[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15530-15538]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       A TALL TEXAN AMERICAN HERO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) is recognized for 
60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to submit extraneous materials for the Record on the topic 
of this Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of tonight's Special 
Order is to celebrate our friend and colleague Ralph Hall's 
distinguished service in Congress. If there were a congressional hall 
of fame, tonight would be Representative Hall's induction as the 
oldest--some would say the most seasoned--voting Member in the House of 
Representatives.
  As Members of Congress, we have the distinct honor of serving the 
American people. Each day as a Representative can be both challenging 
and rewarding; and though we sometimes make headlines, we do not always 
make history.

                              {time}  1920

  That is why today is especially important. Today is a day for the 
history books. After 32 years of service, Congressman Ralph Hall today 
became the eldest Member of Congress to cast a vote in the House of 
Representatives. And on Christmas Day of this year, Representative Hall 
will become the oldest Member of the House to have ever served in our 
Nation's history.
  They say that with age comes wisdom. So Congressman Hall may also be 
the wisest man to have served in the House of Representatives. They 
also say that some things get better with age. In Representative Hall's 
case, his commitment to both his country and his constituents just 
continues to increase.
  Since he was 19 years old, Ralph Hall has led a life of service for 
which we can all be grateful. As a lieutenant in the Navy during World 
War II, Chairman Hall served as a pilot, and since then he has never 
hesitated to accomplish a mission.
  In fact, he recently was back up in the air. Following the lead of 
another great Texan, President George H.W. Bush, Ralph Hall parachuted 
out of an airplane this past August, proving that he's never afraid to 
jump right in.
  That mentality has made him a distinguished Member of Congress and a 
very effective chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology 
Committee. Congressman Hall represents the Fourth District of Texas, 
which has only elected three Members of Congress in the last 100 years. 
His constituents back in northeast Texas are accustomed to electing 
strong leaders and keeping them there.
  It was 100 years ago this month that his district elected a young 
farmer turned State representative named Sam Rayburn, who went on to 
serve in the House for the next half century. Ralph Hall knew and 
worked with Sam Rayburn early in his career when Ralph Hall was a 
county judge. He was elected to that position while he was still in law 
school.
  Earlier today, we had the privilege of unveiling a new portrait 
memorializing Representative Hall's tenure as chairman of the Science 
Committee. It was fitting that the ceremony took place in the Rayburn 
House Office Building.
  Throughout his tenure, Ralph Hall has been a consistent advocate for 
advancement through scientific research and development. He has been an 
ally of small businesses, and as Science Committee chairman has worked 
to ensure that business owners are not unnecessarily burdened by 
excessive EPA regulations.
  Ralph Hall has fostered programs to better understand extreme weather 
and to ensure that citizens are prepared for natural disasters. He also 
has worked to advance science education and programs that promote 
medical, energy, and technological breakthroughs to benefit future 
generations.
  Throughout his time in Congress, Chairman Hall has served this 
institution with style and humor. Back home, you would be hard pressed 
to find a constituent who hasn't been given an ``All for Hall from 
Rockwall'' encased penny that is a fixture of his campaigns going back 
to his first race.
  His constituent service is second to none--which is a large part of 
why he has had no difficulty in getting reelected back home no matter 
how his district lines have changed over the past three decades.
  In Washington, to this day, he still gives his constituents more 
White House tours personally than any other Member of the House.
  It is an honor to work with Ralph Hall as both a colleague and a 
friend. Ralph Hall has always said, ``I'd rather be respected at home 
than liked in Washington.'' Actually, he has achieved that rare 
combination of both.
  We thank Ralph Hall for his service to the Congress and to our 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, before I recognize other Members of Congress here 
tonight, I just want to remind us all that this Special Order is only 
an hour long, and given the number of people from whom we have had 
requests to speak, we are going to ask each person who does speak to 
limit themselves to 2 minutes or less so we'll have time not only for 
the Members who want to speak, but we'll also hear from Ralph Hall at 
the end of this Special Order.
  Having said that, I'm pleased to yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Congressman Joe Barton, who is the second-most-senior Member of the 
Texas delegation.
  Mr. BARTON of Texas. There are many Ralph Hall stories, most of which 
we can't really tell on the House floor--that's how funny they are--but 
I want to tell one real, true Ralph Hall story which is the epitome of 
a Texan.
  Several years ago, Ralph told me that he had some property up over in 
his district and he didn't have time to go visit it. He had been 
involved in a bank, and apparently the bank had

[[Page 15531]]

taken control of the property, and somehow Ralph had gotten control of 
the bank's assets legally, so it was his property, but he never had 
time to go visit it. He had a caretaker who was taking care of his 
property. He began to get letters from the Railroad Commission down in 
Austin. The Railroad Commission is in charge of oil and gas leases and 
royalties for the State of Texas, and they kept sending these letters 
asking where to send his royalty checks. And he finally called down and 
said: I don't have any oil and gas wells, what are you talking about?
  Well, he said, on such and such a plat in such and such a county, 
you're the listed owner of this producing oil well. So Ralph took time 
one weekend to drive up by himself, and sure enough there was a 
producing oil well on some property that he did not know about. 
Obviously, he made a change in who was his caretaker at that property, 
but that is one true Ralph Hall story that shows the epitome of being 
the Texan that he is.
  I first got to know Ralph back in 1985 when I was a freshman on the 
Science and Space Committee and Ralph was subcommittee chairman of the 
Space Subcommittee. Since that time, he and I have become good friends. 
He is the epitome of a true Texas gentleman. He is the most well-liked 
person in the congressional delegation, not just from Texas but from 
the entire Congress, and I am very honored to be one of the very few 
who gets to speak on what a great man he is. We're so glad that he's 
still in the Congress.
  So, Ralph Hall, we love you. We hope you serve for another 10-20 
years and continue to be an inspiration to the Fourth District of 
Texas.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Sam Johnson, a true Texas hero.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  You know, Ralph's district adjoins mine. He and I have represented 
the same area in Collin County for many years. Ralph is just one of a 
kind. He's one of the nicest guys I've ever known. It's a privilege to 
recognize my fellow Texan and good friend for his many years of 
outstanding service to our country and to the great State of Texas.
  Ralph is a man of great integrity whose steadfast commitment of 
service to our Nation is to be commended. Ralph and I have known each 
other a long time, and I'm lucky to have him as a neighbor and friend. 
I don't have a better friend or ally in the Congress, and I want to 
congratulate Ralph on reaching this milestone.
  He was in the United States Navy and he fought for our country in 
World War II. And then when we got back up where we do an event every 
year in McKinney, Texas, he was kind of mad at me because I jumped out 
of an airplane five times and he hadn't jumped out of one. And so he 
decided he was going to jump out of one just so he could come to that 
meeting and tell us he did it. And he did.
  He's still a great patriot. He lives and breathes America. I look 
forward to many more years with Ralph Hall.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from 
Texas, Eddie Bernice Johnson, who is the ranking member of the Science 
Committee of which Ralph Hall is the chairman.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the 
gentleman very much. I rise today to honor Congressman Ralph Hall, who 
is the dean of our Texas congressional delegation, and a lifelong 
public servant from the State of Texas.

