Expressing the Condolences of the House of Representatives on the Death of the Honorable Robert C. Byrd, a Senator from the State of West Virginia

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

I rise today to thank my colleague from West Virginia's Third Congressional District (Mr. Rahall) for offering this resolution, honoring the passing of our senior Senator, Senator ROBERT C. BYRD. I want to thank the Speaker, my other colleague from West Virginia, for his dedication and friendship to Senator Byrd through many more years than I have served here in this Congress. As the three of us know, this is a difficult time for all West Virginians and the United States Senate.

As my colleagues know, Senator Byrd was an institution not only in West Virginia but also in the United States Senate. Coming from very modest beginnings, the young man from rural Raleigh County, West Virginia, rose from the mountains of Appalachia to become a lion in the greatest deliberative body on Earth, the United States Senate. His path to success is truly emblematic of the American Dream.

Few can travel through our great State of West Virginia without recognizing the effect Senator Byrd had on our State. While he is well recognized for the many roads and buildings that are named in his honor, it is the leadership he displayed in bringing our delegation together when it mattered most for West Virginia that is truly a testament to the effect he has had on our State.

During my tenure--which for him was recent, 10 years--he rallied our delegation to save the 130th Air National Guard unit from being cut, and he began working with all of us towards a consensus on mine safety legislation after the tragic Sago mine incident. He was an able leader and led us all as leaders for West Virginia.

Senator Byrd was also a wonderful ambassador for Appalachia. West Virginians are very proud of our heritage and our strong work ethic throughout our lives, and Senator Byrd continued to share Appalachian culture--we just heard from Mr. Obey on that--with his colleagues in Washington. Whether it was displaying his musical talents on the fiddle or his dedication to both American and world history or the process of the United States Senate or the protection of our Constitution, Senator Byrd was truly a man of many talents.

I will fondly remember, as I was attending a meeting in Charleston, West Virginia, probably 12 years ago--I knew about his fiddling, but I didn't know about his love of music and his vocal ability--when he joined Kathy Mattea in singing a duet of Amazing Grace. It was a great moment for me, but for him, he was celebrating his three loves: his music, his love of education, and his faith in God.

I also remember--and the other members of the delegation will remember this, too--we were in his office, and he served us lunch in his office. And when it came time for dessert, he asked all of us if we wanted dessert. And since we were all watching our waistlines, we sort of waived off dessert and said, No, we really don't need dessert. It's lunch. I think we are going to pass on dessert.

No, no. We must have dessert. We must have apple pie and ice cream.

And then he proudly told us how he had maintained the same weight for the last 57 years in the United States Congress. I think that's a feat to be celebrated, quite frankly.

He also talked a lot about--and we heard this, too--the love of his dogs. I remember when his beloved Billy died. He was crushed, and he wasn't afraid or ashamed or embarrassed to express the love and the compassion that he had and the companionship he felt with his dog. And I think that's a common bond that a lot of people here in the United States, but also in West Virginia, share.

So with Senator Byrd's passing, West Virginia has truly lost a favorite son. The United States Senate has lost an icon. And as any Senator will tell you, Senator Byrd served as a tremendous mentor in passing on Senate procedure to newly elected Senators. In many ways, Senator Byrd was an institution within the institution of the Senate, and the Senate will not be the same without him.

I will miss Senator Byrd's passion and ardent defense of our Nation's Constitution. He was certainly one of a kind, and I feel privileged to have served with him. I will never forget the advice that he gave me when I first sought his counsel when I first went in, in my first year serving in this body. And he said, ``Shelley, you need to be a workhorse, not a show horse.'' Senator Byrd will always be remembered for his hard work as a workhorse and also for his dedication to representing our great State of West Virginia.

I wish to extend to Senator Byrd's family my deepest sympathies and know that he is at peace and at home with his beloved Erma.

So I would again thank Mr. Rahall for presenting this. Senator Byrd will certainly be missed. And I want to pay tribute to his tremendous service, sacrifice, strength, honesty, and devotion to our State and Nation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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