[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 25239-25242]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                             FOND FAREWELL

  (Mr. FORBES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the privilege of having the 
floor to address my colleagues, and I stand here out of respect and 
great admiration and affection for Members of Congress on both sides of 
the aisle.
  Six years ago, when I came first upon the floor of this hallowed 
institution, I was eyewitness to a moment rare in the history of our 
Republic. After 40 years of one-party rule, the opposing party came to 
power. In 50 congressional elections over as many years the House of 
Representatives had changed hands only eight times and, yes, as a 
result of each time, the fabric of our democracy was indeed 
strengthened, strengthened not by mere change of political party alone 
but by the collective act of ordinary citizens who cared enough to let 
their will be exercised at the ballot box.
  It was a change of power made ever more amazing when cast against a 
world where such occurrences even in this most sophisticated of ages 
are too often marked by bloody violence. No blood was shed, thankfully, 
for ours is a freedom made whole by the sacrifices of generations of 
Americans who at a tender age put their Nation ahead of themselves.
  Our fellow citizens cherish this vibrant and living democracy that 
manifests itself each day in the august halls of this Congress. It is 
they who witness a collection in this body of individuals who give hope 
to the powerless, promise to the forgotten, and justice to the ignored.
  With recorded history dating back some 5,000 years, two centuries of 
the House of Representatives seems somewhat like a relatively new 
experience and a somewhat new endeavor. However, relatively few have 
been honored to come to this place to give their vote and their voice 
for their communities. Since first convened in 1789, fewer than 10,000 
people have had the privilege of representing their fellow Americans. 
It is in that context alone that I stand here humbled and privileged to 
have been a Member of this august house.
  While the focus too often is on the partisan battles that many 
Americans mistakenly believe consume all our time and energy, the good 
news is this: that it is truly a deliberative body. As Speaker O'Neill 
said, when he first took the gavel, ``The House is greater than any of 
us. Its greatness is the product of 435 human beings contending with 
extraordinary problems.'' He was right then and he would be right 
today.
  As an institution, we have much for which to be proud. Members of the 
House really do spend most of their time, I believe, engaged in a quest 
for solutions to some of the most vexing questions of our day: health 
care for the uninsured, drugs on our streets, children left behind 
because of failing schools or the absence of a strong guiding hand, 
families overwhelmed as they balance their home life and their jobs in 
search of adequate safe, affordable day care for their children, these 
and

