[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15496-15501]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING THE VIRGINIA DELEGATION

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOODLATTE. 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 subject of my Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, today I and other Members of the House, 
most especially members of the Virginia delegation, but other House 
Members who served with three of our Virginia colleagues, are here to 
express our thanks and pay tribute to their service, to the people of 
Virginia, and the people of the United States of America. We are 
saddened to lose three members of our great Virginia delegation, but we 
have the utmost regard for all of them, and we wish them well in their 
future endeavors.
  I am going to start by recognizing my dear friend and colleague on 
the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman Randy Forbes. I remember 
when Randy arrived here. I had known him many years before he was 
elected to the House. I was, frankly, thrilled when he decided to run 
for the House of Representatives and got elected. Of course, his first 
priority, representing the Fourth Congressional District, was to get on 
the House Armed Services Committee.
  Once he secured that, he was looking for a second committee. I 
encouraged him to seek a position on the House Judiciary Committee and 
helped him in his effort to do that. He is a fine attorney and someone 
who was a great value to me and my predecessors who have had the honor 
of chairing the House Judiciary Committee.
  Born and raised in Chesapeake, Virginia, Randy Forbes has never 
forgotten who he is or where he came from. Growing up as the son of a 
World War II Normandy veteran, Randy was raised on the values of duty, 
hard work, family, and faith. He carried those principles with him to 
Randolph-Macon College, where he graduated as valedictorian of his 1974 
class, and throughout his years at the University of Virginia School of 
Law.
  Since first elected to Congress in 2001, Randy's highest priority has 
been to protect and defend our Nation, the fundamental freedoms it was 
founded upon, and the men and women who fight for those freedoms. As 
chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces 
Subcommittee, Randy is one of the Nation's forceful advocates for a 
strong national defense.
  As a result of his dedicated efforts, Chairman Forbes is one of the 
few individuals to be honored with the highest civilian awards offered 
by both the United States Army and the United States Navy. He is also a 
senior member, as I mentioned, of the House Judiciary Committee where 
he serves as a member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual 
Property, and the Internet, as well as the Subcommittee on Crime, 
Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. And he is the founder 
and co-chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus and the 
Congressional China Caucus.
  Randy began his career in private law practice, ultimately becoming a 
partner in the largest law firm in southeastern Virginia. From 1989 to 
2001, he served the Commonwealth of Virginia in the General Assembly.
  He and his wife, Shirley, have four children and three grandchildren, 
which Randy personally regards as his greatest achievement. And, no 
doubt, as a grandfather myself, I understand well that sentiment, and I 
wish him very well with his family and hope that he has much time to 
enjoy with them, but not too much time because he is too valuable to 
our country not to be afforded another opportunity to serve our country 
in some great capacity.
  Congressman Robert Hurt also served with distinction in the Virginia 
General Assembly, and then a little over 6 years ago came to visit me 
and my wife, Maryellen, in our home to talk about his possibility of 
seeking election to the Congress. We encouraged him to do just that, he 
did, and was successful.
  Robert Hurt is a member of the Financial Services Committee, which 
has jurisdiction over all aspects of the Nation's financial and housing 
sectors. Within the committee, he serves as the vice chairman of the 
Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee, and 
serves on the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, as well as the 
Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.
  A native of Pittsylvania County, Robert began his time in public 
service in 2001, as a member of the Chatham Town Council. From 2002 to 
2007, Robert served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing 
parts of Pittsylvania County, Henry County, and the city of 
Martinsville.

[[Page 15497]]