                              {time}  1930

  I don't know that I have a better friend in this body than Ralph 
Hall, and our relationship goes all the way back to the Texas 
Legislature.
  When I first went to the Texas House back in 1972, he was a part of 
the senate. And I still have a little penny that is encircled in a 
little silver band that says, Ralph Hall of Rockwall. And I've always 
kept it as something special because he is a very special person to me.
  When he switched parties in 2004, and I've said this before, I tried 
to call him several times and I didn't get a response. So I finally 
said, just, I want to leave this message; tell him I still love him. In 
30 seconds, he called me back. And I really meant that. I meant it 
then; I mean it now, because party has never been anything that 
separated friendship, and he's a perfect example of that.
  His sense of humor has been so useful on the committee that often 
it's used to make witnesses more comfortable or to break some of the 
partisan bickering.
  But whatever, he's unique in this body. If we had more Ralph Halls, 
we wouldn't have the rating that we have today.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Congressman Ralph Hall, Dean of 
the Texas Congressional delegation and a life-long public servant from 
my State of Texas.
  Ralph Hall is often quoted, saying ``I'd rather be respected at home 
than liked in Washington.'' I do both. I have tremendous respect for 
him as my Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and 
Technology and he is a true friend back home in North Texas. Ralph Hall 
in many ways has been able to transcend the extreme partisan climate 
which exists in Washington today with his keen political acumen and 
candid sense of humor.
  Through our shared experiences in the Texas legislature and on the 
Science Committee, I have learned that Ralph enjoys a good joke and 
that I should not try to match him in storytelling. Ralph uses humor to 
diffuse tensions in a room. I have seen him use it to do everything 
from stopping partisan bickering to easing a witness's nerves. It's a 
real skill and I have truly appreciated it over the years.
  You may recall back in January of 2004 after serving 12 terms as a 
Democrat, Ralph Hall decided to run as a Republican. I was the first 
Democrat to call Ralph when he switched parties. As soon as I heard 
this news I attempted to call him at his office, however I was unable 
to get in touch. After a few more attempts, I left a message saying, 
``just tell him that I still love him.'' He called me right back, and 
said he was so happy to hear my message because his wife was mad at 
him. Some said she actually had him sleeping on the couch. He knew 
several of his Democratic friends would be upset with him.
  Our districts are practically right next to each other and we had 
been friends for years. I wanted him to know that I certainly didn't 
agree with the switch, but that we would always be friends, and I meant 
it.
  It has been an honor to be his friend and colleague all of these 
years. Ralph Hall continues to inspire and encourage us all through his 
milestone of service to our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Ralph Hall for his many 
accomplishments as an exceptional politician, civic leader, businessman 
and shining example of the American dream.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield to the 
gentlewoman from Texas, Kay Granger.
  Ms. GRANGER. Like all the Members that are speaking tonight, I'm very 
honored to pay tribute to our friend, Ralph Hall. And I thank 
Congressman Lamar Smith for organizing this very well-deserved tribute.
  Congressman Hall served his country as an aircraft carrier pilot in 
World War II, and has continued his commitment to service ever since.
  As the oldest Member of Congress to cast a recorded floor vote, the 
dean of the Texas congressional delegation, and the oldest Member of 
this House, Congressman Hall has a long, distinguished career behind 
him.
  More important than the longevity of Ralph Hall's service, however, 
is the incredible dedication and commitment to his constituents that 
he's shown in his service. Congressman Hall has repeatedly earned the 
trust and respect of voters of north Texas who elected him to his first 
political office 62 years ago, and they've been sending him back with 
overwhelming support for 32 years. All along the way, in every office 
he's served, Congressman Hall has made Texas proud, and continues to do 
so as chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
  Serving with Ralph has been a true honor, and I look forward to 
continuing to serve with him well into the future.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Pete Sessions, the next chairman of the Rules Committee.

[[Page 15532]]


  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.
  Tonight we all rise in support of the favorite son of Rockwall, 
Texas, and perhaps all of Texas, the Honorable Ralph Hall.
  And I think of so many wonderful stories about Ralph. Tonight you'll 
hear many of them, Mr. Speaker, of the Texas delegation, of the life 
and times of our members, as we not only try and gather together every 
week, but also work together.
  One of my favorite stories about Ralph Hall really took place with 
the young woman who was just up here, Kay Granger. One night Kay 
Granger, then as a Member of Congress, and myself--this is probably 12, 
13, 14 years ago--were with Ralph Hall at the brand-new Reagan airport. 
And we sat down, waiting for a flight that was going to be in 35 or 40 
minutes, that got delayed 35 or 40 minutes or maybe longer, and about 
an hour and a half later, the American Airlines people came and said, 
Just so you know, the flight left about 30 minutes ago. Do y'all want 
to have dinner with us or what?
  And we looked up at each other and we'd missed the flight, and that 
was because Ralph Hall was telling the funniest stories of taking time 
with Kay Granger and me, sitting around a small table at Reagan 
airport.
  And he was doing more than just telling stories. What Ralph was 
really trying to do was to mentor Kay Granger and Pete Sessions on, not 
the life and times of Ralph Hall, but to talk about citizenship and of 
service and of benefit to people. And he talked about how he, in his 
personal life, lived his life for the benefit of other people.
  From that day forward, I learned more about Ralph Hall and have 
continued to want to hear him and tell the stories. Every time it is 
about how you can better your life, about how you can look at what your 
service and your time and the things that you do is about other people, 
not yourself. Ralph Hall, for all the years that I am sure he has 
served, whether it was as a State senator or a county judge or as a 
distinguished Member of Congress, Ralph has done so for others.
  Ralph comes and goes every single weekend. I've never spent a weekend 
here in 16 years that I've been a Member of Congress, and I'm sure 
Ralph has not in the time he's been here since the early eighties.
  Mr. Speaker, Ralph Hall is an important and distinguished Member of 
this body, and he has brought distinction, not just to the Texas 
delegation and not just to the people that he represents, but I think 
to all of America, as a statesman, a man who gets his work done, not to 
put himself forward, but to put others.
  I think he's a model of success. He's a model of somebody that I want 
to become more like. But I will tell you what: If we will take the time 
tonight, those of my colleagues that have not known him, to watch the 
way Ralph does it, he even does it today the same way he did it the 
first day he came here. And that, to me, is a legacy of Ralph Hall, a 
great Member of Congress and one of my colleagues.
  I'm proud and pleased to be here tonight with the Honorable Ralph 
Moody Hall, Member of Congress.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
John Culberson.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, the Proverbs tell us that our good name 
is our most valuable possession on Earth, and by that measure Ralph 
Hall is truly one of the wealthiest men in America. He's earned the 
trust of his constituents over and over again, as he has earned the 
trust of his colleagues, because we know, his constituents know, that 
Ralph Hall always keeps his word, that Ralph Hall always does what's 
right for America. He does the right thing for the right reason on 
every occasion.
  And he understands that his service in Congress is for his fellow 
man. Just as he served us in uniform in our Armed Forces, Ralph serves 
here as he served as county judge, as he served as State senator for 
the benefit of Texas, for the benefit of America.
  It's an extraordinary privilege for me to serve with him, to look to 
Ralph Hall as a mentor, as a friend, as a colleague, as a fellow Texan, 
to honor him tonight, one of the great Americans, one of the great 
Texans ever to serve in the United States Congress, Ralph Hall. We 
honor and thank him for his service to the Nation and to the great 
State of Texas.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield to the gentleman 
from Texas, Jeb Hensarling, the next chairman of the Financial Services 
Committee.
  Mr. HENSARLING. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in great honor to recognize my friend and 
fellow Texan, Ralph Hall, for being the oldest Member of Congress to 
cast a recorded vote on the House floor. It is not often that I have 
been given the opportunity to recognize someone with such a long, long, 
long, very long history of service to our country.
  Everyone in this institution knows that Ralph's passion in this 
institution is science and space and technology. It represents the 
areas of the committee he now chairs.
  When I came here, I asked someone, Why is Ralph such an expert in 
science? And someone said, Well, you may not know it, but according to 
some, he was there when Columbus discovered the Earth was round, Newton 
discovered gravity, and Franklin discovered electricity.
  Now, Mr. Speaker, they say that imitation is the greatest form of 
flattery, and this was a poor attempt on my part to show how Ralph Hall 
brightens this institution every day with his humor. He is clearly the 
wittiest Member of Congress in a body that is in desperate need to be 
brightened up and occasionally benefited by such wit and humor.
  But besides his wit and humor, for those who really know him, he is 
clearly one of the wisest men to ever serve in this body. And I 
certainly benefit from that wisdom, as do so many others.

