[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 29, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5041-H5043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO JOHN SHIMKUS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 3, 2019, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
General Leave
Mr. SCALISE. Madam 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 this Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Louisiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, tonight we are going to spend the next hour paying
tribute to a special man who has served here in this Congress since
1997, our dear friend, Congressman John Shimkus.
John came to Congress back at a time when you saw a lot more
collegiality. In fact, Madam Speaker, tonight we have Republicans and
Democrats on this floor who are going to be talking about John
Shimkus, the man; John Shimkus, our friend; John Shimkus, the
legislator, somebody who, when he retires, will have a proud record of
achievement showing how he made his mark on this great Nation.
We are joined in this House Chamber tonight by John's lovely wife,
Karen, who is here tonight. His son, Josh, is not far from the Chamber.
We have many friends, and I know we have a limited amount of time.
First, Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr.
Young), the dean of the House.
Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I thank the leader for yielding.
John Shimkus has been my friend. He has done well for this House.
He and I played paddleball together. We never lost. We will be
challenged on that, but that is true.
I have a saying that many people may not recognize. Why do the good
people leave this Congress and the SOBs stay behind? I have been here
48 years, so I have to reconsider that.
But, John, we will miss you. You are a great Congressman; you are a
great ally; you are a great American; and I know you have served your
district very well. God bless you in the future for things you may do.
Mr. SCALISE. Thank you, Dean Young. We are going to check that
record. I know I am glad I never went up against you, although you have
taken a few of us to the woodshed.
Madam Speaker, keeping with the bipartisan tradition, I yield to the
gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney), our friend on the Energy and
Commerce Committee.
Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the whip for the opportunity to
say some words here.
Madam Speaker, my first impression of John was pretty scary. It was
my first day on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and John was in the
top dais, and I was down in front, a little freshman. John looked down
on us and said: Your policies in the Democratic Party are going to cost
you your seat.
I looked back. ``Oh, geez, I hope he is not looking at me.'' He was,
but we got over it.
It is funny, when the climate change issue came up, John had a
standard practice. He would bring out this big picture of his coal mine
workers, and say: You guys, climate policy is going to cost these
people their jobs.
That is a hard argument to fight against. That is a hard argument
because you know he is fighting for his people. I know there are other
people here who are shaking their heads on that one, but I respected
that. He was fighting for the people he cared about and the people he
represented.
But there were some things John and I had in common. We both played
paddleball, and we were pretty evenly matched, so we got some good
games in there. The great thing about that is that you get to know
people who you wouldn't otherwise get to know, and that was important.
I think that is a tradition that we need to carry on.
We also both went to West Point, so we had that little bit in common,
and it was fun to talk about that.
Eventually, we started talking about policy. One day, I asked Henry
Waxman: What about John Shimkus?
Henry said: He is a nice guy, Jerry.
Then he frowned, and he said: But he sure is conservative.
That is coming from Henry Waxman, so I don't know if that means
anything or not.
John and I started talking about nuclear waste and policy. He took me
to Yucca Mountain. It is pretty impressive, but it is totally shut
down.
[[Page H5042]]
Sorry to tell you, John, it ain't going to happen, as much as we
would like it to.
I even talked to Dean Heller about it, and Dean Heller said: Oh, John
Shimkus, people in Nevada think of him as Darth Vader.
Later, it was suggested that the Democrats and the Republicans sit
together during the State of the Union, and that is cool. John and I
sat together. I have to tell you, it is weird when the President is in
the other party, and you are sitting with that party. Everyone stands
up and cheers, and you are sitting on your hands.
We got through that. We still play paddleball occasionally.
I think as time went on, we got to be friends, and we talked a lot. I
can tell you, John has made an impression on me. He stands up for what
he believes in. We need more people like that, that have strong
beliefs. They are willing to fight for what they believe in but are
also willing to compromise and work with the other side to make
progress happen.
That is what we need in this institution. I respect John for that.
We will miss having him here, but we will find somebody else.
