Honoring Congressman Tom Latham on His Retirement

Floor Speech

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Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, we are here today under a Special Order because at this time of year--at the end of a session--we have Members that are retiring, Members that deserve recognition, and Members that other Members of the House would like to talk about for a few minutes.

Today, we have one of the best that, unfortunately, is retiring at the end of this year. He is a gentleman that I have known since I came to Congress and have become good friends with. We have had many entertaining times.

I am sorry to say that the thing that people in Washington are going to miss the most, probably, is a rendition of Roy Orbison duets by Mr. Latham and myself. I don't know how, but we certainly had fun with those at various events.

Before I say anything else, I would like to yield to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Loebsack).

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Mr. SIMPSON. I thank the gentleman from Iowa.

Let me say, Madam Speaker, that Mr. King just mentioned the difference between Iowa and Idaho. I will tell you a funny story.

When I was first elected, TOM had been here for 4 years. When I got elected, they used to have a function with a lot of the D.C. reporters and political reporters in town at the Washington Hilton, and they would select a freshman Republican and Democrat from both the House and the Senate to give little speeches, and they were supposed to be kind of funny speeches and stuff.

So I didn't know what to do. They selected me as one of them. So I decided that I was going to explain the difference between Iowa and Idaho because there is a difference. So I went through all the differences in Idaho and Iowa.

Of course I recorded it, and I got home and turned it on to see how I had done. Underneath, and this is on C-SPAN, underneath it said, Congressman Mike Simpson, Republican, Ohio. So we not only get mixed up with Idaho and Iowa also, but also between Ohio and Idaho and Iowa. So that has always made it a little more challenging.

But TOM and I have served together on the Appropriations Committee for, I guess the last 12 years that I have been on it, and he was on it before that. He has been, as was mentioned, the chairman of the Transportation Committee and chairman of the Energy and Water Committee, both committees very important to both Idaho and Iowa and to the country. We have been able to work cooperatively to try to address issues that affect the country and our respective States.

The thing I have always noticed most about TOM, and both speakers have already mentioned it, is the way he works, the way he gets things done. I have always noticed that TOM takes the job that he was elected to do very seriously, but he never takes himself too seriously, which is an important characteristic, I think.

Others have enjoyed working with him on both sides of the aisle. I have certainly enjoyed working with him. And again, we are going to miss him.

At the end of the each session, some people, as Steve King mentioned, decide that it is time to retire, and TOM has decided that. Not only are we, in Congress, as friends, going to miss him but, frankly, the country is going to miss him.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes).

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Mr. SIMPSON. I thank the gentleman from California.

The gentleman from California mentioned something that is very important that a lot of people don't realize: it takes a special individual and a special relationship with your spouse, be it husband or wife, to be able to serve in this place. Most people don't realize how many nights you spend away from your family when you are here. I am certain that with most spouses--when I look at mine and when I look at Tom's Kathy--this was not something that they had planned on when they got married. To be able to, I want to say, put up with that and the separation that it causes and the pressure it puts on a family is extremely difficult. Kathy is, truly, a person who is special and has put up with him for 20 years in the House and 39 years of marriage. She has really put up with him for a long time, and we are honored to have spouses like that who support us and keep us going.

The reason I asked for unanimous consent at the first of this Special Order--for people to insert their comments--was that tonight is the White House Christmas reception for Members of Congress, so there are going to be a lot of people getting ready to go down to the White House. Now, one of those individuals who had some responsibilities tonight but who wanted to be here was the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, who is one of Tom's best friends. They have been together ever since I have come, and, consequently, I have been allowed to associate with him--I don't know why--but we have gotten along and have done some great things.

We are going to miss Tom, but this process goes on. People will get elected--whether it is any of us--who will replace us, and they will step up to the plate and do the job. It is an amazing system that we have been given by our forefathers.

At this point, I yield to my good friend from Iowa, Tom Latham.

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Mr. SIMPSON. I thank the gentleman.

Again, TOM, we are going to miss you. We have become good friends. Don't become a stranger. You still have another week or two to serve before we sine die, and there are some important votes to cast.

Now that you qualify for Medicare, I wish you and Kathy the best in the next part of this journey of life, and I am sure you will do fantastic. Make sure you get out to Idaho when you get an opportunity, and we will take some famous Idaho potatoes and some famous Iowa corn, and we will put them together with some steak and have a little barbecue.

I thank you for your service to this institution, to the State of Iowa, and to the country. We will miss you.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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