[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 27709]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   TRIBUTE TO RETIRING UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PRESIDENT JOHN LOMBARDI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kuykendall). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, first I want to pay just a few moments of 
tribute to one of the most distinguished gentlemen I know in the State 
of Florida, a gentleman I have known for the past decade, who has 
headed the University of Florida, Mr. John Lombardi. John Lombardi is 
retiring as the President of the University of Florida. I have had an 
opportunity since I first attended the University of Florida, it will 
be some 40 years ago, in 1960, as a freshman on that campus, to see the 
University of Florida, which gave me an incredible opportunity in life, 
an educational advantage. I have seen many Presidents, J. Wayne Reitz, 
Phil O'Connell, Bob Marston, Marshall Criser, the interim President 
Bryan and others who have done a superb job in leading our first and 
foremost university in Florida, the University of Florida in 
Gainesville. But I have never seen an individual who has done a more 
incredible job in bringing together success in academics, success in 
programs, success in contributions to the university, both financial 
contributions and incredible standing. There just is no one who has 
done a more incredible job than John Lombardi. As he departs this week 
after a decade of service to our university, to our State, I salute him 
along with other members of the Florida delegation for what he has done 
for my alma mater, in raising the academic standards and improving 
student performance and increasing graduation rates, and for increasing 
the number of degreed programs and again the academic standing that he 
brought to the University of Florida through his efforts.
  Just a word of praise, also, for his gracious, hardworking wife 
Carolyn who also with John Lombardi provided her leadership as really 
our first lady and spokesperson for the university and tremendous 
hostess for the university. Another tireless, devoted individual who 
gave so much to the University of Florida. We truly will miss them, but 
we are truly grateful for their tremendous contributions, Mr. Speaker.
  The final tribute is not given by me but given by the graduates to 
John Lombardi of this fall's term. Even though there is an interim 
president coming, a very distinguished gentleman coming, they have 
signed a petition, the graduating seniors, to request that John 
Lombardi sign their diplomas, a final salute, not only from alumni and 
distinguished alumni from throughout the country and the State but even 
from those graduating this year. So, John Lombardi, we salute you, and 
you have done a tremendous job.
  Mr. Speaker, I also wanted to speak in my remaining few moments to 
the comments of the last speakers who accuse the Republicans of 
stealing or robbing from Social Security. What could be more absurd? 
Every time the Democrats came to the floor and controlled the House of 
Representatives for 40 years, they in fact not only spent all the money 
in the Social Security trust fund, they went beyond that and spent 200 
and $300 billion more per year in funding beyond that. This Republican 
controlled Congress is the first time we have brought our financial 
house into order. We have never said to do away with Social Security. 
We said the other side bankrupted Social Security. We laid the facts 
and the information before the American public and we looked for 
alternatives to take pressure off of Social Security so that Social 
Security could be secure and not robbed.
  So for the first time, and again I cannot believe they can come to 
the floor with a straight face and to the American people and say that 
the Republicans have not been good trustees of this fund. I urge my 
colleagues and the American people to look for the truth, not rhetoric.

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