[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 22939-22941]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
   EXPRESSING APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Thornberry). Under the Speaker's 
announced policy of January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Bentsen) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority 
leader.
  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in what will be my last speech 
as a Member of the House to thank the people of Texas' 25th 
Congressional District for the privilege they have bestowed upon me to 
serve as their representative over these past 8 years.
  I want to at the outset thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Pelosi), the distinguished minority whip and incoming minority leader, 
who in fact, as she mentioned, her grandchildren do live in the 
district that I have had the honor of representing. She has been a 
great whip, she is going to be a great leader for our caucus, and we 
can expect some wonderful things from her over the years.
  I would also like to thank the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood). 
We have spent many hours together on flights, his flight a lot longer 
than mine, but to get to Guam, he had to go through Houston, so we had 
a good deal of time to spend together.
  Of course, Mr. Speaker, yourself as the Speaker's designee, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry), my colleague and classmate from 
the 104th Congress, and it has been a privilege to serve with him as 
well.
  I can think of no greater honor than to be elected by one's fellow 
citizens to serve as their voice and vote in this, the people's House, 
in matters affecting their life, liberty, and property. I consider 
myself to be among the fortunate few Americans, less than 10,000 
throughout history, who have had the opportunity to serve in this body.
  Mr. Speaker, as I have served, I have learned more about my country 
and what it means to be an American, and I have learned more about my 
heritage and home as a representative of the people of Texas. I often 
have told friends at home how in this job it is not just the public 
figures with whom one interacts that are the most interesting but 
rather it is a chance to meet so many of one's fellow citizens in one's 
district who, but for this position, I would have never come to meet or 
know. As I leave the House, I do so with a far greater understanding of 
my constituency and my roots than when I arrived 8 years ago.
  Furthermore, I have had the distinct pleasure of serving with my 
colleagues from all across this great Nation, from all walks of life, 
and from all points of view for whom I have the greatest respect. 
Serving in the House of Representatives gives one a more clear 
understanding of just how big and diverse our Nation has really become. 
The House is truly a unique national institution in that its Members 
are the closest to the people and their whims, and underscore our 
cultural, geographical, philosophical, ethnic, and religious diversity.
  While ideology and partisan considerations have frequently divided 
us, it often seems that geography and culture are paramount. More 
importantly, one learns that there is more to our Nation than his or 
her district. It is the sum of these districts, their geography and 
cultures, that make us whole and strong. Even in this post-modern age, 
220 years since the founding of our Nation, what de Touqueville saw in 
our democratic experience when he visited the United States in 1831 
still holds true today.
  Throughout my tenure, I have had the opportunity to witness and 
participate in a part of our Nation's history. I arrived with the 
Republican takeover of the House, a position I certainly did not 
advocate, but that was nonetheless historic. I watched as the 
government came to a halt and a presidency was resurrected after a 
stinging mid-term defeat. Even as the Congress took a turn to the 
right, I was able to participate in the greatest expansion of access to 
health care since Lyndon Johnson was President through the Children's 
Health Insurance Program and the largest investment in higher education 
since Eisenhower was President.

[[Page 22940]]

