[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H13-H14]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING SENATOR HARRY REID

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Nevada (Mrs. Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Nevada's longest-serving Senator, Harry Reid, who passed away on 
December 28, with his beloved children: Lana, Key, Josh, Leif, and 
Rory; and his devoted wife of 62 years, Landra, by his side. My 
condolences and prayers are with them all and with the countless people 
whose lives he has changed, his friends, staff, and all of those in the 
great State of Nevada.
  This tribute could be about Senator Reid being the most consequential 
Senate majority leader in modern history. It could also be about how 
Senator Reid was the true embodiment of what it meant to be battle 
born, a boxer as a young man who never backed down from a good fight 
for the least among us.
  It could be about the story of his American Dream, rising out of 
severe poverty in Searchlight, Nevada; hitchhiking 40 miles to school; 
working as a Capitol Police Officer to put himself through law school, 
to becoming one of the most powerful political leaders of our time.
  It could also be about his legislative accomplishments, such as the 
Affordable Care Act, which gave millions of

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Americans access to affordable healthcare, saving our economy during 
the Great Recession, taking on Wall Street, or making sure that Nevada 
would not become the Nation's nuclear waste dumping ground.
  However, I want to focus on Senator Reid's role in advancing women in 
politics.
  In Nevada, Senator Reid is known for his quiet yet sometimes curt 
demeanor; his incredible, strategic mind; and his work ethic beyond 
compare.
  He built a team, known as Team Reid, that has roots throughout this 
Capitol, throughout Nevada, and throughout this country, which will 
have an impact long beyond his life.
  There is no doubt that Senator Reid was a visionary when it came to 
politics. His vision in making sure that women had a runway into 
politics has left an indelible mark.
  Within his own legendary team, women occupied the most senior posts. 
At the same time, Senator Reid recruited and mentored women up and down 
the ballot. It is no surprise, therefore, that Nevada became the first 
State to have a woman-majority State legislature. We have a woman-
majority supreme court, as well as a woman-majority congressional 
delegation, with two female Senators, Cortez Masto and Rosen.
  Harry Reid's devotion to Landra is legendary. Perhaps it was her 
enormous role in his life and his utter respect for her as a partner 
that seeded his unspoken yet strong commitment to women's leadership. 
Maybe it was the role that his mother played, raising him out of 
extreme poverty in Searchlight, Nevada. Whatever the motivation, the 
results speak for themselves.
  Growing up in Searchlight, Harry Reid was given a nickname, Pinky. I 
am not sure what it referred to, and I actually don't think he 
particularly liked it. But as Senator Reid lies in state in our 
Nation's Capitol this week, this woman, who benefited from his 
mentorship and guidance, will believe that perhaps that nickname was a 
premonition of his role in changing the face of leadership in Nevada 
and this country.
  We all know that Senator Reid was infamous for not saying goodbye. I 
myself was the recipient of that dial tone on many occasions. But those 
occasions were because he never failed to pick up the phone when I 
called for advice. I will miss those phone calls, but I will take this 
opportunity to say goodbye to a man who showed how to fight for the 
little guy; a man who could take a punch and outwork anyone; a man who 
led through example of compassion and strength.
  I say goodbye to Senator Reid and thank him.

                          ____________________