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other domestic challenges; to goals more global, matters that ensure 
our national security and which promote freedom and democracy 
throughout the world.
  Each of us approaches these needs from different vantage points and 
with distinct opinions. In this the greatest experiment in governing 
the world has ever known, we do in fact endeavor in this democracy to 
work together, to find common ground in benefit of all Americans.
  Looking over my past three terms, I take comfort in the 
accomplishments that came together because we all worked together; an 
end to deficit spending, the advent of surpluses and a balanced Federal 
budget, welfare reform, a new Telecommunications Act, updating the 
depression era statutes that govern the financial services sector, the 
Kennedy-Kassebaum initiative that made health insurance portable, and 
an expanded opportunity to make sure that every child is covered with 
health care.
  The economy of our Nation has turned around from looming deficits in 
the hundreds of billions of dollars to today's surpluses of similar 
amounts. Our economic engine is roaring, our fiscal health better than 
ever, and our future is so very full of promise. It is humbling to be a 
part of guiding bipartisan policies that delivered our Nation its 
healthiest economy ever.
  For me, it has always been about championing the interest of the 
folks at home, like so many of my colleagues. I cherish our Main Street 
businesses or, as my father used to say, those down-street merchants; 
whether it is the mom and pop grocery store, or the travel agency 
around the block, these small businesses are revitalizing our 
communities, creating jobs, and ensuring long-term prosperity for us 
all. The $26 million made possible by Congress is revitalizing the 
older downtown areas of my own home county of Suffolk in New York.
  I am proud to have given voice to the needs of our children. My 
priorities have included families desperate to locate safe, affordable 
day care, better schools with fewer students in the class and after-
school programs like the ones promoted by the Police Athletic League, 
and the nurturing of those who give so much to those who have lost one 
or both of their parents, drugs or neglect. I am reminded of the good 
work, for example, of the people at Little Flower Children's Services 
located in Brooklyn and Wading River, New York. This is a special place 
that will always remain close to my heart.
  I am appreciative, most of all, of the bipartisan support we get for 
a healthier, cleaner environment, the Army Corps dollars that have 
fixed up Long Island's coastline, protected our fishing industry and 
made sure that for the first time we have ongoing efforts in the 
Federal Government to preserve open spaces and areas that are feeling 
the pressures of development like those on Long Island. The expanded 
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge and, of course, the Otis Pike 
Preserve at Calverton, named after my former predecessor and long-time 
colleague of most of us, 18 years in the House, Otis Pike, is testament 
that this Congress has worked hard in a bipartisan way to preserve open 
spaces, and for that I am most grateful.
  I take with me a sense of satisfaction for having taken up the cause 
of senior citizens and our veterans, and I look for great things to 
come from future Congresses in that regard because we all do try to 
stay very close to that very important World War II generation, and I 
have worked hard during my term to develop close relationships with 
those folks as well.
  Successes achieved over the last several years are not mine alone. 
Clearly, as we all know, one of our best assets here on Capitol Hill is 
the dedicated, hard working staff, a loyal staff, that assists both 
myself and other Members of Congress. And I think particularly of those 
folks who serve on the Committee on Appropriations and are doing 
yeomen's work as I speak right now; those on the Committee on Banking 
and Financial Services, the Committee on Small Business and, of course, 
my special friends over at the Helsinki Commission.
  My colleagues, we all know our greatest asset is clearly the talented 
people that make this place successful; the staff, the committee staff, 
the personal staffs, the doorkeepers, the Capitol Police, the wonderful 
people who work late into the night to clean our offices, those people 
who are maintaining these historic buildings, and I would like to also 
recognize people who are very important to all of us on both sides of 
the aisle, I call them the nurturers, the people in our cloakrooms, 
particularly Helen and Pat in the Republican cloakroom, and Rhonda and 
Ella in the Democratic cloakroom. They take care of us each and every 
day and make our jobs a lot easier.
  To the people who have worked in my own office, especially over the 
last year and a half, I thank them for the sacrifices that they have 
made and the dedication that they have brought to the people of the 
First District of New York. These individuals have made us all proud 
and these successes clearly are their successes. It would take a little 
more time than I have now to mention all of the wonderful staff who 
have been devoted to me and who have really sacrificed so much, but 
they know who they are, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart 
for the sacrifices they have made.
  And a special note, of course, to my Chief of Staff David Williams, 
who left a secure job to come over and help me, and he did yeomen's 
work, for which I am forever grateful.

                              {time}  1400

  I want to take a moment, if I might, to appreciate my colleagues 
indulging me just a minute further here. I want to thank those many 
wonderful colleagues on both sides of the aisle, for it has been a 
special privilege for me to serve in this House and to represent the 
area where I was born and raised and grew up.
  To have known such talented Members of Congress and to have their 
friendship and their guiding hand and most of all their kindness, I am 
forever grateful. I must mention, of course, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hastert), the Speaker of the House, who has been a good 
and decent man and who has a very, very tough job.
  I also note, with fondness, my good friend the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Gephardt) for his counsel, for his friendship and most of 
all for his belief in me. I am forever grateful. And to the gentleman 
from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) whose fairness and seasoned leadership has 
always inspired me.
  I am particularly appreciative of the chairman of the Committee on 
Appropriations, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), my friend, and 
the former chairman, Bob Livingston. The gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Murtha) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) have served 
as special friends to me. And I could get myself in trouble by going on 
and on and on. But I do want to make special recognition of my friend, 
the gentleman from the New York delegation (Mr. Rangel), the dean of 
our delegation, who has been just a tremendous leader. And we have 
great things yet to come from him, as well as my good friend the 
gentleman from the Bronx, New York (Mr. Engel), the gentleman from 
Nassau County, New York (Mr. King), the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Ackerman), the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy), and all my 
friends in the delegation who have really made my service here that 
much more enjoyable. We come to this place from every corner of 
America. We seek to influence and we, in turn, are influenced.
  Among the many, two who have come to this chamber and who have left a 
living example that endures as impressions for me are the gentleman 
from Missouri, the late Mr. Emerson, and the gentleman from Minnesota, 
the late Mr. Vento. From opposite parties, they worked to reach across 
the aisle to build friendships, dialogue, to find common ground with an 
adversary relationship. And as the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. 
Emerson) reminds us about her late husband, and this applies equally to 
so to the gentleman from Minnesota, Mr. Vento, they put people before 
politics and ideas before ideology.

