[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 14126-14133]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            REMEMBERING THE LATE, HONORABLE STEVE LaTOURETTE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2015, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) is recognized for 
60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor our late 
colleague Steve LaTourette, who served in this body for 18 years, and 
who, sadly, passed away after a heroic battle with pancreatic cancer. 
He died on August 3. Steve will be sorely missed by those of us who had 
the pleasure and the honor to work with him and to know him.
  Steve and I were elected to Congress together in 1994 as part of the 
Republican Revolution, or so it was called in

[[Page 14127]]

those days. It was the year of the Contract with America. We were two 
of the four Republicans from Ohio who were first elected that year. The 
other two were Frank Cremeans, who has also passed away a number of 
years ago, and Bob Ney. Steve and I served the longest and worked here 
together for 16 years, and over that time we became good friends.
  While Steve was an esteemed colleague, respected by both sides of the 
aisle, I will always remember him as one of those people who was truly 
a great person on a human level. He had a gregarious personality, a 
very wry sense of humor, and he shared it with us many times, those of 
us in this body, again on both sides of the aisle. We are a better 
institution because Steve LaTourette served here among us. He will be 
greatly missed and long remembered.
  Steve LaTourette had the rather endearing ability to take his job and 
his responsibilities very seriously while at the same time poking fun 
at himself. Perhaps most importantly, I think Steve will be remembered 
because of how much he believed in bipartisanship. He truly did not 
care which party you belonged to. If you had a good idea, he would 
support it, and he would get into the trenches with you and fight to 
get that idea enacted into law.
  Sadly, it was the lack of bipartisanship that affected his decision 
to retire back in 2012. In his parting speech on this floor, he said:

       For a long time now, words like ``compromise'' have been 
     considered to be dirty words. I have always believed that the 
     art of being a legislator is finding common ground.

  When Members from both sides of the aisle paid tribute to him upon 
his departure, The Plain Dealer reported that Steve, in his 
characteristic humor, joked that it was fitting that bipartisanship 
would only break out when he had decided to leave. I hope that Steve is 
looking down on us here this evening so that he will know that he has 
truly brought us together in a bipartisan manner because we have a 
number of our colleagues here on the other side of the aisle who would 
also like to speak in his memory and in his honor.
  I hope that we make Steve proud here this evening when he sees the 
bipartisanship that is going to be taking place on this floor, and 
maybe, just maybe, we can bring a little of this bipartisan spirit with 
us into the next Congress. We could certainly use it, considering the 
challenges that this institution and we as a nation face after a very 
divisive--let's face it, very divisive--election where about half the 
people were ecstatic and about half the people are very depressed right 
now.
  So it is certainly a time for us to come together. It is going to be 
a little bit tougher to come together because Steve is not with us, but 
we can keep in mind what he would have done, what he would have said, 
and how he could have brought us together. So I think it is fitting 
that we join together in a bipartisan manner in this tribute to our 
former colleague Steve LaTourette this evening.
  I would like to yield at this time to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. 
Kaptur), the longest serving Member from the Ohio delegation.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Chabot for yielding. It 
is really a pleasure to be here with him this evening and to pay 
tribute to a wonderful, wonderful Congressman, Steve LaTourette, from 
the great State of Ohio.
  Obviously, we return here this evening to Congress following an 
election in which new depths of feverish partisanship were reached in 
the country, and I feel humbled to speak in tribute to our late 
Republican colleague and friend, Ohio Congressman Steve LaTourette.
  He was a lawyer's lawyer. He was very, very intelligent and a very 
effective lawmaker, and he remained a loyal Republican. But at the same 
time, he exemplified, as Congressman Chabot has said, the importance of 
compromise and negotiation to the political process for the sake of the 
Republic and the American people.
  He always prioritized his constituents over partisan concerns, and he 
built alliances with House Members of all stripes in pursuit of the 
common good. He always conducted himself with a warm smile and a witty 
manner throughout, and he always had a good word. I remember how he 
sort of looked at you from above his glasses when he would get out of a 
committee meeting, always with a broad smile.
  It was an honor and a privilege to have served for so many years in 
the same Ohio delegation as Steve. He exhibited so much love for our 
State and endeavored to help all Ohioans, even those not in his 
constituency. In many ways, he was not just a representative for the 
19th and then the 14th District of Ohio, but a representative for all 
of Ohio, as he effectively worked on our Committee on Appropriations.
  One of my fondest passions has been to champion the Great Lakes 
Restoration Initiative that focuses on the Great Lakes region, and it 
often brought us together to work to promote investment in the world's 
largest freshwater ecosystem, with 95 percent of our Nation's 
freshwater and serving over 30 million Americans; 1\1/2\ million jobs, 
and $62 billion in wages are generated in this Great Lakes nation each 
year. Steve understood the immense environmental and economic 
importance of the Great Lakes to the region and our Nation because he 
came from northern Ohio. It was a real pleasure to work with Steve to 
champion our Great Lakes issues.
  I recall on another front, in 2005, following cuts to the Pentagon's 
budget, it was announced that 1,200 jobs at the Defense Finance and 
Accounting Service in the Federal office building in Cleveland, Ohio, 
were to be cut and shipped out to Indianapolis. Steve was able not only 
to successfully lobby the Defense Department to preserve the jobs, but 
with his great chutzpah, he secured an expansion of the office's size 
by over 600 jobs the following year. Many of those employees are now my 
constituents, and I know they retain, as I do, a deep gratitude for 
Steve's vital intervention. He put the same type of effort into so many 
projects: the Inner Belt Bridge in Cleveland, the Port of Cleveland, 
and so much more in northeastern Ohio and throughout our State.
  These local examples are demonstrative of the ideals and goals that 
motivated Steve in the wider, national political context, prioritizing 
the public interest and working with anyone and everyone to get things 
done. The list is extensive. Steve was one of just seven Republicans to 
vote against stripping the National Public Radio of all public funding. 
He had courage. He advocated for a mixed and pragmatic approach to 
deficit reduction. He blocked legislation aimed at weakening worker 
protection, and he voted in favor of an increase in unemployment 
benefits as the Great Recession began to bite. The list goes on.
  He was a loyal Republican, but he also represented his region. Yet 
Steve was critical and, frankly, heartsick about the stark political 
divide now found in the House and also of the tone in which that divide 
and debate is conducted. I was filled with an immense sense of regret 
and sadness upon his decision not to seek reelection in 2012, 
especially because of his reason. He had ``reached the conclusion that 
the atmosphere'' in the House ``no longer encourages the finding of 
common ground.''
  His comments remain highly resonant today: If this Chamber was not 
able to create a space and forge an environment in which Representative 
LaTourette felt able to serve, then how can we expect to pursue the 
public good to help the people of this great Nation? Steve's tragic and 
courageous death must serve as a calling to us all to constantly recall 
America's promises and for what purpose we serve in this great House.
  When Steve passed away, a leading light of bipartisanship was 
extinguished. As we embark upon a new political chapter in Washington, 
let us all do our best to rekindle that fire in his memory.
  I thank Congressman Chabot for yielding to me and for arranging for 
this Special Order in tribute to our dear friend, Steve LaTourette.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman for 
her

