Date: 2010-03-12
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to pay tribute to a fallen hero. my friend. the late Congressman John Murtha. During the time of his memorial services and the special order hour that was rendered on this floor. my statements were not able to be submitted because I wanted to speak directly on the floor in his honor. John Murtha was of course a husband. a father. a loved one. a Marine. and a patriot. What we loved most about John Murtha was his love for the United States military. unwavering and always steadfast. He was a family man that loved his family. and a Congressperson that loved his people. Those he represented were so very important in his mind and in his heart. He came to this floor and to this House tall and recently from battle. having served in the Vietnam war on several occasions. knowing what it is to have been shot at and to be in battle on behalf of your Nation. That true lesson gave him a cause for life. and the cause for life was to be able to fight for the men and women of the United States military. But he did not stop there. As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense on the Appropriations Committee. he fought for the families of the United States military. the wives and husbands and the children. He fought for a better quality of life in health care and housing. He fought for better standards. if you will. And yes. he recognized the importance of leave time. R & R coming out of battle. And there was no greater champion during the midst of the Iraq war. the most recent war. who fought to give relief to the soldiers on the battlefield who were doing tours of duty one after another. He was a man of courage. He didnt step away from a fight. But he also was a friend. And if he gave you his word. he would fight on behalf of your constituents as he would fight on behalf of his. In fact. Mr. Speaker. he was an Americans American. allAmerican. And if it had something to do with bettering the lives of Americans. you can be assured John Murtha was there. He took a very tough stand just a few years ago. The eyes of those who knew him as a champion of the military fighting for their cause. standing alongside of them. wondered what happened when he stood up with his eloquent voice. steady voice. and spoke about the Iraq war. calling for the soldiers to come home. That is courage. because he had been a supporter of that war. But he saw it crumbling before his eyes. Oh. yes. there has been an election over the last couple of days. but we always wonder what direction and how we could have handled it differently so that the lives that were laid down did not have to be laid down in a war in Iraq. The champion for the military saw that there was a crack in the system. and he chose to speak eloquently about it. I miss John Murtha. This body misses John Murtha. Democrats and Republicans. America misses John Murtha. But the one good news about John Murthas life is that his legacy will live on forever and ever and ever. I thank him for serving. for living. And to his family. God bless you. and may he rest in peace. Mr. Speaker. I will submit a statement into the RECORD next week that will also speak to the qualities and the honor of John Murtha. the late Congressman from Pennsylvania.