Designating Room H-139 of the Capitol as the "Henry J. Hyde Room".

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and rise in strong support of H. Res. 1087.

As this Congress draws to a close, this legislation that I had the privilege of authoring is a source of great personal satisfaction to me, and I cannot help but feel a sense of privilege about being able to have played a part in bringing this important honor to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, as this session of Congress draws to a close, so draws to a close the storied career of a lion of the House of Representatives, Congressman Henry Hyde of Illinois.

As the chairman of several major committees at the center of repeated national controversies, Henry Hyde, as Members on both sides of the aisle have already said today and know, has been a paragon of dignity, civility, and commitment to principle, and I would add that he has been a lion of the right to life, and this Chamber will miss his roar.

I offer this legislation before us today to name H-139 in the United States Capitol after this storied legislator. It is an act we sometimes do in this body to honor a figure whose public service indicates a significant benchmark or milestone in the history of the House of Representatives, and the career of Henry Hyde certainly speaks for itself.

He is the holder of no fewer than eight honorary degrees from eight separate colleges and universities, in addition to his B.S. from Georgetown and J.D. from the Loyola University School of Law in Chicago.

His service in the Navy took him to Lingayen Gulf, an extension of the South China Sea. Upon returning home, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1966 and then to this body, the United States House of Representatives, in 1974 where he has served with great distinction.

Throughout his career, whether it was closed-door White House briefings or high-level meetings with diplomats, Henry Hyde has played a vital role in our Nation's security and in defining America's place in the world, and as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he has held fair hearings and respected the constitutional rule of law ordained by our Founding Fathers.

But Mr. Speaker, it is the Hyde amendment itself for which the gentleman of Illinois will perhaps be best remembered. He eloquently remarked on this floor on one occasion, ``I look for the common thread in slavery, the Holocaust and abortion. To me, the common thread is dehumanizing people.''

The first Hyde amendment passed in 1976 banning abortions financed by Medicaid and has remained in force ever since. An argument can be made that it is the most important piece of legislation this Congress has considered in the past 50 years, and that would be an argument that I endorse.

Henry Hyde's respect for life extends to his support of other legislation, including sponsorship of legislation to expand the number of women eligible for pregnancy benefits.

Mr. Speaker, quite simply, when I think of Henry Hyde's career and the classic speeches he has given in this Chamber, I cannot help but think of the poem ``Ulysses'' by his favorite poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson. Mr. Hyde once quoted this poem to me verbatim as we sat in this Chamber between votes, and I think it applies to his service and his retirement and his dedication today.

Tennyson wrote:

``Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'

We are not now that strength which in the old days

Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are

One equal-temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.''

Such was the career of this rare leader and the gentleman from Illinois. May God bless his golden years and may God bless all the deliberations that will take place in the Henry Hyde Room in the United States Capitol for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1087) designating Room H-139 of the Capitol as the ``Henry J. Hyde Room''.

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

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1087 designates room H-139 of the United States Capitol as the Henry J. Hyde Room. This designation will become effective January 3, 2007. It is an honor to speak today on this resolution, which is a tribute to one of the finest Members of this Chamber, Congressman Henry Hyde.

Congressman Hyde has served this country well. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in combat in the Philippines. When he retired, he held the rank of commander. He attended Loyola School of Law in 1949 and was a successful attorney in Illinois. He became a State legislator in 1966 and was eventually elected to be the majority leader of the Illinois House of Representatives. In 1975, he was elected to this Chamber by the good people of the Sixth District of Illinois and has served them well over the past 32 years.

Congressman Hyde has been a true champion and hero during his time in Congress. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee and International Relations Committee, Congressman Hyde has authored ground-breaking and effective legislation and has pushed for the promotion of democracy around the world.

Over the past 32 years, Congressman Hyde has served in this building with honor, respect, and prestige. It is only fitting that we name H- 139 in his honor as a lasting tribute to his accomplishments and his steadfast dedication to his constituents and the American people.