                              {time}  1930

  Starting in 2008, Robert represented the 19th district in the Senate 
of Virginia for 2 years, which includes the city of Danville, 
Pittsylvania County, Franklin County, and part of Campbell County. He 
received his college education at Hampden-Sydney College in the 
district that he now represents in 1991. He obtained his law degree 
from the Mississippi College School of Law in 1995. From 1999 to 2010, 
Robert was engaged in a general law practice in the courthouse town of 
Chatham, where he lives with his wife, Kathy, and their three sons--
Charles, Clement, and John.
  Scott Rigell also was elected to Congress in the same year that 
Congressman Hurt was, and we were delighted to have him come and join 
us as well, being another strong advocate for our Nation's defense. He 
serves on the House Committee on Appropriations. Since taking office in 
January 2011, Congressman Rigell has made creating jobs, strengthening 
our military, controlling Federal spending, and changing Congress his 
most urgent priorities. In representing the Nation's largest military 
district, Congressman Rigell is working to preserve our region's unique 
military assets and to support our men and women in uniform.
  He was instrumental in the successful effort to keep all East Coast 
aircraft carriers based in Norfolk, and he introduced language that 
improved the maintenance of military housing, including in the fiscal 
year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act. With strong bipartisan 
support, the House and Senate passed Congressman Rigell's Drywall 
Safety Act of 2012, which was signed into law by the President in early 
2013. This legislation sets chemical standards for domestic and 
imported drywalls, establishes remediation guidelines for the disposal 
of all drywall, and expresses a sense of Congress that China must be 
held accountable for the damage this product has already caused in our 
community and across America.
  Prior to his election to Congress, he was a successful entrepreneur, 
businessowner, and community leader--the founder of Freedom Automotive. 
Congressman Rigell and his wife, Teri, previously owned automobile 
dealerships in Chesapeake, Hampton, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. He 
served 6 years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and rose to 
the rank of sergeant before receiving an honorable discharge. He earned 
his BBA from Mercer University and an MBA from Regent University.
  He and his wife are the proud parents of four children and four 
grandchildren. They are competing well with the Forbes family in the 
grandchildren department, and I know they also will enjoy more time 
with those grandchildren; but I hope we see Congressman Rigell serving 
his country in another capacity in the future as well.
  At this time, I am delighted that we have Members whose districts 
adjoin Congressman Rigell's, Congressman Hurt's, and Congressman 
Forbes'. I know that Congressman Rob Wittman, who served on the Armed 
Services Committee with Congressman Forbes, has to be somewhere else; 
so I am going to turn to him first, and then I will turn to Congressman 
Scott. I am happy to yield to the gentleman.
  Mr. WITTMAN. I thank the chairman.
  Mr. Speaker, it truly is an honor and a privilege to reflect on the 
careers of three dear friends as the gentleman spoke so eloquently 
about Congressman Randy Forbes, Congressman Scott Rigell, and 
Congressman Robert Hurt. They have been true Virginia leaders. They are 
all statesmen in the truest sense of the word. They are all servant 
leaders in their putting others before themselves, and they have done 
that throughout their tremendous careers in public service.
  Randy Forbes is a dear friend. Randy is one of those unique 
individuals who truly, truly puts others first in everything that he 
has done. I have known Randy through the years, back to his days in the 
Virginia General Assembly, where he created great opportunities for 
folks, not only in the district that he represented, but he also made 
an impact on the State of Virginia. He was a very thoughtful and 
eloquent legislator. He understood what government's role was. He 
wanted to make sure that that was done properly. He also played a 
critical role in his party. The Grand Old Party was better off in 
Virginia because of Randy Forbes' leadership. We were blessed to have 
him in that capacity there for a number of years. I have known Randy as 
a dear friend but also, truly, as one of the most effective legislators 
whom we have seen up here on Capitol Hill.
  His time, Mr. Chairman, on your Committee on the Judiciary is marked 
by many great accomplishments there as well as by some very sound and 
thoughtful judgments and, most importantly, by some very probing 
questions when it came time to interview panelists or witnesses who 
came before the Judiciary Committee.
  He was extraordinarily adept at that as he was--and still is--on the 
House Armed Services Committee. It was tremendous to watch Randy as he 
would pick apart an issue and get critical information from witnesses 
or panelists who came before our committee. Whether it was in a 
briefing or whether it was to really ascertain the facts of a 
situation, he was extraordinary in his opportunities there.
  He really cares passionately about our Nation's military, about the 
men and women who serve and what we provide for them to serve. He has 
done a spectacular job in efforts to rebuild our Nation's Navy. In 
fact, this year, for the first time in 8 years, our Navy is actually 
back to growing again. We are building more ships than we are retiring, 
and that is due in no small part to Randy Forbes' leadership and the 
things that he has done to make sure that things like our new carrier 
program with the Ford-class carriers and with our new Ohio-class 
replacement submarines, termed the Columbia-class, are on track, as 
well as the Virginia-class with our new destroyers. He has been 
extraordinary in making sure that he has been an advocate to ensure 
that our sailors have what they need as well as our marines have what 
they need, and he has done that every minute that he has served there 
on the Armed Services Committee.
  I have learned a lot from Randy. I have valued his counsel, but I 
have also watched his leadership as he has done things for our Nation 
that I think are extraordinarily important. I believe those 
accomplishments are things that will be valued and will have an effect 
on this Nation, not just in years to come but for decades to come. He 
has truly had that type of influence.
  Mr. Chairman, I agree with you. I hope that Chairman Randy Forbes of 
the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee has an opportunity to 
continue to serve this Nation in another capacity in which he can use 
that expertise, that extraordinary history of leadership and legacy of 
leadership there on the House Armed Services Committee. I think our 
Nation will be better off for having Randy there in a future capacity 
in leadership. I am hopeful that that will happen, and I truly value 
the things that he has done.
  Randy isn't somebody who just focuses on the Nation's military. He is 
also a fighter for our individual liberties and freedoms, specifically 
our religious liberties and freedoms. He has been the cofounder and co-
chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, where he has been a 
staunch advocate to make sure that we push back against those 
intrusions on our religious liberties and freedoms. He has done an 
extraordinary job there.
  I value that relationship that I have with Randy as a member of the 
Prayer Caucus and for the things that he has done. He has been unafraid 
to be out there in the forefront to make sure that he points out those 
efforts that are antifaith efforts and to make sure that he stands 
strong on the side of those folks who want to make sure that their 
religious beliefs are protected. He has done an extraordinary job 
there, not just here in Virginia, but also across the Nation. He has 
been seen as a true leader there. Again, it goes to the heart of that 
servant leader that Randy truly is. We will miss him

