[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22945]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING CONGRESSMAN RAY LaHOOD FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE 
                  REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to 
recognize a distinguished Member of Congress from the Illinois 
Delegation, Congressman Ray LaHood. Ray is a friend and a true example 
of leadership in public service.
  Ray has served his country and his community in many ways throughout 
his lifetime. He was a dedicated teacher in both Catholic and public 
schools and he served as the Director of Youth Services in Rockford, 
Illinois. Ray was elected to the Illinois State House of 
Representatives in 1982 and then worked for House Republican Leader 
Robert Michel as District Administrative Assistant and, for four years, 
as Chief of Staff. Upon Rep. Michel's retirement, Ray was elected to 
the 104th Congress in 1994 where he has served the people of the 18th 
District for seven terms.
  Here in the House, Ray is known for his efforts to establish a higher 
level of civility, decorum, and bipartisanship. His knowledge of 
congressional rules and procedures and his fair-handedness enabled him 
to be called upon many times to chair the House during proceedings on 
contentious issues including the impeachment debate in 1998.
  Ray has also served his district with great bipartisanship and 
integrity, including working diligently on the creation of the Lincoln 
Presidential Library and supporting the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission 
in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln to be held 
in 2009.
  It has been an honor and privilege to serve with Congressman Ray 
LaHood in the House of Representatives. We will miss his presence, 
especially in the Illinois delegation. I extend my heartfelt 
congratulations and best wishes to Ray and his wife Kathy as they 
embark on new beginnings and future endeavors, especially The Ray and 
Kathy LaHood Center for Cerebral Palsy.

                          ____________________