[[Page 14128]]

very kind remarks, and I think she is absolutely right. He was somebody 
who did work in truly a bipartisan way, and that is one of the things I 
think we will all remember him for as much or more than anything else.
  I would now like to yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Joyce). He 
took Steve's place and is now the current Member who represents the 
14th District of Ohio.

                              {time}  2045

  Mr. JOYCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Chabot very much for the 
opportunity to be here.
  It is a pleasure to see in the gallery tonight Steve's loving family: 
his beautiful wife, Jennifer; Emma; Henry. And for those who are at 
home: Sarah, Sam, and the twins. You need to know one thing very 
clearly: your father loved you very much.
  I had the pleasure of first meeting your father in 1988. I was 
appointed the prosecutor in Chardon in Geauga County. He was running 
for election in Lake County. His favorite saying was: no muss, no fuss. 
Don't worry about this, Davie. We have got this.
  We worked together for many years, and I can tell you just a few 
things because I will be brief. Your father cared. He cared deeply 
about you, he cared deeply about his friends and his family. Whenever 
you would run into him, he would always ask about the family, the kids. 
If he knew someone was ill, he always inquired about how they were. He 
always inquired about people first. The job came later.
  Secondly, he was loyal. He was somebody you could always count on. If 
he gave you his word, it was money in the bank. And the beauty of that, 
no matter what was going on in his life, he made you feel like you were 
the only one there and your issues were so important to him.
  Believe me, he was competitive. Whether it was in a courtroom or in 
the Halls of Congress, he was one who would fight for you day in, day 
out. He cared deeply about his country and wanted only the best for it. 
That is why he fought for it.
  But remember one thing: when it came to softball, your father was 
something else. We have our annual summer prosecutors' softball game 
and his team was, unfortunately, defeated 2 years in a row. Then he 
made it part of his hiring practice that anybody who was coming into 
the prosecutor's office also had to excel as a softball player because 
he was not going to let a loss like that occur a third year in a row on 
behalf of his beloved Lake County.
  I know you have many fond memories of him. I do, too, but I think the 
most important part is to remember how much he loved his country and 
that he was one person you could truly call a legislative gentleman and 
a scholar.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. 
Cooper).
  Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, we are here tonight to pay tribute to a 
truly remarkable man.
  I was privileged to attend the memorial service in Falls Church. Mr. 
Tiberi delivered an awesome eulogy on that day. The synagogue was full. 
What was perhaps most remarkable was that there was almost an equal 
number of Republican Members and Democratic Members. That is indeed 
rare, and it is sad that it is rare in this day and age.
  We all respected, admired, and loved Steve LaTourette because he was 
a great Member. Eighteen years of service is a good long time and he 
did wonderful things, I am sure, for Ohio.
  We heard from Marcy Kaptur about many of the projects he was involved 
in, but I want to reflect for a moment on a project that I think could 
have and should have benefited the entire United States. It was a huge 
lost opportunity, but he put body and soul into it in 2012, which 
turned out to be his last year in Congress.
  Back then, there was a bipartisan commission appointed by President 
Obama, headed up by Republican Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming and also 
by the former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles. It was 
called the Simpson-Bowles Commission. It was tasked with finding a 
bipartisan solution to our Nation's debt and deficit problems.
  Back then, in 2012, we thought the debt was astronomical. It was 
$15.6 trillion. Now, 4 years later, it is $19.6 trillion. It is $4 
trillion higher, $4 trillion of extra burden on future generations, 
including Steve's own children.
  The irony of the Simpson-Bowles package is that it was about a $4 
trillion package to reduce our debt by about $4 trillion. Steve had the 
courage to engineer a plan to bring it to the House floor. We got it to 
the House floor. We had, according to Steve's estimate, almost 100 
commitments for support. We didn't expect to win, but we thought we 
would at least put up a good showing. When the votes were counted, we 
had a whopping 38 Members who were willing to stand up for bipartisan 
debt and deficit reduction. Thirty-eight Members out of a body of 435.
  I am not faulting people who didn't vote for it that day, who reneged 
on their commitment to Steve. I am proud of those--sometimes called the 
brave 38--that stood by that commitment. There was plenty in that bill 
to hate. It is easy to criticize, but it is hard to perform. But Steve 
LaTourette was a rare Member who was interested in being brave to help 
his country, and he was willing to sacrifice to do it. I admire that. I 
admire that because it takes courage and I admire that because it is 
increasingly rare. Too many members are only looking to be popular and 
perpetuate their career instead of putting their country first.
  Steve LaTourette put his country first. I hope that people will learn 
from his example. I hope they will follow his example. I hope they will 
do it in the wonderful, humorous style that he had where he could be 
serious as all get out, but also have that twinkle in his eye. He made 
friends, he made alliances, but he also built a bridge to the future 
for us all.
  It is not too late to pay attention to deficit reduction. Sadly, it 
was largely ignored in this most recent Presidential campaign by both 
candidates, but there are plans now to make our debt $5 trillion and 
$10 trillion worse even than it is today.
  So we are not going in the direction of Simpson-Bowles or Cooper-
LaTourette, as the legislation was called. We seem to be going in the 
opposite direction. I don't want interest on the Federal debt to be the 
largest, fastest-growing new Federal program, but that is the way it is 
headed, especially if interest rates tick up.
  We have got a lot of work to do in this body. The next Congress we 
will have to tackle these Steve LaTourette problems that he was not 
willing to duck. I hope that this coming Congress will not duck them. 
He was a brave man and a good man and we need to learn from his 
example.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Tiberi), who probably knew Steve as well as any other Member in this 
House did and was as close a friend of Steve's as I think anybody here.
  Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I ran into a guy back during the campaign in 
my district who was a prosecutor when Steve LaTourette was a 
prosecutor. He called him a prosecutor's prosecutor. I guess I 
shouldn't be surprised because when Steve LaTourette came to this 
Congress 6 years before I came, he became a legislator's legislator.
  And to Henry and Emma and to his children at home: that corner back 
there became Steve's corner. It was a corner that we spent a lot of 
time in. Two of the people who spent a lot of time in that corner with 
your dad were Mike Simpson, a Congressman from Idaho, and Frank 
LoBiondo from New Jersey. They apologize they could not be here 
tonight, but wanted me to tell you they miss him dearly, just as you 
do.
  Part of what I am going to say, I said at the memorial, but I want to 
say it again. Steve was a unique guy and not a guy that I would have 
thought that I would have become friends with because he was a 
University of Michigan guy and I am an Ohio State guy. But despite 
that, we did become friends.
  Not only did we become friends, my daughters had a tremendous amount 
of respect for him. When I asked them