[[Page 15498]]

in those capacities. I know that he will continue to make sure that he 
is a beacon defending religious freedoms and liberties in whatever 
capacity he continues after his term here in Congress. We look forward 
to his efforts there also.
  As well, the gentleman spoke of Congressman Robert Hurt. Robert and I 
have a lot in common. Robert comes from the small town of Chatham in 
Pittsylvania County. He began there on the town council--the same place 
as I began in the little town of Montross. Both are very, very similar 
towns. Robert also has that heart of a servant leader by which he 
looked at where he could best serve his citizens there in the town of 
Chatham as well as going on to the general assembly there in Richmond, 
which is where he and I served in the house for a number of years. He 
went on to the State senate and then, later, here to the House of 
Representatives.
  Mr. Chairman, just as you spoke of them, Robert and his wife, Kathy, 
graciously sat down with Kathryn and me to ask questions about what 
service would be like if he were to decide to run for the U.S. House of 
Representatives. Of course, we told him what the challenges were but 
also what he could accomplish in that role. I believe that he, again, 
put the Virginia way first in making sure that he was there to serve 
when he made that decision. It certainly was one that I know was a 
difficult one for him but was one that he came here with a lot of 
passion about as to what he could do to make a difference in the 
direction of this country, and Robert has continued that.
  I have known Robert through the years. He has always been a man of 
deep personal conviction but also a man of deep passion. Robert is a 
lover of life, but he is also one who never backs away from an issue 
that he feels passionately about. As you know, I have watched Robert 
get up and give speeches. Boy, I will tell you, if it doesn't make the 
hair stand up on the back of your neck, nothing will. He is an 
effective standard-bearer for issues that are important to the Nation 
and to Virginia. He has been a real leader there on the Financial 
Services Committee, whereby he knows those issues backwards and 
forwards. Again, it is that background that he brings from his time in 
local and State government that, I think, makes him an extraordinarily 
effective legislator here.
  We will certainly miss him, but I know that the next step in his 
career--with his wife, Kathy, and his three sons--will be one in which 
he will enjoy the time there in the small town of Chatham. I know he 
intends to go back and practice law there and get back to the important 
elements of what makes Chatham special and what makes Virginia special. 
We will miss him, but I know that he will be extraordinarily successful 
there.
  I have known Representative Scott Rigell for a number of years even 
prior to his coming to Congress. I will never forget the conversation 
that I had with him as he was--again, like Robert--thinking about 
running for Congress and how passionate he was about the direction this 
Nation was taking both in its deficit and its debt and as to what was 
happening to small businesses out there. As a small-business owner, he 
later went on to own some significant businesses there in the Tidewater 
area. He really saw what was unfolding in our Nation, and it caused him 
deep, deep concerns not only for himself and Teri, but also for his 
children and now for his grandchildren.
  What a person of passion--and very eloquent. He was also a person who 
wanted to make sure that we reformed the way government conducted 
business. He and I had many, many deep conversations about what that 
would look like and how process is important and how doing the work of 
the Nation was absolutely critical. Whether what we were doing was to 
help small businesses or what we were doing was to ensure that our 
Nation's military had what it needed or what we were doing was to 
address the Nation's finances, he was equally adept and well schooled 
in those subject areas. He was a quick study on issues but a thorough 
study. He was exhaustive in how he would look at information concerning 
legislation or what he could do on a particular issue, and I admired 
him for that because you knew, when Scott Rigell came to the floor to 
vote, that he knew that bill and that issue backwards and forwards. In 
fact, many times, I would go to talk to him about a bill that was 
coming up, and I could guarantee that Scott knew it without 
limitations. He was very, very passionate about that.
  That is the reason he came to Congress and what he came here to 
accomplish, and he did an extraordinary job in his years here. I deeply 
appreciate his service and the sacrifice that his family has put into 
this. As I know Teri will attest, there were long hours that were spent 
here. Teri came up here on the Hill many times and was by Scott's side; 
so, for the Rigell family, it really was a family affair in service. I 
know that he also has exciting things facing him in his next chapter of 
life and that his efforts will, indeed, continue to include public 
service; so we wish Scott and Teri and his entire family the best.
  We all are changed for the better because of the service of these 
three Virginia gentlemen--three Virginia statesmen--and what they have 
done here to affect not only their communities, whether it is in 
Chesapeake or in Virginia Beach or in Chatham, Virginia, but what they 
all have done to affect our great Commonwealth of Virginia and the 
lasting mark that they have left here for our Nation. We are all 
indebted to their service, indebted to the legacies that they have left 
behind, and indebted in our making sure that we continue the legacies 
of passion for the issues that are important to our Nation, whether it 
is for our military, whether it is for our small businesses, whether it 
is for our Nation's financial predicament it finds itself in.

