[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 24372]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



        TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE RON PACKARD, MEMBER OF CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Packard).
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Doolittle) for yielding to me.
  I am overwhelmed by my colleagues and the generous, kind things that 
they have said. I have had the privilege to serve in Congress for 18 
years now. I shall be eternally grateful to my constituents, the voters 
of my district, in San Diego County, Orange County, and Riverside 
County for allowing me to represent them here in Congress. To 
participate in the greatest legislative body in the world is a 
privilege that only a few have experienced, and I have been blessed 
beyond measure with that privilege.
  When I first came to Congress, there were several major goals that I 
had hoped we could achieve together in our government. We were awash in 
deficit spending, adding to the national debt between $200 billion and 
$400 billion a year. I wanted to see our government live within its 
revenues and balance its budget. I wanted to restructure the 
entitlements of welfare and Medicare and Social Security. I wanted to 
reduce the heavy tax burden of our taxpayers. I wanted to strengthen 
our defense. I wanted to reduce the size of government and make it more 
efficient and more effective.
  Who could have dreamed 18 years ago that we would be able, 
Republicans and Democrats together, to accomplish these remarkable 
goals? It has been a great time to serve in the House of 
Representatives. The opportunity to serve with each Member of Congress 
has been a wonderful treat, both sides of the aisle. I have not found 
it any more difficult to love and appreciate my Democratic friends than 
my Republican friends.
  To work with a competent and loyal staff has been a great privilege. 
I have had great staff members throughout my career.
  To serve with President Reagan and President Bush and, yes, with 
President Clinton, has been a very memorable experience for me.
  I sincerely appreciate the kind and generous remarks of my colleagues 
from California and from all the other States that have been here. I 
love them dearly.
  Lastly, I must express my deep love and admiration that I have for my 
wife, Jean. This job is particularly difficult for spouses and for 
family members. No Member of Congress could enjoy love and support and 
devotion more than I have from my wonderful wife and family. I am so 
fortunate.
  I love what I do in this hallowed Chamber. I love America. I will 
miss dearly my colleagues, my constituents, my staff. I will miss the 
work. I love what we do here. I will not miss the uncertain schedule. I 
will not miss the fund-raising nor the campaigning. I will not miss the 
regular traveling from coast to coast. But I have learned that there 
are only three ways to leave this place, and two of them are real bad. 
I am leaving the right way, at the top of my career.
  I am a praying man. I pray every day. And I will pray daily for all 
of my colleagues who continue this great work and service in this great 
deliberative body. I will miss you all very dearly. I love you and I 
love the work. I bid you a very fond farewell.
  I want to thank those that put together this most memorable hour 
together. I deeply appreciate my colleagues, all of you. Thank you 
very, very much.

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