[[Page 14129]]

after Steve passed to give me a word or a phrase that reminded them of 
Steve, they came up with these four words or four sayings. One said, 
Funny. Steve could be brutally funny with a wicked sense of humor. 
Another said, Kind. Another said, Nice man. And, finally, the fourth 
said, Christlike.
  I laughed at that inside because I knew Steve would laugh at that. 
But then I looked up Christlike and I got words that fit Steve to a T: 
gentle, kind, unselfish, generous. It was really an amazing thing and I 
never thought one of my daughters could see that in a guy, with the 
words that have been described by our colleagues who loved him. They 
loved him dearly because his heart was always in the right spot of 
trying to get things done. No matter who it came from or whose idea it 
was, Steve was always about helping the little guy.
  As Marcy Kaptur from Ohio said, he not only saved jobs in Cleveland, 
he added to them. He helped Lake Erie. He was passionate about it. He 
was passionate about helping his constituents. Whether it was repairing 
a bridge or building a road, transportation and infrastructure issues 
were just amazingly important to him. He became an expert in the field. 
Whether it be something about a railroad or an airport, a seaport, 
Steve knew it. Trucking, he was on it.
  I miss Steve back in that corner. He was an amazing counsel and a 
friend. He was a mentor. As my daughter said, he was one of the 
funniest, kindest, and yes, nicest and most Christlike human beings I 
have ever met.
  Take comfort in knowing that the world is a better place because of 
your dad.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Johnson), from the Sixth Congressional District.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to thank my colleague, 
Steve Chabot, for putting this on tonight and giving us this 
opportunity to pay tribute to one of the finest human beings that I 
personally ever met.
  I was elected in 2010, and had no background in public service. I had 
no idea what I was getting myself into. There was so much to learn and 
so little time to learn it in. Fortunately, for me, Steve LaTourette 
was in our Ohio delegation.
  It didn't take me long to figure out that, if you had a question on 
anything, Steve LaTourette was the guy to go to. Whether it was a 
legislative issue or a procedural issue or a political issue, Steve was 
a wealth of knowledge and was always willing to take time out of his 
personal schedule to sit down and have a conversation with you.
  I don't think I ever met anyone while I served with him for two terms 
that didn't call Steve a friend, whether that was on the Republican 
side of the aisle or on the Democrat side of the aisle.