                              {time}  1945

  All of them have brought lasting change to this body and will 
continue, I know, in further capacities in their life after. We thank 
them immensely. We are all better off for their service, and I know 
that we will continue to confer with them now as repositories of wisdom 
in the issues that we have to deal with going forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Goodlatte, too, for taking the time 
tonight for all of us to be able to recognize their true servant 
leadership for the State of Virginia, their sacrifice, and truly the 
sacrifice of their families. As we all know, there is a sacrifice of 
families, too, for Members that serve here in Congress.
  Again, we wish Scott, Randy, and Robert all the best. We wish them 
God's blessings in the years ahead. I know that they will continue to 
lead and to serve in different capacities, but in equally as effective 
capacities.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for sharing his 
personal experiences, his friendships with these three outstanding 
Members of Congress.
  I turn to the other neighboring Congressman, the Congressman from the 
Third Congressional District who has served with me for many years on 
the House Judiciary Committee until he went to become the ranking 
member on the House Education and the Workforce Committee and has 
served here as long as I have. He has much knowledge about that part of 
the world and about these three gentleman. I thank him for taking time 
this evening.
  I yield to Congressman Scott.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Virginia for yielding and for organizing tonight's Special Order.
  Tonight, we honor three retiring members from the Virginia delegation 
to Congress: Congressmen Randy Forbes, Robert Hurt, and Scott Rigell.
  Despite our differences from time to time on national policy, the 
Virginia delegation has a long history of being able to constructively 
work together on issues of importance to the citizens of the 
Commonwealth of Virginia. Former-Senator John Warner, the longtime dean 
of our delegation, embodied this bipartisan work ethic, and we have 
already heard it referred to as the Virginia way of doing things.

[[Page 15499]]

