[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H928-H929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MOMENT OF SILENCE HONORING REPRESENTATIVE FORTNEY ``PETE'' STARK

  (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, we rise to honor the legacy of 
Representative Fortney ``Pete'' Stark, who passed away on January 24.
  With his passing, the country, California, and the East Bay community 
lost a champion of the people and a leader of great courage and 
compassion who served in the House of Representatives for 40 years.
  Those of us who had the honor of serving with Pete in our California 
congressional delegation have all lost a dear friend.
  Pete was a relentless champion for universal healthcare. He had an 
unrivaled understanding of the challenges of America's health system.
  Whether it was fighting for COBRA to help working families maintain 
their coverage during times of financial insecurity or taking a leading 
role in writing the Affordable Care Act, Pete always seized 
opportunities to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare for 
all.
  Pete will rightly be remembered and celebrated for his commitment to 
fighting for those in need, particularly America's children.
  He fought relentlessly to improve our children's access to quality 
education, to protect clean air for them to breathe and clean water for 
them to drink, and to leave them a more peaceful world.
  Pete leaves behind a legacy that will inspire generations of future 
lawmakers, and he leaves behind a wonderful family, whom he adored, who 
are with us tonight.
  May it give comfort to his wife, Deborah; his children, Jeffrey, 
Beatrice, Thekla, Sarah, Fish, also known

[[Page H929]]

as Fortney, Hannah, and Andrew; his eight grandchildren; two great-
grandchildren; and the entire Stark family that so many mourn their 
loss and are praying for them at this sad time.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members and guests in the gallery to rise for 
a moment of silence.

                          ____________________