                              {time}  2100

  Steve had the uncanny ability to smile that smile, to brush away all 
of the dust of confusion, and get to the core of the matter. And when 
you walked away from a conversation with Steve, you thought: Well, why 
didn't I think of that?
  I so much appreciated his guidance, his mentorship, and his 
friendship. I got to know the expertise and the professionalism of the 
man by watching him work.
  But the thing that impressed me most about Steve LaTourette was the 
heart of the man because I saw him with his family. I saw the way he 
treated his wife and his children. And there was no mistaking that 
whatever was swirling around the House, you knew where Steve's 
priorities were. Steve's priorities were at home, and I will always 
remember Steve for that.
  People call him colleague, people call him former Member; Jennifer, I 
am just proud to call him friend. God bless you and the family, and 
thanks so much for letting me share a few moments.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I yield to the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Chabot for organizing 
this Special Order tonight so that we could pay tribute to our 
colleague, Steve LaTourette.
  And Jennifer, I hope that you and the children are being comforted by 
the words that you are hearing here tonight.
  I want to associate myself with all the comments that I have been 
able to hear tonight about Steve. He truly was a dedicated public 
servant and a champion for his constituents in Ohio for 18 years.
  As we mourn the loss of Steve, we remember a Representative who stood 
for what is right and who fought on behalf of what makes America great.
  I had the privilege of standing in the back corner a lot of times 
with Steve, and I can certainly testify to his quick-wittedness, his 
sense of humor, but also his ability to discern, again, the heart of 
the matter, as has been mentioned here.
  I learned a great deal from Steve by listening to him. He was a man 
of great principle. And as I thought tonight about coming here and 
sharing a few comments to pay tribute to Steve, the poem by John Donne, 
``For Whom the Bell Tolls,'' kept coming back to me. So I am going to 
share that poem tonight because I do think that it epitomizes how we 
should think about Steve and his presence here and his absence.
  ``No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the 
continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, 
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a 
manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes 
me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know 
for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.''
  We are all diminished by the loss of Steve, but we are all the better 
for having known him, and I feel very blessed to have known and worked 
with him.
  God bless you, Jennifer, and your family.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I yield to the gentleman 
from Dayton, Ohio (Mr. Turner.)
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Chabot for hosting this 
important opportunity for us to come to the House floor to speak about 
our good friend, Steve LaTourette.
  Ohio has lost a great advocate and a public servant. And to Jennifer 
and to Mr. LaTourette's children, I want to add my voice and comments 
to those who have spoken before.
  We have heard words such as bipartisan, mentor, substantive, 
inspirational and fighter, and I want to add my voice to underscore how 
those words were so important in this body and so important for the 
legacy of Steve LaTourette.
  Bipartisan: As we all know, standing outside off the House Chamber is 
the Speaker's lobby where the press stands, and I was stopped many 
times by the press asking me this simple question. The press would 
approach and say that they had been speaking to the Members of the 
House and asking them who is the most bipartisan Member of the House, 
and frequently, on both sides, people would mention Steve LaTourette, 
and they would want to know how he did that and how he would accomplish 
that. Where is the work that would have a Member be identified as the 
most bipartisan?
  But we all knew it to be true. Whether it be on substantive issues 
reaching across the aisle or fighting for what was right, Steve looked 
not at what side of the aisle people were on but what was the outcome, 
and everyone in this body saw it.
  Mentor: Like Bill Johnson, I came here having not served as a 
legislator before. Steve LaTourette was willing to sit down, assist me 
in understanding how this body works, how an office works, how to make 
certain that you are successful, how Congress operates, and how a new 
Member can become an important part of it.
  Substantive: Congressman Pat Tiberi was saying that this corner over 
here was Steve LaTourette's. But what is important about that corner, 
not just that Steve LaTourette was there but the line of people that 
would form to speak to Steve because they were seeking that bipartisan 
voice, his mentoring, but also his substantive comments.

[[Page 14130]]

