Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order. Mr. Speaker, as the American people are…
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
Mr. Speaker, as the American people are sitting home tonight watching the President of the United States talking about the state of our economy with so many uncertain questions that are out there about so many different issues, this is a time where the House has completed its work that gives us an opportunity to show the American people how, at least in the State of Alabama, Republicans and Democrats have over the years worked together hand in hand with a love of country at heart to try to make our State, our communities and certainly our great country a better place. And tonight I am privileged to lead this special order which will not take the entire hour but will give some of our colleagues an opportunity to recognize the significant contributions of two such Members, two men who didn't come to Congress at the same time, but who came within a term of each other, and who have, with different life backgrounds, made a substantial contribution to the betterment of their district, the State that they grew up in and love, and certainly this wonderful Nation. And I'm referring to two men of different political paths and different political parties, but two men who have universal respect here in the House of Representatives, Bud Cramer of the Fifth Congressional District of Alabama and Terry Everett of the Second Congressional District.
Earlier this year, Congressman Cramer surprised his constituents and really people throughout this city and our Nation's capital that he would be leaving Congress after 18 remarkable years of dedicated service to the people of Huntsville and his district, the Fifth Congressional District in north Alabama. And I think it was actually this time last year when Congressman Terry Everett surprised the people in the Second Congressional District that he too was going to be calling it quits after 16 wonderful years of dedicated service to the people of Alabama's Wiregrass community.
Joining me tonight will be some colleagues who know these Members intimately well. And so I will be privileged to recognize them in just a moment and let them say a few words of thanks on behalf of the American people to these two giant legislative leaders and their dedicated service.
I also have some statements for the Record, Mr. Speaker, that I would like to enter, because as the night has drawn on and Members have had other obligations, they have not been able to actually be here for some of these comments. But I would like to enter one in particular at this moment from my colleague, Congressman Robert Aderholt, of Alabama's Fourth Congressional District.
Of Terry Everett, Robert Aderholt said, ``we value very highly Representative Everett's service and his work with our delegation over the course of his distinguished career. John Quincy Adams once said, if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you're a leader. Terry Everett is the type of leader that embodies this quote. His actions have inspired many Alabamians to dream more and to learn more. And I am pleased for his great contribution to our State. As Terry leaves this institution at the conclusion of this 110th Congress and goes on to other endeavors, we wish him the very best of luck and ask God's blessings on him and his wife, Barbara, for many years to come.''
And Robert also serves next door to Congressman Cramer. And he asked me as well if I would take just a moment to mention the following about his friend and neighbor, Congressman Bud Cramer. ``Even though Bud and I are members of different political parties, we have cosponsored over 50 bills in this congressional session alone. We've not always agreed on every issue that has come before the House, but I have always respected him and his leadership no matter what the issue has been. Congressman Bud Cramer has served his district and our State well. And it is my pleasure to have worked alongside him for 12 years. He has been a great partner in working on issues for north Alabama. As Bud leaves this institution, he leaves behind friends on both sides of the aisle. Regardless of the path he chooses, he leaves this institution a better place. And I look forward to watching his successes along the way.''
And also, Robert added ``may God bless Bud in all of his endeavors, and we wish him all the best that he looks forward to doing.''
Now I'm very pleased to recognize for a few minutes my distinguished friend from California, the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and the current ranking Republican on that committee, Honorable Duncan Hunter, who has known Congressman Terry Everett for every year that Terry has been in Congress. And I would be honored to yield as much time as my friend, Duncan Hunter, might choose to consume.
Duncan, thank you so much for being with us.
As this evening continues to unfold, we have heard from so many colleagues from all over the country who are paying homage tonight to Congressman Bud Cramer and Congressman Terry Everett.
Congressman John Tanner, one of Bud's closest friends and colleague and one of the leaders in the Blue Dog Coalition asked me, because of a last minute conflict, to enter the following statement.
``Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join our colleagues tonight in paying tribute to my friend Congressman Bud Cramer, who, as you know, will retire later this year after representing Alabama in this body for 18 years. During this time, he has been an important leader in Congress and an excellent public servant for the American people.
``Several years ago, Bud and I, along with a handful of our other Democratic colleagues, formed a small group to fill what we saw as a void within the body at the time, a solution-oriented coalition of moderate Members who could help forge a bipartisan bridge between our colleagues on either side of the partisan aisle. That group was named the Blue Dog Coalition, to which we both still belong.
``I appreciate Bud's leadership on working on bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing our country. A military veteran, grandfather and children's advocate, Bud has dedicated much of his life to his country and helping others.
``Mr. Speaker, Bud Cramer's dedication and commitment have served our country well, and his presence in this Chamber will be sorely missed.''
That comment and so many others from our colleagues in Alabama, Congressman Artur Davis, Congressman Spencer Bachus, Congressman Mike Rogers. I have already mentioned Congressman Aderholt could not be here because of a last minute conflict, but asked his statement to be entered into the record.
Friends of Terry Everett and Bud Cramer, Lincoln Davis of Tennessee, Bart Gordon, the distinguished chairman of the Science Committee, Gene Taylor, my neighbor along America's Gulf Coast, so many people from both sides of the aisle and all political stripes who are opening up their heart tonight saying thank you for the leadership that these two outstanding gentleman have provided.
Mr. Speaker, without objection, I would like to enter an article on each of these two gentlemen in the Congressional Record.
On July 27th, shortly after Congressman Cramer announced his intentions to resign at the end of this session of Congress, The Huntsville Times, Congressman Cramer's hometown newspaper, ran a series of articles about the outstanding, dedicated leadership and service that Bud Cramer has provided.
