[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 297]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE LIFE OF REPRESENTATIVE ANDY JACOBS OF INDIANA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Messer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to rise to honor the life 
of a great Hoosier, one of Indiana's finest public servants, 
Representative Andy Jacobs. I didn't know Andy as well as some of my 
other Hoosier colleagues, but I met him several times during his three 
decades representing Indiana in Congress, and I certainly knew Andy by 
his stellar reputation.
  What impressed me most about him on those occasions that we met was 
the humbleness with which he approached his job and the respect and 
civility he showed for his constituents and his colleagues, regardless 
of their party affiliation or political ideology. Andy never took 
himself too seriously. He drove a beat-up Oldsmobile and dressed like 
an average guy, which he was.
  This humble and decent man was a fierce advocate for civil rights and 
senior citizens and built a remarkable record of public service on 
behalf of his constituents. That is why he was held in such unusually 
high regard by Republicans and Democrats alike.
  Andy exemplified all that was right about being a public servant. He 
could disagree without being disagreeable. He believed you could lift 
people up without tearing people down. Despite his many years 
representing his constituents in Congress, he refused to become jaded 
and allow what is wrong with politics to stop him from doing what is 
right.
  Representative Andy Jacobs never forgot where he came from and 
personified what being a Hoosier is all about. He was a good man and 
led a great life that left a remarkable legacy.
  I want to extend the thoughts and prayers of the people of Indiana's 
Sixth Congressional District to Andy's wife, children, and to all those 
who knew and loved him. May God comfort and watch over them and 
continue to bless the country that Andy so loved.

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