Honoring Congressman Henry Waxman and Congressman George Miller on Their Retirement

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank our California
delegation leader for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize two men that I have had the
high honor and the great privilege to serve with for their last 16
years in Congress: George Miller and Henry Waxman. And I have had the
unenviable task to try and represent part of George's old district and,
I will tell you, you have got to work about three times as hard just to
try and catch up to where he has been.

When I was first elected to Congress, I learned quickly that none of
us are able to accomplish anything without the help and the sacrifices
of those who came before us. For many of us, myself included, none have
helped or sacrificed more than George and Henry. They fought the good
fight, they have won some incredible battles, and America is a better
place for it today.

George, I remember, I don't know about fondly, but I remember like it
was yesterday, joining forces with you to reverse a water decision that
a former administration had made that killed 80,000 spawning salmon in
my district and economically devastated the area that I represented.
Had it not been for you, those people would still be washed up on the
rocks. But we came on this floor together and, with your guidance and
you as my mentor, we were able to help those folks weather that very,
very terrible time. I appreciate your help, and so do they.

It has been said that any of us who experience any success at all in
Congress do so on the shoulder of giants. This institution has seen
many giants, but none larger than Henry Waxman and George Miller. They
are great legislators. They have legislated successfully on everything
from health care to education to tobacco to natural resources. They
have fought the fights that have made American people live a better
life.

We will always read in our history books about the great men and
women who have worked in this magnificent institution. I, for one, am
thankful that I had the opportunity to serve with two of them. They are
living legends, and we should all recognize how fortunate we have been.
Their work and their accomplishments will endure long past their
retirement, and our country will forever be a stronger and better place
because of George Miller and Henry Waxman. Thank you, thank you, thank
you.

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