  We went from deficits as far as the eye can see to an era of 
surpluses in paying down the Nation's debt, only to see deficits and 
debt return. I was here when we dismantled the regulatory barriers 
going back to the New Deal in finance and telecommunications and saw 
the rise of the new economy. We began making dramatic new investments 
in health and in basic science research as we witnessed historic 
breakthroughs such as the mapping of the human genetic structure. We 
enjoyed the ``best economy in a generation'' and impeached a President, 
witnessed the downfall of a Speaker, a tied national election and 
Supreme Court intervention for the first time in the history of our 
Nation, and saw that even in our time, mankind was still capable of 
genocide in Europe and Africa.
  Then we suffered a startling and devastating attack, killing nearly 
4,000 innocent Americans and others, and found our Nation at war and, 
once again, saw the economy go into a free-fall. Yet the American 
people and its Congress rallied to the Nation's common defense.
  It has been, to say the least, an exciting 8 years. As I take my 
leave, I do so with my faith restored in the American democratic 
experiment, now more than 220 years old. While elections may come and 
go, this body continues to operate. While we may disagree, we continue 
to do so in debate, rather than through insurrection and armed 
struggle. If I have any concerns, it is that perhaps we do not debate 
enough and that we have become less inclined to point out our 
differences in philosophy. I fear that frustration from our inability 
to compromise is resulting in an unhealthy cleansing of our 
philosophical differences under a forced and conceived cloak of 
bipartisanship.
  Throughout my tenure, I have been willing on more than a few 
occasions to walk across the aisle to reach a compromise and achieve a 
greater good. We did this with the Budget Act in 1997, the children's 
health care program, and just recently with the Trade Adjustment 
Assistance Act, to name but a few.
  I do not believe that compromise is a four-letter word, but, at the 
same time, I have become dismayed with the rising chorus of those who 
believe Members should hide their partisan and philosophical 
differences as a means to achieving an end. If we become devoid of any 
beliefs, can we effectively represent those who have them? Most of us, 
if not all of us, were sent here because we believed in something, and 
the people who sent us here believed in us. We should not be afraid to 
debate our positions and differences any more than we should be afraid 
to compromise at the end of a debate, if it is for the good of the 
Nation.
  Too often, the perfect has been the enemy of the good. The world just 
does not operate that way. While I appreciate the position of the 
majority under the Rules of the House, I have often been frustrated not 
so much by the loss of debate than by the lack of any real debate. It 
all too often seems that the majority is more concerned with stifling 
debate of issues, rather than the potential altering of their outcome.
  Members of the minority and the majority should be concerned with any 
curtailment of actual debate. History tells us that our Founders were 
not monolithic in philosophy and thought. Jefferson and Adams were 
political adversaries, yet they served together in an administration. 
Neither compromised their views, but they led a young Nation. The 
Congress must again learn to marry its ideological differences, debate, 
deliberation, and leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, as successful as our Nation has been throughout its 
short history, we confront many problems both at home and abroad. In an 
amazingly short time, we have lost our fiscal discipline just about at 
the time Social Security and Medicare will begin to feel the burden of 
the retiring baby boomers. And yet it seems that few are willing to 
face the reality of this pending crisis. We still have too many without 
adequate access to health care, even though we have the very best 
medical assets in the history of the world.
  I have had the honor of representing the world's largest medical 
center, the Texas Medical Center, with some of the greatest researchers 
and institutions on the planet and yet, even with its dedicated staff 
and investment, within a mile of these fine people and institutions too 
many of our fellow citizens lack access to the benefits of their care.
  We still have too many Americans struggling to make ends meet, even 
though we have proven to have the most efficient and successful 
economic model.
  We still face dangers and threats, even though we have the strongest 
military, by far. Our democracy and way of life may well face threats 
if we do not act, not merely to defend ourselves and our allies, but to 
eradicate poverty and tyranny throughout the world. The growing number 
of poor throughout the world is immoral and should be unacceptable to a 
free and democratic society such as ours. Failure to use our economic 
might and commitment to freedom and individual liberty can only result 
in a greater threat to our own freedoms.
  The challenges are too great to ignore, but I believe the people of 
this body possess the ability, if they muster the will. As America 
continues to lead, we must confront those issues before they confront 
us.
  Mr. Speaker, mine has been a tremendous experience for which I am 
truly grateful to my constituents. I have always tried my best to 
represent not just those who voted for me but those who voted for 
someone else and those who did not vote at all. I have had the benefit 
of serving alongside some of the finest individuals I will ever meet, 
from both parties and Independents, and while their friendship will 
endure, more importantly, as I return to private life, I am comforted 
in knowing that the leadership of the Nation remains in such competent 
and committed hands.
  My tenure in the House would not have been at all successful had it 
not been for the excellent staff who tirelessly served the people of 
the 25th district and our Nation. Often going unnoticed, these 
individuals deserve the credit for a job well done, as I know Members 
would agree about their own staff. I would like to take a moment to 
read their names into the Record, because they deserve to be inscribed 
in the history of this body for the work they have done.
  Mr. Speaker, if my colleagues permit me, they are as follows: of my 
current staff, Ms. Willie Belle Boone, Ms. Jessica de la Torre-Sauceda, 
Ms. Bradley Edgell, Ms. Ashley Etienne, Ms. Lisa Hallford, Ms. 
Gabrielle Hargrove, Ms. Victoria Johnson, Ms. Amber Moon, Ms. Brenda 
Murphy, Mr. Dominic Nguyen, Ms. Hava Rothman, Mr. J.J. Slater, Ms. Pat 
Strong, Mr. Andrew Wallace, the Honorable Ed Watson, and Ms. Barbara 
Winters.
  Of our former staff, Mr. Ron Allen, Mr. Stephen Brown, Ms. Rosemary 
Burkland, Mr. Lloyd Chinn, Ms. Rosaline Cohen, Mr. Mark Daley, Ms. 
Audrey Duff, Ms. Natalya Estridge, Mr. Ruben Garcia, Ms. Jennifer 
Goodman, Ms. Meredith Grabois, Mr. Stephen Hofmann, Mr. Jonathan 
Kaplan, Mr. Lincoln Lobley, Thomas Mayo, Ms. Sandy McManus, Mr. Gary 
Palmquist, Ms. Sonya Pastor, Ms. Diane Patterson, Mr. Isaac Pesin, Ms. 
Sheryl Roppolo, Ms. Patricia Rojas, Ms. Susan Schieffer, Ms. Jessica 
Segal, Ms. Lisa Sherrod, Mr. Whet Smith, Ms. Samantha Smoot, Ms. 
Barbara Stalder, Ms. Kathryn Tsuchida, Mr. Jeremy Warren, Mr. Vince 
Willmore, Ms. Jennifer Winans, Mr. Patrick Woehrle, and Mr. Bobby 
Zafarnia.
  In addition, Katie Rosenberg who served as a page, and 75, more than 
75 interns who served in our offices in Washington and throughout the 
district.
  These individuals have, in many ways, become an extension of our 
family; and we will always be grateful.
  I also want to thank the professional staff with whom I have had the 
privilege to work with here on the floor, the Parliamentarian, the 
Sergeant at Arms, the Chaplain, the Clerk, and the Cloakroom and in 
committee. They, too, are among the most dedicated souls I have ever 
met. As some may

