[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11909]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              CONGRATULATING REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT BADHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHRISTOPHER COX

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 9, 2004

  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, this week, as we mourn the passing and 
commemorate the life of Ronald Reagan, we have another occasion for 
unabashed celebration. My predecessor in this office, Representative 
Robert Badham, who blazed trails for President Reagan in Sacramento and 
in Washington, celebrates his 75th birthday today.
  Bob Badham won election to the California State Assembly at a 
remarkably young age, four years before Ronald Reagan won the 
governorship. He won election to the U.S. House of Representatives four 
years before Governor Reagan won the presidency. As soon as he arrived 
in Washington he was elected president of his incoming class of 
Members, and he remained a leader throughout his tenure here. From the 
117 feet of his records held by the University of California at Irvine 
to the GOP records stored by the Policy Committee on the fourth floor 
of the Longworth House Office Building, Bob's name stands out as one of 
our party's most energetic spokesmen and most articulate advocates for 
our agenda; as an active litigant for electoral fairness; as an 
international diplomat supporting our critical security alliances; and 
as a Member of Congress who set a standard for constituent service and 
attention that I must work very hard to approach.
  Most significantly, as Bob rose to becoming the ranking Member on the 
House Armed Services Procurement Subcommittee, he helped President 
Reagan rebuild our military, and, through the policy of peace through 
strength, win the Cold War. As President Reagan headed back to 
California in 1989, Representative Badham chose to leave one of the 
most secure Congressional seats in the nation and to return to 
California as well. Needless to say, the career of our colleague, 
Duncan Hunter, and my own, were both advanced by Bob's decision that a 
quarter century in elected office was enough.
  The people of southern California are fortunate that giving up 
elected office has not meant giving up public service to Bob Badham. 
Since his return to California, Bob has remained an active leader in 
Orange County. He and his wife, Anne, remain two of Orange County's 
most active and energetic citizens. They are among the kindest and most 
interesting people anyone will ever know.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope you will join the people of Orange County, all of 
Bob's colleagues in the House of Representatives, and all of those who 
are fortunate to call Bob Badham a friend, in wishing him the happiest 
of birthdays on this, his 75th!

                          ____________________