[[Page 25241]]

  Mr. Vento and Mr. Emerson have left us now. But their 
humanitarianism, their decency, their gentle and giving ways leave a 
lasting legacy on which to build greater civility in this House.
  Though it is unlikely that I will be here in the 107th Congress, I 
leave this place holding each and every one of you, Democrat, 
Republican, and Independent, in the highest esteem, understanding we 
come at this awesome responsibility with respect for this most sacred 
institution and the best interest of this Nation at heart.
  I thank you my friends, my colleagues. It has been a great run. May 
God bless each and every one of you, and may God bless our Nation.
  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FORBES. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from New York for 
yielding to me. I would not forgive myself if at this time I did not 
say what was in my heart.
  I have had the honor and privilege of serving in this body now for 
six terms, for 12 years. And I look forward to coming back to the new 
Congress. I have had many colleagues and have enormous respect for so 
many people, but I want the gentleman from New York (Mr. Forbes) to 
know that there is no one for whom I have more respect than he. And I 
know this personally because the gentleman and I are good friends and 
we have spent a lot of time together.
  Many, many times in life we are called to do certain things and we 
never quite know how we are going to react to them when we are called 
upon. Many people act of principle and some people do not, frankly, 
because they fear what the consequences might be.
  I want to tell the gentleman that I have seen him to be a man of 
principle and to not worry about what consequences might be but to do 
what he thinks right in his heart. I have seen the gentleman make 
decisions, some agonizing decisions and some that lesser people might 
not have made.
  So I just want to tell the gentleman that I personally am enormously 
proud of him. I know the people of the First District of New York have 
been served tremendously well by him in Congress. And people in the 
First District ought to know that, in my opinion, there is no one 
finer, there is no one who works harder, there is no one who has been 
more effective than the gentleman from New York (Mr. Forbes), 
representing that district, representing all the people of New York, 
and representing the people of the United States.
  I have again enormous respect for all of my colleagues, but I think 
that all of us in life walk a very difficult task and there are times 
that we have decisions to make.
  Let me just say to my friend, you have always in my estimation made 
the right decision, not the right decision for you personally perhaps, 
but the right decision for the country, the right decision for your 
constituent, and just doing what is right.
  So it has been a privilege to be your colleague. It is an even bigger 
privilege to be your friend. And we will continue to be friends. I want 
to tell you that my career in Congress has certainly been enriched by 
working with you and in walking the walk with you. I wish Godspeed to 
you and Barbara and your children and children to be and all good 
things and I know life is going to treat you well, because you have 
certainly treated life well and treated the people whom you have 
touched very well.
  So Godspeed, my friend. I know you may not be here next year, but we 
have not heard the end of you yet. I love you, and I wish you the best.
  Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FORBES. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The gentleman is recognized. 
But it might be noted that the Chair has been very lenient with the 
time.
  Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, let me just say that I have a tremendous 
admiration for the gentleman from New York (Mr. Forbes).
  I think one thing in particular deserves comment. We have on fairly 
rare occasions in this House seen people across the aisle walk from one 
side of the aisle to the other. People have done it for all sorts of 
motives. And I am not going to comment on the motives of anybody, 
except to say that I am not sure if the history of this body ever 
records someone going from the majority to the minority party and from 
the situation of a safe reelection to guarantee a difficult reelection 
and a situation in which one can ascribe no conceivable political 
motive other than conviction of principle. And for that, I think that 
whatever one thinks of either of the parties, one must admire greatly 
the very deliberate undertaking of political risk for no reason other 
than matters of principle.
  We see too little of that in any legislative body and in public life 
generally. I certainly want to say that the gentleman has my great 
admiration for his actions and for his motives in those actions and 
also for his service in this House, which for the last 6 years has been 
very honorable.
  I have had my eye on the gentleman since we first debated some TV 
show in the House gallery 5 or 6 years ago, and it has been a pleasure 
to serve and I look forward to working with you in other walks for many 
years to come.
  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FORBES. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, as the dean of the New York State 
Delegation, let me say to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Forbes) you 
are a class act no matter what party label that you have had, working 
with you in the delegation, always the first thing that you had as a 
priority was what was good for our State. And so, coming over to the 
Democratic side, we did not have to find out who you were. You were a 
quality Member there.
  And so, from what I hear, there is a life outside of the Congress and 
I am confident that God would bless you with good fortune for you and 
Barbara. And you can count on our friendship in the delegation and I 
might say on both sides of that aisle to guide and support you in 
whatever you decide.
  Godspeed.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FORBES. I yield to the gentlewoman from New York.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman is recognized. Again, this 
is with great latitude from the Chair.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I wanted to join my colleagues in saluting 
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Forbes).
  I have known Michael since he has been here, and I can tell my 
colleagues that this is a man with great courage.
  I can think of several issues. But I can remember several years ago, 
it was 1996 I believe, when I introduced the school modernization bill. 
And now Republicans and Democrats, everyone, is talking about school 
modernization. But the gentleman was one of the four people at that 
point that were willing to sign to be part of the effort. You were a 
leader on school modernization because you understand how very 
important that issue was for his constituency.
  There are a lot of people who talk about it, who talk about a whole 
lot of issues, but the gentleman was the kind of person that would 
stand up for what he believes is right. And I think that was a perfect 
example. And whether it is school modernization or the Long Island 
Sound or health care, you were always there to get support for, to 
speak out for, to make sure that you were doing the best you could to 
fight for your constituents.
  Long Island Sound is an issue that I know you care passionately 
about, and you can be proud of the fact that you took a very important 
role in working hard to make the progress that has taken place in Long 
Island Sound. Now we have a lot more work to do certainly in dealing 
with the lobsters and the lobster men. You were right there on the 
front line.
  It has been such a pleasure for me to know you, to work with you. And 
I know that you will continue to make your mark no matter where you 
choose to make it and you and your wife Barbara and your family will 
continue to

