[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 920]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING BECKY LOCKHART

  Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Becky 
Lockhart, former Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives, who 
tragically passed away on January 17, after a brief battle with a rare 
and devastating disease.
  Becky Lockhart was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House 
in the State of Utah. She did so in a truly extraordinary manner. She 
established a pattern of leadership that will be a model and a guide 
for wise legislative leaders in our State and across this great Nation 
for many, many years to come.
  I affectionately yet admiringly refer to Speaker Lockhart as the iron 
lady of Utah as she possessed so many of the qualities of the original 
iron lady, Margaret Thatcher. Grounded in conservative principles, 
passionate about policy, and committed to federalism and local control, 
she knew where she stood and she stood firm every single time.
  She followed the admonition of another great leader in American 
politics, Abraham Lincoln, who said, ``I will stand with anybody that 
stands right, stand with him while he is right and part with him when 
he goes wrong.''
  Professionally trained as a nurse, Speaker Lockhart also understood 
the softer yet equally important gifts of compassion and concern, as 
well as listening and laughter. Even in the most heated discussion, she 
could change a room with a flash of her charismatic smile, a wink and a 
grin, or even some well-worded sarcasm to provide a little bit of 
levity.
  Combining her nurse's intuition and strong leadership made her the 
perfect combination of satin and steel. She could and would and did 
stand up to any political or business bureaucracy, forcefully correct a 
colleague, rebuke an inaccurate report, and challenge the small-minded 
ideas and thinkers. Less reported was her impact and influence as a 
mentor to new members of the Utah House of Representatives, her work in 
helping more women become involved in the political process, and how 
she gave voice to those who did not have a strong voice of their own.
  Above all, Speaker Lockhart looked out for, longed to be with, 
cherished and loved her family. She knew that the work she did in the 
walls of her own home was the most important work she would or could 
ever do. Becky also recognized that family is the bulwark of society 
and the strength of our Nation.
  More than the ink of good press and the accolades of others, Speaker 
Lockhart knew that her most important legacy would not be recorded in 
history books, it would not be recorded in the Utah State code that has 
so many of her words written on it. No, it would be written in the 
hearts of her family and her friends.
  I have been lifted by Becky Lockhart's leadership, inspired by her 
insight and her integrity, and encouraged by her commitment to the U.S. 
Constitution, and her love of country and am most blessed to call her 
my friend. Speaker Becky Lockhart, the iron lady of Utah, will indeed 
be heralded for her satin-and-steel leadership in the Utah House of 
Representatives. She will indeed be remembered for all that she did, 
but more significantly she will hold a special place in countless 
hearts because of who she was.
  I pay tribute to this special person, this amazing leader, and this 
beloved friend, whose loss we mourn this very week, and who some 
Members of this body were privileged to know. It is my honor to do so.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico is recognized.
  Mr. UDALL. Mr. President, let me say to my cousin, my heart goes out 
to you, and my condolences on what you have talked about here today. I 
really appreciate you coming down and talking so sincerely about that.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I am grateful for the opportunity to pay 
tribute to a remarkable woman, a loving wife, and a caring mother--
former Utah Speaker of the House Rebecca ``Becky'' Lockhart.
  After weeks of battling a rare degenerative disease, Becky quietly 
passed away on January 17, 2015, with her loving family gathered at her 
bedside. Becky leaves behind a legacy of leadership and passionate 
advocacy that will resonate for years to come. It was this same passion 
and resilience that defined her tenure as Speaker of the Utah House. 
She was a dedicated public servant who always rose to meet our State's 
challenges with wisdom and strength.
  Becky's career was a model of selfless service. Guided by a desire to 
help others, she studied nursing at Brigham Young University. Before 
entering public service, Becky worked as a registered nurse for 7 
years, during which time she treated thousands of patients and became 
intimately familiar with health care issues affecting Utah families. 
Her experience as a nurse would later shape her career as a legislator, 
and as Speaker of the House, she became a powerful advocate for State-
based health care reform. I had the opportunity to discuss these and 
many other issues with Becky throughout the years. In doing so, I was 
always impressed with her eloquence, her intelligence, and her 
commitment to the State of Utah.
  Becky was first elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 1998, 
and she quickly distinguished herself as a persuasive collaborator, a 
passionate legislator, and one of the hardest-working representatives 
in the legislature. Her colleagues recognized her leadership abilities 
and elected her Assistant Majority Whip in 2008. Just 2 years later, 
Becky made history when she became the first women to serve as Speaker 
of the House in Utah. Through her remarkable career, she trail-blazed a 
path for generations of women to follow and became known as Utah's 
``Iron Lady.''
  Utah grew under Becky's leadership. She championed legislation that 
modernized our State's transportation system, strengthened our 
infrastructure, and promoted technological advancement. During her last 
year as Speaker, she spearheaded an ambitious education initiative 
aimed at putting technology directly into the hands of Utah students. 
Her leadership spurred a much-needed discussion on ways to improve 
Utah's education system to equip our students with the resources they 
need to succeed academically.
  Many are familiar with Becky's public life, but of even greater 
importance was her personal life. Before she was House Speaker and even 
before she became a well-known political figure, Becky was, first and 
foremost, a wonderful wife and a loving mother. Becky and her husband, 
Stan, created a strong partnership in politics and in parenthood as 
they lovingly raised their three children, Hannah, Emily, and Stephen. 
I know that Stan and his family will miss Becky most of all. During 
this time of heartrending loss, I pray that they may feel the 
comforting embrace of God's love and find peace in the memories they 
share with this remarkable woman.
  I, too, will miss Becky dearly. May her memory always serve as a 
model of compassion, selflessness, and dedicated public service.

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