[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22782]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            PAYING TRIBUTE TO DEPARTING FLORIDA CONGRESSMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of Florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2002

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN Mr. Speaker, it is with a mixture of sadness and 
enthusiasm that I bid farewell to friends and colleagues, Carrie Meek, 
Dan Miller, and Karen Thurman as they prepare to end their service in 
the United States Congress.
  I am sad because I have worked with these extraordinary individuals 
in Congress since 1992 when they were first elected to the House, but I 
am also excited for them as they embark on a new journey.
  I have had the distinct pleasure of not only serving with Congressmen 
Meek and Thurman here in the House, but also in the Florida 
legislature. Dan Miller then made the Florida Congressional delegation 
even stronger when he joined the House in 1992.
  I believe that throughout their tenure in the House these Members 
have dutifully served their districts, the state of Florida, and indeed 
the nation by working on the myriad of issues that have faced us during 
these last ten years. Carrie Meek and Dan Miller were an important 
boost to Florida with their service on the Appropriations Committee and 
Karen Thurman made her mark by being the sixth woman to serve on the 
Ways and Means Committee.
  I am certain their leadership will be missed by the constituents of 
Florida's 5th, 13th , and 17th Congressional districts. For myself, I 
can certainly say that their friendship and accomplishments in the 
House will be sorely missed and I know that they will continue to 
succeed in their chosen paths after their distinguished service in the 
House.
  I am proud to have known and worked with Congressmen Carrie Meek, Dan 
Miller, and Karen Thurman, and I ask my Congressional colleagues to 
join me in paying tribute and saying goodbye to these dear friends. 
Godspeed to them.

                          ____________________