[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22868]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRESSMAN RAY LaHOOD'S DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2008

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dear friend 
and colleague, Congressman Ray LaHood. Ray has been a faithful servant 
to the people of the 18th District of Illinois since first being 
elected in 1994 to the 104th Congress. Before that he was a 
schoolteacher, a longtime community leader, member of the Illinois 
General Assembly and Chief of Staff for former U.S. House Minority 
Leader Robert Michel. Each of these opportunities furthered his 
dedication to serving the American people and eventually led him to 
serve as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
  Ray and I have worked closely together over the years on a number of 
issues, but one that has always been near to our hearts because of its 
importance to the United States, has been our work with the nation of 
Lebanon, the land of our ancestors. As Members of Congress who are 
deeply interested in Lebanon, the people of Lebanon, and the ability of 
Lebanon to rise above the turmoil and conflicts which have overtaken 
the country, we are able to view the recent election of the new 
Lebanese President as a strong signal to the world that progress and 
forward movement continues to be made in the Middle East.
  Ray has always had a deep respect for the institution of Congress, a 
trait which can be attested to by any and all who have served with him 
over the years. While Ray has left many lasting legacies during his 
time here in the House of Representatives, for me his friendship will 
be one I continue to treasure the most as he, his wife Kathy and their 
family move on to this new chapter in their lives.
  Although it seems that we as a Congress can't find ourselves in 
agreement on many things, one thing that is beyond dispute is that Ray 
has embodied the ideal of the civil servant who tirelessly has served 
the interests of the American people.

                          ____________________