[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9723]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING SPEAKER HASTERT

  (Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute).
  Mr. WELLER. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor to congratulate the 
Speaker of the House. I have known Denny Hastert since the late 1970s. 
I remember Denny Hastert as a high school wrestling coach, history 
teacher. The Yorkville Foxes would come down to our high school and 
pretty much beat us every year under the leadership of Coach Hastert.
  When I met Denny Hastert, he was a public school teacher interested 
in public service, thinking about running for State legislature, 
volunteering to campaign. Today he is Speaker of the House. One thing I 
have always known about Denny Hastert; he is respected as a listener. 
He is a solid leader, a man of integrity.
  But I want to congratulate the Speaker, because this coming week, 
Denny Hastert will become the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the 
House of Representatives in the history of the United States Congress.
  It is my understanding that he will also be the third-longest Speaker 
in the history of the United States. As a Member of the Illinois 
Delegation I extend my warm congratulations to Dennis Hastert, who has 
been a great Speaker of the House, a man of tremendous integrity. I 
salute him for his leadership to the House of Representatives and our 
Nation.

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