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



                TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE EDWARD A. PEASE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of what I believe 
to be one of Indiana's greatest, and that is Representative Ed Pease. 
Ed Pease is not just a public official, he is an outstanding public 
servant.
  I have known Ed Pease for many years. As a matter of fact, I have 
known him longer than I have any other member of the Indiana 
Congressional delegation. We had the pleasure of serving with him in 
the Indiana State Senate between 1980 and 1990 and in the House of 
Representatives here in Congress since 1996.
  Although we hardly ever vote alike, and certainly do not look alike, 
and do not happen to belong to the same political party, some people 
may refer to us as the odd couple, because we do think a lot about a 
lot of things in terms of values and principles. I wanted to stand here 
today and give Ed Pease, wherever he is, a standing ovation for 
outstanding public service.
  Members on both sides of the aisle were saddened to learn of Mr. 
Pease's retirement that he announced in April of this year. He has 
always been a thoughtful lawmaker. His neighbor-to-neighbor politics 
have served Indiana's Seventh District extremely well. He has been a 
sincere leader in the House, and will be missed by both sides.
  This sincerity was illustrated when confronted by the press about his 
retirement, Congressman Pease replied, ``I ask only that you remember 
that you elected me to exercise my best judgment, and I do so no less 
in this decision.''
  Many, however, still feel that Mr. Pease's tenure in the House was 
too short, and it is not hard to understand why. Mr. Pease was often 
called upon to lead this House as Speaker of the House pro tempore, and 
his parliamentary skills and strong reputation for fairness have proved 
invaluable in times of heated debate.
  Ed Pease worked tirelessly on matters affecting his fellow Hoosiers, 
including Indiana's return of Federal fuel tax dollars. One of his 
proudest moments came when he secured a 92 percent return on the fuel 
tax dollars for the State of Indiana.
  I will miss Congressman Pease immensely, and know that this body is 
the poorer as a result of his departure. I realize that there have been 
happenstances that have occurred to him during his membership here 
which undoubtedly will deter his interest in continuing his membership 
in this august body, but I am often reminded of a little phrase that we 
had to master when we were building our typing skills in school, and 
that was about all good men coming to the aid of the party. Certainly 
Ed Pease has come not only to the aid of his party, but he has come to 
the aid of the State of Indiana, and certainly the United States 
Congress.
  I would close in reminding my distinguished colleague, wherever he is 
at this moment, that there was a very wise poet that wrote many years 
ago, for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows; and that 
somewhere in the darkest night, a candle glows.
  Despite the adverse incidents of Mr. Pease's experience here in 
Washington, D.C., as a Member of the House of Representatives, that 
rain that has fallen certainly will provide a flower to grow for many 
years to come, and he will certainly be a light, not only for the 
citizens of the State of Indiana, but for this country as well.
  I know that whatever Congressman Pease chooses to do next, he will 
continue his service to the country with the same attributes that he 
displayed in the House of Representatives.

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