Honoring Congressman Doc Hastings on His Retirement
Floor Speech
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Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding. I will not be lengthy, but I will be very serious.
There are very few people that I have served with in this body these
34 years for me who has more respect and more friends than Doc
Hastings.
We are personal friends. We are professional friends. And when our
wives are back home, we frequently have dinner together, and we talk a
lot of politics, we talk about things going on at home, talk about
things going on here in this body and the world.
There is nobody more knowledgeable of politics in America than Doc
Hastings. He knows every congressional district. He knows the politics
of that district, and that makes for some great, great conversation.
But I think the most important thing that I could say about Doc
Hastings is his character, the character that he possesses. Someone
once said that ``Character is doing the right thing when nobody is
looking.''
I have seen, time and again, Doc faced with an opportunity, perhaps,
that would have meant taking advantage of someone or not doing the
right thing, and he always does the right thing. And so that character,
that inner being that radiates out to the world, comes through that
balding head and reaches out to the world.
Most people don't realize that Doc Hastings is one of the biggest
NASCAR fans in America. He travels to watch the cars. And of course,
most of those started out in the South and still principally are. But
Doc loves the NASCAR world, so that makes him a southerner, which is
another reason I admire the man.
Well, we are going to miss this man. He has served so well here in so
many different important roles: chairman of the Ethics Committee that
looks after the ethics of Members of Congress; of course, on the Rules
Committee, the hardest working assignment I think anyone has, and his
service there was superlative; and of course, the chair he now holds,
that has turned out more bills, I dare say, than any other committee of
the Congress. I mean, it seems like every day there is a string of
Hastings bills that are being considered by the floor.
He is a strong worker, a hard worker. He is conscientious in his
work. He is approachable and friendly and likes to take advice.
So we are going to miss this man, and we hope that the folks back in
the home State appreciate just how well loved Doc Hastings is here in
the U.S. Congress.
So, Doc, we will miss you. We want you to come back from time to
time, and I will even buy you dinner. God bless you.
Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Thank you.
I would like to yield to the gentleman from Washington, Mr. Denny
Heck.
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