[[Page 22941]]

know, I, too, was once staff of this institution and I understand the 
burdens of their jobs and I leave with nothing but the highest respect.
  Mr. Speaker, let me thank my family for allowing me the opportunity 
to seek and undertake my position as a Member of the House. As every 
Member knows, this job, with all of its glory and grandeur, can be 
grueling on our families. No Member is an exception to this rule. But, 
at the same time, my wonderful wife, Tamra, who is in the gallery today 
and our two beautiful daughters, Louise and Meredith, have found a home 
and an extended family in this body.
  I can still remember my first day on January 4, 1995, sitting just to 
the right of where I stand today with our two girls, then just 2 and 4. 
It was a long day with a lot of speeches. The gentlewoman from New York 
(Mrs. Maloney), juggled Meredith, while Louise searched the floor for 
something else to do.
  Throughout the years, these two girls have grown up in part on this 
floor, playing in the cloakroom, wrestling and dozing off in chairs 
during late-night debates. They harassed the staff, created havoc, and 
always felt at home.
  I cannot thank the Members and the staff enough for what you have 
done to make my family part of the experience. They have had to put up 
with a lot, nights and days away, missed school events and uncertain 
schedules.

                              {time}  1230

  All too often Tamra had to play the role of both parents in my 
absence. I know it was not easy.
  I once heard Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia speak at the National Prayer 
Breakfast, and he said, when asked what his greatest accomplishment was 
in all those years in the other body, that ``I kept my family 
together.'' He was right. But I also know that Tamra, Louise, Meredith, 
and I will miss this place, and it will forever be etched upon our 
hearts.
  Mr. Speaker, 8 years ago I was given the opportunity to serve my 
fellow citizens of Texas' 25th Congressional District, my State, and my 
Nation. Few get that chance, not only to witness history, but to 
participate in its making, even if in a small way. I have had that 
chance, and I have tried my hardest every day to do the very best that 
I could. We did not win every battle, but I believe we finished ahead 
of where we started. I am confident that our efforts have resulted in 
the betterment of people's lives.
  Most of all, I have had the chance to serve my people, doing the same 
that our forefathers did more than 200 years ago in the founding of 
this Nation. The people of the 25th Congressional District gave me this 
opportunity to be a part of history and the American democratic 
experiment, and for that I shall be eternally grateful.

                          ____________________