[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3770-3782]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          IN HONOR OF TILLIE FOWLER, FORMER MEMBER OF CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 2005, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the subject of this Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday we announced on the floor 
of this House that our former colleague, Tillie Fowler, had passed away 
that day. She suffered a stroke on Monday and went to the hospital and 
never recovered from that. It was a sad day for all of us, and there 
were so many Members that served with Tillie that wanted to honor her 
life and her achievements that we asked for this time tonight to 
celebrate her life, to celebrate the contributions that she made not 
only to her community, not only to the State of Florida, but to the 
Nation as a whole; and so that is why we are here tonight.
  Tillie Fowler was one of those unique individuals that could balance 
so many things in her life. I never had the chance to actually serve 
with Tillie because we were from the same hometown and while she served 
on the city council at the local level, I was serving in the State 
government; and when she left the Congress in 2000, I ran to take her 
seat. But I knew her as a friend for 35 years, and I watched her 
involve herself in the community, and I watched her get involved in 
local politics; I watched her become a United States

[[Page 3771]]

House of Representative representative from the Fourth Congressional 
District. Through all of that, I saw the way that she loved her 
children, the way that she loved her husband, Buck, and the way that 
she loved her community.
  I can remember so many times, as we would come back, because she was 
in Washington working with a large law firm, that we would ride a plane 
here and ride a plane back to Jacksonville and her husband, Buck, was 
always there at the airport to greet her and give her a big hug. So I 
just think there are so many people here that cared so much about her, 
because not only was she tough in what she tried to do but, more than 
anything, she just liked people. She cared about people, whether they 
were important people or just people she would see on the street. She 
had a way of making everybody feel at ease.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I am saddened by her death, but I am proud of the 
legacy that she leaves behind her; and I know that Members here tonight 
share in that.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues in 
celebrating the life and accomplishments of former Congresswoman Tillie 
Kidd Fowler. Ms. Fowler passed away suddenly last week but leaves a 
proud legacy of achievement and integrity.
  Tillie Fowler was born in 1942 and grew up in Milledgeville, Georgia. 
Her father, state Senator Culver Kidd, was a legendary Democratic 
political figure in the Georgia Legislature for over 40 years and her 
mother, Katherine, was active in the community. She received both her 
bachelor's degree and law degree from Emory University.
  After law school, she moved to Washington, DC and worked as a 
congressional staffer for Representative Robert Stephens (D-GA) and 
later as Counsel in the White House Office of Consumer Affairs under 
President Richard Nixon. In 1968, she married attorney L. Buck Fowler 
and in 1971 moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Shortly thereafter, she put 
her professional career on hold to raise her daughters, Tillie Anne and 
Elizabeth. During this time she served as the President of the Junior 
League of Jacksonville (1982-83), chaired the Florida Humanities 
Council (1989-91) and was active in a number of other charitable 
organizations, including the American Red Cross and Volunteer 
Jacksonville.
  She returned to political public service when she was elected to the 
Jacksonville City Council in 1985. She became that body's first 
Republican and first woman President.
  Tillie Fowler was elected to Congress in 1992, winning a seat that 
had been held by a Democrat for 42 years. She secured an appointment to 
the House Armed Services committee, the only Republican woman on that 
committee at the time. Her subcommittee assignments included Readiness, 
Personnel and Military Construction. In 1997, she was appointed by the 
Speaker of the House to a task force created to investigate allegations 
of sexual harassment and abuse at U.S. military training bases.
  She also served on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and 
in the 106th Congress she was named Chairman of the newly created 
Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Emergency Management.
  In 1998, she was chosen by her Republican colleagues to be the Vice 
Chairman of the Republican Conference, making her the highest-ranking 
woman in the U.S. Congress when she retired. She also served for six 
years as a Deputy Majority Whip.
  A year and a half before the terrible events of September 11, 2001, 
she drafted the Preparedness Against Terrorism Act of 2000 (H.R. 4210). 
Her bill would have centralized the Federal government's anti-terrorism 
efforts by creating the President's Council on Domestic Terrorism 
Preparedness within the White House. Many of her proposed reforms were 
enacted in the legislation creating the Department of Homeland 
Security.
  Her reputation as a knowledgeable and articulate U.S. Representative 
resulted in her appointment to several boards outside of her committee 
responsibilities: U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors; Stennis Center 
for Public Service Board of Trustees, Vice Chairman; Defense 
Department's Centers for Security Studies Board of Visitors; and the 
House Page Board, Chairman.
  Upon her departure from Congress, Representative Fowler's 
extraordinary efforts to ensure a strong United States military were 
recognized by the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of Defense. 
She received the Navy's Distinguished Public Service Award and the 
Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. These are 
the highest civilian awards given by the Navy and the Department of 
Defense.
  Shortly after leaving Congress, she was appointed by the Speaker of 
the House to the Commission on the Future of the Aerospace Industry 
which was created by Congress to assess the aerospace industry in the 
global economy, particularly in relationship to the national security 
of the United States. The Center for Strategic & International Studies 
also named her to its Distinguished Congressional Fellows panel.
  She was appointed to the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee by 
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in 2001. In May of 2003, the 
Secretary named her as Chairman of the prestigious board which advises 
the Secretary of Defense on issues central to strategic planning for 
the department. She is the first woman to serve of Chairman of the 
Defense Policy Board in its 20-year history. She also serves on the 
Chief of Naval Operations' Executive Panel whose purpose is to advise 
the CNO on questions related to national seapower.
  In the spring of 2003, she was appointed by the Secretary of Defense 
to lead the seven-member panel created by Congress to review sexual 
misconduct allegations at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The panel 
conducted a 90-day study of the policies, management, organizational 
practices and cultural elements of the Academy that may have been 
conducive to alleged sexual misconduct. The panel's final report was 
delivered to the Secretary of Defense and the Congress on September 22, 
2003.
  When allegations of prisoner abuse by U.S. military personnel at Abu 
Ghraib prison in Iraq surfaced in May 2004, the Secretary of Defense 
again turned to Representative Fowler. The Secretary appointed her 
along with two former Secretaries of Defense and a retired four-star 
general, to a blue-ribbon panel charged with providing the Secretary 
with independent, professional advice on issues related to the 
allegations of prisoner mistreatment.
  And finally, Mr. Speaker, this House was a better place for Tillie 
Fowler's service. She was a remarkable woman with a rare combination of 
passionate drive and dedication for what she believed and a caring 
spirit for the people around her. She made people feel at ease and she 
always did anything she could to help others. During lifetime of 
service she exhibited a striking presence of personality, integrity and 
intellect that will be sorely missed.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to our conference chairman, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce).
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida 
for yielding to me and for hosting this Special Order honoring Tillie's 
life and her legacy. It is a wonderful tribute that Tillie deserved. 
The outpouring of emotion and praise here tonight, in Jacksonville, and 
all over the Nation proves how special a person Tillie Fowler was.
  Universally respected and trusted, Tillie was a model public servant. 
She was also a model parent, a model spouse, and most importantly to 
me, a model friend. Lucky enough to have found her calling at an early 
age, Tillie became an aide to Congressman Robert Stephens from Georgia 
shortly after earning her law degree from Emory University. Her talents 
were quickly recognized, and she soon found herself in the Office of 
Consumer Affairs in the Nixon White House. There she met her good 
lifelong friend, now Senator Elizabeth Dole.
  Following her public service early in life, Tillie and her husband 
moved to Florida and began their family. They raised two lovely 
daughters, Tillie Anne and Elizabeth. While in Florida, Tillie mastered 
one of the most important skills for a woman in politics: balancing her 
family and her desire to serve. Tillie always put her family first and, 
at the same time, found the energy to serve her community, first in the 
Jacksonville City Council and then as its chair.
  In 1993, Tillie came to Washington as a Member of Congress, the same 
year I did; and we became fast friends. As my classmate, she was more 
than a colleague. Together we entered what was then, and still now to 
some extent, a man's world. We relied on each other for strength and 
for guidance, and shared the experience of being freshmen women 
together, two of only three in our Republican class that year.
  From those first days in Congress, I recognized Tillie as a savvy 
politician

[[Page 3772]]

