Honoring the life and legacy of Bob Hope.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I rise today as the co-chair of the Congressional USO Caucus to mourn the loss of the legendary entertainer Mr. Bob Hope, who recently passed away July 27 at the age of 100.

The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), who is the co-chair of the Congressional USO Caucus, and I drafted this resolution soon after Mr. Hope's death in July. Incidentally, Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) regrets he is not able to be present today for this resolution. However, he has submitted remarks for the Congressional Record.

Bob Hope had an illustrious career which included more than 1,100 radio shows, 75 movies, and 475 television programs. He has received numerous accolades, as we have already heard this afternoon, including five special Oscars, the George Peabody Award, and more than 50 honorary degrees. For his distinguished service, he has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded in 1969 in honor of his gifts of joy to all the American people. Most notably, Mr. Hope will be remembered as a selfless entertainer who was beloved by our Nation's Armed Forces.

Mr. Hope told jokes and entertained our Armed Forces overseas and at home for more than five decades. He headlined the USO shows during World War II and the Persian Gulf Wars, as well as in Korea and Vietnam. For his unmatched commitment to our Nation's Armed Forces, Mr. Hope received the Distinguished Service Medal from each branch of the Armed Forces and is the only person, the only person to ever be recognized by the United States Congress as an honorary veteran.

Mr. Hope's legacy continues today as our troops overseas are treated to a variety of entertainment headlined by this country's star performers. As a matter of fact, Drew Carey, Bruce Willis, Wayne Newton, and others have completed USO tours in Iraq. The tour recently visited 13 camps, more than 7,300 troops, with four performances, and signed over 3,000 autographs. From visits by NFL Cheerleaders to comedians, to singers, Bob Hope was the catalyst for their participation. These celebrities are truly committed to continue USO tours, even in places such as Iraq. Our troops truly appreciate the participation, and it makes their difficult service to our Nation more comfortable.

Mr. Speaker, Bob Hope loved the USO and, more importantly, loved the American soldier. Bob Hope and the USO's commitment to be America's link with her men and women in uniform have withstood the test of time. With the continued dedication of the USO legion of volunteers and charitable support from individuals and corporations, the USO will provide its touch of home for as long as we have those in service to our country.

So to Bob Hope and the USO, I say, ``Thanks for the memories.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the son of a stonemason and an aspiring concert singer, Bob Hope had a career that stretched across the decades. His casual careers included a butcher's delivery boy, a soda clerk, shoe salesman, pool hustler and boxer, but it was the stage where he was most at home.

Bob Hope began performing in vaudeville in the 1920s, performing what he called songs, patter, and eccentric dancing. He made his Broadway debut in 1933 with the musical Roberta. He appeared in the 1935 production of the Ziegfeld Follies and starred with the legendary Ethel Merman in a production of Cole Porter's Red Hot and Blue.

In addition to his work on the stage, Hope landed a profitable stint hosting the popular Pepsodent show on NBC Radio. His program would air in some form or another from 1938 until the 1950s. Bob Hope's radio fame led him to Hollywood, where he appeared in his first film, The Big Broadcast of 1938. He starred in more than 50 films, but he is best known for the road movies with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour.

Though Bob Hope never won a Best Actor Oscar, he has been awarded two honorary Academy Awards and a humanitarian award. He made his first appearance on television in 1947 when he headlined the inaugural broadcast of KTLA, the first TV station on the West Coast.

In the early 1950s, he appeared frequently on ``The Tonight Show'' with Johnny Carson and alongside Lucille Ball on her sitcom ``I Love Lucy.''

Beginning in 1953, Hope hosted an annual Christmas television special, many of which were broadcast internationally for the sake of the United States troops stationed around the world. During World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars and even during peacetime, Bob Hope toured with a number of USO shows, entertaining U.S. troops and earning the title of USO's Ambassador of Goodwill.

Over his lifetime, Bob Hope has been awarded more honors than any other entertainer, an achievement that earned him a place in the ``Guinness Book of Records.''

Since 1934, Bob Hope has been married to Delores Reade, whom he met when they appeared together on Broadway in ``Roberta.'' The couple has four children.

Our condolences go out to the Hope family and his legion of fans.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, on July 27th, America mourned the loss of one of its greatest citizens when Bob Hope passed away at the age of 100. Our Nation came to know Bob Hope for his great career that spanned stage, screen, and radio. But it was his unrivaled commitment to our troops that made him an American hero. Hope headlined USO shows during World War II and the Persian Gulf War, as well as in Korea and Vietnam. Bob Hope is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the most honored entertainer in the world. He has been honored by the entertainment industry, the educational community, every branch of our armed services, and the United States Congress. He has had more than 2,000 awards and citations for humanitarian and professional efforts including 54 honorary doctorate degrees, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In 1997, by an act of Congress, Bob Hope was made an ``honorary veteran.'' Upon receiving the award, Hope said, ``I've been given many awards in my lifetime--but to be numbered among the men and women I admire most--is the greatest honor I have ever received.''

As a combat veteran myself, I was proud to welcome Bob Hope among our ranks. Bob Hope was a great American. He will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have been able to work with my friend and colleague, Mr. Miller, as a co-author and lead cosponsor of this resolution. He and I are the founding Members and co-chairs of the Congressional USO Caucus. I also have the benefit of serving on both the House Armed Services Committee and the House Veterans Affairs Committee with Mr. Miller. As the 137 Members and Senators of the Congressional USO Caucus, it is my hope that we will be able to support the mission and goals of the USO in Congress in the spirit of Bob Hope.

I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues today to honor and remember the legacy of one of the greatest entertainers, humanitarians, and patriots this country has ever known, Bob Hope.

Whether it was his early vaudeville routines, his many movies, or his numerous television specials, Americans always knew they could count on Bob Hope for a good laugh. But perhaps more impressively, Bob Hope selflessly dedicated himself to nearly 50 years of entertaining our men and women in uniform. It is estimated that `G.I. Bob' performed for over 10 million American soldiers between World War II and Operation Desert Storm, an astonishing number that speaks to the depth of his dedication to our troops. In 1997, in recognition of his unfaltering commitment, Congress unanimously voted to name Bob Hope an Honorary Veteran--the first individual so honored in the history of the United States.

I was privileged to have known Bob Hope, and have many memories of time spent with him and his wonderful wife, Dolores, and their family. When you were in his presence, you could not help but be in awe of an individual who was virtually unparalleled in his commitment to the United States of America.

During one of his many commencement addresses, Bob Hope reminded graduating seniors that they would soon take up the torch of freedom and knowledge and that, someday, they would pass that torch, burning stronger and brighter, on to others. Bob Hope carried that torch for over 100 years and has passed on to all of us a flame that continues to burn as a shining example of the virtues of humor, love, and patriotism.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join in honoring the life and legacy of Bob Hope.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 357) honoring the life and legacy of Bob Hope.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution, of which I am a very proud cosponsor, honors the life and legacy of Bob Hope. He dedicated his life to the Nation he loved, and with House Resolution 357 we in Congress can honor his life.

Bob Hope not only entertained America, he contributed to the welfare of our society through his generosity. He donated more than $1 billion to hospitals and charities and civic organizations. He donated his time, and he risked his life for the benefit of his fellow citizens serving in the Armed Forces.

Throughout his life, he gave of himself to others. He represented the United States and its citizens selflessly. This Nation is blessed to have had the pleasure of knowing him. ``Bob, thanks for the memories.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller), the sponsor of this well-deserved resolution, and I commend him for his work on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 357.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support adoption of H. Res. 357. I congratulate the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) for shepherding this through the committee process, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.