                              {time}  1940

  Mr. Speaker, we heard earlier that Ralph has said, I'd rather be 
respected at home than liked in Washington. The truth is, not only is 
he respected in Rockwall, Texas, he is beloved in Rockwall, Texas. And 
not only is he liked in Washington, more importantly, he is respected 
in Washington. And more importantly, he is respected by both 
Republicans and Democrats alike. And that, Mr. Speaker, is a huge, huge 
testament.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to recognize a Texas legend, a World 
War II veteran, a statesman, a role model for all American citizens, 
including my children. I'm honored to recognize him on this historic 
occasion. I'm honored to recognize this institution for this historic 
moment. But most of all, I'm honored to call Ralph Hall my friend.
  I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Michael Burgess.
  Mr. BURGESS. I thank the gentleman for the recognition.
  I don't want to say that Ralph Hall has been here for a long time, 
but he was here when the Earth cooled the first time.
  Ralph, I just can't tell you what it's meant to serve with you. When 
I was a freshman Member of Congress, you actually were on the other 
side of the aisle. You were the ranking Democrat on the Science 
Committee, and I served with you there. Certainly, your ability to get 
your way in that committee was something that I've always marveled at, 
because we had the votes, but you had the way of getting things done. 
And then I lost the ability to have my bills bipartisan because I 
always got Ralph to cosponsor whatever crazy little bill I had up there 
and it became bipartisan, and then Ralph switched sides on me. I wasn't 
able to utilize that any longer.
  I've got to tell you, Ralph, one of the profiles in courage that I 
will always remember from my service here in the House, I hadn't been 
here 3 months and it was the first budget vote that I had lived 
through. It was a pretty wild night. It went on late. The budget was 
kind of seesawing back and forth with

[[Page 15533]]

not quite enough votes to pass, and then it had enough and then people 
switched. Right at the end, Ralph Hall came down this very aisle to 
this table and cast the deciding vote in favor of the Republican 
budget. At the time, he was a Democrat, but it was important to him. 
Our country had just gone to war in Iraq. The President needed the 
support of the House of Representatives. To Ralph, that was an 
important vote to cast. Honestly, I'll just never forget that profile 
in courage that you showed that night and how you put country above 
party, you put country above self, and you made that sacrifice.
  Ralph, it has been an honor to serve with you. You are a near 
neighbor in north Texas. We ride back and forth on that darned plane 
every week, and it is a testament to your ability to not just serve 
here in Washington, but take care of your folks at home in Rockwall.
  Ralph, it's been an honor to serve with you.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
John Carter.
  Mr. CARTER. I thank you for yielding.
  I'm really pleased to step up tonight and say a little bit about my 
friend, Ralph Hall. Here he is, the oldest Member to cast a vote on 
this floor.
  Texas has sent an awful lot of treasure to this place over the years. 
We've shared resources. We are a State of resources. We shared our 
resources, we think, pretty graciously with the rest of the country. 
And when we shared Ralph Hall with this body, we shared one of Texas's 
treasures.
  We've talked about Ralph, and most of the stories that have been told 
I have known and thought about sharing. But the truth is that when I 
think about Ralph Hall, it's amazing. People that don't really know him 
in Texas think they know him because they know his reputation.
  It's been said that a statesman is a person who puts everything above 
himself and all partisanship aside and tries to do what's right for the 
country. I've watched Ralph as a Democrat, I've watched him as a 
Republican, and that's what he does.
  A national treasure is something they bury in the ground, so Ralph 
doesn't like to talk about that, but what he does like to talk about is 
the fact that we all need to be nice to each other. And Ralph Hall is 
like what we Texans define as a Texan. And the first definition every 
Texan will give is a man that'll look you straight in the face, make a 
deal with you, look him in the eye, he gives you his word, and you can 
count on it. That's the definition we Texans cherish.
  He is the man who originated that definition, because he's the man 
you can look in the eye, and when he promises you he's going to do 
something, he's going to do it; but even more importantly, to be a 
person who has charm and grace and humor and the ability to make your 
day brighter every time you see him. I don't know of anybody in my life 
I've ever met that has that talent like Ralph Hall. That makes him a 
treasure.
  God bless you, Ralph.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Randy Neugebauer.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. I thank the gentleman.
  I rise this evening to talk about my young friend, Ralph Hall. One of 
the things about Ralph is that he is like the Energizer bunny. He's up 
just about every morning pretty early and walks. But most of the time 
you will see him down at the White House about 7:30 letting some 
constituent in for a White House tour or, in some cases, taking that 
constituent for a tour.
  The thing about Ralph is he's never interested in Ralph; he's always 
just interested in you. If you walk up to Ralph, during that 
conversation it's going to come out, What can I do for you? What do you 
need? How can I help you?
  What Ralph has done for all of his life is served. He understands 
that the roles that he's been allowed to serve in were really roles of 
servanthood. And he is the ultimate servant. He has the servant's 
heart. It's a delight to be around him.
  I've enjoyed serving on the House Science Committee with him. 
Sometimes there will be some adversarial conversations in a committee 
hearing, but Ralph has, always, a way to bring levity sometimes when 
levity is needed.
  I woke up one morning here just a few months ago and I read in the 
paper: Ralph Hall Jumps Out of Airplane. Now that would shock some 
people, but I guarantee it didn't shock anybody in the Texas 
delegation, because we know when Ralph wants to make a point, he just 
goes ahead and makes the point.
  Now, you've got this guy that gets up at 7 o'clock in the morning, 
he's down at the White House, he jumps out of airplanes, he goes back 
and forth to Dallas every weekend, and the question, Ralph, that all of 
us want to know, is: What kind of vitamins are you taking? Because we 
all want to be on whatever diet that you're on.
  But what I wanted to say about Ralph tonight is Ralph is a 
Congressman to many people and the people in Rockwall, but to all of 
us, Ralph Hall is our friend. And we're very proud of our friend, and 
we're very proud to have the opportunity to serve with a great man like 
Ralph Hall.
  My Ralph Hall story is: We were celebrating one of his birthdays on a 
Thursday--the Texas Republican delegation has lunch every Thursday--and 
somebody had brought a birthday cake in, and I think we had a candle 
there. We just had one to kind of commemorate all of the years. The 
fire marshal wouldn't let us bring all the rest of them, Ralph, I'm 
sorry. Anyway, he was making light of his birthday, and he looked at us 
and he said, The worst thing somebody can say to you on your birthday 
is, Doesn't he look natural?
  What we know is that Ralph Hall is not a natural person. He's a 
supernatural person.
  Ralph, we love you and we appreciate the opportunity to serve with 
you. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Mike Conaway.
  Mr. CONAWAY. Thank you, Mr. Smith.
  I, too, want to add my congratulations and prideful acknowledgement 
of Ralph Hall's long service. You've heard the long list of his 
accomplishments and his service. Ralph represents the folks in 
northeast Texas ably and well, including my alma mater, Texas A&M at 
Commerce. He is a terrific individual.
  I'm in constant awe of his quick wit and his storytelling ability. 
Ralph is never at a loss for some remark or response to whatever is 
going on. It just makes you want to laugh out loud. That is a rare 
talent--one that I would love to have, but don't. I am in awe of his 
quick wit and his wisdom.
  I'm also in awe of his gentle spirit and kindness that he expresses 
to every single individual. It is deep-seated and it is heartfelt and 
it is genuine and real. And those of us that have the honor and the 
privilege of service with Ralph Hall understand it and bask in it on 
every single occasion.
  So I would simply like to add my congratulations and heartfelt 
admiration to serve with Ralph Hall and to be able to say that when I 
write about whatever I did in Congress, one of the lines in there will 
be that I had the honor and privilege of serving with Ralph Hall at a 
time when he was at his best.
  Ralph, congratulations.

