Honoring Congressman Henry Waxman and Congressman George Miller on Their Retirement

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two giants of this
House: George Miller and Henry Waxman, who will be leaving this
institution at the end of this Congress. They will be missed, but their
legacies live on the myriad ways that they have made America better.

Henry and George have made their marks on this nation through an
unwavering commitment to their ideals, dogged hard work and a
pragmatism that is too often lacking in this hyper-partisan era. One,
or the other--or both, have been instrumental in almost every major piece of domestic policy legislation in the last few decades and have improved the lives of
countless Americans and millions overseas.

As long as George and Henry have been in Congress, those who had long
been ignored by Washington have been heard. Poor people, the sick,
persecuted minorities around the world, and our nation's children have
all been lifted up by the work of these two men.

During his 40 years in Congress, George chaired three committees--the
Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families, the Natural Resources
Committee, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce--and
through them fought for high quality education not just for a select
few students but for all. He has worked to strengthen environmental
protections even in the face of aggressive opposition from entrenched
interests, and for safe conditions and a living wage for workers in
America and overseas.

George is blessed with boundless energy and has never been satisfied
to rest on his laurels--staying engaged to ensure that the bills he has
passed are implemented and improved upon. He wrote the legislation that
successfully raised the minimum wage in 2007 and has written the bill
to increase it again.

He worked across the aisle to write and pass No Child Left Behind and
has not wavered from his efforts to improve and fund it.

Beyond his extensive legislative achievements, George has touched so
many lives, including mine when I interned in his office as a college
student. At the time, I never imagined I would one day serve alongside
him, but it has been a great honor.

Henry Waxman has similarly focused a wide array of causes, focusing
on investigating companies whose products had harmed consumers, and
questioning and holding accountable corporate executives on behalf of
those who otherwise had no opportunity to seek justice.

As Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Committee, Henry
investigated waste, fraud and abuse in the tobacco, finance and energy
industries to name only a few.

Conducting investigations and oversight was not enough for him, once
he exposed wrongdoing, he would work, sometimes for decades, to
translate his findings into legislation. As Chairman of the Energy and
Commerce he helped write and oversaw the passage of the Affordable Care
Act, the culmination of lifelong work on behalf of uninsured Americans.

Henry's commitment to human rights, especially the persecution of
religious minorities in the former Soviet Union and Iran has given hope
to those without hope. His steadfast support of Israel has ensured that
our two nations will remain allies and partners.

As dean of the Los Angeles delegation, Henry has been both a leader
on issues facing Angelenos, and a mentor. I consider myself privileged
to have had the opportunity to work with him.

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