[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 21006-21007]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE JERRY SOLOMON, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW 
                                  YORK

  Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend my remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, as the Member who succeeded Congressman 
Jerry Solomon to this body 3 years ago, I am sad to report his untimely 
passing.
  Jerry Solomon served in this body with distinction for 20 years, 
since 1978. We are all familiar with the phrase ``My country, right or 
wrong.'' With Jerry, it was more basic than that; it was ``My country 
is right.''
  Congressman Solomon has many friends in this House, and I count 
myself among them. I doubt there is one among us who did not respect 
him. He was an American's American, a Marine's Marine, a veteran's 
veteran.
  Devoted to his wife, Freda, his five children, and his six 
grandchildren, Jerry Solomon became a great statesman but always 
remained a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
  He was a man who ``called 'em as he saw 'em.'' Over his career, he 
led the way on veterans' issues, culminating in the establishment of a 
cabinet post for veterans affairs.

[[Page 21007]]

  He led the way in fighting to secure an amendment to our Constitution 
to protect our flag.
  He brought a National Cemetery to Saratoga, New York, where he 
himself will be laid to rest tomorrow.
  In the final years in this House, Jerry Solomon served as chairman of 
the Committee on Rules. That achievement speaks volumes about the man, 
the leader, and the legislator.
  What I learned about Congressman Solomon many among us know: If he 
cared enough to tell someone something, they had better listen.
  Mr. Speaker, Congressman Jerry Solomon has left us, but neither he 
nor his achievements will ever be forgotten.

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