[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 62 (Monday, April 7, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H1424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING WES WATKINS

  (Mr. Lucas of Oklahoma was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of 
my friend and colleague, the great Oklahoma Congressman, Wes Watkins.
  Wes originally took office as a Member of Congress in 1976 after 
serving 2 years in the Oklahoma Senate. He succeeded former Speaker 
Carl Albert, who notably endorsed Wes after retiring.
  However, Wes' legacy of service started long before he made his way 
to Washington. As a young boy, Wes was involved in 4-H and FFA while 
working several jobs to help support his family. He then graduated high 
school at the top of his class before attending Oklahoma State 
University. He earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural education and 
a master's degree in educational administration.
  At Oklahoma State University, he served as the southeast district 
vice president for the Oklahoma FFA Association. He was so successful 
in that position that he would later be chosen to be the State 
president of the Oklahoma FFA Association. But he didn't stop there. He 
continued to prove himself to his peers and was also elected as the 
chair of the student senate.
  Winning the student senate election would become a monumental moment 
for Wes because it was becoming quite clear to everyone that he had an 
ability to motivate and to lead his peers.
  In a 2017 interview with the Oklahoma Historical Society, Wes 
reflected on the moment he won the student election. A friend asked him 
if he was going to run for office one day. This made Wes stop and think 
about a life in public service. He thought to himself: What is your 
mission? What are you all about? What is your passion?
  It is evident that these questions guided Wes through his time in 
Congress. He was a strong public leader who advocated for Oklahomans 
above all else.
  He was raised during a difficult time, where many families were 
leaving Oklahoma in search of jobs and a chance for economic 
prosperity. Instead of following suit, he ran for office to change this 
and help the State. When he arrived in Washington in 1976, he came with 
a clear mission: Make life better for the neighbors.
  Wes knew that in order to do this, he needed to work on financial 
policy, so he made his case to join the Banking Committee. Like 
everything else Wes did, he was so successful that his peers chose to 
elevate him to the House Appropriations Committee, one of the most 
important committees in the United States House.
  Later, during his second stint in Congress, based on that same track 
record of success, he secured his spot on the Ways and Means Committee, 
not only the longest standing committee of the United States House, but 
the committee of jurisdiction over all tax policy. This made Wes the 
first Member of Congress to serve on both the Ways and Means Committee 
and the Appropriations Committee.
  Wes ultimately knew that these committee assignments would give him 
the opportunity to provide access to capital to Oklahomans, and he was 
right. While Wes Watkins' legacy in Congress cannot be overstated, to 
Oklahomans, his kindness, generosity, and love for his community might 
be what we remember most.
  Now remember, Mr. Speaker, Wes received his degree in agricultural 
education, and he was certainly an educator and a mentor to his very 
core. In his later years, he spent time counseling young people who 
sought his guidance. He would ask these young people the same questions 
that he had once asked himself: What is your mission? What are you all 
about? What is your passion?
  Oklahomans will remember Wes Watkins as a dedicated public servant 
who fought hard to bring abundant opportunities and true prosperity to 
his neighbors. He never forgot his original mission of serving 
Oklahoma, and the work of his lifetime will continue to benefit the 
State for literally centuries to come.
  One last thought: When his time in D.C. was done, Wes went straight 
back to Oklahoma.

                          ____________________