or brag about his accomplishments. He truly lives by one of 
his favorite quotes: ``It is amazing what you can accomplish if you are 
not worried about who gets the credit.''
  I joined the Washington delegation 4 years ago, and from the 
beginning, Doc has been incredibly generous to me with his time and his 
wisdom and even with his dinner invites. Like so many in this body, I 
truly value his friendship.
  During my time here, I have had the privilege--I don't even want to 
say ``of working alongside''--of following along with some of the 
issues that are incredibly important to my district and of things that 
Doc has championed. Trust me. Whether it is joining him out at Hanford 
Nuclear Reservation or teaming up with him to try and advance our 
Nation's forest policies and best practices, it is plain to see how 
passionate Doc is about serving the people in central Washington and 
throughout Washington State.
  In this day and age when we hear mostly about a polarized Congress 
and politicians that no one likes and about people who can't work 
together, it is important to remember and to focus on those Members who 
are the opposite--people like Doc--who are always looking to find the 
common ground, who are looking for solutions, and who are wanting to 
confront the biggest challenges facing our region. I hope and believe 
it is how Doc is going to be remembered--as a statesman who always did 
the right thing by the people at home.
  Doc's retirement is certainly a loss for Washington, but I am happy 
that the pull of being home--the pull of family--has finally won out 
after having to balance that life on both coasts for so long. When I 
had my baby girl last year--it feels like 1,000 years ago--Doc was one 
of the first to ask how we were, how we were doing, what he could do, 
and to share in the joy of our miracle, and I am truly grateful.
  I know, for me, when I am trying to work an issue and I need advice, 
I am going to miss being able to say, ``Well, what do you think?'' 
``How would we do this?'' or ``What coalition would we build?'' ``What 
is the strategy?'' That is one of the biggest things I remembered. I 
shouldn't say ``remembered.'' He is still with us. One of the biggest 
things I think of when I think of Doc is that his approach is always: 
let's lay out the strategy to get to our solutions, and let's try this 
and talk to this person and do it this way and remember this.
  It is that intimate knowledge of how this institution works that we 
are going to be at a loss for, not just here, but even in the 
Washington delegation. It is having that institutional knowledge and 
the relationships, because this place, like anything else, is funneled 
by relationships. His intimate understanding of that and the way he has 
worked so carefully with people to advance ideas, we are going to miss 
it. We are going to feel the loss.
  We look forward to hearing from you and watching you enjoy your time 
at home with your kids and your grandkids. Tell us about how great it 
is from time to time. We are going to miss you.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Thank you.
  In closing, I would say, Doc, on behalf of everyone in Washington 
State and on behalf of my colleagues here in the House of 
Representatives, we are grateful for your service, your leadership for 
our region, and your impact on our lives.
  As we walk the Halls of Congress, we often think about those who have 
gone before us and have walked these halls, and we think about the fact 
that we stand on the shoulders of giants. You have been a giant in our 
lives, and you have been a giant for Washington State in Congress, and 
these are just small tokens of our appreciation for your service. Thank 
you, Doc. May God bless you, and may God bless your family.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield to the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Chairman, thank you very much.
  I actually came down to the floor this evening, Mr. Speaker, to give 
my farewell remarks as I am retiring as well as my good friend, Doc 
Hastings.
  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to just say what a great 
human being Doc Hastings is and what a pleasure it has been for me in 
my 12 years. Of course, Doc has been here much longer than I, but to 
rely on his experience and to draw from that and his wisdom and his 
judgment and his kindness and his great representation of the people of 
the great State of

[[Page H9039]]

Washington, it is a pleasure to say farewell to Doc.
  I hope I will see you again very, very soon. Thank you, Doc.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Thank you very much.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________