[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 24187]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE TILLIE K. FOWLER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I wanted to come here this evening to 
pay tribute to our colleague who will be leaving us at the end of this 
106th Congress, Tillie Fowler. Before I do that, I know that we have 
our colleague who will also be leaving us, John Porter from the great 
State of Illinois. Although I could not be here for his special order, 
in that I had a commitment, a debate in my County of Montgomery, I did 
send John a letter. But I do want him to know his friendship is so very 
special to all of us, and the work that he has done for the National 
Institutes of Health, which is located in my district, is 
extraordinary. He will forever be remembered for that.
  Madam Speaker, as we talk about Tillie Fowler, who will be leaving 
us, she certainly has been a proven leader for her constituents, a 
fellow Member of this Congress, and, for me, a very dear friend.
  Congresswoman Fowler is known in the Fourth District of Florida as an 
advocate for the military. Her position on the Committee on Armed 
Services has allowed her to keep a close watch on defense funding. She 
has pushed for legislation for our brave military personnel that 
improves salary, gains benefits for families and ensures that they are 
the best trained in the world.
  She has done a lot of traveling to many of our bases to also make 
sure that there is not sex discrimination that takes place, and I 
applaud her for the singular fashion in which she handled that 
challenge.
  Beginning with her appointment as Deputy Majority Whip, Congresswoman 
Fowler has risen in the ranks of the leadership and become the voice of 
reason in this increasingly partisan Congress. As a member of the 
Republican Steering Committee, she has been a force in seeing that 
leadership's agenda goes through Congress, is deliberated, and perhaps 
get the amendments as appropriate so it comes out as something we can 
all approve. The beginning of the 106th Congress saw her election as 
Vice Chair, making her the highest ranking woman in the majority party.
  In addition, Congresswoman Fowler was chosen as the Chairwoman of the 
House Page Board for her dedication to the outstanding experience and 
service that our page program provides, and also the fact that she 
believes in young people and making sure that they have experience, 
firsthand experience, here in Congress, which she sees, as we all do, 
as a very special institution.
  Congresswoman Fowler leaves the U.S. House of Representatives as a 
leader, as a proven legislator and as a friend to all of us. Her voice 
and her expertise are going to be missed. I applaud her accomplishments 
and wish her well in her future pursuits.
  In reflecting upon her, she has always been fair, she has always been 
bipartisan, she has always been a coalition builder, and she knows how 
to wield a velvet glove to get things done.
  Shakespeare's words perhaps aptly reflect Tillie Fowler: ``Those 
about her, from her, shall learn the perfect ways of honor.''
  We again wish her well as she pursues whatever challenges and 
experiences


she seeks, and hope that she will stay in touch with us.

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