                              {time}  1950

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Ted Poe.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the chairman for yielding. Thank you for 
sponsoring this Special Order where we can, as a body, recognize our 
friend and fellow Texan, Chairman Ralph Hall.
  Mr. Speaker, we Texans are proud of our State, we're proud of our 
heritage, and we're proud of the people that have been in our State. 
Texans have a long history of remarkable Texans in our history, men and 
women with, I shall call it, personality, uniqueness, all the way back 
to General Sam Houston--and there are many others. But on that

[[Page 15534]]

list will be, and is, Chairman Ralph Hall. He is a person of 
personality and character--and quite a character.
  He has not always been a Republican. At one time he sat over here. He 
was a Democrat. He switched, got religion, and came over and became a 
Republican. But his principles have never changed; they have always 
been the same. Whether he sat over here or whether he sat over here, he 
has always been a man of remarkable character and always voted his 
principles.
  He is a World War II veteran. We have a special place in this country 
for veterans like him that served in the great World War II. My dad 
served in World War II. He was on the other side of the world while 
Ralph was flying off of aircraft carriers in the Pacific.
  There is a special something about World War II veterans. They 
understand American history. They understand the importance of our 
military and how it's important for us as a Nation to always do two 
things--have a strong military, and then support our veterans when they 
return home, whether they return home as wounded warriors or whether 
they return home with the scars of war, and some that return home in 
those caskets. Ralph Hall makes sure that we remember our veterans.
  He was a business owner. He ran for office because his wife wanted 
him to run for office. Mary Ellen was responsible for him spending many 
years on the campaign trail running for office. As the chairman of the 
Science Committee, he has been a special fan of NASA. We in Texas, we 
love NASA. When he learned--rumor has it--that the space shuttle was 
going to New York City instead of Houston, Texas, rumor is that he was 
trying to get a posse to go up to New York and bring that shuttle back 
to Houston where it belongs. I don't know if that's true or not.
  Ralph Hall loves America, he loves this body, he loves Texas, but 
most of all he loves the American people. It's a great honor to 
recognize you, a statesman and favorite son of Texas, Chairman Ralph 
Hall.
  And that's just the way it is.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Louie Gohmert.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding.
  It is an honor, privilege and a pleasure--all three--to be here to 
pay tribute to our friend Ralph Hall. I think I'm the only one that has 
spoken that was actually represented by Ralph Hall, and so it's not my 
first testimonial for the gentleman from Rockwall.
  In fact, in 2001, it looked like there was a new redistricting map 
the legislature had come out with, and it was going to put my home town 
of Tyler in a different district. During my years on the bench, I had 
been concerned about some of the Federal laws that were luring people 
into ruts they couldn't get out of without any hope, and that's when I 
first thought about running. But I knew, and I said publicly, as long 
as Ralph Hall is my Congressman there's no need for me to run. I know 
that man, I know his heart, I know his convictions--not criminal 
convictions, I don't know of any of them--but I know the convictions of 
his heart, and I know him to be a man of conscience, a moral, upright, 
decent man who had a wonderful wife, and there was no way there was a 
need for me to run as long as Ralph Hall was my Representative.
  I was told by some Republican leaders, look, he's a Democrat, you 
ought to run against him anyway, and I said no way. I couldn't do any 
better than Ralph Hall. I'm well represented. But in 2003, finally the 
legislature actually did redistricting, and we ended up in a different 
district, and I ran. But I've been amazed not only by the incredible 
knowledge of science and technology and the workings of this body, but 
as others have alluded to, the sense of humor. But now one thing I've 
noticed, a lot of times around here people get a good joke, they just 
keep it to themselves, whereas Ralph shares even funny material.
  We had a college coach here that was going to speak to a big group of 
Members of Congress, and somebody told him, just start off with 
something funny and you'll be fine. He was nervous, and he said, I 
don't know anything funny. So Ralph said, well, what would you like it 
on? He said, well, what about education? He said, here's your joke:
  A teacher tells her first-grade kids that they've got to come back 
and tell some family story that is told around the family. Everybody in 
the classroom the next day had their story, but little Johnny never 
raised his hand. Finally, she said, Johnny, everybody's done their 
family story but you, don't you have one? And he said, well, I do have 
one, it's even got a moral, but I don't know. The teacher said: Well, 
is it clean? He said sure. She said, Well, go ahead and tell it. So 
Johnny got up and said, Well, my Aunt Katie was in the Air Force as a 
pilot, and she got over hostile territory. My Aunt Katie always was 
prepared for the worst. She had a bottle of whiskey, an Uzi, a 9mm and 
a knife in the cockpit with her just in case something happened. Sure 
enough, she got hit, she's going down. She ejects, drinks the bottle of 
whiskey real quickly, and then sees all these enemy soldiers coming at 
her, wipes out a couple dozen of them with the Uzi, takes the 9mm, 
wipes out 12 more, and then hits the ground. Three more come at her, 
and she takes them out too.
  The teacher said: Good grief, that's a family story and you say it 
has a moral? He said, Well, I don't know if you'd call it a moral, but 
it's what everybody in our family knows, and that is, when Aunt Katie's 
been drinking, you don't mess with her.
  So, anyway, I was impressed that he shared that, but more than 
anything I'm proud to have shared time here and seen a true 
Representative at work. It's been my honor. Thank you, Ralph, for all 
you've done.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Pete Olson.
  Mr. OLSON. I thank my colleague and fellow Texan for giving me a 
couple of minutes to talk about Ralph Hall, a man we all know, a man we 
all love.
  My comments are going to focus on some of the amazing events that 
have occurred during Ralph Hall's life and brought him to this record-
setting vote he cast earlier this evening.
  God had a plan for Ralph, some might call it fate--fate, which is 
appropriate, because Ralph's journey to get here started in Fate, 
Texas, population 299. Ralph was born there on May 3, 1923. Fate 
ensured that Ralph would have amazing brushes with history.
  One amazing brush with history Ralph had occurred as a young teenager 
pumping gas in Rockwall, Texas. Ralph filled up a car of a young 
couple, a man and a woman, very well dressed, heading east. Ralph got a 
great tip--a quarter. In those days that was a lot of money.

