In Remembrance of Beau Biden

Floor Speech

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Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in remembrance of a friend, a public servant, and a good man--Beau Biden. I joined the Biden family last weekend to mourn his loss, which is felt by all who knew him, and celebrate his life, which has left an indelible impact.

Beau was a gifted lawyer who was twice elected attorney general in the state of Delaware and served his country in the National Guard in Iraq. But more than that, he was a devoted son, a loving husband, and a caring father.

Joe and his boys lived through great personal tragedy with the loss of his wife, Neilia, and daughter, Naomi. They have an unbreakable bond. And they, along with the rest of the family, have found the greatest joy in spending time together. No one who has come in contact with the Biden family can miss the deep love and devotion they have for one another.

I had the privilege of getting to know Beau better during the Obama-Biden reelection campaign. We were together on several occasions, including in the immediate aftermath of the Biden-Ryan debate. A very proud son was beaming about his dad's stellar performance. In that moment, you could see Beau's competitive spirit fuse with his devotion to his dad.

I extend my deepest sympathies to my friends Joe and Jill, to Beau's wife, Hallie, and their two children, his siblings, Hunter and Ashley, and the entire Biden family. I hope that they can take comfort in the love they share and the knowledge that they do not walk alone in their grief. We have lost Beau far too soon, but his memory lives on until we meet again.

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