Philip M. Crane

Mr. Speaker, let me thank all of my colleagues, but I want to start with my distinguished neighbor, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo). The gentleman was a dynamic freshman 12 years ago. I remember when he arrived here and we were impressed with his performance then, but it has escalated through the years. He plays a very important leadership role. But to host this event and to listen to these tributes paid by my dear and close friends through the years here in the House is truly moving.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Indiana erred; we just had our seventh grandchild yesterday, so we are up to seven. My wife, Arlene, and I had eight to begin with, and that to me was a good start, but I am pleased that she is here tonight, especially to have the opportunity to hear these tributes paid by colleagues that have been very moving to me. I cannot express my appreciation enough.

One of the things that I reflect on most about my years of service in this body is the personal relationships, and it is that feeling of trust and confidence and the commitment of colleagues to basic principles that I have felt are critically important in the service that we perform here.

I have done things consistently along a path that I believe in.

I have embraced politically all the years I have served, and I know that sometimes constituents do not always believe with those things, but at least I have been predictable. Being predictable along certain lines that I embrace based on our history, and I say that as a former history professor, I think are fundamental values that all of us should be embracing, and that is a commitment to limited constitutional government. It is a commitment to free enterprise and the growth of our economy. It is a commitment to a strong national defense. It is a commitment to advancing free trade.

One of the things that I pointed out when I was teaching is, as the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) focused on, is the importance of free trade. To me, it has done more to advance civilized values than anything else in the span of recorded history. And I think that personal contact that the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) focused on, especially with China, that personal contact with people, and they get the opportunity to see that there is a better way to live and that a better way to live is advancing those free institutions, that we have been in the vanguard of advancing and promoting here in the United States in the span of recorded history and we will continue to do.

I want to focus on one other point that one of our Founding Fathers noted, and that is that the history of liberty is the history of limitation of governmental power, never the increase of it. When we resist concentration of governmental power, we are resisting the powers of death, for the destruction of human liberty has ever been preceded by concentration of governmental power.

All of us have a responsibility in this Chamber and in the other Chamber as well to make sure that we seek to guarantee that we are living within our means, that government is limited in its intrusion into our lives, and simultaneously we are providing the greatest opportunities imaginable for individuals to realize the fulfillment of their talents and ambitions.

I commend my colleagues on our side of the aisle, but I commend some on the other side of the aisle, too, who have joined in this effort. I salute them, and I am going to miss all of you. The personal relationships that I have developed have been very moving to me. Saying good-bye is something that I am not going to do because I do not plan to say good-bye to you folks. I hope that we can continue to stay in touch.

I have no idea what I will do with the remainder of my life, but my birthday was the day after the election, and I told my wife at the time that my defeat may have been God's birthday present. It may have been an opportunity to get back and relax and reflect and decide what I would like to do yet in the remaining time I have and simultaneously try and continue to make positive contributions. I have talents that are in this Chamber, and we heard a lot of those talents tonight, that can continue to carry on that cause here on the House floor. I will try to help in any way that I can in the time I have remaining.

I will only conclude by saying that I have cherished this opportunity, and I cannot tell my colleagues enough how much I have enjoyed our personal relationships through the years in working on objectives that I have cherished. I will continue to try and maintain personal contact with you. I just want to say God bless you all and God bless this institution and the United States of America. It is in good hands. Bless you all.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in a tribute to my good friend, Bill Lipinski, who has made countless contributions to the State of Illinois and to the country during his years serving in the House.

George Washington is quoted as saying, ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.'' I believe Bill Lipinski modeled his Congressional career around this quote.

Bill's efforts in transforming our country's transportation infrastructure, especially that in the State of Illinois, has made every American's life a little easier by more efficient travel. Throughout the years, Bill and I have worked together on several transportation projects, from Metra expansion to road projects. In working with him on each of these projects, he showed great leadership, but most of all he showed great friendship. It is for this that I admire Bill the most. He could look past the harsh realities of partisan politics and work with me to help residents within my district. I will be eternally grateful not only for Bill's support of the projects he and I worked on but also for his friendship.

Another thing I will always remember Bill for is his independence. While Bill is a loyal

Democrat--one that I haven't yet been able to convert--he was never afraid to break from the ranks to cast his vote as he saw fit. I will always miss his camaraderie, and his love for this cathedral of democracy.

Bill, in the years to come, I hope I will still get to see you on the flights to and from Chicago and I wish you all the best in your retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1047, the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004. This important, bipartisan legislation is long overdue, and I am pleased we have the opportunity to consider the conference report this evening.

H.R. 1047 is a compendium of trade provisions drawn largely from legislation introduced by individual Members. The bill contains provisions involving the temporary suspension of duties on narrowly defined products, miscellaneous trade items, and technical corrections to the Trade and Development Act of 2000.

There are a number of provisions in this bill that are noteworthy, including several that I have long championed. For instance, I am pleased that the legislation follows in the tradition of both the 2000 and 2002 Trade Acts, by including a reduction of the tariff for certain types of wool used in the production of men's suits.

This reduction in tariffs is important not only as a matter of trade policy, but also to suitmakers across the country, who not too long ago saw their industry decimated by high tariffs. Reducing these tariffs has stabilized the domestic industry, and nowhere is this more apparent than at Hart Marx, the only publicly-

traded company manufacturing suits in America today.

I had the opportunity to tour the wonderful Hart Marx facility in Des Plaines, IL, this past August, and saw firsthand how important that tariff reduction is for the nearly 600 employees at Hart Marx, many of whom are my constituents.

I am therefore most pleased that this legislation will further reduce the tariff on worsted wool. History shows us that this will not only save jobs, but even add to jobs, in Illinois and throughout the country.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.