Mr. SCALISE. With that warm tribute, Madam Speaker, clearly, we work
well together. We have a comity with each other. You have to keep your
sanity around here by keeping things lighthearted in the middle of a
lot of heated battles sometimes. But in the meantime, when you think
about the friendships--and I will share my story about John shortly.
There is a townhouse that John Shimkus owns here in Washington,
D.C., and it is a four-bedroom townhouse. There are four Members of
Congress who live in that townhouse. We each have our own bedrooms and
bathrooms, but we come together. It has been, I think, a special part
of all of our times up here in Congress to get to know each other so
well.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), the
Member of Congress who has lived in the townhouse with John the
longest, probably going back to when he purchased it, our dear friend,
colleague, and roommate.
Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I thank the whip for organizing the Special
Order.
Remind me never to have Congressman McNerney do my eulogy. The crowd
would never believe it.
Madam Speaker, we are here to honor a remarkable man, a classmate,
and a friend of mine for 24 years.
We all know, in Washington and across the country, his leadership and
energy for the Energy and Commerce Committee and his leadership in the
Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee. But you may not know his
achievements in the heart.
He is committed to the Baltic States, in developing and enhancing
that relationship with the U.S.; his many years of service on the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly, traveling back and forth to Europe to lay out
and preserve that important relationship; his role serving on the
Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents; and his service on the West
Point Board of Governors. He has an amazing legacy for our country.
He has worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to achieve
things that matter to real people. His 1998 bill signed into law,
allowing for biofuel use in Federal, State, and private fleets, has
made biodiesel more readily available at fuel pumps across the country.
He is always focused on making sure 911 worked for the American
people. In 1999, he designated 911 as the universal emergency number in
the U.S. for mobile as well as landline telephones and continues to
improve on that for our safety and security.
He led the bill to require Federal testing of children's booster
seats, something every parent can take to heart.
Following that, he created a new internet domain, a place where
children could go that was safe and secure from predators. It was game-
changing.
His 2003 law created a placement for heart defibrillators in schools.
You can see a theme here: helping real people, helping children,
helping families. He continued that work throughout his years on the
Energy and Commerce Committee.
I can go on and on, but he took on tough issues as well, ones that
people never thought could be solved, like the Toxic Substance Control
Act, something he worked years for, to build bipartisan support,
something that makes our Nation more secure environmentally as well.
We all know, since we have nicknamed him Yucca Shimkus for many
years, his devotion to trying to find a safe, secure nuclear energy
future for America.
He didn't do this by himself. He has an amazing family. His wife,
Karen, as Steve said, is here today. His three sons, David, Josh, and
Daniel, who we watched growing up reading in the townhouse, backing
their dad.
His heart is never far away from his hometown of Collinsville,
Illinois. He is, as you know, a proud graduate of the United States
Military Academy. He served over 5 years Active Duty in the Army and
then entered the Army Reserves. He retired with the rank of lieutenant
colonel.
After 28 years of military service, I can tell you, because I was his
roommate, when we finished long days at the Capitol, trying to figure
out how we get ready for the next day, John was leaving to go to a
Reserve training and continuing education, or the weekends on his
training as well. He has a devotion to this country that is
unbelievable.
His service has not just been to his country but to his community. He
ran and won his first election for the school township trustees because
he wanted to help children in his community. He was elected as Madison
County treasurer so he could serve a broader group of constituents.
In 1996, he won his first term in the United States House from
Illinois' 20th District. Today, he represents the 33 counties of the
15th District.
I can tell you, it must be an amazing district because we all know
where the largest ketchup bottle in America is located: Collinsville,
Illinois. We know his district is the horseradish capital of the world,
with the International Horseradish Festival, horseradish
food, horseradish fun.
I will tell you, he loves his Lord. He loves his family. He has
always fretted about how much more he can do to help our church, the
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, in which he has worshiped his entire life.
Two points, as we finish, for me.
You would love being his roommate. He is a man of integrity, of
character. He is, every morning, the first one up in the morning,
sitting at the kitchen table reading the Bible, sending out those Bible
phrases for his friends and colleagues in preparing for his day.