So without objection, I would like to enter this into the Congressional Record.
Likewise, on October 1, 2007, and then a few months later in the Dothan Magazine, the first being the Montgomery Advertiser, the capital city newspaper, there were editorials and articles alike praising Terry Everett for his solid performance as an outstanding leader of Congress and an outstanding leader for Alabama.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter both of these as well.
[From the Montgomery Advertiser, Oct. 1, 2007]
Everett Has Been Solid Performer
Residents of Alabama's Second Congressional District--which
includes all of Autauga and Elmore counties and a portion of
Montgomery County--aren't prone to frequent changes in the
representative they send to Washington. A new representative
has been elected just twice in 44 years.
Bill Dickinson won the seat in 1964, the year of the fabled
``Goldwater sweep'' that saw five Republicans elected to
Congress from Alabama, something that would have been
unimaginable only a few years before. He held the seat until
1992, usually with ease, fending off only a handful of
significant challenges over the years.
Dickinson retired from Congress that year and the Second
District, to the surprise of many observers, turned to Terry
Everett over two better-known candidates. Its voters have
elected him every two years since and likely would continue
doing so for some time to come.
But they won't have the chance. Everett announced last week
that he would not seek another term in the House in 2008. At
70, he said he was looking forward to returning to his farm
in Rehobeth.
The announcement set off a flurry of speculation and
exploration. Chances to run for an open congressional seat
are rare, so there surely will be no shortage of candidates
next year in a district that covers the Wiregrass area of
southeast Alabama, then curls upward to reach into Montgomery
County.
There will be ample opportunity to consider those
candidacies in next year's campaigns. For now, Everett's
tenure in office deserves some reflection by those he has
represented since 1992.
Everett, who previously owned a string of small newspapers,
was not exactly a household name when he began his bid for
the seat. Nor was he--nor did he ever become--a scintillating
campaigner. For those looking for a candidate to ignite an
audience or light up a room, Everett was never the guy.
Yet Second District voters liked Everett from the start.
Something in his low-key, receptive manner and steadfast
common-sense conservatism resonated with them. He defeated
state Sen. Larry Dixon of Montgomery, long considered a
likely successor to Dickinson, in the Republican primary and
state Treasurer George Wallace Jr., then a Democrat, in the
general election.
He would have opposition in future races, but never any
opponent of similar stature.
Everett understood well the concerns of his district, where
military and agricultural issues are especially important. He
was a consistent supporter of the major military
installations in the district, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base
in Montgomery and Fort Rucker near Ozark. Farmers had a
reliable advocate in Washington as well.
A subcommittee Everett chaired uncovered and addressed
serious abuses in health care facilities for veterans. He
served for years on the House Intelligence Committee and is
now the ranking minority member. He observed wryly in an
interview with The Associated Press that ``some of the most
important work I've done I can't talk about because it was on
the Intelligence Committee.''
Everett has served the district and the nation well. It
should be noted that he's not leaving office right away.
Indeed, he'll be there for more than a year. We are confident
that he will continue his steady, conscientious
representation during that time before entering an honorable
and well-earned retirement from public life.
Now, while I know others would like to speak, I think it is appropriate to pause and dedicate the balance of our time to recognizing these two outstanding individuals, outstanding public servants, sons of Alabama.
Interestingly enough, they both serve on the Intelligence Committee. Bud had become a leader in the defense world on the appropriations side. Terry has been a leader in the defense world on the authorization side.
Ironically, but probably not coincidentally, they both came to Congress having served their communities as Sunday school teachers and long-time community advocates.
So for the balance of this time, I would like to yield first to my friend Congressman Bud Cramer, the dean of our delegation, and then to Congressman Everett.
Thank you, Bud.
Terry, would you like to say a few words?
Mr. Speaker, I just want to say thank you for allowing us to have this opportunity on behalf of the 433 other Members of Congress who are not here in person but who tonight, in some form or fashion, have expressed their love, their appreciation and their respect for the dedicated service of Bud Cramer and of Terry Everett.
In closing, I just want to tell the people who might be listening in Kansas or in Wisconsin or in Florida or in California that this is an example of the best of America, of the best of two men who grew up in different times but in the same State, who came to Congress 2 years apart and who worked their hearts out to make their country a better place.
As the son of an Alabama sharecropper and railroad foreman, Terry Everett knew hard times from the day he was born, never leaving his home area of Dothan and Midland City until he joined the Army following high school. He learned Russian. He served as an intelligence analyst in Europe. After his military service, he came back to his beloved Dothan and worked as a sports reporter. He then covered the police beat for the Dothan Eagle, eventually becoming a newspaper editor and publisher and eventually becoming an owner of several newspapers in southwest Alabama.
Terry, on behalf of the people in Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Montgomery, and Pike Counties--635,000 people who have benefited from your 16 years of dedicated service--a heartfelt thanks for what you have done and for what you continue to do.
Certainly, without equal, Bud Cramer was named just a few years ago by Money Magazine as one of America's best Congressmen. What a tribute and what a true statement at that.
For a remarkable career, the people of Colbert, Jackson, Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Lawrence, and Morgan Counties owe a debt of gratitude for your outstanding 18 years of service, Bud.
As the editorial staff of the Huntsville Times said it best, your record has been nothing short of remarkable.
The Times Daily went on to say that he has shown that he can represent the people of his district while always considering the best interest of his Nation.
These are two outstanding men who will leave Congress at the end of this session, but they will leave a lifetime of service.
Bud, especially for you, in the area of child advocacy, you certainly are the national leader in that area.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the time to the Chair.