                              {time}  2000

  He went into the service station to tell the boss what had happened, 
about the tip. He glanced at the newspaper, and he froze.
  He had just filled up a car, the two occupants of which were the 
pictures of two people on the newspaper, the front page. These two 
people were Bonnie and Clyde, the notorious gangsters who met their 
demise shortly after leaving Rockwall, Texas. Ralph pumped gas for 
Bonnie and Clyde.
  But Ralph has not just had amazing brushes with history, like Bonnie 
and Clyde. He's made history. As a county judge, a State legislator, a 
United States Congressman, Ralph made our country stronger and made the 
world better.
  I have had the honor and privilege to work with Chairman Hall for 
nearly 4 years to ensure America retains its dominance in human space 
flight.
  When the Obama administration's ill-conceived budget of 2010 
threatened to lose that dominance, Ralph used every tool in the toolbox 
of life that he had accumulated in public service to give him the tools 
to win the battle.
  Here are a couple of those tools: Neil Armstrong; General Tom 
Stafford, who was here earlier today; and Gene Cernan. Ralph built a 
bipartisan coalition and saved the Orion crew capsule

[[Page 15535]]

and put the United States on a path to go beyond low Earth orbit.
  As a boy who grew up a mile and a half from the Johnson Space Center, 
I have seen Ralph Hall make history and put our country on a course 
where my kids, your kids, our grandkids can see an American walking on 
another celestial body.
  Ralph, thank you for the impact you've had on my life and my family's 
life.
  We've all talked about the chairman going parachute jumping earlier 
this year. I thank you for that, Mr. Chairman. Because you did that, my 
15-year-old daughter came up to me and said, Dad, let's jump out of a 
plane when I turn 18. Thank you. Thank you for that, Mr. Chairman. 
You've made a difference in my life. You've made a difference in the 
world. We love you. We thank you.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Florida, Bill Posey.
  Mr. POSEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I appreciate the opportunity to join with my colleagues in 
recognizing Chairman Ralph Hall for his tenure and as chairman of the 
House Science Committee.
  During his service, Congressman Hall has been one to reach across the 
aisle and forge bipartisan coalitions to support important legislation. 
And no program, in my view, has benefited more from his bipartisan 
commitment than the United States space program.
  Representative Hall has been an especially strong voice for our 
Nation's human space flight program, which has benefited not only Texas 
and Florida, but has propelled our Nation on a path of unprecedented 
scientific and technological advancements.
  We can all learn a lot from our colleague. Congressman Hall leads by 
example, and he is well known for calling a spade a spade. His word 
truly is his bond, and you can always take that to the bank.
  Advancing our Nation's human space flight program has been a hallmark 
for Chairman Hall. And as we look out at America's next generation of 
explorers, space is their destiny. And he'll help ensure that they 
reach it.
  Ralph, there's a lot of work to do, and I'm truly honored by the 
opportunity to serve with you to get 'er done. I only hope and pray 
that when I'm 65 years old, I'll be in half as good shape or half as 
smart as you. God bless you, Ralph.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Quico Canseco.
  Mr. CANSECO. I thank my friend and colleague and fellow Texan, 
Chairman Smith, for yielding.
  Today, I honor a great man, a great Texan, a great American, Ralph 
Hall. As he makes history today for being the most experienced Member--
in lifelong years--of this Chamber to cast a vote, I am proud, as a 
member of the Texas delegation, to call him a friend and a colleague.
  Ralph Hall embodies so many of the virtues we celebrate as Americans. 
He is a man who is forever devoted to his family. He is a patriot who 
served his country during World War II. He is a public servant who has 
dedicated his life to serving the people of Texas and the United 
States. He is an example to all Americans not just for his service to 
family and country but in the graceful manner in which he goes about 
his tasks and the joy that he inspires in all of us.
  This Chamber will always be grateful for the service that Ralph Hall 
has given to the House of Representatives and to the Nation.
  We all enjoy his good humor, his dedication, and his love of country 
that he brings to his job each and every day.
  Tonight, as we pay tribute to Ralph Hall and wish him many more years 
of service to the people of Texas and the United States, I thank him 
for the privilege of serving by his side as a friend and a colleague in 
the House of Representatives of the United States Congress.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Bill Flores.
  Mr. FLORES. I thank Chairman Smith for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my Texas colleagues who has 
just become the oldest known Member of the House of Representatives to 
cast a recorded vote on the House floor. And I applaud Congressman 
Ralph Hall for passing this historic milestone.
  Ralph was first elected to represent the Fourth District of Texas 
back in 1980 and is preparing to enter his 17th term when the 113th 
Congress convenes next year.
  Congressman Hall currently serves as chairman of the Science, Space, 
and Technology Committee. He is the longest-serving Member of the 
committee and is the first Member to serve as ranking member as both a 
Republican and as a Democrat.
  Now, everybody knows what a comedian Ralph is, and I want to share a 
funny story with you about him. At his birthday party in May of 2011, I 
was asked to say a few words about him. So I talked for a few minutes 
about him and about what it was like to serve with him. And I ended by 
saying that I hoped to wrap up my time in Congress in just three to 
four terms and that I would never aspire to serve as long as he has, to 
which Ralph dryly replied, Well, Bill, we're going to miss you. So 
that's just the way Ralph is. He adds levity to every situation.
  Mr. Speaker, it's an honor to work alongside Ralph. I look forward to 
serving with him in the future in addressing the many pressing needs of 
the American people.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Blake Farenthold.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. I am honored to be here today, as well, to pay my 
respect in tribute to Congressman Ralph Hall.
  As a freshman in Congress, there's a whole lot to learn. When I came 
in, Ralph Hall was one of those people that was larger than life. And 
he remains larger than life after I've been here for 2 years.
  He is the kind of guy that you aspire to be like in Congress--able to 
solve problems, able to get things done across party lines, friends 
with everybody, always a smile on his face, always a joke on his lips. 
He is a problem-solver, and that's what we need here in Washington is 
people who solve problems.
  A perfect example that you've heard some of my colleagues allude to 
earlier today, there were some folks saying, Ralph Hall is too old to 
serve in Congress. Well, he solved that problem by jumping out of an 
airplane. And I'm going to tell you something. For a Navy pilot--I 
represent two naval training facilities--I guarantee you naval pilots 
do not like to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Getting out of an 
airplane is a bad sign for a Navy pilot before it's landed.
  Ralph Hall epitomizes and is the perfect example of what it is to be 
a Congressman. He could make friends with a fence post. And as I've 
told my wife Debbie, When I grow up, I want to be Ralph Hall.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, 
Kenny Marchant.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, today we honor our dear friend and 
colleague Ralph Hall for becoming the oldest Member to cast a vote in 
the history of the House of Representatives.
  I have had the privilege of knowing Ralph for decades. He is a dear 
friend and a tireless advocate for the people of the Fourth 
Congressional District of our home State.

