[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25386]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 17, 2004

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to recognize my good 
friend, Congressman Bill Lipinski, and to thank him for his 22 years of 
service and vision and leadership in Congress.
  I know we use the word--friend--often in this body. Usually right 
before we are about to disagree with our colleagues.
  We say things like, I have a lot of respect for my good friend from 
Illinois, but I couldn't disagree more with his staunch support of the 
Chicago White Sox.
  But as much as we use the word ``friend'' to frame our debates, I 
have always felt that Congress actually is a tough place to build real, 
lasting friendships.
  That is why Mr. Lipinski will be so missed.
  Because while it's true that I hardly knew Bill Lipinski when I 
arrived here in 1993, it's more true now that I can hardly imagine not 
having Bill as one of my best friends and allies in public service.
  I will miss his effectiveness and his leadership, but more than that 
I will miss his day-to day presence and his friendship.
  And I know I am not alone.
  Because Mr. Lipinski has been such a good friend to so many of us in 
this body, on both sides of the aisle.
  And he has been such a good friend and unwavering champion for the 
people of Illinois.
  As the late Chicago Sun-Times Columnist Steve Neal put it, Mr. 
Lipinski, ``gets things done.''
  And that is what has been the cornerstone of his career. Getting 
things done for his constituents and for the people of our state. 
Getting things done so that people across the country have access to 
better roads, more reliable railways and more dependable airports.
  One of the things I am most proud of during my time in Congress is 
working with Mr. Lipinski to secure funding for the renovation and 
reconstruction of the CTA Blue Line in my district.
  It is this kind of leadership and hard work and perseverance that has 
been the foundation of Mr. Lipinski's career. He has led by action and 
by example. And in doing so, he has produced concrete results for our 
state.
  During his 22 years in this body, Mr. Lipinski has fought ardently 
and selflessly and passionately on issues that make a real difference 
in ordinary people's lives.
  From his first days in this body, he immersed himself in 
transportation and infrastructure matters. And he did so with integrity 
and class and the courage of his convictions.
  He has helped secure hundreds of millions of dollars in vital funding 
for public transportation and infrastructure projects. And every day, 
people all across our city are better off because of his hard work, his 
dedication and his determination.
  From the Metra train, to the CTA, to highway projects along the 
Stevenson or Lake Shore Drive, to O'Hare and Midway airport, Mr. 
Lipinski has worked to make our infrastructure safer, stronger and more 
secure.
  And beyond his extraordinary legislative accomplishments, Mr. 
Lipinski has served as a role model for many of us in the Illinois 
delegation and for many who seek to serve at all levels of elected 
office.
  He has been a patient mentor, an unwavering ally and a great friend.
  And I know I speak for this entire body when I say that we will miss 
the sound of that great Southside accent filling this Chamber.
  We will miss his skillful management of major transportation bills. 
But most of all, we will miss our friend's wisdom and leadership and 
guidance.
  So let me close by thanking my friend, Mr. Lipinski, for his lifetime 
of public service. Our city and our Nation owe you a deep debt of 
gratitude. You will be missed.

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