January 7, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H55 

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 

in 1994, he never let his physical condition diminish his spirit and he remained active in the Rhode Island 

community and the Democratic Party. 

In Rhode Island, the Pell name is legendary in politics and synonymous 

with the best attributes of public service, and his legacy endures. 

The esteemed Senator once stated, 

‘‘The strength of the United States is 

not the gold at Fort Knox or the weapons of mass destruction that we have, 

but the sum total of the education and 

the character of our people.’’ Believing 

that education was the great equalizer, 

he created legislation that passed in 

1972 establishing the Basic Educational 

Opportunity Grants—better known now 

as Pell Grants—that provide financial 

assistance to students who may not 

otherwise be able to attend college. It 

is estimated that a remarkable 54 million students have benefited from these 

grants. 

Due to his love of the arts, he also 

authored the legislation, as my colleague, Congressman KENNEDY, mentioned, creating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He helped 

shape our country’s foreign policy and 

believed strongly in the power of diplomacy. He stood up to defend rights for 

all Americans, regardless of race, class 

or sexual orientation. 

Knowing him for more than two decades, I considered Senator Pell a friend 

and a mentor and had the opportunity 

of interning in his Washington, DC office during my studies at Rhode Island 

College. I found it to be one of the most 

rewarding experiences of my life and 

the beginning of a career path that led 

me here to Congress as a representative of Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District. 

As I began my own career in government, Senator Pell was always there 

for me, offering advice and support. 

f 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a 

previous order of the House, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. BURTON) is 

recognized for 5 minutes. 

(Mr. BURTON of Indiana addressed 

the House. His remarks will appear 

hereafter in the Extensions of Remarks.) 

f 

HONORING SENATOR CLAIBORNE 

PELL 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a 

previous order of the House, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. 

LANGEVIN) is recognized for 5 minutes. 

Mr. LANGEVIN. In continuing my 

tribute to Senator Pell, Madam Speaker, Senator Pell was and always will be 

a role model as I work to serve the people of Rhode Island just as he did, with 

courage and integrity. 

This past Monday, Senator Pell was 

remembered by his family, colleagues 

from the Senate, President Clinton, 

Vice President-elect Biden, and many 

others. It was a fitting tribute to his 

years of public service and his life-long 

vision for our country. 

Madam Speaker, it is an understatement to say that his presence will be 

forever missed, but his enduring legacy 

will live on in his many accomplishments that have enhanced our country 

greatly, and especially the past, 

present and future students who have 

achieved a higher education because of 

Pell Grants. And it will live on in the 

people of Rhode Island, who have benefited greatly from his life’s work. 

My thoughts and prayers are with his 

entire family, especially his beloved 

wife of 64 years, Nuala Pell, during this 

very difficult time. 

I join with my friend and colleague, 

Congressman KENNEDY, to say that 

Senator Pell had a tremendous impact 

on our careers. And again, we extend 

both our sincerest condolences to the 

entire Pell family. 

f 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a 

previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 

(Ms. NORTON) is recognized for 5 minutes. 

(Ms. NORTON addressed the House. 

Her remarks will appear hereafter in 

the Extensions of Remarks.) 

f 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a 

previous order of the House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. KIRK) is recognized for 5 minutes. 

(Mr. KIRK addressed the House. His 

remarks will appear hereafter in the 

Extensions of Remarks.) 

f 

ISRAEL AND HAMAS CONFLICT 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a 

previous order of the House, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. ROGERS) is 

recognized for 5 minutes. 

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam 

Speaker, I rise today to speak about 

the devastating situation in Gaza. 

Each of us in this Chamber knows 

what it’s like to deal with a terrorist 

attack on our soil and against our people. Over the last several years, the 

Israeli people have been constantly 

bombarded by terrorist attacks on 

their soil and against their people. 

Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 

late 2005, more than 6,000 rocket and 

mortar attacks from Hamas and other 

terrorist groups were fired into their 

territory. 

The Government of Israel has a right 

and a responsibility to defend and protect its people. To stand idly by while 

hundreds of bombs explode on Israeli 

territory would have indeed been an irresponsible position for Israel’s government to take, and continuing to do 

nothing could cause long-term detrimental implications to Israel’s security in the region. 

So Madam Speaker, critics who have 

said that Israel responded to Hamas in 

a disproportionate or indiscriminate 

way are wrong. Madam Speaker, I ask, 

what amount of force would have been 

necessary to stop the brutal attacks, to 

put an end to the terrorists’ rocket 

launching pad in Gaza? 

Hamas has repeatedly targeted 

school yards and hospitals filled with 

children and civilians in Israel. And 

the militants have been deliberate in 

operating from places where Gazan civilians have sought shelter, jeopardizing innocent lives in Gaza. Only 

Hamas is responsible for the massacre 

of the people in Gaza. Hamas is responsible for this conflict. 

Today marks the 12th day of this 

conflict, and I think we all hope for a 

cease-fire to take place soon. However, 

even if the parties can reach an agreement to a cease-fire, it remains to be 

seen whether it will be durable. 

Therefore, I strongly urge support for 

Israel’s right to self-defense and its efforts to protect itself militarily. I also 

urge the United Nations and our European allies to do the same. 

f 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a 

previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. WOOLSEY) 

is recognized for 5 minutes. 

(Ms. WOOLSEY addressed the House. 

Her remarks will appear hereafter in 

the Extensions of Remarks.) 

f 

ECONOMY IN AMERICA 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under 

the Speaker’s announced policy of January 6, 2009, the gentleman from Texas 

(Mr. GOHMERT) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority 

leader. 

Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, it is 

a pleasure to be here as we start another 2 years in a new Congress, the 

111th Congress. It is an humbling honor 

to get to follow in the footsteps of so 

many giants. 

I come today to talk a bit about the 

economy and what’s been done so far 

and what is being proposed to be done 

in the future. Now, there is so much to 

be learned from people who have been 

around this place and been on this 

Earth for many, many decades. A fellow down in Nacogdoches had the wisdom, when he was told by a young reporter on his 95th birthday, ‘‘Congratulations on your 95th birthday, I hope 

you’re not offended, but I hope I never 

turn 95,’’ and the gentleman said, 

‘‘Well, son, that’s because you’re not 

94.’’ But a man over 90 approached me 

there and said that he was sick and 

tired of hearing people say, oh, this is 

the worst day since the Depression, 

some people saying it’s as bad as the 

1930s Depression. And he said, let me 

tell you about the Depression. I was 

there. Sometimes we went for 2 days 

without eating. And I look around nowadays and I see people offended if they 

don’t have three cars in their family. 

They’ve got a computer, they’ve got 

cell phones, they’ve got all these 

things, and they’re trying to tell me 

that this is as bad as the Depression 


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