[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14650-14651]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE TONY HALL, A TRUE SERVANT-LEADER IN THE FIGHT 
                       AGAINST POVERTY AND HUNGER

  (Mr. RAMSTAD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the 
greatest humanitarians to ever serve in the United States Congress. 
Congressman Tony Hall has inspired not only the Members of this body, 
but people throughout the entire world, with his untiring and selfless 
dedication to helping people in need.
  Congressman Tony Hall is a true servant-leader. The minute you meet 
Tony and talk to him about what drives him, you can easily understand 
why he has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, in 
1998, 1999 and 2001. Tony Hall's pioneering leadership for hunger 
relief programs and international human rights is legendary.
  After 24 years as a Member of Congress and all Tony Hall has 
accomplished around the world, it is easy to understand why President 
Bush has nominated him for the rank of ambassador as the United States 
representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, 
the organizations that deal with international hunger relief.
  Tony has served the people of his district in Ohio and the people of 
this great country with great distinction for 24 years, and we are all 
going to miss Tony as he leaves the House for his new position. But 
Tony will remain uppermost in our hearts and minds as he continues the 
important work which has defined his legacy here in Congress.
  Tony Hall has left his mark, Mr. Speaker, in so many ways. I have 
worked closely with Tony on many legislative initiatives, including 
hunger, housing, and welfare issues. It has been a real privilege to 
serve with Tony as a member of the Congressional Hunger Center, of 
which Tony Hall is the founder and chairman.
  But, Mr. Speaker, I am even more privileged to have come to know Tony 
and his wonderful wife, Janet, on a personal level and to witness 
firsthand their important ministry to people in need.
  Although examples are endless, one example leaps to mind. Tony and I 
have shared many fond memories of the 20th anniversary dinner of our 
Greater Lake Country Food Bank in Minneapolis, which I helped found. My 
good friend, our good friend, Hy Rosen, who is the director of this 
important food bank in Minnesota, asked me to find a keynote speaker 
for the 20th anniversary celebration in April of 2000. Of course, I 
thought immediately of my friend Tony Hall.
  I will never forget Tony's stirring, inspiring message to the 
overflow crowd of volunteers, staff, and community leaders that night 
at the Greater Lake Country Food Bank. Tony's message inspired all of 
us to work even harder to help fight hunger, inspired all of us to move 
to greater heights in the war against hunger, inspired all of us to 
greater accomplishments on behalf of people in need.
  Tony Hall has that effect on people. Tony can motivate like few 
others because of the way Tony Hall speaks right from the heart. Tony 
Hall walks the walk.
  Mr. Speaker, Tony Hall calls it his ``personal passion'' to fight 
hunger and improve conditions for the neediest people, both here at 
home and abroad.
  Tony and I have been active with an organization in Washington called 
the People's House. I keep a card in my wallet which talks about the 
People's House as a place where any person in our Nation's Capital can 
call and talk to a friend, anytime, night or day. The friends who made 
this possible know that Tony is a true friend to so many people, a 
person who every day sees his calling as helping the less fortunate and 
bringing the light of the Lord into all areas of this life.
  Those of us who know Tony are very pleased to see him continuing the 
important work he began here in Congress 24 years ago in his new 
position

[[Page 14651]]

as ambassador to the U.N. organizations that deal with international 
hunger relief. I might add, this is a great appointment by President 
Bush. He could not have chosen a more qualified, a more compassionate 
or a better individual to serve in this important position.
  I am truly privileged by Tony's friendship the past 12 years; and I 
wish, on behalf of all of the people of Minnesota, Tony and Janet all 
the best in their new challenges. May God bless you both, Tony.

                          ____________________