[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING THE HONORABLE JIM KOLBE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CISCOMANI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor James Thomas Kolbe, 
an Arizonan, a decorated Navy veteran, and a patriot who faithfully 
served my State and our country for most of his life.
  James Thomas Kolbe always introduced himself as Jim, and that is how 
he will be remembered by all those who knew him and those in this 
Chamber who were his colleagues.
  For 22 years, Jim also was well known in his hometown of Tucson and 
here in the Nation's Capitol by the position he held--Congressman.
  Congressman Kolbe died on December 3 at the age of 80. He led a long, 
accomplished life, and I am honored, truly honored, to hold the House 
seat he held for 11 terms.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my great privilege as a new Member of the United 
States House of Representatives to offer this tribute to a man I 
considered a friend, a mentor, and a role model.
  Jim was an elder statesman of Arizona politics. He was a proven vote-
getter who knew how to build coalitions to achieve real results for his 
district, his State, and our Nation. He knew how to get things done in 
Washington but never forgot who sent him here and why. He was a 
tireless advocate for Arizona, and he brought that unique Arizona 
perspective to public policy debates for which this body is so well 
known.
  Jim served alongside giants and, in the process, became one himself. 
Barry Goldwater, Mo Udall, Ed Pastor, John McCain, Jon Kyl--Jim knew 
and worked with them all. In fact, Jim got his first taste of politics 
as a young man serving as a page for the legendary Senator Goldwater, 
who was in his final term when the voters of what was then Arizona's 
Fifth Congressional District chose Jim to be their voice in Washington.
  Jim was born in Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, but became a champion 
of the party of Lincoln in Arizona. He came to the Grand Canyon State 
when he was 5 with his parents when he left the Midwest for a ranch in 
the desert of southern Arizona, just a few miles from the border with 
Mexico.
  Little did Jim know back then that our country's relationship with 
Mexico would become one of his signature issues as a Representative 
from a border State. Jim was a celebrity in the big small town of 
Tucson.
  No matter where he went, everyone knew him. Folks would approach him 
in the grocery store, at the gas station, or on the street. When they 
stopped him and called him Congressman Kolbe, he would always make sure 
to remind them, ``Just call me Jim.''
  I first met Jim when I was a student at Pima Community College. He 
was my hometown Representative. We continued our relationship long 
after that first meeting over two decades ago.
  Jim gave me wise advice when I first decided to run for his former 
seat. I will always remember our regular catch-up meetings at Millie's 
Pancake Haus on the east side of town.
  Jim was someone who came to the House not for a big title but to do 
big things, and he did just that. He was an expert on trade and became 
one of the chief architects of the original North American Free Trade 
Agreement, which he was convinced was a key that opened the door to 
prosperity.
  Fiscal responsibility was important to Jim. Our environment was 
important to Jim. Water was important to Jim. He was never reluctant to 
work across the aisle.
  Jim was everything a Representative should be. He understood that the 
word ``Representative'' was not a job title; it was a job description, 
and that is why he came back to Tucson nearly every weekend to hear 
firsthand what was on people's minds.

  Jim, my friend, on behalf of the men and women of our little corner 
of Arizona, thank you. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your 
steadfast commitment to making our district, our State, and our Nation 
a better place.
  My prayers are with Hector and the Kolbe family.

                          ____________________