  During their service in Congress, Randy, Robert, and Scott have each 
put their mark on this institution and on national policy.
  Robert Hurt has been a leader on the Financial Services Committee and 
focused on policies to expand economic opportunity in south side 
Virginia and communities around the Nation. A strong advocate for 
community banks and credit unions over his three terms in Congress, 
Robert has also worked to ensure that consumers are financially 
literate with the necessary information to make the best financial 
choices for their families. Robert has always fought for what he 
believed to be the best interest of his constituents, and so I wish him 
and his family well as he returns to his home in Chatham.
  I have come to know Scott and Randy very well as our congressional 
districts are adjacent to one another in the Hampton Roads area of 
Virginia. Along with our colleague, Rob Wittman, we have participated 
in countless joint appearances and events across Hampton Roads.
  In both the private and public sector, Scott Rigell has dedicated his 
life to serving the Hampton Roads community. In his three terms in 
Congress, he has developed a well-deserved reputation as a pragmatic, 
bipartisan leader as he addresses the Nation's fiscal issues and 
reforming how Congress operates. We have been working together on many 
issues, but I especially appreciate his strong support and advocacy of 
the SAFE Justice Act, a comprehensive criminal justice reform bill that 
the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and I introduced last 
year. I wish Scott, his wife Terry, and his children and grandchildren 
all the best as he transitions back to private life.
  Randy and I have become good friends during his time in Congress as 
we served together for many years on the House Judiciary Committee. 
Hampton Roads is the home to many military facilities, both private-
sector defense contractors and military facilities, particularly those 
associated with the Navy. There is no Member of Congress who knows more 
about our Navy than Randy Forbes. As chairman of the Seapower and 
Projection Forces Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee, he has 
been an important voice on defense and shipbuilding policy. Hampton 
Roads has been fortunate to have Randy fighting for our region's 
military and shipbuilding interests over the last 50 years. I will also 
miss working with him on modeling and simulation. He was the founder of 
the Modeling and Simulation Caucus. He promoted the modeling and 
simulation technology as a way to increase efficiency and to save the 
taxpayers money.
  I wouldn't count Randy out just yet. I know he will find ways to 
continue to serve our men and women in uniform in the months and years 
ahead, and so I wish him, his wife Shirley, and children and 
grandchildren well as they start the next chapter of their lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I, again, want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Goodlatte) for organizing tonight's Special Order. The departure of 
Congressmen Robert Hurt, Scott Rigell, and Randy Forbes is a loss for 
the House of Representatives and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Each of 
these men deserve our sincere gratitude for their service to our Nation 
and the civility that they have exemplified during their service.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his kind 
remarks about all three of these fine Representatives.
  I yield to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski), who knows 
them as well.
  Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as we honor the exemplary 
service of three departing Members of this distinguished body. 
Congressmen Randy Forbes, Robert Hurt, and Scott Rigell have served 
their districts and our Nation with honor and distinction, and they 
will be sorely missed.
  I must take a moment and talk about the privilege I have had of 
serving alongside my friend, Randy Forbes, on the Armed Services 
Committee and on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee he 
chairs.
  Over the past few years, as the Obama administration has sought to 
shrink the size of our Armed Forces and reduce the number of ships in 
our Navy, it has been Randy that has led with a strong, passionate 
advocacy for our servicemembers and a strong, informed defender of our 
Navy.
  Article I of the Constitution states that Congress shall have the 
power to provide and maintain a Navy. No one has fulfilled that task 
more honorably or diligently than Congressman Randy Forbes.
  Randy, your experience and your insights will be missed in Congress 
and on the Armed Services Committee, but I look forward to see where 
your commitment to service leads you. Until then, my friend, I wish you 
fair winds and following seas.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. 
King), another valued member of the House Judiciary Committee who has 
served literally alongside Congressman Forbes.
  I think you have sat next to him, if not close to each other, for 
many years on the committee.
  Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have the 
privilege to have been yielded to from Chairman Goodlatte of Virginia, 
who I know laments the departure of three very esteemed members of the 
Virginia delegation and people I have had a privilege to serve with. I 
certainly tip my hat to, bow to, and salute all three of them: 
Congressmen Randy Forbes, Scott Rigell, and Robert Hurt.
  I came here this evening to focus a majority of my remarks on that of 
Representative Randy Forbes because, as Chairman Goodlatte said, I have 
had the privilege to sit next to Randy Forbes on the Judiciary 
Committee--and our memories are never always exactly right--but it 
could be for the full 14 years that I have been here. We have been 
either next to each other or within one seat of each other all that 
period of time.
  I have long viewed Randy Forbes as my wingman on the House Judiciary 
Committee. He is the anchor. He is a man who we know is a man of faith. 
He led the Prayer Caucus here for a good number of years. We know that 
he is a constitutionalist. He served on the Constitution and Civil 
Justice Subcommittee also with me for many, if not, all of those years. 
When a man puts that kind of commitment and effort into defending the 
Constitution and defending innocent unborn human life and defending the 
values and the anchors of our faith, of our families, of our 
Constitution and--by the way, on the Crime, Terrorism, Homeland 
Security, and Investigations Subcommittee--defending the rule of law 
and bringing about appropriate punishment for people who violate that 
law, that is the life of Randy Forbes.
  I may be wired a little tighter than Randy. I would come and sit down 
on the Judiciary Committee, and I might be all wound up. Randy was 
always the calming influence on me. I am sure Chairman Goodlatte 
appreciates that; that Randy would reach over and put his hand on my 
arm and he said: Now, Steve, here is where we are, here is where we are 
going.
  There would also be times, though, he would turn his ear and he would 
listen to the arguments that I would make. We had hundreds and hundreds 
of conversations that helped shaped me as a Member of Congress, and 
they always were anchored in the right values. These are values you 
know come from a man who has demonstrated that here in the House of 
Representatives.
  I thought, too, that Randy was one of the best cross-examiners of a 
witness that I have seen in this United States Congress, and those 
among the best do serve on the Judiciary Committee. Those issues seem 
to come to us, and they refine your skill sets. Randy would be sitting 
there. And as the line was coming down toward us on where we sat on 
seniority, I might want to talk about what is on my mind and chat with 
him a little bit on the other side.
  I always knew that when Randy had his pen up and he would have his 
research paper there and he would be