but also as a selfless soul. She followed her convictions with tenacity 
and with courage. More than just a Member of Congress, Tillie Fowler 
was a patriotic legislator who let her conscience guide her through the 
most treacherous halls of Congress oftentimes. She earned respect from 
her colleagues, both men and women, Democrat and Republican; and she 
had no enemies that I ever knew of.
  As Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, Tillie set the 
standard for women in our leadership. She worked tirelessly on issues 
that affected the entire Nation. She was an active proponent of a 
strong military, and even went on to advise the Defense Department. She 
knew her stuff and she was never shy about speaking her mind, confident 
that her insight was valuable, and it was.
  Tillie had the ability to disagree with you with a smile on her face 
all the while. She showed America that women legislators need not be 
relegated solely to women's issues; that we care about the same issues 
that men do, but with just a little different perspective. And today, 
International Women's Day, it is truly appropriate that we honor and 
celebrate the life of one of our Nation's finest.
  Tillie was a friend to me, a great friend in times of sadness and in 
times of joy. I will miss her friendship and her guidance and know that 
there are countless others among us to whom she meant so much. Our 
prayers continue to be with Tillie's family, her two wonderful 
daughters and her husband, Buck; but her loved ones should know that 
Tillie left them, our country, and all who had the very, very good 
fortune to know her a wonderful and lasting legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back to the gentleman from Florida.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield now to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. DeLay), the distinguished majority leader of the House.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for taking 
this Special Order in memory of Tillie Fowler.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember a warrior, Tillie Kidd Fowler, wife, 
mother, friend and patriot, died 6 days ago and left behind her a 
legacy of service all will admire but few will match.
  She was as good a friend as she was a politician and was superb in 
both roles because no matter what hat she was wearing, it was still the 
same Tillie underneath. When word reached Washington last week that 
Tillie had left us, we all remembered the same things: we remembered 
her courage, her tenacity, and we remembered her leadership.
  There was no national security issue about which she was not an 
expert. There was not a branch of our military that did not seek her 
guidance and help in promoting the policies that keep our Nation safe. 
And there was not a serviceman or -woman in uniform who did not have a 
loyal and caring friend in the gentlewoman from Jacksonville.
  Her retirement from Congress, as anyone who knew Tillie could have 
guessed, did not in any way signal her retirement from public service. 
In the years after she left us, she helped lead public investigations 
into sexual misconduct at the Air Force Academy and prison abuse in 
Iraq. The wrongdoers in those cases up and down the chains of command, 
like her political opponents over the years, learned the hard way why 
Representative Fowler earned the nickname ``Steel Magnolia.''
  She had also served since 2001 on the Pentagon's Defense Policy 
Board, advising Secretary Rumsfeld on strategy and policy during the 
tumultuous last 4 years.
  Whatever the situation, Tillie Fowler's motivation was service: 
service to her family, to her community, to her country. For that 
reason, far more than for her many career and legislative achievements, 
last week this country lost a hero.
  Decades from now, Mr. Speaker, when we too have left this building 
and, indeed, this world; when the controversies of our age are largely 
forgotten, the service and integrity that defined Tillie Fowler's life 
will still be remembered. She was a woman, good and true, who said 
things worth saying, did things worth doing, and served causes worth 
serving.
  When you think about it, what more can you say about anyone? Tillie 
Fowler was always admired, Mr. Speaker, and now she will be missed.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Foley).
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Crenshaw) for arranging this Special Order.
  As all of my colleagues probably know, as we remember Tillie it is 
always easy to remember the great, wonderful stories of an incredible 
life. When she left Congress, I knew how proud she was of the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw) replacing her, if you can replace anyone in 
this world. She knew the important things for her community, for her 
Nation were to be able to lead in a strong collective voice on national 
security. In that effort, she was the most incredible of spokespersons.
  She was an incredibly strong voice for Jacksonville, a stronger voice 
for women, a role model for any person striving to serve in public 
life, and an incredible friend to all who knew her. There was not a day 
that went by that she did not mention Buck or her children, Elizabeth 
or Tillie, Jr. Whether it was just a casual comment; that she was 
heading back to see them at home this weekend; that they had just 
bought a condo at the beach; that they were getting ready to embark on 
another adventure; or that Tillie, Jr. had got a job, it was always 
about her family that she shared the joys of her life in service here.
  I know Buck, Elizabeth, and Tillie, Jr. that your hearts ache, but 
they certainly do not ache alone. I will always remember her generosity 
of spirit and the time she took for a new Member of this Congress. Her 
first question whenever she saw you, in that gorgeous Southern accent, 
was ``How are you, dear?'' ``How is your day?'' ``How can I help?''
  She had a little ceremonial leather chair that was a beautiful 
antique. And when she was leaving Congress, she rolled it down to my 
office and said, ``You always admired this chair. I want you to have 
it.'' I hope the office of the Capitol architect does not come looking 
for it, but I do have Tillie's chair.
  When I ran for the Senate, I remember her coming from across town, 
sitting in my office and asking me if I really wanted to do this and if 
I knew what I was getting into. I told her I thought I did. And she 
said, well, if you are ready for the challenge, I am ready to saddle up 
and ride alongside you. And she never, never wavered in her support.
  When I would go to Jacksonville and meet new friends, they would 
first ask me, what does Tillie think; what does Tillie think of your 
chances; does Tillie support you; and if Tillie supports you, that is 
good enough for me.

                              {time}  2015

  This business of politics, it is incredible when that universal voice 
of a community would always first ask, regardless of party, what does 
Tillie think?
  As we honor her memory and pray for her soul, we thank God that he 
gave us a chance to get to know her. And those that did not, you missed 
an incredibly vivacious, talented and smart woman. We honor her 
commitment to this Nation and the legacy she leaves behind. And we pray 
for Buck and her kids, as they struggle through these dark days and as 
they reflect on her life, they know, yes, she was larger than life, but 
she was simply and modestly just Tillie. That is how she would want to 
be remembered, and we remember her in that way, a hero among us, a 
great patriot, a loving mother and wife, a superb human being. We pray 
for her soul.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Shaw).
  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to express in words the feeling that we 
have outpouring here this evening for Tillie and our remembrance of 
her. She was always strong but gentle, brilliant yet

[[Page 3773]]

reasonable. She had all of the types of things that we really need to 
look for in our leaders.
  Emily, my wife, and I had a very unique relationship with Tillie. 
When married Members come to Congress, they are assigned by the 
congressional spouses what we call a little brother or little sister. 
And Emily loved to remind Buck that he was her little brother. We had a 
friendship that went beyond being just colleagues; it went outside of 
this Chamber, outside of this Capitol. The friendship that evolved is 
one that I will always remember.
  We had a service down in Jacksonville just a few days ago. Two plane 
loads came down to be at that service from both the Pentagon as well as 
from this great body here. The outpouring that we saw in that community 
was really beautiful. The military was there. Both sides of the church 
were flanked by soldiers from all of the services, and the service 
ended up with a flyover, which I am sure Tillie would have loved. I 
remember the preacher in that small church. The church was absolutely 
full. People were standing in the front yard of the church just to hear 
the service and be near those so close to Tillie. The preacher talked 
about one of the greatest gifts man has is your memory. Tillie will 
always live in our memory. We love her, and we really just absolutely 
will never forget how wonderful she was and what a great influence she 
was and how she left her mark permanently on this body, her community 
and her country.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Stearns).
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I represent the western part of Jacksonville and flew 
down for the funeral for Tillie Fowler and was quite moved. We lost a 
great leader. For Florida, she was a strong advocate, and we will miss 
Tillie quite a bit.
  For 8 years, I had the privilege and honor of working with her in 
Congress on behalf of the people of Jacksonville. I feel a great deal 
of sympathy and extend prayers for her husband, Buck, and her two 
daughters, Tillie Ann and Elizabeth. Tillie and I worked on the Cecil 
Field Navy Master Jet Base when it showed up on the base closure. Many 
a night we were working together shoulder to shoulder trying to figure 
out how we could prevent the Navy from closing this important Navy jet 
base. Unfortunately, we did not succeed, but I learned a lot from her.
  She combined humility with ambition. She had dedication, but she had 
grace. She was a woman of many talents. What the remarkable thing about 
Tillie was, you would talk to her and say, Tillie, I do not want to do 
that. She could get other people to do what they did not want to do, 
and in the end, they liked doing it somehow because of her leadership. 
It is a remarkable trait. She had a profound impact on all of the 
people she worked with, and she touched all of us.
  Jacksonville used to be a small town. It is a much larger town, and 
that is largely attributable, I think, to Tillie Fowler's activities. 
It has 1 million people. The city is recognized as a growing urban 
center. It hosted the Super Bowl recently, a feat very few cities have 
had the opportunity to claim. Jacksonville maintains a strong 
commitment to armed services, and has two major Naval facilities there. 
The successful transformation of Jacksonville over the past two decades 
owes much to Tillie Fowler. She worked on behalf of the area as a 
volunteer and as an elected official at the local and Federal level. 
This dedication to public service is really a family trait.
  While making a run for Congress in 1992, she offered to limit herself 
to four terms. All of us went up to her after she was in the midst of 
trying to decide to tell her, I think your constituents would be very 
happy if you continue serving, but she was quite principled, and she 
said she was going to leave Congress and honor her four terms. In fact, 
I believe the leadership asked her to stay. She accomplished many of 
the goals she set out to achieve.
  Mr. Speaker, we have lost more than an experienced lawmaker, public 
servant; we lost a good friend. She was a good friend to the people of 
Florida and to all of the men and women of our armed services. God 
bless Tillie Fowler.
  Mr. Speaker, last week our nation lost a great leader and Florida 
lost a strong advocate with the death of Tillie Fowler. For eight 
years, I had the privilege and honor of working with her in Congress on 
behalf of the people of Jacksonville. I miss my former colleague and my 
friend, and my prayers are with her husband Buck and their two 
daughters, Tillie Ann and Elizabeth.
  We worked together on the Brae commission when they had Cecil Field 
Navy master jet base on the closure list. We worked many nights 
together.
  She combined humility with ambition, and dedication with grace. As a 
women of many talents, she could get other people to do what they 
didn't want to do and to like it. She had a profound impact on all of 
the lives she touched throughout her life.
  Not so long ago, Jacksonville was looked upon as a small city 
supporting paper mills, a commercial port, and military bases. Today, 
the Jacksonville area numbers one million people and the city is 
recognized as a vibrant, growing urban center. Most recently it hosted 
the Super Bowl, a feat only a few cities can claim. Although it has 
shed some of its past, Jacksonville maintains its strong commitment to 
our armed services as the host to major military facilities.
  The successful transformation of Jacksonville over the past two 
decades owes much to Tillie Fowler. She worked on behalf of the area as 
a volunteer, and as an elected official at the local and federal 
levels. This dedication to public service is a family trait.
  Tillie's father, Culver Kidd, served for 42 years in the Georgia 
legislature, and her mother, Katherine Kidd, was a community leader. 
Tillie learned about civic and local involvement in Milledgeville, 
Georgia. I should point out that Milledgeville has contributed a great 
deal to this nation. It was also the home of the distinguished writer 
Flannery O'Connor and the long-time Chairman of the House Armed 
Services Committee, Carl Vinson.
  From her small hometown, Tillie pursued her education at Emory 
University in Atlanta earning a B.A. in political science and later a 
J.D. Armed with her law degree, Tillie came here to Washington, D.C., 
and worked on the staff of Congressman Robert Stephens of Georgia. Her 
strong talents were soon recognized and she was brought to the White 
House as a counsel in the Nixon Administration.
  During this period, Tillie not only expanded her professional 
horizons, she met and married a fellow attorney, L. Buck Fowler. In 
1971, she moved with her husband to Jacksonville, Florida, where she 
set about the important job of raising a family. Although she put her 
career on hold, Tillie did not ease up on public service. She 
volunteered her efforts as the President of the Junior League of 
Jacksonville, with the American Red Cross, and other charitable groups.
  In 1985, she returned to the political scene with her election to the 
City Council and served on the council from 1985 through 1992. In 1989, 
she became President of the Jacksonville City Council, the first 
Republican and the first woman to hold that position. Although she 
retired from the council in 1992, her political career was just 
changing direction; she then successfully ran for Congress.
  Congresswoman Fowler returned to Washington with an ambitious agenda. 
She vowed to make Mayport Naval Station a top priority, and she 
succeeded. Through her position on the Armed Services Committee, she 
built a reputation as an advocate of a strong national defense. She 
improved the nation's commitment to military personnel and facilities 
in her district, throughout the nation, and around the world. Although 
a woman with a petite figure, she cast a giant shadow in support of our 
armed services: generals and admirals always knew her by her first 
name.
  While making her first run for Congress in 1992, Mrs. Fowler offered 
to limit herself to four terms. Although she was asked by her 
leadership and her colleagues to reconsider, Tillie is stepping down 
after four terms. After all, she had accomplished the goals she set out 
to achieve.
  We have lost more than an experienced lawmaker and public servant; we 
have lost a good friend. In fact, Mrs. Fowler was a good friend to the 
people of Florida, and perhaps more importantly, to the men and women 
of our armed services.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida 
(Ms. Corrine Brown) who also represents part of Jacksonville.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, my favorite hymn is ``Let 
the Work I Have Done Speak For Me.''

