[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14651-14652]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE TONY HALL

  (Mrs. EMERSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join with my colleagues in 
paying special tribute to an extraordinary individual and one who has 
touched the lives of the entire Emerson family over many, many years.
  Mr. Speaker, I recall the friendship, the very close and deep 
friendship that Tony had with my late husband, Bill; the faith that 
they shared together, the friendship they shared together, and the 
compassion that Tony showed, and the deep faith and love Tony showed 
for Bill as he held our hands and Bill's hand through a very fatal 
illness and his subsequent death. All of this in spite of the fact that 
his own son was very seriously ill.
  But I guess that should not come as a surprise to anyone who knows 
Tony, because I can think of no person who is more of a hero and more 
of an inspiration than Tony Hall, not only in the work that he has done 
throughout his years in Congress, but truly, there is no one who has 
put a more human face on the issue of hunger, both here and abroad.
  Mr. Speaker, I remember so very well the time that Tony went on the 
hunger strike so that he would finally make all of us, or all of our 
colleagues; I was not in Congress back then, but Bill Emerson and 
everyone understood that there was a very serious problem in the United 
States and in the world, and that Congress needed to get serious about 
this issue. He made his mark. He made it not only here in the Congress, 
but throughout the United States and throughout the world.
  As Tony leaves his position here in Congress and he leaves his 
position as the chairman of the Congressional Hunger Center, he has 
left me in a bit of a precarious position, because Tony had recommended 
that I become the

[[Page 14652]]

new chairman of the Congressional Hunger Center, and I do not think I 
have ever been so scared of anything in my life, nor so intimidated, 
because no one, no one could possibly fill the shoes that you, Tony, 
have. You are a remarkable person, and I am so pleased that the 
President understood the gift that you have for people, the gift you 
have for life, the faith, the leadership, the inspiration that you give 
to all of us.
  As you move to this very, very important job in Rome, all of us will 
be with you in spirit, be praying for you, and know that there is no 
better person to help the world understand the investment we must make 
to rid the world of hunger.
  Thank you, Tony, so much for being our friend, for being our 
colleague, and for being a real and genuine person who always cares 
more about others than yourself.

                          ____________________