[[Page 15500]]

taking notes in between that, what he was really doing, Mr. Speaker, 
was preparing himself to take--most of the times we only had 5 
minutes--to take that witness down to the base facts that were 
necessary. Randy did that as well as anybody that I have seen. It 
always was anchored in the rule of law, the Constitution, the faith, 
freedom, values and, of course, his strong support for the military and 
strengthening our military.
  I wanted to put into the Congressional Record tonight, Mr. Speaker, 
something that impressed me about Randy. It was after Hurricane Katrina 
hit New Orleans and Randy Forbes went down in that area 6 months or a 
year afterwards. He came back with this data, which I wrote down and 
typed into my notes because it was something that just really gripped 
me.
  The murder rate in New Orleans post-Katrina had risen to the point 
that it was 90 out of each 100,000 people who were victims of murder in 
New Orleans at that time. Only 1 out of 83.33 murders resulted in 
prison time, and only 1 in 10 murders resulted in an arrest. And of 
those total murders, only 1 in 8.33 resulted in convictions. So roughly 
1 in 8 murders were solved. And that was a rate that is astonishingly 
high when you compare those numbers--90 of 100,000 murders, the violent 
death rate or the murder rate for New Orleans--where in the United 
States broadly it is around 6 per 100,000 as opposed to the 90 per 
hundred thousand. Randy brought that kind of information back to me.
  He was also a leader in the fight against gang violence and gang 
crime, and he brought that case before the Judiciary Committee a number 
of times for us. Each time Randy spoke, we did listen and it moved 
policy in the right directions.
  One of the other things, Mr. Speaker, that I cherish is my 
perspective of this: Jo Ann Davis represented Virginia's First 
Congressional District at the time and passed away untimely in the year 
2007. I went down to her funeral. I had, of course, served with Jo Ann 
and traveled overseas with her into the war zones. She was also on the 
Armed Services Committee.
  Randy Forbes gave the eulogy for former Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis. I 
remember sitting in that church in Virginia, and Randy stepped up to 
speak about the life of Jo Ann Davis and, without notes, gave one of 
the most moving and deepest eulogies I have heard in my life. It would 
have been impossible for Randy Forbes to give such a presentation had 
he not respected, revered, and loved Jo Ann Davis the way that he did 
and watched her moves. The things that she did in her life reflected 
upon him in a way that he could honor her life at a time like that that 
had to give comfort to the family and friends that were in that church 
that day.
  I would express this about Randy--and I hope he has a long time to 
serve America--but he has affected my life in a similar way. He has 
made me a better Congressman, and he has done so with dignity and with 
class.
  The time that Randy spent in public life, Mr. Speaker, from the time 
he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1990 until 1998, 
and then to the State Senate of Virginia in 1998 until 2001, when he 
came here midterm in June of 2001 and served in this Congress, and he 
will serve in this Congress until January 3 of 2017. That is going to 
add up to somewhere really close to 27 years--26\1/2\ years, at least--
of service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States of 
America.
  His wife, Shirley, is a class act and anyone that knows her knows 
that. Their four children--Neil, Jamie, Jordan, and Justin--I hope they 
know tonight that they hit the jackpot when they were born into the 
family of Randy and Shirley Forbes.
  I hit the jackpot when I had the privilege to be seated next to Randy 
Forbes, and I hope that I can do my best to carry on that kind of 
legacy that he is leaving with us. He has made us all better. The 
United States of America is better, the Commonwealth of Virginia is 
better, and I appreciate the service that Congressman Randy Forbes has 
given to our country.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Iowa for that 
heartfelt appreciation of these three Members.
  I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Maine (Mr. 
Poliquin). He represents my alma mater, Bates College. He is just about 
to start his second term in Congress, but he makes friends fast. So I 
am delighted that he is here to say a few words about these three 
outstanding individuals as well.

