[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 148 (Thursday, September 6, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H7917-H7918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JOHN McCAIN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2017, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Diaz-Balart) for 30 minutes.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, one thing that some of you may not know 
about John McCain's time at the Hanoi Hilton was that he spoke of a 
Castro regime thug and his Cuban underling. They were sent to Vietnam 
to torture American POWs, to torture John McCain's friends. He had 
hoped to one day identify those barbaric individuals and bring them to 
justice.
  Sadly, John did not see that egregious injustice, along with so many 
perpetuated by the Castro regime, resolved in his lifetime.
  John witnessed firsthand the evil of communism, along with the 
tyranny and the inhumanity that it breeds. A tyrant capable of such 
brutal oppression of his own people could also be responsible for 
unspeakable atrocities to those who would stand up to the tyranny.
  Perhaps that experience, Mr. Speaker, personally motivated John 
McCain's passionate advocacy for freedom and human dignity, as well as 
his untiring outreach to those languishing under tyranny anywhere in 
the world, as Mr. Costa mentioned just a little while ago.
  He was a fitting chairman of the International Republican Institute's 
board since 1993, an organization whose mission is to promote freedom 
and civil society and democracy to some of the world's most repressive 
environments. That mission aligned perfectly with Senator McCain.
  So, yes, although I am deeply saddened by a loss of such magnitude, I 
will tell you that I am encouraged by the knowledge that his example 
will continue to inspire and educate for many, many generations to 
come.
  There will never be another one like John McCain and we are all 
fortunate to have had the benefit of his service to our Nation.
  Mr. HILL. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas.
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time to thank my 
colleagues for coming to the House floor to this hallowed Chamber of 
the people's House and paying tribute to a distinguished Member of this 
House, a distinguished United States Senator, and someone who 
epitomizes the best of American character.
  We were all inspired by the stories shared tonight, particularly I 
think by the touching tribute of a colleague in the Hanoi Hilton, Sam 
Johnson of Texas. I will remember that time for the rest of my days.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, let me just say that as John McCain 
communicated with Sam Johnson in the Hanoi Hilton, I say we salute this 
fine sailor and say God bless you.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I, again, thank Mr. Hill for bringing 
us together and for allowing us to remember and to honor a great 
American hero.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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