[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H881-H882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE HONORABLE JAMES T. 
                                BROYHILL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of a North Carolina legend, former U.S. Senator and Congressman James 
T. Broyhill, who passed away on February 18 at the age of 95.
  Jim Broyhill will be remembered as one of the political giants in the 
history of North Carolina, especially for those of us from the western 
part of the State that he so ably, with distinction, represented for 
over two decades.
  A native of Lenoir, Broyhill served in several executive capacities 
at his family's furniture business, Broyhill Industries, prior to 
entering public service.
  He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 
1962 as a long-shot candidate. Broyhill, a Republican, pulled off a 
narrow 1-point victory at a time when North Carolina politics were 
dominated by the Democratic Party. He quickly won the hearts of his 
constituents and served the people of western North Carolina in this 
House until 1986.
  Broyhill liked to tell a story from his first election, an occurrence 
that had an impact on him and taught him an

[[Page H882]]

important lesson in dealing with people.
  Table Rock is a beautiful and distinct mountain in Burke County, 
North Carolina, one that I am proud to represent and one that Broyhill 
could see each day from his home in Lenoir. Out on the campaign trail 
one day, he drove around to the other side of the mountain and stopped 
at a small country store. He greeted the owner of that little store and 
said: ``How are things on the back side of Table Rock today?'' to which 
the owner replied, ``Who says this is the back side?''
  He said he learned that day the importance of meeting people where 
they are and that his perspective might not always be shared by someone 
else, a lesson all of us here in the House and Washington would be wise 
to hear and to learn.
  Broyhill loved his constituents, and the feeling was mutual. He took 
a personal interest, acknowledging special events with a note or a 
phone call. He and his beloved wife, Louise, published ``The 
Congressional Club Cook Book'' with immensely popular recipes such as 
Capitol bean soup and heaven cake.
  However, the real impact he made in Congress was as a landmark 
legislator. In the House, he sat on the Small Business Committee and 
the Post Office and Civil Service Committee, and for many years, he was 
the ranking member of the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, 
which we now call the Energy and Commerce Committee.
  President Reagan credited Senator Broyhill as being a key force in 
the 1985 tax reform package. His 1978 legislation that allowed cable 
companies to connect to existing utility poles led to the explosive 
growth in cable television and communication. In the 10th Congressional 
District that I am proud to represent, it led to a boom in fiber optic 
manufacturing jobs that communities are still benefiting from today. It 
was then coaxial cable, fiber today.
  He always prioritized constituent service at home and was truly a 
pioneer in that regard. At a time when district offices were deemed to 
be of lesser importance to many on the Hill, then-Congressman Broyhill 
kept his district offices fully staffed by trained professionals who 
were always ready to help with whatever issues his constituents had 
with Federal agencies.
  That is something that I learned from him. His district became North 
Carolina's 10th Congressional District in 1969, and I am only the third 
Representative from that district since then. His successor, Cass 
Ballenger, learned the art of constituent service from the Broyhill 
staff. I, in turn, learned from Ballenger's staff, some of whom still 
work in my Hickory district office today.

  Jim Broyhill moved on to the United States Senate in the summer of 
1986, serving out the unexpired term of the late Senator John East. 
After his time in elective office ended, Broyhill continued to work on 
behalf of the people of North Carolina. He put his extensive business 
experience to use by serving as North Carolina's secretary of commerce 
and the chairman of the North Carolina Economic Development Commission. 
The post office in his beloved hometown of Lenoir was named after him, 
a well-deserved recognition.
  I could go on at length about his other accomplishments in public 
life and business and, certainly, his long record in philanthropy. Let 
me just say that he lived his life well, always in service to others, 
and our State and our Nation are much better for it.
  On behalf of my constituents, the people of North Carolina, and a 
grateful Nation, I extend condolences to Senator Broyhill's family as 
they mourn.

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