  Steve LaTourette was always the individual who knew more about what 
was happening on this floor across all subjects than anyone else. It 
wasn't just his committee or his bills. It was everything that was 
going on. He knew what was happening, and he had advice for everyone 
who would stop by to take it.
  Inspirational: Steve always had a cause. When you would stop by and 
talk to him, it wasn't just what was happening on the House floor, it 
was what other issue needed to be addressed, what other issue needed to 
be righted, and he would call many people to the cause for that 
inspiration.
  And he was a fighter. He was always on the right side. Marcy Kaptur 
was speaking about the fight of BRAC. When Ohio was facing a BRAC, and 
we had many military facilities that were at risk, DFAS and NASA in 
Cleveland were facing significant cuts and effects to them. NASA would 
have been secondarily affected by the cuts in the Department of 
Defense.
  Steve LaTourette singularly stood forward and went directly to the 
data that the Department of Defense was using, substantively attacked 
it, substantively repackaged it, and won on the argument that these 
facilities needed not to be closed or impacted but they needed to be 
sustained. It was that fighter aspect, it was that substantive aspect 
that allowed him to be successful and allowed him to be a leader for 
many.
  He will be strongly missed, but, by all those who had an opportunity 
to learn from him and his mentorship, he lives on in the inspiration he 
has provided to us in do the right thing, work hard, substantively 
focus, and make certain that you work and honor all of the Members of 
the body of Congress, not just those who are of your party.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I yield to the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Gibson).
  Mr. GIBSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for pulling this 
Special Order together to give tribute and to really reflect on the 
remarkable life of Steve LaTourette.
  For me, Steve was a role model. He was a teacher. He taught me so 
much about this institution, and he was a great friend. He was somebody 
who was fun to be around.
  So many things that I could address but, in the interest of time, I 
will make two points. The first is that Steve and I shared a passion 
for seeing this body lead and to get our country back to a balanced 
budget, believing that this is not only an economic imperative, it is a 
moral imperative.
  We have today Steve's family who are with us. He felt so deeply about 
his family. He loved Cleveland and his entire district, and he knew 
that this was an issue that we had to go all in to make happen.
  That was certainly one of the main motivations why I retired from the 
Army after 29 years total, including 24 years in the regular Army, is 
to help move us back to a balanced budget. And working together over 
the past 6 years, inspired by Steve and others' work, we have closed 
the deficit by almost 70 percent, but we are not there. We are not back 
to a balanced budget, and we need to get back to a balanced budget. 
Steve helped lead the way.
  Our first work together was actually a substitute amendment in 2011 
brought to the floor here in the early morning hours in March of 2011, 
and I still remember watching Steve; didn't know him real well at the 
time but liked everything I saw. And I remember the debate, as it was 
moving from about 2:30 to 3 a.m., and the speaker right before Steve 
was, quite frankly, criticizing this substitute amendment that Steve 
and I had authored before the House and said: Well, we really don't 
have time to debate Mr. LaTourette's amendment, given this hour.
  So when Mr. LaTourette--when Steve got to the floor and he was 
recognized, he said: Excuse me? We don't have time? Moments ago, we 
debated cutting off the plumbing to the White House. I think we have 
got plenty of time to talk about issues that are very important to my 
constituents in Cleveland.
  He gave an impassioned set of remarks that I think was very 
thoughtfully constructed about how we could guide ourselves back to a 
balanced budget, but do it in a way that also brings people together, 
that can do it in a way that we can gain bipartisan support for that.
  He stood up for things that were very important for people in 
Cleveland like the arts, like NPR, and education. And I thought he gave 
a very summoning set of remarks, and I was proud to be associated with 
that.
  Then a year later, as Mr. Cooper mentioned, I was one of those who 
joined Mr. LaTourette. We thought our numbers were more formidable, but 
we brought forward this bipartisan budget that, as Mr. Cooper pointed 
out, was a missed opportunity because, had we actually adopted that 
pro-growth, we were closing loopholes and lowering rates for Americans. 
And also fiscally conservative, we had smart, spending limits on the 
Federal departments, it was not sequestered. These were livable, 
sustainable levels that would ultimately get our discretionary spending 
under control, and it made a commitment to addressing the mandatory 
spending programs as well.
  Had we actually enacted that budget, that Cooper-LaTourette budget 
today, we would be back at a balanced budget. Given the fact that we 
did overperform, we saw some Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac money come in, 
and we came in lower than we thought in terms of deficits. In fact, at 
one point here we got the deficit down to 352 B, which is still too 
high, but represented a 70 percent reduction from the nearly $1.5 
trillion that we were at in 2010.
  That budget, I believe, ultimately, we are going to end up having to 
do that at some point anyway because staring at close to $20 trillion 
of debt, we can no longer sit and wait on a Napoleonic-style battle 
that is going to ultimately clear the field and allow for one party to 
implement everything that they want on the budget.
  We now are going to have unified government, and I am looking forward 
and excited about those prospects. But we still have issues where we 
need to get support. There are votes that are needed in the Senate, 
thresholds that have to be met. So, ultimately, I think that that 
Cooper-LaTourette budget will come back, and I hope that we can get 
this done for our Nation. I want to thank Steve for his leadership for 
that.
  The second point was actually an interesting one, a little bit tough 
to go through, but I am better for it. This was also in 2011.
  I saw Steve, and everybody knows the incredible sense of humor, the 
dry, rapier-like wit that Steve can have. I saw Steve one day, around 
noon or so, and he said: Gibson, yesterday.
  Yeah, Steve.
  He goes: You were in the chair. You were acting Speaker.
  Yeah, yeah, I was.
  He goes: That jacket, don't ever wear that jacket again.
  And I am thinking, okay, I was an Army guy, you know. For the time I 
was on Active Duty, okay, true, we would get up in the morning and say: 
I think I will wear something green today, you know. And that did make 
life easier. But I thought, you know, I have got pretty good taste in 
clothing.

                              {time}  2115

  So I went back to my staff, and I said: Steve LaTourette seemed 
pretty serious. He said, ``Don't ever wear that jacket again.''
  They said: Well, why don't you do this? How do you feel about it?
  I said that I kind of like it.
  They said: Why don't you watch it? Why don't we bring it up?
  So here is my staff all standing around the computer. We bring it up, 
and all of a sudden I said: Oh, man, what was I thinking?
  I never wore that jacket again, Steve. I want you to know that. I am 
going to be donating this jacket to the Library of Congress in honor of 
Steve LaTourette's incredible taste and my lack thereof.
  I do want to show it, though, one final time for the Record. Somehow, 
I think it just looks worse on TV than it does when I actually look at 
it.
  Steve, thank you. God bless you. You were an incredible role model 
for me, a

[[Page 14131]]