                              {time}  2010

  Ralph's service to the country did not start with his election to 
Congress in 1980, but started long before. He answered the country's 
call to serve in the service in World War II, serving in the Navy as an 
aircraft carrier pilot from 1942 to 1945. Later in his life, Ralph 
served in the Texas Legislature from 1962 to 1972.
  Ralph, I did not have the opportunity to serve with you in the Texas 
Legislature. We were there at different times. But you served with 
honor, and you served as the Senate pro tempore for 2 years.
  Though Ralph's time in the Texas Legislature predated me, he has 
always

[[Page 15536]]

been and always will be a legend in Austin, Texas. Today, my friend 
continues to distinguish himself in Congress serving as the chairman of 
the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
  There never has been anyone quite like Ralph before. He is a true 
Texan, a true Texan hero, and I am proud to call him my friend. Though 
he qualified for retirement a couple of decades ago, he still serves 
his country and constituents with honor and distinction.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Illinois, Randy Hultgren.
  Mr. HULTGREN. Thank you, Chairman Smith.
  I rise today to honor my colleague from Texas, Congressman Ralph 
Hall, whom I have come to know over the last few years, not only as the 
chairman of our Science Committee, but also as a personal friend and 
leader.
  As Science Committee chairman, Ralph Hall has been a strong advocate 
for our Nation's leadership and preeminence in space exploration and 
launch capabilities. It is self-evident that his personal experience 
and expertise has carried over into a passion for American preeminence 
and flight in aviation.
  Today, as you have heard, Ralph Hall will become the oldest known 
House Member to cast a recorded floor vote, and this is a great 
opportunity to reflect on his record of service to our Nation. We 
recognize not only his service here in Washington as a Member of the 
House of Representatives, but also his home State of Texas as a member 
of their legislature and as a veteran of the Second World War.
  While Congressman Hall's wit, humor, and bipartisanship are rare 
today, they're attributes sorely needed now more than ever. I feel 
privileged to have served with him during my first term of Congress, to 
follow his leadership on NASA and human spaceflight policy, to hear his 
stories and knowledge spanning nine decades, and to count him as 
friend.
  I realize more than ever that someone who is 89 years old can say a 
lot of things that someone 46 years old would get in a lot of trouble 
saying. So I'm grateful hearing you speak all the time, and I enjoy 
your jokes so much. Congressman Hall is not only a fighting ace and a 
military hero, but the living embodiment of southern hospitality and 
good heartedness.
  Mr. Chairman, thank you for your service, and congratulations on this 
wonderful milestone. I know we're going to see you continue to set 
records for years to come.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the time has come to recognize the 
man we have been honoring here tonight.
  Earlier this evening, Congressman Hall broke the record for the 
eldest Member of Congress to have ever cast a vote in the United States 
House of Representatives. Actually, Mr. Speaker, every day Ralph Hall 
sets a record for his service to our country.
  Mr. Speaker, the time of the Special Order is going to appear to 
expire in about 5 minutes, and I hope the Speaker might consider 
wielding a gentle gavel.
  With that, I look forward to hearing from the gentleman from Texas, 
the gentleman from Rockwall, Texas, himself, Ralph Hall.
  Mr. HALL. Well, I don't really want to make a speech. I've enjoyed 
these speeches I've listened to here. A lot of it was true. Good 
people, great guys and gals that I work with. I'm honored to be a part 
of it.
  For the past 32 years, I've been here. I really came up here to stay 
4 years, and that's what my wife and I agreed on. I just didn't say 
which 4 I was talking about. But she was always one to encourage me to 
run, because I had a son who was a district judge, and I think she felt 
that me being in Congress helped that son. Mommas always love their 
little cubs. I think he was really helping me, because he was running 
on the Republican ticket then and I was running on the Democratic 
ticket. I soon saw the light, and I came over. But I left good friends 
over here, and there's good people on both sides of the docket.
  There's a lot of talk about the parachute. There are things you have 
to do in politics sometimes. I had a race that started this last time 
with 78 percent of the votes it looked like. A gentleman from Houston 
spent $450,000 against me. He didn't know me, didn't know the two 
people running against me, but spent that amount of money to defeat me 
for some reason because he thought I was too old to be here. He picked 
five of us, and the other four didn't take him on. I tried to take him 
on some, but in taking him on I had to assure my people that I wasn't 
the old goof that he was saying I was, that I was capable of the work.
  The only way I could think of doing it--I run a couple of miles every 
morning, and when I was running, I looked up and there was an airplane 
up there. I thought, If I could jump up and touch that airplane, they'd 
think I was agile enough maybe to keep on being their Congressman. If 
running 2 miles every morning, voting 99-plus percent of the time, if 
that wasn't enough, I had to do something else. So I decided if I jump 
2 miles, maybe that would be it.
  We got in an airplane. I got this guy, and he really was great. He 
trained me and showed me how to get in and out. Of course, I had flown 
probably a couple or 300 hours or 400 hours during the war, and I had 
made one jump during the war, but it wasn't a forced jump. I knew what 
it was, and I knew that it was okay. I also knew that it would tell 
people I had not had a stroke, and that's what they were putting out. I 
wanted them to know I was able and capable of representing them. They 
had to know that, and they were entitled to know that, so I decided to 
jump out of that airplane.
  We got right over the opening there, and I looked down. I had maybe a 
couple of hundred people on the ground waiting there. He said, As you 
jump out, reach with your heel and kick me in the rear. I was glad to 
do that. Right at the last, I almost decided not to jump, but I was too 
close and I knew I had to. I might have been pushed a little. I don't 
even know. I did jump, and he held on to me so tight--there were two of 
us there. He was holding tight, and that kind of struck me. I turned 
around and asked him, ``Do you mean it?'' He said, ``What do you 
mean?'' I said, ``You're holding me so tight. Do you care for me? 
What's the deal? There's a preacher down there, and the President said 
men can marry men. Maybe he'll just marry us when we get there.'' He 
said, ``Shut up. The ground is going to be here in just a few 
minutes.''
  It was a pretty thing to see the Earth coming up to us there and 
seeing good friends down there that waited in hope for me. Even my 
undertaker was there. My undertaker meets me every time I go home with 
a tape measure and tells me he has one in store for me. He also tells 
me not to worry about flyers; if you don't like them, they'll finally 
grow on you. It's kind of a smart aleck way to do it, but he's my close 
friend. He was an intern when I was in the Texas Senate and one of the 
fine leaders of Rockwall.
  For the past 32 years, I've had the honor and the privilege of 
representing the Fourth District of Texas here in Congress, and I think 
it's just an honor to know that there have been 10,747 men and women 
elected to serve and that I may be the oldest to ever serve or to ever 
vote on the floor. There are others that have been here but didn't 
vote. I think that date comes up sometime around the 21st day of 
December.
  My first impression of the House of Representatives when I got here 
began with Speaker Sam Rayburn, whose district I represent. Speaker 
Rayburn and my wife were good friends at Mayo College. That's what the 
college name was before it was East Texas State Teachers College. When 
I was in the senate, I changed it to East Texas State University. My 
wife graduated from there, and I had the privilege of handing her her 
diploma. Those are good things, and that's a great institution over 
there.
  Mr. Rayburn, was called by my mother, who had known him back in the 
earlier days and was at Mayo College with him, to give me some kind of 
a recommendation to be an officer in the Army or the Navy or the Marine 
Corps

[[Page 15537]]

or something. He didn't call her back. He didn't write her a letter 
back. He came to the breakfast table to tell her, ``Maude, I can't 
appoint that boy to anything. There's four reasons.'' She said, ``What 
on Earth can that be?'' He said, ``All four of his grades.'' That was 
kind of true, because I always thought everything over 70 was wasted.

