[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15630-15631]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         REMEMBERING ROD GRAMS

  (Mrs. BACHMANN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I come to the podium today in recognition 
of the passing of my predecessor and one of the Members of this body. 
Joining me at the podium are two members of the Minnesota delegation. 
Representative Erik Paulsen of Minnesota's Third Congressional District 
was a longtime friend of former United States House of Representatives 
Member and Senator, Rod Grams. Also joining me at the podium is United 
States Representative Rick Nolan of Minnesota's Seventh Congressional 
District, which was also part of the territory represented by former 
Representative Rod Grams.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a former Member of both 
this House and the United States Senate from the State of Minnesota, 
Representative and Senator Rod Grams. Rod peacefully passed away late 
Tuesday evening after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was only 65 
years old.
  Rod Grams was a very humble man of principle. He grew up on a family 
farm in Crown, in eastern Minnesota, where he received his ``eternal 
crown.'' It was the same farm that his father grew up on. It is the 
farm where Rod acquired his diligent, hardworking, Minnesota-grown work 
ethic.
  Rod Grams worked in broadcasting for nearly 25 years in Minnesota. He 
earned a reputation as a positive communicator who understood how to 
speak with his fellow Minnesotans. He then built his own business and 
realized the happiness and challenges of creating jobs and making a go 
of his American Dream.

[[Page 15631]]

  Rod lived life to the fullest, and he showed others how to do the 
same. He successfully navigated the real world, which shaped his views 
before serving as Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District 
Representative and then the entire State of Minnesota in the United 
States Senate.
  Rod Grams was dedicated to maintaining personal liberty and doing 
everything within his power to protect Americans against the constantly 
growing size and scope of the Federal Government's intrusion into the 
lives of real Americans that he represented at this great Capitol. With 
his keen eye and long-term vision, Minnesotans had a dedicated advocate 
here in the Halls of the United States Congress.
  It was an honor for me and my husband, Marcus, to know Rod Grams for 
decades. He was a leader, an example, but, more importantly, he was my 
friend. My heart goes out to his wife, Christine, to his four beautiful 
children, and to the light of his life, his grandchildren.
  While Rod Grams will be greatly missed here in this body, we take 
comfort in the fact that he contributed so much by way of his service 
to the great State of Minnesota and to our country. We all benefit from 
Rod Grams's monumental legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask now that the House of Representatives observe a 
moment of silence to honor the incredible life of former United States 
Senator Rod Grams.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Radel). Will all Members please rise.

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