[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2484-H2485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             MOMENT OF SILENCE HONORING SENATOR BOB GRAHAM

  (Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, last night the Sunshine State 
lost a brilliant statesman who loved Florida and all of her people.
  With the sad passing of our beloved Bob Graham, our entire Nation 
lost a proud world citizen, a dedicated American patriot, and a devout 
public servant.
  A true son of Florida, Graham rose to serve in our Governor's mansion 
and three terms as a United States Senator. Despite that august resume, 
Bob

[[Page H2485]]

Graham was, at heart, a man of the very people he represented.
  In his first campaign for Governor, Graham pledged to put in 8-hour 
days working the same tough but rewarding work that Floridians do every 
day to make our State so strong. He paved roads, delivered luggage in 
hotels, taught school, and picked tomatoes.
  True to his word, Graham completed over 400 of these workdays so he 
could touch, see, and feel the challenges and triumphs of the neighbors 
he so proudly represented.
  As Governor, he led our most ambitious program ever to boost 
education, notably improving our State universities. Like me, he was a 
proud University of Florida Gator.
  Today, Bob Graham can look down with pride on his alma mater and the 
university system that he helped ensure rivals the best in the Nation.
  His love and dedication to education was passed on to so many in our 
State and, thankfully, to his own daughter, Gwen. Fittingly, Gwen 
Graham, our former congressional colleague, now serves in the U.S. 
Department of Education.
  Perhaps his most visionary achievement in Florida will be his 
ambitious environmental protection agenda. His Florida programs are 
still being carried forward to this day, including his work to save the 
Everglades. This issue, like so many, demonstrated his skills to build 
consensus across the political spectrum, and that bipartisan spirit 
still guides Florida's diverse delegation.
  As a foreign affairs expert, Senator Graham stood out as a brilliant 
master of statecraft. As chair of the Senate Select Committee on 
Intelligence, he understood all too well the very real global threats 
we face as a Nation. He never shrunk from asking the tough questions, 
even as America reeled from the September 11 attacks.
  He bore a heavy weight to demand accountability for this tragedy, yet 
this man who epitomized what we all think of as an elder statesman was 
a far more complex figure than that.
  When the Tallahassee press corps did their annual roast of State 
leaders, there was Governor Graham helping them turn the spit, even if 
it meant poking fun at himself.
  When a constituent flagged a problem or a task he needed to circle 
back on, he would scribble it in his notepad, just like his dad did.
  His love of family is something every one of his children and 
grandchildren will testify to as they all loved their ``Doodle,'' as he 
was affectionately called.
  Even in his ``retirement'' from government, he established the Bob 
Graham Center for Public Service. To the very end, he nurtured in 
others the noble custom he perfected of serving that very community 
that he served so well.
  There are no words to express my gratitude and respect for Senator 
Graham, and it is evidenced by our entire delegation being here today 
to honor him. We will all miss him dearly.
  Today, we keep his entire family and all those who loved him in our 
thoughts, including his wife, Adele Khoury Graham; his four daughters, 
Gwen--our former colleague--Cissy, Suzanne, and Kendall; all his 
grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his former staff; and all those 
across the country who knew and loved him.
  May his memory be a blessing.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that all those present in the Chamber and in the 
gallery, as well as all staff members and visitors throughout the 
Capitol complex, rise for a moment of silence in honor of our former 
colleague and friend, Senator Bob Graham.

                          ____________________