[[Page 3774]]

I think that more than anything explains our friend and former 
colleague, Tillie Fowler. My prayers and deepest regret goes out to her 
immediate family, Buck and their two girls, Tillie Ann and Elizabeth.
  Tillie and I shared a lot. We were in the great class of 1992. We 
said that was the class, the year of the woman. One distinguished 
objective to describe Tillie was she was a tremendous fighter. She 
struggled for what she believed in and for the betterment of the people 
in the region she served. Above all, Tillie loved her country, and she 
fought hard to protect it. She distinguished herself in the area of 
military and, in particular, fighting for women's rights in the 
military.
  I also served with Tillie on the Committee on Transportation and the 
Infrastructure, and we crossed party lines numerous times to work 
together to do what was best for the city of Jacksonville and North 
Florida. I almost said Georgia because I know that my colleague is 
here, and he is going to speak from Georgia, but her roots came from 
Georgia. She came from a political family. One could tell she was a 
lady, a southern lady.
  We all must pass this way, but, hopefully, when we do, we can look 
back on all of the things that Tillie Fowler has done, not just for the 
community but for the entire country, to make this place a better place 
because Tillie Fowler has passed here. When you are born, you get a 
birth certificate. And when you die, you get a death certificate. And 
the only thing that really matters is that dash on your tombstone in 
between. Tillie, let the work she has done speak for her because she 
has done a great job for our community.
  I was deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of my former 
colleague, Tillie Fowler. My prayers and deepest regrets go out to her 
and her immediate family, Buck, and her two girls, Tillie Ann and 
Elizabeth.
  Tillie and I shared a lot in common. In fact, in 1992, we came up to 
Washington together as members of the same class of elected 
representatives. This class was so dynamic, and filled with so many new 
and soon to be influential women members, that it was referred to as 
``The Year of the Woman.''
  One distinct adjective to describe Tillie is that she was a 
tremendous fighter. She struggled hard for what she believed in, and 
for the betterment of the people and the region she served. Above all, 
Tillie loved her country, and fought hard to protect the freedoms we 
enjoy--even the freedom to disagree. Tillie was a woman of great 
distinction, highly respected, and was always extremely active in her 
community. She served our country well, particularly in her strong 
support of the military, specializing in issues concerning women's 
roles and rights within the military. She was also a woman with strong 
leadership qualities and one who believed in the value of volunteerism 
and community service.
  I also served with Tillie on the Transportation Committee, and we 
crossed party lines numerous times to work together to do what was best 
for the city of Jacksonville and North Florida as a whole.
  In closing, my heart and prayers go out to Tillie's dear family 
during this difficult time.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Cox).
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, Tillie Fowler was a giant in this Congress. 
Though she served only four terms, 100 percent faithful to her pledge 
to limit her service in this House, she rose to our elected leadership, 
and she kept us focused on national security as our highest priority. 
She was called the Steel Magnolia because she was a hybrid of a 
southern belle and a marine drill sergeant. She was best known for her 
roles on the Committee on Armed Services and in the House leadership 
where she consistently was the voice of the military, calling for a 
defense budget and defense resources always sufficient to keep America 
strong.
  It was Tillie's intellect and her willingness to work across the 
aisle that advanced her to a preeminent position as vice chairwoman of 
the House Republican Conference and as a deputy minority whip for 6 
years. I worked with Tillie in our House leadership and on the House 
Policy Committee and on such special projects as the Speaker's Working 
Group on Russia.
  Today, as the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, I miss 
Tillie Fowler more than ever because nowhere was her national 
leadership more in evidence than in her work toward terrorism 
preparedness. As a member of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, her top priority was the country's preparedness for a 
domestic terror attack. She found overlap inadequacies among the 
Federal agencies, the many agencies that were responsible in those days 
for terrorism preparedness, and she tried to fix it.
  A year and a half before 9/11, she drafted the Preparedness Against 
Terrorism Act of 2000. If we had followed her farsighted advice, the 
Congress would have placed top priority on elevating and consolidating 
the Federal Government's anti-terrorism efforts by creating a 
Presidential Council on Domestic Terrorism Preparedness. Tillie's 
legislation was not passed in the 106th Congress, but we soon came to 
realize through the tragic events of 9/11 that her focus and her 
proposed reforms were vitally necessary. As a result, many of her 
recommended reforms are included in what is now law, the Homeland 
Security Act.
  She was truly the guardian angel of our national security. Tillie 
Fowler, our friend and colleague, dedicated her life to her community 
and our Nation. It was an honor to serve with her, and it will be an 
honor to carry on her work to ensure that America is always prepared so 
we may be always free. Our prayers are with her husband, Buck; with her 
daughters, Tillie Ann and Elizabeth; and with her entire family.
  Tillie Fowler was a giant in this Congress. Though she served only 
four terms--100 percent faithful to her pledge to limit her service in 
this House--she rose to the Leadership of our ranks, and kept us 
focused on our national security as our highest priority.
  She was called the ``Steel Magnolia''--because she was a hybrid of a 
Southern belle and a Marine drill sergeant.
  She was best known for her roles on the Armed Services Committee and 
in the House Leadership, where she was consistently the voice of the 
military, calling for a defense budget sufficient to ensure a strong 
America.
  It was Tillie's intellect, and willingness to work across the aisle, 
that advanced her to a preeminent position of leadership as Vice 
Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, and as a deputy majority 
whip for six years.
  I had the wonderful opportunity to serve with Tillie in the elected 
Leadership, on the House Policy Committee, and on such vital national 
security projects as the Speaker's Advisory Group on Russia.
  Today, as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I miss 
Tillie Fowler more than ever, because nowhere was her national 
leadership more in evidence than in her work toward terrorism 
preparedness.
  As a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
her top priority was the country's preparedness for a domestic 
terrorist attack. She found overlap and inadequacies among the several 
federal agencies with jurisdiction over terrorism preparedness, and she 
tried to fix it.
  A year and a half before 9/11, she drafted the ``Preparedness Against 
Terrorism Act of 2000.'' If we had followed her far sighted advice, the 
Congress would have placed top priority on elevating and consolidating 
the federal government's anti-terrorism efforts by creating a 
Presidential Council on Domestic Terrorism Preparedness.
  Tillie's legislation was not passed in the 106th Congress, but we 
soon came to realize--through the tragic events of 9/11--that her focus 
and her proposed reforms were vitally necessary. As a result, many of 
her proposed reforms were included in the Homeland Security Act, which 
is now law. She was truly the guardian angel of our national security.
  Tillie Fowler, my friend and colleague, dedicated her life to her 
community and her nation. It was an honor to serve with her, and it 
will be an honor to carry on her work to ensure that America is always 
prepared, so that we may be always free.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. 
Capps).
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to add my thoughts in remembrance of our dear 
friend and colleague, Tillie Fowler. I pay tribute to her, her service 
here, the events in her life that made her who she was with respect to 
her family and her community. I knew her here in this place.

[[Page 3775]]

  I first got to know Tillie through her friendship with my late 
husband, Congressman Walter Capps. Walter and Tillie served only 10 
months together before his death in 1997, and it might have appeared 
that they did not have much in common, but, in fact, they did. Tillie 
had been elected to a district that had been represented by a Democrat 
for 42 years. Walter's district had been represented by Republicans for 
50 years. Both Tillie and Walter understood that it was more important 
to try to reach bipartisan solutions than to engage in partisan 
politics.