                              {time}  2020

  Not a good student. Not a good football player. We lost our car early 
in the Depression. One guy in the Depression said he'd eaten so many 
rabbits he was afraid of his own dog. We didn't have that kind of a 
problem, but we knew what the Depression was.
  I fear for this country right today in that, if we don't get together 
and maybe forget that we're more Republican than we are Democrat or 
more Democrat than we are Republican, our children are going to suffer. 
We need to make a move and think of them. We owe our children an 
opportunity, and they owe us the effort. It's just that simple. I 
think, in this next session, we're going to all have some give, that 
we're all going to get together and try to work something out.
  In our leader, we have a good Speaker. He's a guy I admire and 
respect, a kind Speaker, a guy who means the things that he says. He is 
a Speaker who cares about us. I don't agree with everything he says, 
but we need to forget any little pettiness that we have, get behind the 
leadership here, and try to write some legislation. It's for our 
children and for our children's children. That's the most important 
thing I think we can do.
  I know my time is about up.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. West). The time of the gentleman has 
expired.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, would it be appropriate to ask 
unanimous consent that the gentleman from Texas have an additional 5 
minutes, or more?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair cannot entertain that request.
  Mr. HALL. I say to the Chair, thank you very much. I appreciate and 
understand what the rules are, and I thank my folks for being quiet up 
there when I know they wanted to be heard.
  God bless this Speaker. God bless you, Lamar Smith. You'll make a 
good chairman of Science, Space, and Technology.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, over the course of our history, nearly 
10,750 individuals have served in the House of Representatives. 
According to congressional historians, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. 
Hall, has just become the oldest known House Member to cast a recorded 
floor vote.
  It is yet another extraordinarily milestone for this World War II 
veteran from Rockwall, Texas, a small town east of Dallas. This is a 
proud moment for Mr. Hall's family, constituents, and all of us who 
have the privilege to serve with him.
  Today, the House of Representatives is also accepting a portrait of 
Mr. Hall in recognition of his tenure as chairman of the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology. Ralph's record of service to the 
committee, and to our country, has been a thing of beauty, and John 
Boyd Martin's work certainly matches that description.
  The portrait contains a view of the Capitol and a picture of Ralph 
and his wife Mary Ellen, who spurred him to get involved and run for 
his mentor Sam Rayburn's old seat. The House is accepting the portrait 
in honor of her memory.
  Also worth noting in the portrait is the space shuttle on Mr. Hall's 
lapel. It's a fitting symbol of his long-standing commitment to the 
space program and America's leadership in discovery and innovation. It 
also signifies how Chairman Hall has focused on exploring all of our 
next frontiers--starting with our own energy resources. Chairman Hall 
not only keeps the shuttle--and all the promise it embodies--on his 
lapel. He keeps it in his heart too.
  Like the casting of a vote, the presentation of portrait is a 
personal act, but its acceptance is a shared commitment. It is for us, 
Mr. Hall's peers and admirers, to continue the labors the portrait 
honors, to sustain the curiosity it celebrates. The House's efforts to 
commemorate Mr. Hall's voting milestone is a good start. There is much 
more to do, and we can rest assured that Mr. Hall himself will make a 
robust contribution to this work.
  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Congressman 
Ralph Hall, representing Texans in the 4th District of Texas. A 
patriotic American, U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, Texan, and more 
personally a true friend and mentor. First elected to Congress in 1980, 
Congressman Hall has committed over thirty years of his adult life 
ensuring his constituents are heard throughout the halls of Congress, 
all the way from the Lone Star State.
  Congressman Hall's public service didn't just start when he arrived 
in Washington--Ralph was first elected as County Judge of Rockwall 
County, served as President of the State Judges and Commissioners 
Association and devoted ten years serving in the Texas Senate, where he 
rose to President Pro Tempore.
  It is an honor to serve the great State of Texas side-by-side with 
Congressman Ralph Hall and his track record of success is admired far 
and wide; pretty good--for a boy born and raised in Fate, Texas.
  I commend the family of Congressman Hall, the late Mary Ellen Murphy, 
and their three sons, Hampton, Brett, and Blakeley along with their 
five grandchildren for the countless hours they have sacrificed while 
Ralph represented Texas on the national stage.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to tackling the pressing issues of our 
current time and getting our country back on a track to fiscal sanity 
alongside with Representative Hall and as he puts it quite frankly and 
I agree, ``I'd rather be respected at home than liked in Washington.''
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor 
the extraordinary public service commitment of Congressman Ralph Hall, 
the Science, Space, and Technology Committee chairman, the dean of the 
Texas Congressional Delegation, and my long serving colleague.
  Today, Congressman Hall reigns as both the oldest Member of Congress 
and the oldest House Member known to cast a vote on the House Floor. I 
am pleased to say that Congressman Hall will also become the oldest 
person ever elected to a new House term, during the 113th Congress.
  Congressman Hall, a lifelong native of the great State of Texas, has 
been a faithful public servant and has dedicated 32 years of service to 
representing the constituents of the 4th Congressional District of 
Texas.
  In 1942, Congressman Hall became an aircraft pilot for the United 
States Navy and served our country during World War II. Congressman 
Hall soared to the top of military rankings, becoming a senior grade 
lieutenant.
  Congressman Hall, thank you for your service in the Armed Forces in 
efforts to protect our freedoms and to ensure America is the greatest 
country on the Earth.
  Congressman Hall also served the great State of Texas in both State 
and local government.
  In 1950-1962, he served as County Judge of Rockwall County, Texas.
  In 1958-1959, he served as President of the State Judges and 
Commissioners Association.
  He served in the Texas Senate from 1962 to 1972, where he served as 
President pro tempore for a year.
  In addition to a successful early political career, Congressman Hall 
is an accomplished businessman. He served as:
  The President and CEO of Texas Aluminum Corporation,
  The General Counsel of Texas Extrusion Company, and
  He was a founding member of Lakeside National Bank in Rockwall 
County.
  After his service in State government and achievements in the private 
sector, Congressman Hall decided to run for U.S. Congress. In 1980, he 
was elected to serve the Fourth Congressional District of Texas and has 
been re-elected each succeeding Congress.
  Some say that his long tenure in Congress is related to his love for 
the Fourth Congressional District of Texas. I can attest that 
Congressman Hall loves his District, and he certainly loves the United 
States of America. Congressman Hall is often quoted, saying, ``I'd 
rather be respected at home than liked in Washington.''
  Congressman Hall, we need more politicians like you who value the 
demands of the American people and recognize, we as elected officials, 
are accountable to those who elect us to office.
  While in Congress, Congressman Hall has been the recipient of 
numerous awards. Among Congressman Hall's many achievements:
  He has been credited for helping to advance research and development 
for new technologies to keep America competitive.
  Congressman Hall has worked to utilize abundant domestic energy 
resources and helped explore alternative energy sources that would 
lower costs.
  He has also played an integral role in ensuring America's preeminence 
in human space exploration.

