Reaffirming Commitment to Media Diversity
Floor Speech
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Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 549. This resolution reaffirms the importance of having diverse representation across the media to better reflect their audience and serve the public interest. I urge my colleagues to support this pledge to eliminate barriers to media diversity and to reinforce our commitment to encourage diversity in media policy.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to spend the remainder of my time to commend the leadership of my good friend, the ranking member, Mr. Walden. Unfortunately, Leader Walden has decided to make this his last term in Congress, but his work at the Energy and Commerce Committee and his service to the people of Oregon will continue to positively impact our Nation for decades to come. It is going to be hard to imagine going to the committee without him at the helm on our side.
You have been a steady force, just as your family, who has been a steady force when they took those wagon trains to Oregon on that trail back in 1845. You have never forgotten your roots, and you show that every day. I appreciate it because I know, under your leadership, you have helped many of us in committee. And I know, as your vice chair, you had a lot of confidence in me when you let me take over the helm on many a day and run the committee.
But as one of your subcommittee chairs on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection and this Congress being the ranker on Communications and Technology, I appreciate that.
And I know that, again, when I think about all of the things that you have worked on, especially in the last Congress and with the opioid epidemic, which claimed over 73,000 lives in this country, and you were at the helm of H.R. 6 and brought together all those bills, over 60 pieces of legislation to help people in this country. And that is going to be a lasting legacy that we are going to have.
So, again, we are going to appreciate you, but we also hate to see you leave.
And also, with all your telecom work, to have someone with that experience, as you mentioned in your opening remarks about you and your bride of 38 years, Mylene, owning the radio stations and being able to get out there and get the work done.
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Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, again, it has been a tremendous run with all the work that you have done. You have been a gentleman and a good friend.
Something I learned from my dad from his 36 years in public service, and I will say it again on this floor. He said there is a difference between people who are politicians and public servants. He said a politician is a person who sees how much they can take from the people they represent for their own benefit, while a public servant sees how much they can give of themselves back to the people they represent.
For what you have done for not only your constituents of your great State but also here in this body, we are going to miss you.
So, Greg, and that is the first time I have ever used a first name on this floor, we are going to miss you. I am going to miss you, but we wish you all the best in the years to come.
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