                              {time}  2030

  Even as she rose through the ranks of her party's leadership, and 
that has been attested to this evening, a strong and loyal leader 
within the Republican Conference, Tillie always tried to work across 
the aisle on issues that were important to her. One such issue where 
again she worked closely with my husband, Walter, was her support for 
the humanities. Like Walter, Tillie had once served as her State's 
humanities chair. And back in the days when funding for the National 
Endowment for the Humanities was in the crosshairs of congressional 
budget cutters, Tillie stood up to protect that program. The fact that 
support for the NEH is now stronger than ever in Congress is due in no 
small part to all of Tillie's efforts a few years ago.
  She also helped to pioneer the bipartisan nature of the Congressional 
Caucus on Women's Issues. Here again, she tried to bring Members of 
both parties together to address the serious issues affecting American 
women, and she bravely challenged her own party leaders to moderate 
their relentless focus on reproductive rights.
  After leaving the House, Tillie combined her military expertise with 
her support for women's rights when she headed up the panel to review 
sexual misconduct at the Air Force Academy. She also served on the 
panel charged with investigating prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib. These 
difficult assignments demonstrated Tillie's belief that we can best 
support our military by uncovering the truth and ensuring that these 
horrible scandals never be allowed to repeat themselves.
  Tillie Fowler was a very proud Republican, and her party can be 
honored and proud of her. But she did not put her party over her 
principles. During one particularly tough election that I was engaged 
in, my opponent announced that Tillie had endorsed and would campaign 
for him. But she came up to me on the floor one day and told me that it 
was not true. As Eleanor Clift just wrote in her heartfelt Newsweek 
obituary, Tillie always said, ``I can't sit next to them one day and 
campaign against them the next. If I'm your friend, then I'm your 
friend.''
  We will all dearly miss our friend Tillie and we mourn today that 
there simply are not enough people like her. She will be missed, and 
she will always be remembered with great honor.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the right honorable gentlewoman 
from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, as so many of the viewers of C-SPAN 
know by now, we are here today in great sadness but also in great joy 
that we celebrate a wonderful life exemplified by Tillie Fowler. We 
came together last week when we announced the unexpected death of 
Tillie Fowler, who passed away at the age of 62; but she made such a 
strong imprint on the lives of so many and on the lives of this House.
  Tillie, as we have heard, was a fiercely loyal, dedicated public 
servant from our home State of Florida, a true crusader for the 
citizens of our State and especially for all who served in our Armed 
Forces, the men and women in uniform. She fought hard, especially for 
the women serving in the military so that they would be treated fairly, 
so that they would be free from sexual harassment, so they would be 
free from discrimination. During her four terms in Congress, Tillie 
became the highest- ranking woman in the House leadership.
  She possessed a quiet tenacity. She had the grace and the strength to 
rise above partisan differences and to continuously reach across the 
aisle in a true spirit of unity, as we just heard from my good friend 
from California (Mrs. Capps) who really showed that in a very clear 
way. Tillie was an outstanding member of our Florida team. She was a 
true asset to our community. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity 
to have served in the House of Representatives with her.
  I think it is most appropriate, Mr. Speaker, as we commemorate this 
week, which is the Stop Violence Against Women Week, that we celebrate 
Tillie's life and Tillie's work here in Congress, because through her 
tireless efforts, she worked to protect women from all types of 
injustices. During her short tenure in Congress, she and I worked 
together on a number of important women's issues, such as breast cancer 
research, the protection of our environment, the security of our women, 
so many issues that we were involved with.
  All of us in the House extend our heartfelt condolences to Tillie's 
beloved husband, Buck; to their two beautiful daughters, Tillie and 
Elizabeth; and to the rest of her loving family. Our thoughts and our 
prayers are with all of you during this difficult time.
  Thank you, Tillie, for your gentle leadership. You were a true friend 
to me, to our Florida community, to all whose lives you touched. You 
will be greatly missed. Our country is safer today because of Tillie's 
hard work, and the women who are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces are 
better protected because of your efforts, Tillie. Tillie leaves a 
strong legacy of service with honor, and it was my honor to call her my 
friend.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the honorable gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Bishop).
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that we accept the loss of our 
good friend Tillie Kidd Fowler. Shakespeare wrote: ``All the world's a 
stage and all the men and women are merely players. Each has an 
entrance and an exit. One in her time may play many parts.''
  So it was with Tillie. Tillie was the daughter of Senator and Mrs. 
Culver Kidd. She was, of course, sister to Rusty. She had another 
sibling who now lives in Macon, Georgia. Tillie grew up in 
Milledgeville, and she had politics in her DNA. Her father, Culver 
Kidd, a Yellow Dog Democrat, served under the gold dome in Atlanta for 
more than 3 decades. I had the good fortune of calling Culver friend 
and mentor; and when I was elected to Congress in 1992, Culver called 
to congratulate me, but he said, ``I want you to meet my daughter. She 
was elected, also.'' As soon as I got here, I had the good fortune to 
meet Tillie, and we became friends. Although we were on different sides 
of the aisle, when I had a difficult election, Tillie came over and 
said, how can I help? And she did help. She was very, very, very savvy, 
just as her father and her brother were; and she has been a true public 
servant.
  Tillie and I shared the fact that both of us attended Emory 
University Law School. Both of us were selected to be among that 
distinguished group called the Distinguished Alumni. She and I join 
others who are blessed to have had our portraits hanging in the law 
school. Each year, about this time, we cohosted a reception for the 
newly elected students from the Washington, D.C. area to the Emory Law 
School. That reception is coming up soon.
  But most importantly, Tillie was a friend to me and that friendship 
was because of my friendship with her father and her brother. Just a 
couple of weeks ago when I was in Atlanta, I ran into her brother and I 
inquired about Tillie, and he told me she was doing fine. Little did we 
know that we would be coming here tonight to say these wonderful things 
about Tillie because she had gone.
  All the world is a stage and all the men and women are players. 
Tillie served in so many capacities. She was wife to Buck and mother to 
Tillie and Elizabeth. But through all of that, she touched our lives in 
so many ways. We are sad and only one who has worn the garment of 
bereavement can truly understand the pain that comes when one has been 
taken from the midst. Yet as

[[Page 3776]]

we reflect prayerfully, our pain must turn into joy because truly all 
of us have been blessed to know, love and to have shared this life with 
such a wonderful woman as Tillie Kidd Fowler.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield to the honorable gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Goodlatte).
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from 
Jacksonville for leading this session in memory of our dear friend 
Tillie Fowler. I had the opportunity to first meet Tillie after I was 
elected to the House in 1992, the same year that she was. I found her 
to be a wonderful woman with a kind heart, but also a firm conviction 
who stood up strongly for her beliefs.
  We found that we had many things in common. It turned out that we had 
a number of friends that we shared that we did not know anything about 
until we found each other here. My niece and her husband were dorm 
parents at Choate School in Connecticut where Tillie's children 
attended, and we shared many a story about that. She had friends in my 
congressional district in Lynchburg, Virginia, who were very dear to 
her and I found that I had friends in Florida that she knew as well.
  One day I was driving through a car wash in my hometown of Roanoke, 
Virginia, and the car in front of me had a Tillie Fowler for Congress 
bumper sticker. This was right after the election in 1992. I had to 
stop the lady and tell her that I had just met Tillie and knew her. It 
turned out this was a very, very close friend of Tillie's who had moved 
to my district.
  So it is with much sadness that I join my colleagues this evening in 
paying tribute to former Congresswoman Fowler, a devoted mother and 
wife, a public servant, a dear friend, and a woman of impeccable virtue 
and integrity, a truly remarkable woman. It seems as though Tillie 
succeeded in everything she attempted. She attended and graduated from 
Emory University and then Emory University Law School. After graduation 
she came to work as a congressional aide and then went on to serve as 
general counsel in the White House Office of Consumer Affairs from 1970 
to 1971, after which she returned home to focus on her new family and 
volunteer activities. She was elected to the Jacksonville City Council 
in 1985 and served until 1992 when she successfully ran for Congress 
and served for 8 years.
  In Congress, Tillie was the fifth-ranking Republican in the House of 
Representatives and served 6 years as the deputy conference chair. She 
also served on the House Committee on Armed Services where she was a 
strong advocate of the Navy. After serving in Congress, she continued 
her service to the country and served as a leader in Washington as an 
attorney with the Washington office of Holland & Knight.
  Tillie and I both came to Congress in 1993, and we shared many 
stories all through the years that we served together. My sincerest 
sympathies are extended to Tillie's family. I hope that it comforts you 
to know that Tillie lived her life to the fullest and she did so with 
graciousness and integrity. She had, as I said, a kind heart and a firm 
conviction. She represented her constituents with dedication, tenacity, 
and fairness. For that reason, she earned the respect of her colleagues 
on both sides of the aisle, and she will be sincerely missed. It is my 
prayer that her family and the deep loss that they are suffering now 
will overcome that and have many, many, many fond memories of a 
wonderful and delightful woman who blessed all who ever knew her.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the honorable gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Buyer).
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues here tonight because we 
are all deeply saddened by the loss of our former colleague and dear 
friend, Tillie Fowler. I first met Tillie in December of 1992. We were 
both of the newly elected class of the 103rd Congress. It was during 
that incoming freshman class that we met for the first time. We were to 
meet in this big room. As I came through that door, I was 32 years old. 
I did not even know where the bathrooms were. The first person I see is 
this lady who is very gracious with these very large glasses with the 
most beautiful smile, and I knew that this had to be a Southern belle. 
Boy, was I right. I went over, immediately attracted to that smile, and 
we started talking. Then somebody called the meeting to order and 
Tillie and I sat down next to each other.

                              {time}  2045

  And what a beginning of a great relationship. Ironically, we were 
then appointed both to the House Armed Services Committee and were 
assigned committee seats then right next to each other.
  During our tenure on the Armed Services Committee, I came to know and 
appreciate and respect the loyalty, dedication and hard work of Tillie. 
Although Tillie never served in the military, she understood and 
subscribed to the very same core values that I had been inculcated with 
and advocated by all members of the uniformed services.
  To that end, we shared the same values and beliefs: Duty, honor, 
courage, commitment to God, country, family, and our fellow human 
beings. And for that, the Armed Services reciprocated in their love 
toward her.
  In short, Tillie Fowler's values reflected a common theme of 
unswerving devotion and honorable service. As members of the Committee 
on Armed Services, we are faced with very difficult issues that would 
have and that in fact had a significant impact on military readiness.
  Jane Harman, Tillie Fowler and I worked together on the Speaker's 
Task Force on Gender Training, a commission that reviewed the 
politically sensitive issues of coed training in the military services 
and the issues of sexual harassment in the military and sexual 
assaults.
  Tillie and I fought hard together in order to try to prevent the 
closure of the Department of the Navy's live-fire trying range in 
Vieques in Puerto Rico. I also supported Tillie in her belief of a 
second port for CVNs to replace the carrier John F. Kennedy in 
Jacksonville.
  And when it came to developing the TRICARE for life program for the 
over 65 military retirees, it was Tillie that I turned to who quietly 
assisted me in gaining the support of the Speaker and other 
Congressional leaders in this program.
  Through it all, Tillie repeatedly distinguished herself with a sense 
of justice and always sound judgment. Her resolve and tenacity were 
always focused on ensuring that our military forces were physically, 
mentally and operationally prepared for war. She was known for her 
superior knowledge, her ethics and both physical and moral courage.
  Above else, she was a woman of integrity and great dignity. It is 
individuals like Tillie that give the American system of Government, 
indeed this legislative body, honor and respect.
  My friend will be remembered in history as one of the world's iron 
ladies, like Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir, Tillie Fowler and others. 
As a colleague, she was a confidant and a true inspiration, someone 
that you could always turn to in a very difficult moment.
  And Tillie always seemed to say the right words. She was like a human 
sponge. She would soak up and be such a great listener, and then she 
would always convey the right words, and you would walk by feeling good 
about yourself that you now have a direction, and she would do that in 
such warm personal leadership.
  I am grateful for the time that we spent together in this chamber and 
thankful for the memories that she will leave with me. I am a better 
person for having known her, and the country is a better place through 
her efforts.
  To her husband, Buck, and her daughters, Tillie and Elizabeth, I 
extend my heartfelt sympathy. To my friend Tillie, I know you are in 
heaven; vouch for me, my dear friend, so I may see you again.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield now to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Millender-McDonald).
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today to share a