[[Page 25242]]

thrive and to grow and to make a difference.
  Frankly, that is why we are here in this Congress. That is why we are 
here in this great country of ours. We all try in some small way to 
make life better, to make our community better and our Nation better. 
And I know, just as the gentleman is willing to stand up for what he 
believes, to take the positions that you did in this Congress, you will 
continue to stand up for your beliefs, your concerns, your passion and 
make a difference in this life.
  You are a person with character. You are a person who really, truly 
is committed to making this a better world. I am delighted to salute 
you and to thank you for all you have done, and I look forward to 
continuing to work with you and keeping in touch with you.
  Mr. POMEROY. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FORBES. I yield to the gentleman from North Dakota.
  Mr. POMEROY. Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to express my 
appreciate for the Speaker's latitude in allowing us to reflect briefly 
upon the service of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Forbes) here.
  As your term comes to a close, let me just indicate that I, for one, 
certainly am going to continue to think about the example of strength 
and counsel that you have shown during your time here.
  I think that the fundamental thing our constituents expect of us as 
we stand and ask for their vote and then take their trust and come to 
Congress to represent their interests is that we act out of the courage 
of our convictions and we stand by our beliefs. And in the course of 
now four terms, I cannot recall an example where I have seen someone 
exercise the courage of their convictions in the way you have. 
Obviously putting yourself at tremendous political risk and 
irrespective of the consequences, you did it because in your heart you 
felt it was what you had to do.
  Our constituents can expect no finer performance of our 
responsibilities than how you have exhibited, and your example is going 
to be reflected upon by so many of us for a long time to come.
  Mr. FORBES. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the comments of my 
colleagues.

                          ____________________

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