                              {time}  2000

  Mr. POLIQUIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Goodlatte for yielding. 
We are very proud in our Second District of Maine to house Bates 
College, which I understand is the chairman's alma mater.
  I would like to speak a little bit today, Mr. Speaker, about these 
three gentlemen from Virginia, from a slightly different perspective, 
as a freshman Member of Congress and someone who has a business 
background but not a legislative background.
  Randy Forbes has been a tremendous help to my district by giving me 
counsel when it comes to Bath Iron Works and the tremendous 
shipbuilding skills that BIW has, making the best destroyers that keep 
our country safe and the best shipbuilders in the world. Randy Forbes' 
guidance on the Committee on Armed Services to help secure additional 
funding for BIW is something that I will never forget and something 
that the 6,000 workers at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, have a debt 
of gratitude to Mr. Forbes for his help in that regard.
  Scott Rigell, as a businessowner here in Virginia in the auto 
dealership area, has also been incredibly helpful to me in sitting on 
the Committee on Financial Services, Mr. Speaker, that deals with 
credit when it comes to the auto dealerships extending that credit to 
consumers, and Scott's guidance in that regard has been very, very 
helpful.
  I do serve on the House Committee on Financial Services with 
Representative Robert Hurt, who has become a very good friend and 
someone whom I have turned to on many occasions to make sure I 
understand what the legislative process is, Mr. Speaker.
  As a business professional, I understand what needs to be done to 
move our country forward, move our economy forward, and to create more 
jobs in Maine and throughout the country; but the gears of how Congress 
works is something that has been new to me, and I want to thank Robert 
Hurt very much for the patience he has extended to me to answer 
questions I have had. He is a very thoughtful man. He is someone who 
knows this process inside and out, and he has been very helpful to me, 
along with Mr. Forbes and Mr. Rigell.
  I thank Chairman Goodlatte for giving me an opportunity to salute 
these tremendous gentlemen from the Commonwealth of Virginia, for 
extending their help to me as a freshman, to our State, and to our 
country. Congratulations to all these wonderful Congressmen.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I thank the gentleman for his kind words and for 
taking the time to share them with us this evening.
  I yield now to the gentleman from the Ninth Congressional District of 
Virginia (Mr. Griffith), my friend and neighboring Congressman. He 
served in the Virginia General Assembly with both Randy Forbes and 
Robert Hurt and was elected to Congress the same year that Robert Hurt 
was. He knows all three of these individuals well, and I appreciate him 
taking the time this evening to participate as well.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Goodlatte for 
yielding. It is my honor and privilege to be here to recognize these 
three Virginians who have served their Commonwealth so well.
  Scott Rigell and I were elected along with Robert Hurt back in the 
same year, back in 2010. I got to know Scott when I got here. He is the 
one of the three who are retiring whom I did not know prior to coming 
to service in Congress. I learned that he was a hard worker, a 
dedicated public servant, someone who truly believed in trying to do 
everything the right way. Like

[[Page 15501]]