[[Page 3777]]

few remarks about my friend, our friend, the Honorable Tillie Fowler, 
who served with honor and distinction in this House. I shall remember 
her as someone with enormous capacity, inclusive and fiercely loyal to 
her friends on both sides of the aisle. Her sacred belief while serving 
in Congress was, I cannot sit next to them one day and campaign against 
them the next.
  What a lady. If I am your friend, then I am your friend. As the 
politics around her grew more partisan and unkind through her tenure 
here, Tillie held her ground. She knew that, in order to get things 
done, she had to do away with partisan rancor. She was never reluctant 
to embrace an idea she felt strongly about.
  She had a tiny frame, but a great heart and a giant heart. She was a 
good soul. Tillie wanted more women to get involved in politics and 
championed the issues women care so much about. She challenged us all 
of the time with a question: Does it matter whether women are involved 
in politics? Her career exemplifies that answer.
  Upon entering Congress in 1992, Tillie was elected co-chairwoman of 
the Freshman Republican Task Force on Reform. And in her second term, 
she became a deputy whip for the Republicans. She was elected vice 
chairwoman of the House Republican Conference on the vow that she would 
serve no longer than 2 years in the Republican leadership.
  When she left Congress in 2001, she was number five in the House 
leadership. Tillie served with distinction on the Armed Services 
Committee, which led the former Speaker, Newt Gingrich, to give her and 
Representative Jane Harman the tough assignment of investigating sexual 
harassment in the Army.
  Her experience on defense matters was not limited to gender issues. 
And she earned respect as an authority on a range of essential military 
issues. In 1998, it was indeed my privilege to ask Tillie Fowler to 
join me, as we would have the first memorial wreath-laying ceremony at 
Arlington National Ceremony honoring women in military service from the 
American Revolutionary Army until the present.
  In subsequent years, Tillie never missed the annual occasion to stand 
with us women of the House at Arlington to honor current and past 
servicewomen. For all of us who will gather together again this May in 
Arlington, Tillie's absence will be felt and regretted. But she stands 
among the greatest of women of this country.
  I think Tillie Fowler's career is a reminder of what we need to be 
about, a shining example for all women, civilian or in the military, 
seeking opportunities to become the best that one can be, to their 
families, to their Nation. Tillie Fowler was that lady. She will be 
sorely missed. My condolences go to her husband, Buck, and her two 
daughters.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield now to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Harris).
  Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the gentleman from 
Jacksonville for hosting such an honorable memory to Tillie Fowler.
  Mr. Speaker, America lost a remarkable leader last week. The people 
of Florida lost a passionate and effective ally, and our brave men and 
women in uniform lost a stellar advocate. I lost a dear friend.
  Congresswoman Tillie Fowler was much more than a role model for women 
who followed her into public service. Though her trail-blazing example 
and her indomitable spirit will always inspire us, she was much more 
than northwest Florida's greatest promoter. Through her service, her 
dedication to the people will always guide us.
  She was much more than a trusted colleague, to members of both 
parties, and her unimpeachable standard of honor and integrity will 
always instruct us.
  In fact, today, I was even speaking with one of her colleagues at 
Holland & Knight, and we said, you know, we feel like she is still 
here, we can still see her smile, we can still see those big glasses, 
we can still hear her laughter. Not often does someone leave you and 
you still feel them so strongly.
  Tillie Fowler's contributions as a public servant, as an attorney, as 
a civic volunteer and, most important, as a beloved wife and mother 
were routinely extraordinary. Why? Because at every stage of her life, 
she had the courage to follow common sense and uncommon dreams.
  Whether she was graduating as one of five women at Emory University 
Law School's class of 1967, or successfully challenging a political 
establishment dominated by male Democrats, Tillie Fowler never met a 
barrier that she could not shatter.
  Yet, while fighting relentlessly for her principles for Florida and 
for America, she never lost her love of humanity, her charity or her 
grace.
  Mr. Speaker, as we offer our prayers and condolences to her husband 
of 37 years, Buck, and her two lovely daughters, Tillie and Elizabeth, 
let us honor Congresswoman Tillie Fowler's memory by elevating our 
purpose as well as the means we choose to achieve it.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield now to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I, too, as a fellow Floridian 
would like to pay tribute tonight to my friend, Tillie Fowler.
  Tillie was a role model, not just for the women who followed in her 
footsteps, but for all of us who attempt to represent our communities 
and our Nation with dignity and respect.
  Through hard work and perseverance, Tillie was a true trail-blazer, 
one of five women in her class of 106 from Emory University's law 
school. She was the first female president of the Jacksonville City 
Council. As we recounted here tonight, in her 8 years in Congress, 
Tillie rose to the highest rungs of power in the United States Congress 
in the Republican Caucus.
  But, in my opinion, what made Tillie so powerful and so special was 
not the positions that she held, it was the fact that she never lost 
sight of who she was here to serve. She never forgot where she came 
from. She relentlessly fought for the people she represented. She 
served the country. She served her community.
  It was not just Tillie's resume that was impressive; it was her firm 
stance on the issues. When Tillie dug in, she dug in. She stood her 
ground. But she always treated everybody with respect. Regardless of 
whether they agreed with her or not, she always listened. She treated 
folks at home that way. She treated everybody that way, including 
Members of Congress.
  And Tillie always kept her word. Probably one of the most difficult 
tests for Tillie was her decision to honor her 8-year term limit 
pledge. She was a person of her word. Regrettably, this Congress lost 
her much too soon. We have lost her much too soon on this earth.
  Tip O'Neill once said, the sign of a successful politician is, from 
the time they start to when they finish their career, they have the 
same spouse, same home, same set of friends. He could have been talking 
about Tillie Fowler. Tillie was the same person from the day she was an 
adult to the day she left Congress. She never forgot who she was.
  Tillie was also one of those rare Members of Congress whose service 
to the country and to the world only grew after she left the United 
States Congress. As has been recounted here tonight, she served on the 
Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee. She took charge of some very 
serious investigations about potential sexual abuse, about sexual 
misconduct, about prisoner abuse.
  Tillie has been called, by many people here tonight and in the past 
and she will continue to be referred to as truly a steel magnolia. She 
was a powerful, delicate balance of grace and strength. She was fair in 
pursuing her goals, but always friendly, always warm, always caring, 
always time for a gentle word to a friend or colleague.
  For these reasons, Floridians will always treasure, we will always 
appreciate, we will never forget the legacy of Tillie Fowler.
  On behalf of my community, the Tampa Bay area, Tillie, thanks for 
your service. Thanks for being who you were. Thanks for the power of 
your example.
  And to your husband, Buck, and to your daughters, thank you for 
sharing

[[Page 3778]]

a precious amount of the too short life of your mother and your wife 
here with us in the United States Congress.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield now to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam).
  Mr. PUTNAM. I thank my friend and colleague from Jacksonville and the 
successor to Tillie Fowler's great 4th District in Florida. And I 
appreciate the opportunity that you have given us all to share our 
feelings and our remembrances of this lovely woman.
  And I think how sad it is that we so often save our kindest words for 
those that we love and care so deeply for until it is too late.
  It is an honor to pay tribute today to a great Floridian, a woman who 
touched so many lives, including my own, and dedicated herself to 
making our State and our Nation a better place.
  Congresswoman Tillie Fowler was a remarkable woman. She was an 
inspiration to us all, and she sought to bring out the very best in 
each and every American. Her optimism was contagious, as she brought a 
sunny disposition to the greatest of tasks and backed it up with a 
steel will.
  Tillie was a public servant, in the truest sense of the word, who not 
only served her community in the Sunshine State but also her Nation. In 
the 8 years she spent in the halls of Congress, she earned a reputation 
as one of the hardest-working and most effective Members of this House.