great friend, an amazing husband and father, and you are missed every 
day in these Halls. God bless you.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I say to Congressman Gibson, as usual, Steve 
LaTourette was right, although I think it is a fine jacket.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for 
yielding. I thank him for leading this hour this evening. It is 
entirely appropriate that we gather this evening and remember our 
friend, Steve LaTourette.
  Steve was a friend, and you know what they say about friends in 
Washington, but Steve was a friend. I arrived here in 2003 and had 
never served in a legislative body before. I was on Steve's 
subcommittee, on one of the Transportation and Infrastructure 
subcommittees, and I will never forget how he ran his subcommittee. It 
was so even, so evenhanded, no partisanship. I try to carry that with 
me today, even now, 14 years later, in other subcommittees where the 
subject matter can get a little bit more contentious, just remembering 
the respect with which he treated Members of both sides of the dais. It 
was almost as if Steve didn't even have a dog in the fight, as we say 
back in Texas, but of course he did.
  Steve would give you the shirt off his back. I got kind of put in a 
tight spot. I needed a speaker for a transportation summit I was doing 
back in Texas--I mean in Denton, Texas, for crying out loud. Nobody in 
Ohio even knows where that is. This was in 2012. He had actually had 
his last election. He wasn't coming back. But I implored upon him: 
Steve, you have got such a great transportation mind, come and talk to 
the leaders in transportation in Denton, Texas. He didn't hesitate. He 
did it.
  Steve taught me something that day. He got to Ronald Reagan Airport 
without his wallet. You actually can get on a flight in the United 
States of America without an ID. I guess it helps having been a 
subcommittee chairman on the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee and perhaps an appropriator in the transportation area. But I 
was so worried when I got word that Steve had gotten to the airport 
without his wallet that he wouldn't be able to make it down to Dallas/
Fort Worth, but indeed he did. He gave a great presentation. People 
still talk about it today.
  Steve did have that wit. He had that wit that we all experienced at 
one time or another. He had a way of really bringing you back to earth 
with his turn of phrase and with his humor.
  Steve, we do miss you. The fact that there is a recalcitrant cancer 
out there that can still claim the lives that it does is something this 
body should focus on. That is something this body should work on. We 
can do that. We have had legislation, really, for a year and a half to 
try to improve and speed those discoveries. It is held up over in the 
Senate right now. I am still optimistic we can get it back over here to 
the House and get it done this year, get it done before this term ends. 
I would like to do that for Steve.
  What a great friend. We miss you.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Chabot.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Burgess.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney 
Davis).
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and 
friend from the great State of Ohio.
  This is an opportunity that is bittersweet for me and bittersweet for 
the American people to be able to honor somebody that I got to know as 
a friend and never had a chance to serve with in this great 
institution, but somebody who cared about the issues that were 
important to governing this country and governing America.
  America, the greatest country in the history of the world, has been 
served by public servants like Steve LaTourette for hundreds of years, 
but not many were like Steve LaTourette. Steve was somebody who focused 
on how we actually bring both sides of this institution together to 
move policies forward that are going to benefit every single American. 
His work on transportation and infrastructure was part of the reason 
why I sought a seat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 
when I got to Congress in 2013.
  Getting a chance to know Steve through his efforts at the Main Street 
Republican Committee and getting to know Steve through many friends 
that I got to know in the great State of Ohio proved to me what I had 
heard about Steve for the years before I got here: that he is somebody 
who actually wants to make America the greatest country in the history 
of the world.
  Steve LaTourette was somebody whom I looked up to. Steve LaTourette 
was somebody that America should look up to.
  Steve, I know you are looking down upon all of us, and especially 
your family, but I want you to know that what you did and the 
difference you made in this great institution will never be forgotten. 
You are an institution yourself, and your family and history will show 
all of us and this great country that.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I know that we are rapidly approaching that 
time in which our time has lapsed for this Special Order here, and I 
think it is fitting that we had Members from both sides of the aisle 
who came to give a testament to how much Congressman Steve LaTourette 
meant to this institution--to the House of Representatives--that he 
loved so much.
  I know personally that Speaker John Boehner depended on Steve 
LaTourette. They were friends, but I know that Speaker Boehner relied 
upon Steve LaTourette in a lot of the tough decisions that one has to 
make as Speaker of the House of Representatives. That is something that 
wasn't necessarily known to the public, but I think it is important 
that his family know that--Jennifer, his wife; Emma, Henry, and all his 
children, his whole family. I know they know this, but it is important 
that they realize how important Congressman LaTourette was to this 
institution and how much he meant to us.
  It was also mentioned by some of our colleagues the rapier wit that 
he had. I had heard the term ``knuckleheads'' before--I probably called 
people that before and maybe was called that myself--but I had never 
heard the term ``chuckleheads'' before. That was something that Steve 
called some Members of this institution with whom he disagreed. I 
always thought that that was kind of humorous and something that will 
live in the annals of this institution.
  I would also be remiss if I didn't mention there were a number of 
Members on both sides of the aisle that wanted to be with us this 
evening but who had other things that they just couldn't get done with. 
We are back in session. We just, obviously, had a national election and 
this is the first time that Congress has been back in session since 
that election, so there are a lot of things happening all over the Hill 
this evening. I know that, for example, Congressman Jim Renacci and 
Congressman Steve Stivers, among others, have put written speeches in 
the Record which will appear along with the speeches that we have heard 
here this evening.
  Let me just conclude by letting the family know, Jennifer and the 
kids, that Steve LaTourette will be long remembered in this 
institution. He will really be missed. He is one who really made a 
difference, and he is somebody that I am honored to say that I was able 
to serve in the United States House of Representatives with, our 
friend, our colleague, Congressman Steve LaTourette.
  God bless him.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a dear friend and 
highly respected colleague, the Honorable Steve LaTourette. He left us 
too soon, and will never be forgotten.
  It is an honor for me to speak about Steve. To the LaTourette 
Family--Sara, Scott, Grandson Matthew, Emma, Henry, and Jennifer--we 
share in your great sorrow for someone we all knew and loved. Your 
brother, your father, your husband, and our friend and colleague 
brought us joy.
  Yesterday I was on a plane flying to Washington, D.C. I sat next to a 
nice, young woman. We exchanged pleasantries and then

[[Page 14132]]