myself every now and then, he was a little bit of a maverick and would 
cut his own way, but that is important in Congress, that we don't all 
walk in lockstep, that we work together but that we respect each 
other's opinions. Scott Rigell is a gentleman who certainly does that, 
and as a Representative, he has done that very well.
  I go next to Randy. With the exception of, I think, probably 
Congressman Scott has known Randy longer, having served a couple years 
in the State legislature before he came to Congress with Randy, I think 
I have served longer with Randy because I served with him first in the 
house of delegates, where he was a role model, one of the leaders on 
the floor in the Virginia House.
  He then moved on to the Senate just before Republicans took control 
of the House for the first time in 120-some years. He was a feisty 
floor debater, one who was always prepared, and somebody that I looked 
up to and used as a role model in trying to figure out how I was going 
to behave on the floor and act as a gentleman and yet be determined and 
fierce in defending my positions. Randy Forbes always did that in the 
Virginia House. He then went on to the Virginia Senate, where he, 
likewise, defended his positions and was known as a leader.
  Then he came to Congress, where he kept saying to me: You would love 
it. There are so many policy issues that you would get into.
  He enjoyed his time here very much, and not because he felt that it 
was just something that he enjoyed doing, but because he could take his 
talents and serve the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia with those 
talents and serve his Nation, the United States of America, with those 
talents as well.
  I suspect that we will see Randy doing other public service in the 
not-too-distant future, but I am so very glad that I had the 
opportunity tonight to talk about his service to the Commonwealth of 
Virginia and to the United States.
  Last but certainly not least, my friend Robert Hurt. Robert came 
after me into the Virginia House of Delegates. He, too, made the error 
of moving over to the senate. I think Congressman Scott made that 
error, too. But Robert Hurt and I got to be friends in the house of 
delegates. He was a newer member. He had to make some tough decisions 
early on. We didn't always agree, but I told him to stick to his 
viewpoint and that he would be fine.
  He is just a fantastic individual, a good friend. I am sorry that he 
decided to retire. I welcome his successor, but I am sorry that he 
decided to retire because I really enjoyed bouncing ideas off of him 
and sitting in the back row and talking about everything from birds 
that we might have seen alive or dead somewhere along the highway or 
keeping notes on some of the flora and fauna of our part of Virginia. 
Our districts abutted. Where Congressman Goodlatte and I share the 
Roanoke Valley, Congressman Hurt and I shared Henry County and that 
area as well, and it was truly an honor to serve with him.
  I didn't get to serve with any of the gentlemen on a committee. We 
have heard a lot of great testimony about what great committee members 
they were. I did not have that opportunity, but I did get to serve with 
them in the House for two of them and here on this floor for 6 years. 
It was an honor and a privilege to work with them and to learn from 
them and to watch as they behaved as gentlemen ought to do in a society 
and in a place where we may disagree, but we can be agreeable while we 
disagree on issues.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I thank the gentleman for his kind remarks as well. 
Does the gentleman have any further remarks? I want to thank all of the 
Members who took time this evening to honor these three colleagues. I 
know that there are many more who wish them well.
  The Record is open, and I know some additional Members will put 
remarks into the Record, but I just want to close by saying that I was 
proud to serve with all three of them. They are strong advocates for 
their constituents. They have a strong love for their country, and they 
are fighters for limited government and individual responsibility and 
the free enterprise system. They believe very strongly in lower taxes 
and less government regulation.
  They work hard for their families in passing legislation that 
strengthens American families and, most especially, they are all strong 
believers in a strong national defense and have worked hard for their 
Nation in this body. They deserve all of the accolades they have 
received this evening and many, many more. I wish them Godspeed and 
great futures with their families and their future endeavors.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize three friends 
and colleagues from Virginia who have served the House of 
Representatives and the American people faithfully and with whom I have 
enjoyed working during our time together in the House.
  Congressmen Scott Rigell, Randy Forbes and Robert Hurt will be 
greatly missed, and I personally will miss them as they leave office at 
the end of this 114th Congress.
  I have valued Scott Rigell's strong faith and commitment to regular 
Bible study ever since we entered Congress together in 2011.
  He regularly seeks God's wisdom as he serves his constituents. I have 
appreciated the way in which he models his faith and convictions as a 
servant of the people.
  Randy Forbes has also demonstrated that true wisdom comes from the 
Source of all wisdom.
  His founding of the Congressional Prayer Caucus as a body to 
encourage Members of Congress as they seek the Lord in all things has 
been meaningful to me personally and an inspiration to many of our 
like-minded colleagues.
  Robert Hurt and I have worked together on the Financial Services 
Committee, and I have appreciated his role defending our community 
banks as Vice-Chair of the Capital Markets Subcommittee.
  I've had the great opportunity to work with him on the Investment 
Advisers Modernization Act and his contribution has made it easier for 
private equity to invest in our economy and grow jobs.
  As they return to private life, each one of these men should be proud 
of the service they have rendered to their constituents and their 
country and the mark they have left on this institution and on those, 
like myself, who have had the privilege to serve alongside them.

                          ____________________