                              {time}  2100

  After leaving this House, her service continued. In fact, I think it 
is a testimony to her abilities that some of her greatest challenges 
were given to her after she had retired from the House, as through her 
service she continued to support a strong and modern military through 
her chairmanship of the Defense Policy Board and every other difficult 
task that the Secretary could pass her way.
  We all mourn the loss of Tillie Fowler. Her distinguished leadership 
and grace will be dearly missed and her accomplishments and her legacy 
will be with us always. Tillie blessed our Nation through her hard work 
and her generous nature. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, 
her husband, Buck, and her two daughters, Tillie and Elizabeth.
  May we all be worthy of the honor that she bestowed upon this House, 
and may we all work hard to maintain and to follow that blazing trail 
which she cut through for us.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, it is clear from what 
we have heard tonight the great esteem in which Tillie Fowler was held 
in this House. We have heard about her service in the community, we 
have heard about her service in local politics, and we have heard about 
her service here in the United States House of Representatives, as well 
as when she left this place. So I would simply say in closing that we 
all loved Tillie, we all will miss Tillie.
  One of the things was, in spite of all the honors and accomplishments 
that came about in her short life, she was always just a great friend. 
As I said, I never had a chance to serve in this body with her because 
I took her place when she left, but knowing her for 35 years and 
watching her in the community, seeing how hard she worked, observing 
all the things that people have talked about tonight, it is just so 
clear the legacy that she leaves behind.
  I can remember just a couple of occasions, once when she came to see 
me when she was going to run for the city council. She said, What do 
you think? I lived in that particular district; my brother had 
represented that area. I said, Tillie, it would just be magnificent if 
you would do that. You have been involved in the community; you have 
done so much. What a great service you would be. I said, You are going 
to be a star, I can just tell. I know you.
  She became one of the first women to serve on our city council, the 
first Republican president of the city council, the first woman to be 
president of the city council. Then she went on to serve in this body. 
I think most people know she left in 2000 after serving for 8 years, 
not because she would not have been reelected overwhelmingly, but 
because she made a promise to the people in her district that she would 
only serve for four terms. It would have been very easy for her to 
decide that people needed her. She would have won overwhelmingly. But, 
true to who she was, she made a commitment and she kept it. It was as 
simple as that.
  When I decided to run in 2000, I will never forget the night that I 
called Tillie to say, in a strange set of circumstances all this kind 
of came about, I said, I have decided to run in the seat that you are 
going to vacate. You could feel this sense of excitement and enthusiasm 
over the telephone, that somebody that she had known for 35 years, and 
I am honored to say she believed in me, not only just helped me in the 
campaign, but paved the way for me in this body, to bring me up, 
introduce me to her friends, her colleagues, many whom you have heard 
tonight, just went out of her way to go above and beyond. That is just 
the kind of person she was.
  She did everything wholeheartedly. She came to see me the last 
Friday, the following Monday is when she had the stroke, but true to 
form, she came to see me just to visit, to talk about things. She was 
almost like another Representative from the fourth district. She never 
stopped serving the people. We talked about issues that were important, 
and how she could help and ``here are some ideas.'' Always, always on 
the go.
  So, tonight we are sad. We will miss her. She will be missed. She 
will be missed not only by her family, she will be missed not only by 
her friends, not only by the people of Florida, but she will be missed 
by the people of this Nation whom she so proudly served.
  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, America has lost a great public servant and 
a gracious lady.
  When I became Speaker, Tillie Fowler was there with me at the 
leadership table, serving as the Republican Conference Vice-Chair.
  But despite the burden of her many responsibilities, she always had 
time to be a friend.
  She was an effective legislator because she always kept her word to 
her colleagues and constituents.
  She rose within the Republican leadership and became one of the most 
powerful women in Congress. Despite her influence--she kept her word 
and honored her term limits pledge because she had promised her 
constituents she would serve no more than four terms.
  After leaving Congress, she continued to devote herself to public 
service by serving on critical commissions related to her area of 
expertise in national defense.
  Her selflessness and service to her community and family are the 
legacies she leaves behind.
  The House is a better institution because of people like Tillie 
Fowler. We will miss her greatly.
  Our thoughts and prayers go out to her husband Buck and her two 
daughters Elizabeth and Tillie.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I discuss the 
life of the late Congresswoman Tillie Fowler. I knew Tillie during the 
eight years she served in the House of Representatives and remember 
vividly her strong work as a member of the House Transportation 
Committee. I join my colleagues in mourning her loss.
  Tillie Fowler was born into a family with a tradition of leadership 
and service. Her father was a member of the Georgia legislature for 44 
years. He urged her to go to law school because he had seen widowed 
women during the Depression unable to get a job and earn a decent 
living.
  Following her graduation from law school, she worked as a House aide 
and as a general counsel in the White House Office of Consumer Affairs.
  As Vice Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference--number 5 in 
House leadership--she represented her constituents well and with 
distinction. She was a tireless advocate for a strong national defense, 
which was natural for her because her district was in the midst of 
several naval installations. Out of Congress she sustained her interest 
in the Armed Forces by serving on several influential panels. As 
always, she brought passion and professionalism to these difficult 
tasks.
  I had occasion to work with her as a member of the Transportation 
Committee. I remember her as cordial and gracious, but always intensely 
passionate about the needs of her constituents. These traits helped her 
get the nickname ``Steel Magnolia.''
  I join my colleagues in mourning the death of Tillie Fowler. She was 
a strong leader and

[[Page 3779]]

good friend to all of us. On behalf of the people of the Third District 
of West Virginia, I extend condolences to her husband Buck and two 
daughters, Tillie and Elizabeth.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we are here to honor the memory 
of a woman whose life may not have been rich in the years that we all 
hope and pray for, but who enriched the lives of so many. Tillie 
Fowler's career was filled with accomplishments, and hear calling was 
to serve all: her family, her hometown, her state, her country, and her 
God.
  Many glowing words have been used to describe Tillie's attributes 
this past week: bright, charismatic, determined, gracious, thoughtful, 
kind, unrelenting. Every one of them is true. There have been few 
political careers quite like hers, but thanks to her pioneering spirit, 
many paths have been charted to follow.
  Tillie was a woman of deep conviction. No issue mattered more greatly 
to her than the security of our nation. She cared deeply about our 
servicemembers, and she acted on that concern during her tenure of 
service on the House Armed Services Committee. Tillie's trademark 
steadfastness could be seen in her unfailing support for a well-trained 
and well-equipped military. One small part of her legacy can be seen in 
this time of challenge for our country, when we are calling upon the 
skill and bravery of our people in uniform. We're realizing the quality 
force that Tillie Fowler helped to build. All Americans are grateful to 
our military, and I know that all branches of the service are grateful 
to their faithful and advocate from the Sunshine State.
  I don't believe that Tillie ever once took her office or her 
consitutents for granted. She were sincerely grateful for the chance to 
serve, and we saw that gratitude every day in her work ethic. Rarely 
has this body seen a Member who studies so tirelessly that with which 
she was responsible. Legislative Council once told her staff that 
they'd never seen a Member pore so intently over draft bill text! But 
this was indicative of the life of steady, consistent, and unfailing 
effort that she led on behalf of Jacksonville and the state of Florida. 
She was the embodiment of the Teddy Roosevelt quote that she favored 
repeating. ``Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance 
to work hard at work worth doing.''
  And to watch Tillie serve her fellow man, from her days in the Nixon 
White House to the halls of Congress, between and beyond, one might 
have thought she found even the smallest task worth doing, and that she 
believed she'd won that prize. Yes, she was a lady of firsts; first 
woman to serve as President of the Jacksonville City Council; amongst 
the first handful of female colleagues on the Armed Services Committee; 
the highest ranking woman in Congress within just six years of 
arriving--in this institution built on seniority and tenure of service. 
And her groundbreaking achievements continued as she accepted and 
executed great responsibility at the behest of Secretary Rumsfeld. But 
as Tillie Fowler walked with giants, she never lost the common touch.
  That may perhaps be her greatest legacy to us all. Even as she 
balanced her many duties, Tillie found the time to pay tribute to our 
Pages from the House floor. Because of the deep, personal interest she 
took in the lines of her staff, they remained extremely loyal, staying 
with her for many years.
  It's evident that her attention to detail transcended paper and 
pencil; Tillie offered tremendous attention to the details of people's 
lives. Last week's Jacksonville Times-Union guestbook is a testament; 
everyone from Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, to those who 
checked her out at the supermarket, remembered Tillie's humaneness and 
genuine interest. One Jacksonville resident said, ``Mrs. Fowler . . . 
obtained information on my father's WWII service for which I will 
always be grateful. When she left office she made sure that the process 
was completed by her successor. While she impacted this nation in so 
many positive ways, her attention to the details of one small request 
gives her a special place in the hearts of my family.''
  We can take a lesson from this. And our contribution to Tillie's 
legacy should be to continue her work here in Congress. Her remarks at 
the 1995 National Prayer breakfast can guide us:

       For a Member of Congress, Washington can be a dangerous 
     place, not because of crime, although that exists, but 
     because every day we face the possibility of losing our 
     perspective, of becoming tangled in the snares of business, 
     partisanship and self-importance that lie all around us and 
     which distract us from remembering why we are here. . . . In 
     the mist of all the sound and fury it is very easy and very 
     human to get carried away by some personal or partisan agenda 
     and forget about the importance of actually accomplishing 
     something constructive on behalf of the people who sent us to 
     Washington.

  It is statements like this that reflect why Tillie will be remembered 
not just as a conscientious public servant, but also as a human being 
who was unfailingly courteous and had a kind word for everyone she ever 
met. Regardless of party or point of view, we will always remember her 
with fondness and respect.
  Tillie Fowler managed to fit an extraordinary amount of living and 
human impact in sixty-two years. She was a beloved wife, mother, 
sister, friend, and American patriot. Her name will live on in American 
history, and in the memory of all who were privileged to know her. 
While we mourn her passing, we take comfort in knowing that another 
chapter has just begun, and that this chapter will be far longer than 
the days she spent on this Earth.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to 
participate in the tributes in memory of former Congresswoman Tillie 
Fowler. Although she retired before I entered Congress, I was fortunate 
to work with her while campaigning for my predecessor, former 
Congressman Floyd Spence. As Spence Campaign Manager in 1998, I learned 
firsthand of Tillie's warm and convincing personality. Her enthusiastic 
endorsement of Congressman Spence made her a hero of the Second 
District of South Carolina and propelled Congressman Spence to 
tremendous victory.
  Tillie was a gracious friend and diligent public servant. She once 
remarked that she tried to live by her father's guidance ``don't try to 
be popular. Just do the right thing.'' In following his advice, she 
became one of the most well respected and effective members of 
Congress. Through her quiet tenacity and steady leadership, Tillie 
solved difficult problems and achieved tremendous successes. She was 
committed to protecting Florida's bases, helping America's military 
families, and enabling our men and women in uniform to successfully 
defend our country. As we fight the War on Terrorism today, Tillie's 
accomplishments are more relevant than ever.
  True to her word, Tillie retired after eight years of service in the 
House of Representatives. She continued to serve her country as 
Chairman of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee. She was 
awarded the Navy's Distinguished Public Service Award and the 
Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the 
highest civilian awards given by the Navy and the Department of 
Defense.
  Tillie also possessed an extraordinary sense of purpose and a 
profound understanding of what matters most in life. Her dedication to 
her family and her friends was possibly her most admirable quality. She 
will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to Buck and her 
daughters, Elizabeth and Tillie.
  Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor the memory of a dear 
colleague. I first met Tillie Fowler when I came to Congress in 1995. 
Tillie always stood out as someone Members could admire. The more we 
worked together, the more I grew to admire her. She always took time to 
give advice--no matter how busy she was.
  Tillie would stick to her convictions regardless of who disagreed 
with her. Yet, at the same time, she was also very warm and friendly. 
Due to these characteristics Tillie earned the nickname ``Steel 
Magnolia,'' which I thought really suited her.
  Tillie was a staunch supporter of strengthening the defense of our 
country. She was also a strong conservative who wanted government to 
stop interfering in people's lives. Due to her strong stances and warm 
personality, Tillie was chosen as one of our top Republican Leaders; a 
position she filled with grace and wisdom.
  To those of us who knew Tillie, simple words or speeches cannot 
describe her. Nor can they speak enough about the woman she was. I will 
always remember Tillie as more than just a colleague during my years 
here. I will remember her as a good friend.
  May God bless Tillie and her family, and may we not forget the 
contributions she has made to our country.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, when former U.S. Representative Tillie 
Fowler passed away last week, we lost an inspiration, a mentor, a 
patriot, and a friend. From the time she first came to Congress, Tillie 
Fowler was committed above all else to serving the American people. Her 
warm manner, unmistakable intelligence, clear understanding of defense 
policy, and obvious love for her country helped her quickly rise to a 
position of influence within the party. Despite her great 
responsibilities, Congresswoman Fowler remained deeply rooted in her 
community, and committed to those individuals she was elected to 
represent.
  Tillie Fowler demonstrated to us all what a noble calling public 
service can be; and she still serves as an inspiration to many of us 
today, myself included. With the passing of Tillie Fowler, we truly 
lost one of the brightest