kept to ourselves. I started to rework my remarks for today, and I was 
going at it pretty intensely--write, scratch, write--and at one point, 
I stopped, and the woman asked me what I was working on so hard. I told 
her it was a eulogy for a good friend's funeral, and that I had never 
delivered a eulogy before. She said she was sorry to hear of my loss.
  I went back to writing and she went back to her iPad. Several minutes 
later, I paused again to look out the window. At that point, I could 
feel this overwhelming emotion welling up inside of me. I had no 
outward sign of emotion--no tears, no noise--just strong internal 
emotion; that lump in your throat. At that point, without saying a 
word, the young woman put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed it a few 
times. I turned to her and said thanks. She told me it would be okay.
  I turned to look out the window again and thought to myself, ``that 
must have been Steve's doing,''--a simple act of kindness to reassure a 
friend. I was 30,000 feet in the air, closer to Heaven, where I know 
Steve is but the more I thought about it, I changed my conclusion. And 
it brought a smile to my face. The same smile Steve always brought to 
my face. It wasn't that I was close to Heaven and that Steve's spirit 
was with me. It was because I was on a mode of transportation. It 
wouldn't have mattered which mode--plane, train, car, bus, or boat--
Steve's spirit would have been with me because we shared that interest 
and passion. Whenever I work on these issues, Steve's spirit will 
always be with me.
  Steve was a great friend, a dear friend. But he was also a mentor to 
me, both in Congress and in life. He was bright, compassionate, and 
hardworking. He was someone you could count on, and he was funny. That 
humor often carried the day, in good times, intense times, and bad 
times. He could always light up the room with his wit and humor.
  I first learned about Steve from my father, who served with Steve. 
During my first term in Congress in 2001, I asked my father which 
members I could look to for good, sound advice. He gave me four to five 
names but the first name was Steve LaTourette. He said, ``You can trust 
Steve. You may not always agree on the issue but he will always shoot 
straight.''
  Steve was a member's member. He cared about the people he worked with 
and the institution. He also cared deeply about finding solutions, 
which always had him working in a bipartisan manner. He would reach 
across the aisle to find a path forward.
  My father gave me a piece of advice for serving in Congress: You must 
learn the rules of the institution, become an expert on an issue, and 
keep your word. Steve excelled at all three.
  First, learn the rules. Few if any members knew the rules of the U.S. 
House of Representatives and Congress better than Steve. You could 
watch him in action when he was in the chair, presiding over the 
chamber during debate. He was in the chair frequently, and especially 
when a bill or debate was expected to be challenging. Steve was given 
those assignments because his knowledge of the rules. He was always 
able to act quickly and forcefully because of his knowledge.
  Second, become an expert on an issue. Steve demonstrated his 
expertise on financial services issues time and time again. In debate 
or verbal combat with another highly intelligent legislator, Barney 
Frank, it was always educational and insightful. Few could go toe-to-
toe with Barney but Steve was one. And on transportation and 
infrastructure issues, Steve's knowledge was always impressive. It 
didn't matter the mode of transportation, whether it was highway 
transit, railroad, aviation, maritime, or even public buildings, Steve 
knew his stuff. Transportation and infrastructure issues were where his 
heart really was. That was fortunate for me because he taught me so 
much.
  Finally, keep your word. Steve's word was always solid. Regardless of 
if you were on the same side of an issue or he opposed you, you could 
count on his word. But if you opposed him, it could be a very, very 
long day. In Congress, your word is critical to success. It is the coin 
of the realm, and Steve LaTourette's word was gold.
  As I thought about what to say today, I thought what I might have 
said to Steve if we had exchanged places on the last day I saw him--me 
in bed and he by my bedside. It was the Friday before the GOP 
Convention in his beloved Cleveland. What came to me was the final 
scene from one of my favorite movies, The Outsiders. Johnny was in a 
hospital and beside was his friend, Ponyboy. Throughout the movie, they 
referred to the Robert Frost poem, ``Nothing Gold can Stay.'' At that 
point in the movie, Johnny whispers into his friend's ear, ``Stay gold, 
Ponyboy . . . stay gold.'' Steve LaTourette was gold and will forever 
be gold.
  Steve, we love you, and you will be missed, my friend.
  Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I join my fellow Ohioans and colleagues in 
recognizing the life and work of Steve LaTourette, a good friend and an 
outstanding public servant.
  Steve served nine terms in Congress. Though they say Washington 
changes you, he remained extremely thoughtful and completely authentic 
throughout his tenure. And regardless of the circumstances, Steve 
always did what he thought was the right thing.
  He came to Congress after serving as a public defender and Lake 
County prosecutor. He knew the law inside and out and could argue a 
point passionately, but he also had a great sense of humor.
  In fact, during his first term, he famously delivered a speech 
written by humorist Dave Barry on the House floor, poking fun at his 
chosen profession: ``The vast majority of lawyers . . .'' he read ``. . 
. are responsible professionals as well as, in many ways, human 
beings.''
  Steve LaTourette was a great human being. Though Cancer took him away 
from us way too soon, he leaves a legacy of service that has had a 
tremendous impact on his family, his colleagues, and especially, for 
Northeast Ohio.
  My thoughts and prayers are with Jennifer and the entire LaTourette 
family. I know Steve was looking down proudly as his daughter Sarah was 
elected to a leadership position in the Ohio House of Representatives 
this month. There is no question that Steve lives on through his 
children and through each one of us who had the pleasure of knowing and 
working with him.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I want to 
recognize the life and service of United States Congressman Steve 
LaTourette. As a colleague, Congressman LaTourette was many things at 
once--formidable, smart, and considerate. Whatever the context, whether 
an argument or an agreement, he remained open-minded and friendly, 
always paying attention to his constituents and their needs, while 
adapting in a changing political climate, and remaining keenly himself. 
This delicate balancing act is why Steve was so admired and will remain 
forever respected. It is a shame that the horrific disease of 
pancreatic cancer cut his life short, but that fact will never outweigh 
the richness of his life.
  Congressman LaTourette was an Ohio man through and through. After 
graduating from the University of Michigan, he returned to the state he 
loved to study law at Cleveland-State University. His life-long career 
in politics began when he was elected County Prosecutor of Lake County, 
Ohio. In this capacity, he prosecuted the famous Kirtland mass murders. 
His desire to serve urged him to run for and win a seat in Congress 
representing his 19th Congressional District in 1994.
  Congressman LaTourette's career spanned from 1995 until 2013, when he 
retired. In this time, he was known as a strong presence on the House 
Appropriations Committee. But more than anything else, he was known as 
a bright and independent mind that was committed to serving his 
constituents in Ohio. I was sad to see him retire, and now I am sad to 
see him leave this earth.
  Mr. Speaker, Congressman LaTourette was a great United States 
Representative but an ever better man. May this Congressional Record 
show he will be forever loved and never forgotten.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of former 
Congressman Steve LaTourette from Ohio who passed away in August.
  I had the pleasure of serving with Steve throughout his time in the 
House and worked closely with him while we both sat on the 
Transportation Committee. Steve was a great legislator, and I admired 
his relentless dedication to cutting through the gridlock that often 
plagues D.C.
  After leaving the House, Steve continued to be a voice of reason as 
he led the Republican Main Street Partnership. Steve's profound 
understanding of Congress as an institution and the dynamics we face as 
members will be missed.
  Steve was a fine soul. He was never without a smile on his face, and 
I always enjoyed his rapier wit. I am glad to have counted him a 
friend.
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the late Congressman 
Steven LaTourette. Congressman LaTourette was a dedicated public 
servant and talented legislator . . . who understood the value of 
compromise and the importance of finding common ground.
  During his eighteen years serving the people of Ohio in the House of 
Representatives . . . Congressman LaTourette carried himself with humor 
. . . and always stayed true to who he was. He was a friend to many . . 
. and always was willing to reach across the aisle to get things done 
on behalf of his constituents.