I support this legislation and encourage all my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I would also like to add to my first statement a little bit of litany of Mr. Hyde. He was my neighbor right next door to 2111 in the Rayburn Building. He was always good for a conversation but, most of all, good advice. He also has been one that has protected, or at least protected the unborn, and he has been to my State numerous times and has spoken eloquently and with forcefulness about their need to be protected.

He has been a friend of this body because he brought dignity, as I mentioned before, and the prestige of a gentleman but, more than that, a very intellectual individual that understood the issues.

So I am extremely proud today to support this legislation. I hope all my colleagues understand that we are losing a good colleague. Some of my colleagues that have left prior to this were not recognized by naming a room. It is just a small token of appreciation to someone who brought the needed, I think, gentlemanness to this body.

So it is with great honor that I support this legislation again.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield whatever time he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).

(Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for time, and I yield back my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1087, designating Room H-139 of the Capitol as the ``Henry J. Hyde Room.'' I believe that this high honor is a fitting tribute to my friend and colleague for his 32 years of distinguished service in Congress.

Mr. Hyde is truly an institution in the Halls of Congress. His character, his wisdom, and his eloquence will long serve as an inspiration to those who will grace the Halls of Congress in the future. Through his leadership on the House Committee on International Relations, his guidance on the House Committee on the Judiciary, and his selfless dedication to the people of the 6th District of Illinois, Mr. Hyde has proven to be a true statesman, easily worthy of the honor this legislation would bestow on him.

In my experience working with Chairman Hyde on the International Relations Committee, he has proven himself time and again to be a strong leader. On many of the most pressing international issues of our time, such as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, North Korea's nuclear ambitions, the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, our Nation's ongoing relations with China, and the pending nuclear agreement with India, Chairman Hyde has been the voice and the conscience of the American people.

Throughout his tenure in Congress, Mr. Hyde has focused on improving the lives of children, working families, seniors, and military veterans. Examples of his service in his home district include public works projects to provide flood control and clean drinking water, new housing developments for senior citizens and children with special needs, and grants to provide new equipment for the local fire and police departments.

A military veteran himself, Mr. Hyde has long championed the cause of today's military veterans. Mr. Hyde served in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific, New Guinea and the Philippines during World War II and continued to serve in the U.S. Naval Reserve until 1968, retiring at the rank of commander. Earlier this year I was privileged to travel to American Samoa with Chairman Hyde where he recognized and acknowledged the military service and sacrifices of our Samoan soldiers in the global war on terror.

Chairman Hyde is my dear friend and a cherished colleague. He is highly regarded by members from both sides of the aisle for his leadership and integrity. I support H. Res. 1087 and I encourage my fellow members in Congress to support this resolution recognizing the invaluable contribution of Mr. Hyde to this great Nation.

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

I rise in support of H. Res. 1087 to designate room H-139 in the Capitol as the Henry J. Hyde Room. Congressman Hyde is widely respected and regarded on both sides of the aisle as an effective leader and able legislator. He has served with distinction for more than three decades, working to improve the lives of senior citizens, veterans and families of all sizes. He has focused on job creation and better education for all, better housing for senior citizens, and the needs of special education students.

During his tenure as the chairman of the House International Relations Committee, he focused his work on terrorism and, in particular, biological and chemical weapons threats. Congressman Hyde also served as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 1995 to 2001.

It is fitting and proper to honor the distinguished career of Henry Hyde with this designation. I support the resolution and urge my colleagues to also support this resolution today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise also to support H. Res. 1087.

I join my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, in recognizing the distinguished service of our retiring colleague, Mr. Hyde of Illinois. It has been a privilege to serve with him in this body. He has established himself as an effective and dedicated public servant over the course of nearly 40 years in public service and 16 terms in Congress.

He is a gifted public speaker and one of the House's skilled orators. His leadership as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and the House International Relations Committee has evidenced his skills as a legislator and his commitment to strengthen the principles of our great country, the United States of America. We will miss him, but we will recall the ideals and the principles for which he stands and his graciousness.

So, Mr. Speaker, I find it very fitting that we designate a room in the Capitol in his honor. This room will remind us of his work and his service in this institution.