[[Page 3780]]

stars the Sunshine State ever had to offer. Her legacy and influence 
will not be forgotten, for we are forever indebted to her for all that 
she was able to accomplish.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to place into the Record a 
tribute to honor former Representative Tillie Kidd Fowler, who passed 
away unexpectedly on March 2, 2005.
  Tillie was not only an extraordinary leader and a dedicated public 
servant, she was also a dear and loyal friend.
  Tillie and I came to the Congress together in 1993, and worked 
together on many issues during the eight years she served her 
constituents in the communities of Jacksonville, Florida. Tillie was 
kind, intelligent and thoughtful. She put aside partisanship and 
politics for the good of the American people. Too few today speak with 
courtesy and respect when in disagreement with a colleague on important 
issues, but Tillie always did. These attributes earned her enormous 
respect among Republicans and Democrats alike, and undoubtedly played a 
role in her rise to Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, 
placing her fifth in the Republican leadership hierarchy.
  As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Tillie was a champion of 
a strong national defense and worked tirelessly to improve military 
culture in the U.S. and abroad. She continued this good work after her 
retirement from Congress in 2001, serving on the Defense Policy Board 
Advisory Committee where she aided the Secretary of Defense on strategy 
and policy matters. She also served on several panels to investigate 
allegations of discrimination and sexual misconduct at the U.S. Air 
Force Academy, as well as prisoner abuse in Iraq. Her work to improve 
our nation's military is second to none and she will be remembered for 
her role in eliminating intimidation, discrimination, harassment and 
assault from the culture of our military.
  The State of Florida, our nation and those of us who are Members of 
Congress have lost a true friend and wonderful leader.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 
extraordinary life of Tillie Fowler and in extending our deepest 
sympathies to her beloved husband Buck, their daughters Tillie and 
Elizabeth, and their entire family.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in paying special 
tribute to a unique patriot and a great American. Tillie Fowler was 
known as a ``Steel Magnolia'' because she was a grand class act with 
enormous strength of character.
  Tillie and I worked together on a host of defense-related issues, 
including the Depot Caucus which I co-chair. In a world of Republicans 
and Democrats who often see only the worst in each other, Tillie stood 
out as a hard-nosed realist and a reliable partner for any Member of 
Congress who stood with her on an issue.
  She didn't see party affiliation as the most important aspect of a 
colleague; she judged each of us individually, by how we worked on 
issues important to Florida, the district she represented, and to the 
nation.
  We served together on the House Armed Services Committee, and we 
traveled together on behalf of the House of Representatives. She cared 
deeply about the national security of the United States and about her 
constituents in Florida.
  She was a remarkable public servant; she broke the mold, becoming the 
first woman and first Republican to serve as council President of the 
Jacksonville City Council in 1985. She was a woman of her word--here in 
Congress and with the people she represented so well here.
  When she first ran, she pledged to only serve here for 6 years. Very 
few members who make such a pledge actually keep it in the end. But 
Tillie did. She was as good as her word on any matter. She made the 
most of her service here, becoming the 5th ranking Republican in the 
House by 2000.
  After she left the House, she remained actively engaged in matters of 
national defense. In 2001 she was appointed to the Defense Policy 
Advisory Board by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. She also 
continued to be involved in local civic and business affairs.
  She always took on the hard issues, investigating sexual assaults at 
our military academies and torture at prisons in Iraq . . . both 
difficult and thankless jobs. Tillie was a rare breed--a class act and 
a scrappy fighter.
  Tillie was the picture of grace and compassion. Public service was 
genetic for her; her father was former Georgia State Sen. Culver Kidd.
  I will miss my friend; I fully expected to be working with her in the 
upcoming BRAC deliberations this year. She was tenacious, she was 
gracious and she was a beautiful soul. Her family--her husband, Buck, 
and their daughters--will be in my thoughts and prayers.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I was deeply saddened to 
hear of the sudden passing of my former colleague, Tillie Fowler. My 
prayers and deepest regrets go out to her and her immediate family, 
Buck, and her two girls, Tillie Ann and Elizabeth.
  Tillie and I shared a lot in common. In fact, in 1992, we came up to 
Washington together as members of the same class of elected 
representatives. This class was so dynamic, and filled with so many new 
and soon to be influential women members, that it was referred to as 
``The Year of the Woman.''
  One distinct adjective to describe Tillie is that she was a 
tremendous fighter. She struggled hard for what she believed in, and 
for the betterment of the people and the region she served. Above all, 
Tillie loved her country, and fought hard to protect the freedoms we 
enjoy--even the freedom to disagree. Tillie was a woman of great 
distinction, highly respected, and was always extremely active in her 
community. She served our country well, particularly in her strong 
support of the military, specializing in issues concerning women's 
roles and rights within the military. She was also a woman with strong 
leadership qualities and one who believed in the value of volunteerism 
and community service.
  Even though Tillie worked on the opposite end of the political 
spectrum, I recognize tremendous contributions Tillie made, and 
influence she had within the Republican Party. In 1998 in fact, she was 
chosen by her colleagues within the Republican Party to be the Vice 
Chairman (or Chairwoman) of the Republican Conference. This honor made 
her the highest ranking woman in the U.S. Congress at the time she 
retired, in 2000. She also served for 6 years as Deputy Majority Whip 
in the Party, paving the way for future women to move up the political 
ranks here on Capitol Hill.
  Moreover, when she obtained a seat on the House Armed Services 
Committee, she was the only Republican woman at that time on the 
committee. Given the tremendous influence the military plays in the 
city of Jacksonville, her appointment to this committee was more than 
critical. Upon leaving Congress, Tillie worked hard to ensure a strong 
U.S. military was recognized by the Secretary of the Navy and the 
Secretary of Defense. She went on to receive the Navy's Distinguished 
Public Service Award and the Department of Defense Medal for 
Distinguished Public Service, both of which was the highest civilian 
awards given by the Navy and DOD.
  Additionally, I served with Tillie on the T & I committee, and 
crossed party lines numerous times to work together and do what was 
best for the city of Jacksonville and North Florida as a whole.
  My heart and prayers go out to Tillie's dear family during this 
difficult time. They will remain in my thoughts and prayers.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Congresswoman 
Tillie Fowler, our friend and former colleague who recently passed 
away.
  Tillie Fowler was a unique individual. She was tough. She was smart. 
She was determined. She was gracious. She was an effective advocate for 
her Jacksonville-area constituents. She also was a loving wife and 
devoted mother, as well as a friend of mine.
  Born in Georgia as the daughter of a politician, Tillie quickly 
distinguished herself as a force with which to be reckoned. She earned 
a law degree from Emory University. She became a congressional aide and 
White House staffer. She was elected President of the Jacksonville City 
Council.
  Tillie won election to Congress in 1992 and did such a good job that 
she was unopposed in her three subsequent elections. She became the 
most powerful woman in Congress during her time here, rising to become 
Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference. She willingly retired 
from Congress after serving eight years, though her public service 
continued until the day she died. Those who knew her remember her 
wisdom, common sense, fairness, and gentle disposition that could 
disarm even the most hardened opponent.
  Mr. Speaker, Tillie once said that ``I'd rather have people's respect 
than have them like me.'' I think I speak for all of us when I say that 
she gained our love, admiration, and respect. I join our colleagues in 
mourning Congresswoman Tillie Fowler's passing and celebrating her 
life. I extend my thoughts and prayers to her husband, Buck, and her 
daughters, Tillie and Elizabeth.
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, with the passing of Tillie Fowler, 
America has lost a great American, dedicated public servant, and friend 
to many.
  Ms. Fowler's distinguished career in public service started as a 
legislative assistant to Representative Robert J. Stephens, Jr. For the 
next 37 years, Ms. Fowler served our Nation in many different 
capacities culminating in her election as a Republican representative 
in

[[Page 3781]]

