Date: 1994-10-04
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. in my 20 years as Member of this body. I have been privileged to work with many distinguished members on both sides of the aisle. but I can say with absolute sincerity that none has been a better friend to me personally or a better friend to the people I represent than Chairman BILL FORD. BILL FORD is from the old school. He believes intensely in party loyalty and supporting his President. Without question. his word is his bond. He believes in giving a helping hand to the little guy. He believes in fairness. And he believes that America can always do better. And America has done better. in many. many ways. because. of the commitment and the vision of this hard working gentleman. I have been honored to serve on 2 committees with BILL FORD as chairman--Post Office and Civil Service. and Education and Labor. Both as. chairman and as a senior member of this House. BILL FORD has consistently shown his real skill for proven leadership. It was not surprising that when the President submitted his health care reform package. it was the Education and Labor Committee that passed it out first and passed it out almost intact. something no other House committee was able to do. During that consideration. and without exception. at every meeting and hearing I have ever attended with him. BILL FORD has conducted the business of the committee he chairs with adroit professionalism and seriousness of purpose. Yet. few have as quick or as penetrating a sense of humor. one that not only inspires his colleagues but also serves to disarm his opponents. Back in the 1980s when I served with Chairman FORD on the Post Office and Civil Service Committee. I received his full support for an important vitally needed multiyear strategy to improve postal operations in my district. As far away as the Virgin Islands are. as difficult as the logistics of mail delivery can be. and as removed as they are from the attention of decisionmakers here in Washington. BILL FORD made sure the Postal Service took notice of our needs and did something about them. Under his leadership. we oversaw a long overdue Investment in facilities and equipment and put in place muchneeded changes in delivery methods. At long last. the Virgin Islands got the attention it deserved. BILL FORD didnt do it because he would reap political gain. The Virgin Islands is far. far away from Michigan. He did t because he knew that the people in my district. a distant U.S. territory. needed a helping hand. He knew that quality postal service is a vital link with the rest of the Nation and the world. He knew that if he and I didnt work to improve postal services. no one else would. When Chairman FORD took over leadership of the Education and Labor Committee. I was honored to be asked to join him. even though I was already serving on two other committees. BILL FORD has a commitment to education and a commitment to our childrens future. As Chairman. BILL FORD made sure that my initiatives. from getting the Virgin Islands included in the Evenstart Program for the first time. to reauthorizing special assistance to education for the children of the Virgin Islands. were just as important as any other state or jurisdiction. BILL FORD has not only been a friend of the Virgin Islands. he has been a frequent visitor. Hes an ardent sailor who has taken well deserved respites aboard boats that charter some of the most beautiful waters in the world. In fact. shortly after he announced his retirement at the end of this session. he acknowledged that at long last he could admit publicly his love for the Virgin Islands and his many visits there. Mr. Speaker. the people of the 13th District of Michigan will miss BILL FORD. this House will miss him. and -this Nation will miss him. I know that I will miss him and so -will the. people of the Virgin Islands. No finer Member ever served in this House. I wish him all the best that life can offer as he undertakes with his wife Mary a well deserved retirement from the House. of Representatives. Thanks. Mr. Chairman. And good luck.