[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8051]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   FLOYD SPENCE POST OFFICE BUILDING

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. HENRY E. BROWN, JR.

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 26, 2003

  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
memory of the late Congressman Floyd Spence and to commend his 
extraordinary career as a servant to the nation and to the people of 
South Carolina. Floyd was a true leader dedicated to preserving the 
American way of life, and he did so for over forty years in both the 
South Carolina state delegation and the United States House of 
Representatives. Serving as the chairman for the House National 
Security Committee from 1995-1999 and for the Armed Services Committee 
from 1991-2001, he was an advocate for heightened national security and 
for increased military funding. He drew his passion for the military 
from his own personal experiences of serving in the navy reserves for 
more than forty years. It was no secret that defending the nation was 
his top political priority. Congressman Spence was also an ardent voice 
against big government, which kept his platform focused on the needs of 
his fellow South Carolinians and away from that of sweeping federal 
legislation.
  It is well fitting that the facility of the United States Post Office 
in Lexington, SC, honors Congressman Spence's memory by bearing his 
name. He was deeply committed to public service, a leader of our 
nation, and a passionate supporter of national defense. We all mourned 
his loss when he passed away and can still feel his absence during this 
time of national crisis. I am proud to say that his diligent efforts as 
Chairman of the Armed Services Committee have helped prepare the nation 
for the present war and we all owe Congressman Spence a debt of 
gratitude for his work in shaping the military into what it is today. 
Seldom will you ever find a truer American than Floyd Spence, and I am 
proud to have served with him in Congress and to call myself a fellow 
South Carolinian.

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