[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10125]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING SPEAKER HASTERT

  (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to salute Speaker 
Hastert for becoming the longest serving Republican Speaker in history. 
Long may his record stand.
  This milestone is a testament to his leadership within the Republican 
Conference and within the Halls of Congress. Dennis Hastert spent 16 
years as a teacher and coach at Yorkville High School in Illinois. He 
has put the skills he learned there to good use in this body.
  After 6 years in the Illinois State House, he came to the U.S. House 
of Representatives in 1986. In 1999, Denny Hastert's colleagues elected 
him Speaker of the House, the third highest Government official in the 
United States.
  While we often disagree on issues, we agree on the importance of 
public service. That kind of public service has been the hallmark of 
Speaker Hastert's career whether in the classroom or in the House of 
Representatives.

                              {time}  1945

  Today I also salute the Speaker's wife, Jean, and his two children, 
Ethan and Joshua, for this milestone.
  Through the trying moments and the moments like this, one of great 
triumph, they have stood by his side. They are watching you on 
television now.
  In Congress we all hold the title ``honorable'' by virtue of our 
office. Dennis Hastert holds it by virtue of his character. I salute 
him for his service to our Nation and look forward to many future 
opportunities to work together.
  Congratulations, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER. Thank you very much.
  Madam Speaker, I want to first of all say, again, my appreciation to 
my family who have sacrificed over the years like all our families do 
when we come to this place. But I am very humbled that I was able to 
serve this body. I really am not one to keep records because records 
are made to be broken, but I just want to thank you as Members of the 
House for the times that we have been able to work together and the 
times when we have disagreed but we have disagreed in an honorable way.
  I think the process that this place offers all of us is something 
that is unique in all the world. And I look around this room and 
chairmen that I have worked under who have taught me sometimes the hard 
way. I see people who have mentored, to try to bring Members along and 
bring them to places of leadership. I have to reflect and thank one 
person who I think has been very special in my life in this place, and 
that is Bob Michel, who served as Republican leader for years. The 
honor and civility that he brought to this place, I hope that I can 
pass on as well.
  Again, I want to thank you for serving with me because this is a 
place where we work together and do things together. God bless you and 
God bless this Congress. Thank you very much.

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