[[Page 15538]]

  I stand proudly before this body of Congress to honor Congressman 
Ralph Hall. He has contributed so many great things to our country, and 
he is the epitome of a great leader. I pray that you serve as the 
oldest Member of Congress for years to come.
  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, while today we commemorate Chairman Hall 
becoming the oldest Member to vote in the House of Representatives, we 
truly honor him, not for his age, but for the leadership, dedication, 
and commitment he has displayed since he was first elected to Congress 
in 1980. When I was first elected to the House two years ago, Chairman 
Hall asked me to join the Science Committee to bring my experience as a 
practicing surgeon to the Committee. In this way, Chairman Hall has 
recognized the experience and backgrounds of our colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle, newcomers and seasoned politicians alike.
  Although Chairman Hall has made many friends here in Washington, what 
I admire most about him is his genuine commitment to the residents of 
the 4th district of Texas. As he often says he'd rather be respected at 
home than liked in Washington. With his gentle disposition and strong 
leadership, I believe he has found a way to do both.
  On behalf of the 1st District of Michigan, and my colleagues on the 
Science Committee, Chairman Hall I thank you for your service to our 
country and for your leadership on the Committee, and I commend you on 
this momentous occasion. I look forward to serving with you for many 
years to come.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chairman 
Ralph Hall for his leadership on the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology; for his decades of selfless service to our country; and for 
his dedication to this esteemed body.
  Today, Chairman Hall became the oldest Member to ever cast a vote in 
the House of Representatives. He has served in the House for 32 years, 
occupying the same seat that was once occupied by Speaker Sam Rayburn. 
Ralph's energy is legendary, second only to his sharp wit, and I hope 
to have half as much energy as he has when I reach his age.
  His service to America started when, as a 19-year-old from Texas, he 
joined the United States Navy in 1942. Lieutenant Hall served as a 
pilot for the duration of World War II, and he has never stopped 
vigorously fighting for our nation.
  I look forward to continuing to work with him in the future, and God-
willing, he'll be here for 32 more years, continuing to cast every vote 
the right way.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and all of the Members of the House join 
me in honoring Chairman Ralph Hall for his leadership, his service, and 
his dedication.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the esteemed 
career of my friend and colleague Ralph Hall.
  Today, Ralph became the oldest known House Member to cast a recorded 
floor vote. Also the oldest serving member of the U.S. House of 
Representatives and dean of the Texas delegation, Ralph has charmed 
friend and foe alike with his good humor and demeanor.
  A man of incredible integrity and energy, Ralph has served his 
district with distinction in Congress for over three decades. A lawyer 
by trade, Ralph's career in public service began as a County Judge of 
Rockwall County, Texas, and he went onto serve in the Texas Senate.
  I have served with Ralph on the Science, Space, and Technology 
Committee and have appreciated his careful attention to the priorities 
of the Committee members and the science community. As an example, 
Ralph and I have worked closely to educate Committee members on the 
benefits of clean coal technologies. Like Illinois, Texas relies on 
coal for energy production, and our districts and the nation will 
benefit from technologies that can cleanly and efficiently utilize our 
most abundant source of energy. I am thankful to Ralph for his 
commitment to ensuring coal remains a part of a diverse energy 
portfolio.
  Further, I was proud to work with Ralph on important Committee 
measures, such as reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act, which is 
critical to ensuring America remains a leader in science, technology, 
engineering, and math (STEM) education.
  Finally, proving time and time again that age has no bounds, I 
believe Ralph's most daring feat was his 10,000 foot drop from an 
airplane last August, skydiving at the age of 89. I admire Ralph's 
courage for taking that leap and see regularly how his bravery and 
nerve benefit those he serves. He fights daily for the interests of his 
constituents and they have continued to affirm his contributions to 
their community for the last 16 terms of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in an expression of 
appreciation to Congressman Ralph Hall for his years of dedicated 
service to the U.S. House and Texas, and to wish him and his family the 
very best in the future.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to work with 
Chairman Hall ever since I joined the Science Committee in 2005. First 
and foremost, I want to thank him for the work he has done as Chairman 
of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and as a champion of 
NASA. When the Republicans captured control of the House in 2010, there 
was no one more deserving of being elevated to chairman than Ralph 
Hall, especially given the fact that he is probably the only member of 
Congress to ever serve as Ranking Member of a committee from both sides 
of the aisle before becoming chair.
  The Science Committee has historically been a place where the day-to-
day grudge match of partisan politics takes a backseat to thoughtful 
policy making. Chairman Hall is a great exemplar of that tradition, in 
the same vein as past chairmen such as Bart Gordon and Sherwood 
Boehlert. Ralph knows how to make things work and get things done, and 
he always has a way of doing it with a smile. That style is a throwback 
to the days when Congress was a more genial place and members worked 
together across the aisle with others even when they had disagreements. 
We could use more people in Congress like Chairman Hall, and I look 
forward to continuing to work with him to get things done for our 
constituents and for our nation.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear friend 
and great leader in this body: Science Committee Chairman Ralph Hall, 
who just became the oldest known House member to cast a recorded floor 
vote. I am honored to serve on the Science Committee with the Chairman, 
and I have seen first hand his dedication not only to America's 
scientific endeavors, but also to our country and the great state of 
Texas.
  Chairman Hall was born in Rockwall County, Texas, a place he has 
represented in Congress since he was elected in 1980. He was an 
aircraft carrier pilot in the Navy from 1942-1945 and received his law 
degree from Southern Methodist University in 1951. In the 1950s, he 
served as Rockwall County judge and in the 1960s he served in the Texas 
state senate. During this time he was also a successful business leader 
in Rockwall County.
  He brought his strong sense of leadership and service to the U.S. 
House of Representatives, where he has faithfully served since Ronald 
Reagan was elected president. As House Science Committee chairman, he 
has been a leader promoting science, technology, engineering, and math 
education. He has worked to ensure that sound scientific principles are 
the bedrock of any related public policy decisions being made. He has 
put a priority on research and development to ensure that America 
remains competitive. And he has been a leading proponent of America's 
space exploration program.
  In addition to all of his professional achievements, Chairman Hall 
has a great sense of humor. Congress can be a place of intense 
political maneuvering and infighting, and he always brings levity to 
tense situations with his wit and charm. He endears his colleagues to 
him on both sides of the aisle.
  It is with great pride today that I congratulate my friend and 
colleague, Ralph Hall, on his distinguished career; his service to our 
country; and his leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives. This 
body is better because of his service, and I wish him many more years 
of success and happiness.

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