[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7539]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING MEL HANCOCK

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 2014

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the late Congressman 
Mel Hancock as he is inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians.
  Mel was a dear friend, neighbor, and dedicated statesmen during his 
years of public service in the United States House of Representatives. 
His legacy will forever be a part of Missouri through the Hancock 
Amendment and his service to the people he represented.
  Mel spent his time in public life advocating for the proper scope and 
role of government as an instrument to protect our individual 
liberties. He understood that government is a useful tool, but when it 
is given too much power it can be used to undermine the interests and 
freedom of the average person. Like our founders, Mel was a wise, just, 
and honorable man who worked tirelessly to advance the cause of liberty 
for which so many of our ancestors have sacrificed so much to promote.
  In 1977 Mel founded the Taxpayer Survival Association, a not-for-
profit organization dedicated to advancing a constitutional amendment 
to limit taxes. He invested his personal effort, travelling across 
Missouri collecting signatures to put a ``Tax and Spending Amendment'' 
on the ballot. Through his hard work, the ``Hancock Amendment'' was 
added to the Missouri Constitution in 1980. Since then, Mel's 
leadership to secure the Hancock Amendment for Missouri has served as 
an inspiration for other legislative efforts around the nation.
  After the passage of the Hancock Amendment, Mel continued his service 
to his state and his neighbors after being elected to represent 
Missouri's 7th District in Congress in 1988. During his time in 
Congress he served on the House Ways and Means Committee and advocated 
a balanced budget amendment for the federal constitution. Mel was a 
voice of prudence and reason in an unreasonable era.
  He left Congress in 1996 to return to his home in Southwest Missouri, 
as was befitting a true citizen representative. Mel's towering stature 
had earned the deep gratitude of the people he served and would have 
ensured his continued re-election.
  However, Mel believed that terms in office should be limited and had 
given his promise to the people that he would not serve more than four 
terms in office. With Mel Hancock, a promise made was a promise kept, 
something that Washington would do well to learn from today:
  Only occasionally in life are we privileged to know someone as worthy 
of honor and emulation as Mel Hancock. Mel's well deserved induction in 
the Hall of the Famous Missourians is testament to a man who was a 
remarkable member of the House of Representatives and a true friend. 
May he forever live in the hearts of those whose lives he touched.

                          ____________________