He is an amazing teammate, along with classmate and roommate. He and
I played in the Congressional Baseball Game now for 23 straight years.
He is a baseball player. He has won MVP four or five times. We have
lost count. He is the last Member of Congress to hit a home run out of
the field, out of the park, on his first to bat in the first year in
Congress. He has never hit the ball anywhere close ever since.
He was a catcher, a pitcher, and the captain of our team, which
doesn't surprise you. He has been the captain of everything he has been
involved with his entire life. With this, I will tell how remarkable,
how gutsy, this guy is.
In 2004 or so, he had open-heart surgery in the spring, which, of
course, would mean he would miss his favorite baseball game. We had the
Congressional Baseball Game, and the doctor told him he could begin to
start exercising 3 months after the surgery. Well, the baseball game
happened to be exactly 3 months after the surgery.
Another pitcher started the game, was called back to Congress for
votes in the Senate, and out of the bullpen came John Shimkus, 3
months after heart surgery, not arthroscopic surgery, the kind that
cracks you open.
{time} 2100
There he was, three up, three down, helping save the game for the
Republicans. That is the kind of lawmaker, that is the kind of friend,
that is the kind of competitor he is. John is never letting you down.
He has always upheld the highest standards for our country, for
Congress, and I will tell you, at a time where each day you are told
what is wrong with America, John Shimkus is what is right with
America. We are so proud of our friend's service, and he will be missed
like nobody else.
[[Page H5043]]
God bless you, John. Thank you.
Mr. SCALISE. As you can see, Madam Speaker, these are tough jobs,
these are tough times, but when you come up to Congress, you don't just
come up here to fight for the things you believe in. That is clearly
why you run. We all have a deep love for this country. We all have a
deep set of beliefs that we come to try to advocate for. But we all
know, in a job like this, you can't do it alone. You need to work with
other people. You need to find allies, people who want to help join you
in that cause to advance the things you believe in. And along that way,
Madam Speaker, you truly do make deep friendships.
I remember, I was a new Member in a special election. I came in
towards the tail end of a Congress in 2008 with only 6 months left in
the term. I didn't really know anybody here. I was trying to find my
way, in fact, trying to find a place to live. I was living with one of
my college roommates who works up here in D.C. They had a baby on the
way, and I was staying in the baby's room, so I knew I had a few weeks
left before I had to find another place to live.
So I asked my colleague right over there, I asked Jim McCrery, the
Congressman from Louisiana, I said: Jim, I am looking for a place. What
do you do to find a place around here?
He said: Well, you know, John Shimkus has an opening at his town
house.
I said: Who is John Shimkus?
I didn't know John. And he literally pointed, and John was right
there in the well of the House during a vote series. So all the Members
of Congress were joined together, and he points John out.
I walked down, and I introduced myself to John. I said: I heard you
have an opening at your town house. I just came here, and I am looking
for a place to stay.
He said: Why don't you come by later tonight.
And that, Madam Speaker, started an incredible friendship.
That next day, I called my wife, Jennifer, that night and I said: I
think I found a place to live.''
That next day I moved in. I didn't really know Kevin Brady, and next
thing you know, I am rooming with these gentlemen and getting to know
people who became dear friends.
And again, in a job like this, you work really hard advocating for
the things that you ran on back home. You are fighting for the people
in your district. I am honored to represent southeast Louisiana. But
you are also working with some incredible people, and you get to meet
incredible people along the way. John Shimkus is truly, as Kevin
said, one of those true, genuine people, somebody you can entrust the
things that you want to share with only a few people.
Close friendships do form up here. You don't hear about that a lot,
yet we were able to form such a deep friendship, somebody you can
trust.
As Kevin said, John went to West Point. He is an Army guy, so he was
the drill sergeant in the town house. And when John says something, you
back your brother's play.
In fact, the second day I was in the town house, John said: Steve,
tomorrow you have got to get up at 6 in the morning, and we are going
out to play baseball.
I didn't know about the tradition between the Democrats and
Republicans. I guess I have John to blame.
John said: You have got to come out for the baseball team.
