[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E319-E320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING AMORY ``AMO'' HOUGHTON JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 13, 2020

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, Amo Houghton was a dear friend and for 
many of us, probably the most respected member of Congress from either 
party. He was thoughtful, positive and constructive. When Congress was 
bitterly divided during the Newt Gingrich era, it seems almost quaint 
now, Amo stepped up to bring us together. He was always the voice for 
civility, thoughtful policy and bipartisanship before that became 
merely a talking point.
  Amo was a modest, quiet, unassuming gentleman. You would never know 
that he was the only fortune 500 CEO to ever serve in Congress, coming 
from a distinguished family long successful in business, politics and 
philanthropy. Yet, he was unpretentious. He cared about good policy and 
more important than the institution, he cared about the people . . . 
members and staff.
  He was a thoughtful conservative who voted against gimmicks like a 
balanced-budget amendment despite its popularity with his Republican 
colleagues. He was against the Iraq war when it had overwhelming 
support from not just the Bush administration and fellow Republicans, 
but the majority of the American public.
  Amo was ahead of his time in so many ways.
  He was deeply concerned about the human dynamic. He didn't just care 
about ``people.'' He cared about you. He was a strong supporter of the 
``Faith and Politics'' program and efforts at racial reconciliation. 
His was a unique voice. His positions would be almost unimaginable in 
today's Congress, but anyone who knew Amo would respect him and more 
than a few would quietly agree with him.
  When I was first elected, I luckily moved into an office next to 
Amo's. He helped this former freshman member in innumerable ways. His 
wife Priscilla was herself an amazing person: strong, thoughtful, 
understated, and civil. She was a dedicated bike rider and was cremated 
in her favorite dress, wearing a bike pin as did all the ushers at the 
funeral.
  Amo was a consistent voice for people in Congress to do the right 
thing. He and Priscilla touched many of our lives and made us better 
people, His participation and example can, and should, live on in this 
Congress and beyond. His friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, and 
admirers share a profound sense

[[Page E320]]

of loss in the wake of his passing. But we are all better people for 
having known him and the influence he had on our lives.

                          ____________________