[[Page 14133]]

  We should all follow the example of principled legislators like 
Congressman LaTourette.
  I wish his family well during this difficult time . . . and am 
grateful to have the opportunity to honor his legacy with my fellow 
colleagues.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I ask for Unanimous 
Consent to address the House for the purpose of a one-minute speech to 
honor the life of former Ohio Representative Steve LaTourette--who we 
lost too soon earlier this year.
  Steve LaTourette served this body well for 18 years and was known 
around the People's House as someone who worked hard, knew the rules of 
this institution, and always had a hand reaching across the aisle 
because he was dedicated to governing, and getting things done. Steve 
was also well-renowned for his quick wit. But most of all, Steve was a 
humble public servant, dedicated to the craft of governing. He loved 
the nitty gritty of getting common-sense legislation through the 
pipeline and into law.
  Now, most folks know that I am a passionate Michigan Wolverine fan, 
and even though Steve hailed from Ohio, he was a pretty smart guy 
evidenced by his degree from the University of Michigan. Steve and I 
were buddies and caught many games together through the years in Ann 
Arbor. In fact, Steve was one of my very dear friends. When Steve first 
got elected in 1994, we sensed a kindred spirit in one another and 
quickly teamed up on a host of issues important to our Midwest 
communities.
  His passionate work on behalf of the Great Lakes and environmental 
issues was particularly impressive.
  And the Republican Main Street Partnership was better for his 
tireless leadership and advocacy.
  He knew his neck of the woods in Ohio better than anyone, and worked 
hard as a fearless advocate for their needs. And with Steve, you always 
knew where you stood. He was a straight shooter, and no matter how 
difficult the topic, he was always honest.
  This body lost a great man when he retired. His wife Jennifer, and 
his six children, lost a great man with his untimely passing.
  Today, we stand together in remembering Steve LaTourette. We remember 
his passion, his grace, his humor, and his mantra of bipartisanship 
that--now more than ever--should be part of the fabric of this great 
institution.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor a statesman and 
friend, Congressman Steve LaTourette.
  For 18 years, Steve served the constituents of Ohio's 14th and 19th 
Congressional District with distinction. He was tenacious, shrewd, 
thoughtful, but more importantly, he was always eager to listen and 
find common ground.
  Steve was an expert in parliamentary procedure. His interest in the 
occurrences on the floor went well beyond his own priorities or 
personal interests. I had the honor of working with him to protect and 
preserve one of the most beautiful natural resources we have here in 
America, the Great Lakes. He understood that along with protecting the 
environment of these majestic waters, millions of Americans depend on 
these lakes for their livelihood. Over those 18 years, Steve became 
more than a colleague, he became a friend. I fondly remember sneaking 
up to the chair and passing the gossip of the day with him. I don't 
think you could find a single member when he retired that wasn't sad to 
see him go.
  There was one thing that he loved more than Congress, his family; he 
was a devoted husband and father. As we look to the end of this 
Congress and the start of a new, let us remember Steve as a man who 
always sought common ground and practical solutions, all with a smile 
and laugh.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, on August 2nd, the House of 
Representatives lost a bit of its humanity with the passing of our 
friend and former colleague Steve LaTourette.
  Steve's life was a life lived well and lived fully. It brought to 
mind that old adage, ``In the end, it's not the years in your life that 
count. It's the life in your years.''
  There certainly was a lot of life in Steve LaTourette's years.
  Simply put, he was a great member--respected and admired. He served 
for eighteen years in this House, and in doing so, made this chamber a 
more effective, more responsible and more compassionate body.
  He cared deeply about this institution and recognized that we all--
Republicans and Democrats--were sent here to find solutions to tackle 
the nation's challenges.
  The headline on his obituary in the ``New York Times'' of August 4 
referred to him as ``Congressman Who Despised Gridlock.'' In his daily 
battle to get things done for the people of Ohio and the United States, 
he was never reluctant to reach across the aisle to find a path 
forward.
  Personally, Steve was more than a classmate, a fellow appropriator 
and colleague. He was a great friend. I found him bright, thoughtful 
and incredibly hardworking. And his keen sense of humor could lighten 
any situation.
  I think often of Steve and his wife, Jennifer, and also of his 
children Emma, Henry, Sarah, Sam, Clare and Amy. I hope they will be 
comforted in the knowledge that Steve LaTourette, above all, always 
strived to do what he thought was the right thing, no matter the 
circumstances, obstacles or consequences.
  That is the definition of courage. Moreover, that is the essence of 
service.
  Steve's passing is a tremendous loss for all of us and for the state 
of Ohio. Of course, the loss is most acute for his family but also by 
the colleagues he left behind in this House. He will not be forgotten.

                          ____________________