[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 13055-13056]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING STEVE LaTOURETTE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives is a unique 
and special place. There are many political offices in America where 
one can get into office via accident or appointment, but every man and 
woman on this floor had to be elected by friends and neighbors to deal 
with the fiscal and economic health of the Nation, for giving voice to 
people's fears, aspirations, and dreams. I count every day of service 
in Congress as a gift. Our friend and colleague Steve LaTourette's 
announcement that he would not seek reelection should give pause to 
every one of us.
  You often hear a person say they don't always agree with somebody but 
they respect them. With Steve LaTourette, that's true. Despite being in 
different political parties, I deeply respect and appreciate Steve's 
forthright opinions.
  His focus on having the resources to rebuild and renew America is as 
refreshing as it is important. He's willing to call for increases in 
fees and taxes for infrastructure at the same time he pushes for 
responsible budget cutting and right-sizing government in a way that's 
going to pinch almost everyone. His approach is courageous and 
consistent and, ultimately, we will follow that balanced path.
  He has a sense of justice and regular order, as when he took to the 
floor as a lonely voice arguing for due process on behalf of a 
disgraced former Member. He does what he believes in.
  Another overused phrase in this body is ``wake-up call.'' But Steve's 
decision and announcement should be a wake-up call, a wake-up call to 
the majority party to think about what this portends for their ability 
to govern and what will happen when the political winds shift just a 
little, which they surely will. It's a wake-up call for the people on 
my side of the aisle that as we fight against what we think are 
shortsighted and destructive policies, we need to do so in a way that 
is fair. We all should look for opportunities to make a little progress 
on second- and third-tier issues that will help do some good while we 
build the capacity of this institution in bipartisan problem solving.
  Most of all, this should be a wake-up call to the American public. 
Too many of us have allowed our political decisions to be outsourced as 
the political process increasingly is taken over by smaller and smaller 
groups of extreme opinion in primaries of both parties.

[[Page 13056]]

  The Tea Party activists have gotten headlines this weekend in the 
Texas Senate primary, but the dynamic is known by both parties and 
potentially distorts the choices of candidates and of issues in the 
fall.
  Some Members of Congress gain a little notoriety by virtue of vision 
or policy. Usually we get it by being outrageous and stark. Perhaps we 
are known at home and for groups that have interests that we work with, 
but the vast majority of us wouldn't register above ``margin of error'' 
on the larger stage of American national politics.
  Steve, despite two decades of solid, distinguished service, his wit, 
good humor, and effectiveness--is like a number of us who may be 
characterized as an ``obscure Member of Congress.'' Yet I would argue 
Steve LaTourette should be on the radar screen of every American. His 
is a powerful message of an institution that needs serious 
readjustment.
  Steve, his family, especially the younger children, will do just 
fine. I think he'll have a better job, spend more time with family and 
friends, and I think he'll live longer. But make no mistake, everybody 
should pay attention to his story, his career, and why he's leaving.
  After a lifetime of solid, productive public service, if this leads 
to people's reconsidering how we do business and how the American 
public assesses whom they reward or punish, then our loss due to his 
retirement may be the most important contribution in his distinguished 
career.

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