Congress. I had the honor of serving with Ms. Fowler on the Armed 
Service Committee. I have not known a stronger supporter of national 
defense, those who serve in the military, and their families.
  After leaving Congress, Ms. Fowler remained dedicated to our country. 
She has done extraordinary work helping lead the commission reviewing 
sexual harassment at our Nation's military academies. I am pleased that 
we were able to continue our professional working relationship when 
Tillie left Congress, and that we were still in touch this year working 
on mutual issues of interest for the San Diego Airport Authority.
  Tillie K. Fowler was not just a colleague, she was a friend. She will 
truly be missed, by me and a grateful Nation.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues today in this 
special order tribute to the life and achievements of our former 
colleague, Congresswoman Tillie Fowler, who passed away suddenly last 
week.
  I had the privilege of serving with Tillie. She was a good person--a 
woman of honesty and integrity--and a remarkable public servant. She 
had a distinguished eight-year tenure in the House of Representatives. 
When she retired in 2001 after a self-imposed four-term limit, she was 
the highest-ranking woman in the House leadership, serving as the vice 
chairman of the Republican Conference. She also served for six years as 
a deputy majority whip.
  Representing the area around Jacksonville, Florida, Tillie quickly 
made a mark in the House after her election in 1992. She obtained a 
seat on the House Armed Services Committee, the only Republican woman 
on the committee at that time, enabling her to represent well the 
military and naval installations in her northern Florida district.
  She also served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 
and chaired the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Emergency 
Management, from which she led an investigation of the nation's 
preparedness for a domestic terrorist attack. Eighteen months before 9/
11, she authored legislation that would have centralized federal anti-
terrorism efforts. After the 2001 terrorists attacks, many of the 
reforms she proposed were enacted in the creation of Department of 
Homeland Security.
  She gained a reputation as a knowledgeable and articulate advocate 
for a strong U.S. military and when she retired from Congress, she 
received the highest civilian awards given by the U.S. Navy and the 
Department of Defense--the Navy's Distinguished Public Service Award 
and the Defense Department's Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
  An attorney by profession, Tillie became a Washington-based partner 
in the Holland & Knight law firm after leaving Congress, but also 
continued her public service work. She served on the Defense Policy 
Advisory Committee, later chairing the panel--the first woman to head 
the board in its 20-year history--which advises the secretary of 
Defense on strategic planning matters. She also led a panel created by 
Congress in 2003 to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct at the 
U.S. Air Force Academy, and was a member of a blue-ribbon panel which 
advised the Defense secretary last year on issues related to the 
allegations of prisoner abuse by U.S. military personnel at Abu Ghraib 
prison in Iraq.
  Tillie Fowler was a wonderful person, the beloved wife of Buck Fowler 
of Jacksonville and devoted mother of two daughters, Tillie Fowler of 
Washington, D.C., and Elizabeth Fowler of San Francisco.
  We mourn her sudden passing and offer our deepest sympathies to the 
Fowler family and the many, many friends and colleagues in both the 
public and private sectors whose lives were touched and enriched by 
Tillie Fowler.
  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and 
legacy of the honorable Tillie Kidd Fowler. Mrs. Fowler was a 
distinguished member of this House from 1993 to 2000. She was a 
personal friend and someone who I admired greatly.
  Tillie was as good a Representative as this House has seen. She was 
tenacious in the defense of her constituents; principled to a point; 
and, willing to listen to any good argument.
  Raised in an era when professional women were passed over regardless 
of qualifications for their male counterparts, Tillie used her sharp 
intellect to climb to the highest levels of government and public 
service; and our Nation is the better for it.
  Today, as we grapple with how best to defend our Nation against the 
threats of the 21st Century, each of us in the public arena will have 
to double our efforts in order to fill the knowledge void created by 
Tillie's absence. We all relied on her keen insights and the 
significance of her efforts to rebuild our Nation's military and 
maintain the world's most elite armed services cannot be understated.
  While I could go on and on about Tillie's policy successes as a 
United States Representative and later as Chairwoman of the Defense 
Policy Board Advisory Committee, it is her work off this floor that I 
will miss most. When the day's work was done, Tillie had an amazing 
ability to cut through the clutter and remind you what matters most; to 
keep you focused; and, to give you a renewed sense of energy with which 
to tackle the issues of the day.
  Just as she was in life, her memory will continue to serve as an 
inspiration to all of us who knew her. May God receive and keep her, 
and hold her family close in their days of mourning.
  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a great 
American, Tillie Fowler, who served this House with honor and with 
passion for eight years.
  She was not only a colleague and friend to many of us but she was an 
unquestioned expert on national security. Her highest priority was 
always taking care of our men and women who serve in uniform. She 
established such a strong reputation as a tireless worker for her 
district, our state, and our nation that she quickly rose to one of the 
most important leadership posts in our conference.
  Even after she left this House, she continued to serve when called 
upon, taking on a number of difficult assignments given to her by the 
President and Secretary of Defense.
  As much as Tillie Fowler will be remembered for her dedication to 
this House, I will always remember her for the respect and compassion 
with which she served. At a time when we talk about civility in the 
House, it would do us all some good to reflect on the way in which she 
treated all the members and staff in this body with grace and respect.
  Our prayers go out on this day to Buck, Tillie's husband of 34 years, 
and their two daughters Tillie and Elizabeth. The news of her sudden 
hospitalization and quick passing was a shock to them and all of us as 
well.
  The family can take great solace, though, as they reflect on a woman 
who dedicated her life to public service and who will long be 
remembered not only for what she accomplished but for the way in which 
she set about to serve others. Today indeed is a tragic day for the 
people of Florida, our nation and this House. We have lost a great 
American, a great colleague, and a great friend.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, we were all stunned by the sudden passing of 
our former colleague Tillie Fowler. It was a shock that someone so 
young, so vibrant, so engaged could be gone so quickly. Her family, 
especially her husband Buck and two daughters Tillie and Elizabeth, 
remain in our thoughts and prayers as they deal with their tremendous 
loss.
  As I've thought about Tillie over the past week, I remember that 
Tillie always seemed to know where she was going. She wasn't 
necessarily in a hurry, but she knew where she wanted to be, and what 
she needed to do. Many of my colleagues may remember the brisk pace of 
Tillie as she hustled between meetings and votes and other commitments. 
She was dainty but determined, small yet sure, focused yet always 
friendly.
  Tillie was deeply dedicated to her work on the Armed Services 
Committee and to the men and women who serve our country in the 
military. In her mind, they deserved the best, and she was determined 
to see that they got it. She had the respect of members from both sides 
of the aisle, and especially the leadership of the military and the 
Pentagon for her commitment.
  Today, as we find ourselves engaged in the Global War on Terror and 
we see all that our military has accomplished to further the cause of 
liberty across the Middle East, we should remember Tillie's hard work 
on their behalf. She deserves a tremendous amount of credit for 
recognizing the importance of a strong military, even in times of 
relative peace and prosperity. You never know when you might need it. 
And we need it today. Thanks to Tillie, and many other people, we have 
it.
  Tillie Fowler will long be remembered here on Capitol Hill for her 
dedication, her grace, her love of this country and those who serve it. 
She set a shining example for all of us to follow--love your family, 
love your country, love your job, and know where you're going.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend 
and former colleague Representative Tillie Fowler.
  Tillie, who was sometimes called the ``Steel Magnolia,'' represented 
her district in Florida from 1992 until 2000 and was a champion for the 
issues important to her constituents. As a member of the House Armed 
Services Committee, she fought to keep military bases in her 
congressional district. During her tenure

[[Page 3782]]

on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, she 
investigated the inadequacies in the country's preparedness for a 
domestic terrorist attack and was able to identify many of the 
shortcomings that contributed to our lack of preparedness on September 
11, 2001. She also served as vice chairwoman of the House Republican 
Conference and was the fifth-highest member of the House leadership 
when she left Congress.
  In 1997, she served on a congressional task force created to 
investigate the incidences of sexual harassment and abuse in the U.S. 
military, an issue on which she and I worked closely together. Two 
years ago, she was appointed by Secretary Rumsfeld to lead a seven-
member panel created by Congress to review sexual misconduct 
allegations at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The panel's findings 
detailed much that we already knew including a failure of leadership 
and command and a lack of support for the victim. I strongly believe 
that we owe much of the progress we are now making on this issue to the 
efforts made by Tillie Fowler during the past ten years.
  Tillie is survived by her husband Buck and her two daughters Tillie 
and Elizabeth. I join with my colleagues in expressing my deepest 
condolences. Tillie will certainly be missed.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from Florida for 
allowing me to participate in this tribute to our friend, Tillie 
Fowler.
  I was privileged to get to know Tillie and to see how effective she 
was here in this body. I served with her on the Whip team, where her 
intelligence and leadership abilities were great assets. Tillie also 
had the universal respect of members of Congress in both parties 
because of her gentle demeanor and the way she got things done. She 
also enjoyed that same measure of respect from all the branches of our 
armed services. Tillie gained a seat on the Armed Services Committee 
and worked hard on issues to strengthen our military and improve the 
quality of life for our service personnel.
  One of the newspaper stories referred to Tillie as a passionate 
advocate for the City of Jacksonville and for the military. There is no 
question about that, and she achieved success without raising her voice 
or pounding on the rostrum. She did it with a personal style that 
embodied all the characteristics of a Southern lady. Tillie was polite 
and courteous, always immaculately dressed, and easy to work with--yet 
tenacious in pursuit of her goals. Working Woman magazine once said 
about Tillie that she was a ``diminutive Southern belle but tough as an 
old Marine.'' She said she learned that lesson from her grandmother, 
who said being a lady doesn't mean you can't be tough.
  Tillie heeded her grandmother's advice, and it served her well 
throughout a career that was marked by pioneering accomplishments. She 
was one of only five women in her Emory University Law School 
graduating class. She won a seat on the Jacksonville City Council and 
was elected as the council's first woman president. She earned high 
marks for her work ethic and ability to get things done. In 1993, she 
brought that same energy and determination to Capitol Hill.
  She already had Washington experience as a former House staffer and 
in the Office of Consumer Affairs at the White House. Tillie's 
abilities were recognized quickly and she became a leader on issues 
relating to our military. She also became a member of the House 
leadership team, serving as vice-chair of the Republican Conference.
  Even after leaving Congress in 2001, Tillie was still being called on 
to tackle tough assignments. She chaired the commission that 
investigated sexual misconduct allegations at the Air Force Academy and 
was named to the panel looking into issues surrounding the treatment of 
prisoners in Iraq.
  She never moved to Washington, choosing to commute back home every 
weekend to be close to her family and her strong Jacksonville roots. 
While Tillie focused much attention on the district and on issues 
important to Florida, her work touched lives all across our great 
country--especially those with ties to our military. That was evidenced 
by the strong outpouring of support the family received from so many 
Americans who appreciated Tillie's faithful service.
  The House of Representatives is a better place because Tillie Fowler 
served here. I am honored to help pay tribute to Tillie and her 
remarkable career.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, along with my fellow Members of Congress, it 
is my honor to pay tribute to my friend and former colleague, Tillie 
Fowler. I extend my very deepest sympathy to Tillie's husband, Buck, to 
her daughters, Tillie and Elizabeth, and to Tillie's family on the 
great personal loss of their loved one. It was my privilege to call 
Tillie Fowler my colleague in Congress and know her as a friend.
  Tillie always had her priorities in order. I always recall her first 
concern in all matters was for Buck, her husband, and her daughters. 
Tillie as I knew her also had a great love of our country. She ran for 
office to make her community, our State of Florida and our nation a 
better place for all. And she never stopped or hesitated in that 
effort.
  Because of the public service of Tillie Fowler, many lives in the 
Jacksonville area and across our great land have been changed. Tillie 
and I were elected to Congress together in 1992. With Tillie's 
leadership the Congress was reformed, people who only had welfare as a 
choice had their lives changed and our nation's military found a new, 
strong advocate at their side. Many lives have been affected by the 
efforts and determination of Tillie Fowler.
  It was my honor to serve with her for eight years and share borders 
of our Congressional Districts over the years, It was my honor to have 
her at my side during congressional redistricting in 2002, when I 
inherited a large portion of her old district and faced a formidable 
reelection challenge. Her support and friendship will always have a 
fond place in my heart and memories.
  So, like many, I have lost a great friend. Unfortunately our nation 
has lost a great leader and patriot. We will all miss Tillie. But each 
day now without her, we can celebrate her life and better appreciate 
her many contributions that helped to make our country a better America 
for all.

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