I hadn't played baseball in over 25 years. I didn't even have a
glove, and yet, next thing you know, the next morning I am up playing
baseball. And, boy, what a start of, again, an ability to generate even
more friendships, to forge friendships with people on both sides of the
aisle, some that you work with on a regular basis, some that you are
not always working with, but people you get to form a deep friendship
with.
And that is really what makes Congress work. It is not the things
that you see on the nightly news, the big fights that go on between the
parties and sometimes within the parties, but it is the day-to-day
grind where people do come together and find common ground to advance
the things that they believe in to make this a greater nation. And
John Shimkus has done that on so many fronts. I got to see it.
Yes, he is the first one up. He is reading his Bible. He is writing
down verses. But when it is time to leave, he starts to whistle. And
you don't need an alarm clock. When John starts to whistle, that means
it is time to go to work.
And, again, he is just a person who wakes up and goes to work for the
people of southern Illinois and the United States of America, just like
he served our country in the military. For 24 years, he served this
great Nation.
We are a better nation because John Shimkus has been a Member of
this wonderful body, the people's House. This is really where people
come together.
I started this morning in Philadelphia. I had some meetings there,
and I actually, on my way out, passed by Independence Hall. You never
can see that enough. I got to see the Liberty Bell this morning. I got
to go see the chamber where George Washington sat as they signed the
Declaration of Independence, where they wrote the Constitution of the
United States, right next door, the chamber where Congress met for 10
years when they were building this beautiful building, where they
actually passed the Bill of Rights.
We are all honored to be a part of this special place where people of
all walks of life come together. And you meet people of different
backgrounds, you work with people of different backgrounds, and you
work to make this a better country. And you just hope, you just pray,
as you are praying to God for strength, for wisdom, for guidance, as we
all do, that whenever you leave--we all leave this job; hopefully, you
leave on your own terms--if you look back, you can say that you left
your mark, you made this a better country.
John Shimkus, you left your mark. You get to leave on your own
terms. You get to go home with Karen and enjoy your life in southern
Illinois. You have earned this opportunity to have a new chapter in
your life because you can look back and say, for 24 years, you served
here in this great body and made this a better institution and made
this a better country because of your service.
Thank you, John, for this opportunity to get to know you so well.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, although I was unable to join in
person tonight, I want to lend my voice to the chorus of colleagues
assembling to honor John Shimkus' service in Congress. I thank John for
his friendship, and commitment to public service. I wish him nothing
but health and happiness for himself and his family during his upcoming
retirement from Congress.
John came to Washington one term before I did. We had offices next to
each other on the fifth floor of the Cannon Building. As most members
and staff know, most of the elevators in Cannon do not go to the fifth
floor, making those offices not the most desirable real estate. But
John and I not only stayed there as Freshman members, but we stayed a
few terms, enjoying the larger offices and the somewhat quieter halls.
John and I, as well as our staff, got along well, especially Cathy
Hurwit, my long time Chief of Staff and Craig Roberts, John's then and
current Chief.
Though there were issues on which John and I disagreed, we had the
opportunity to work closely together on issues affecting our state. The
Illinois Delegation had a tradition of monthly bipartisan lunches. The
agendas focused on issues specific to Illinois. Often we would agree to
support legislation, funding or projects that could help all our
constituents and benefit our state. Illinois was one of the few
delegations that was able to work so smoothly together, and John was a
leader in that effort.
John and I both earned positions on the prestigious Energy and
Commerce Committee. I saw up close how passionately John fought for his
beliefs and constituents. His tone was always positive, even as he
disagreed with other members. I have enjoyed serving with him on the
Committee all these years.
John Shimkus is well liked on both sides of the aisle. Why? Because
John Shimkus is a kind man, a smart man, and a gentleman. We have been
able to debate without spite, collaborate, and sometimes find common
ground. This is how collegiality and compromise work, and I wish we
could bottle it and send it around the halls of Congress.
John will be missed here. I hope he enjoys every extra moment he's
earned with Karen, David, Joshua, and Daniel.
____________________