Congressional Record—House H5043
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September 29, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5043 God bless you, JOHN. Thank you. As KEVIN said, JOHN went to West strength, for wisdom, for guidance, as Mr. SCALISE. As you can see, Point. He is an Army guy, so he was we all do, that whenever you leave—we Madam Speaker, these are tough jobs, the drill sergeant in the town house. all leave this job; hopefully, you leave these are tough times, but when you And when JOHN says something, you on your own terms—if you look back, come up to Congress, you don’t just back your brother’s play. you can say that you left your mark, come up here to fight for the things In fact, the second day I was in the you made this a better country. you believe in. That is clearly why you town house, JOHN said: Steve, tomor- JOHN SHIMKUS, you left your mark. run. We all have a deep love for this row you have got to get up at 6 in the You get to leave on your own terms. country. We all have a deep set of be- morning, and we are going out to play You get to go home with Karen and liefs that we come to try to advocate baseball. enjoy your life in southern Illinois. for. But we all know, in a job like this, I didn’t know about the tradition be- You have earned this opportunity to you can’t do it alone. You need to work tween the Democrats and Republicans. have a new chapter in your life because with other people. You need to find al- I guess I have JOHN to blame. you can look back and say, for 24 lies, people who want to help join you JOHN said: You have got to come out years, you served here in this great in that cause to advance the things you for the baseball team. body and made this a better institution believe in. And along that way, Madam I hadn’t played baseball in over 25 and made this a better country because Speaker, you truly do make deep years. I didn’t even have a glove, and of your service. friendships. yet, next thing you know, the next Thank you, JOHN, for this oppor- I remember, I was a new Member in a morning I am up playing baseball. And, tunity to get to know you so well. special election. I came in towards the boy, what a start of, again, an ability Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- tail end of a Congress in 2008 with only to generate even more friendships, to ance of my time. 6 months left in the term. I didn’t real- forge friendships with people on both Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, al- ly know anybody here. I was trying to sides of the aisle, some that you work though I was unable to join in person tonight, find my way, in fact, trying to find a with on a regular basis, some that you I want to lend my voice to the chorus of col- place to live. I was living with one of are not always working with, but peo- leagues assembling to honor JOHN SHIMKUS’ my college roommates who works up ple you get to form a deep friendship service in Congress. I thank JOHN for his here in D.C. They had a baby on the with. friendship, and commitment to public service. way, and I was staying in the baby’s And that is really what makes Con- I wish him nothing but health and happiness room, so I knew I had a few weeks left gress work. It is not the things that for himself and his family during his upcoming before I had to find another place to you see on the nightly news, the big retirement from Congress. live. fights that go on between the parties JOHN came to Washington one term before So I asked my colleague right over and sometimes within the parties, but I did. We had offices next to each other on the there, I asked Jim McCrery, the Con- it is the day-to-day grind where people fifth floor of the Cannon Building. As most gressman from Louisiana, I said: Jim, I do come together and find common members and staff know, most of the ele- am looking for a place. What do you do ground to advance the things that they vators in Cannon do not go to the fifth floor, making those offices not the most desirable to find a place around here? believe in to make this a greater na- He said: Well, you know, JOHN SHIM- real estate. But JOHN and I not only stayed tion. And JOHN SHIMKUS has done that there as Freshman members, but we stayed a KUS has an opening at his town house. on so many fronts. I got to see it. I said: Who is JOHN SHIMKUS? Yes, he is the first one up. He is read- few terms, enjoying the larger offices and the I didn’t know JOHN. And he literally somewhat quieter halls. JOHN and I, as well as ing his Bible. He is writing down pointed, and JOHN was right there in our staff, got along well, especially Cathy verses. But when it is time to leave, he the well of the House during a vote se- Hurwit, my long time Chief of Staff and Craig starts to whistle. And you don’t need ries. So all the Members of Congress Roberts, JOHN’s then and current Chief. an alarm clock. When JOHN starts to were joined together, and he points Though there were issues on which JOHN whistle, that means it is time to go to JOHN out. and I disagreed, we had the opportunity to I walked down, and I introduced my- work. work closely together on issues affecting our And, again, he is just a person who self to JOHN. I said: I heard you have an state. The Illinois Delegation had a tradition of opening at your town house. I just wakes up and goes to work for the peo- monthly bipartisan lunches. The agendas fo- came here, and I am looking for a place ple of southern Illinois and the United cused on issues specific to Illinois. Often we to stay. States of America, just like he served would agree to support legislation, funding or He said: Why don’t you come by later our country in the military. For 24 projects that could help all our constituents tonight. years, he served this great Nation. and benefit our state. Illinois was one of the We are a better nation because JOHN And that, Madam Speaker, started an few delegations that was able to work so SHIMKUS has been a Member of this incredible friendship. smoothly together, and JOHN was a leader in wonderful body, the people’s House. That next day, I called my wife, Jen- that effort. nifer, that night and I said: I think I This is really where people come to- JOHN and I both earned positions on the found a place to live.’’ gether. prestigious Energy and Commerce Committee. I started this morning in Philadel- That next day I moved in. I didn’t I saw up close how passionately JOHN fought really know KEVIN BRADY, and next phia. I had some meetings there, and I for his beliefs and constituents. His tone was thing you know, I am rooming with actually, on my way out, passed by always positive, even as he disagreed with these gentlemen and getting to know Independence Hall. You never can see other members. I have enjoyed serving with people who became dear friends. that enough. I got to see the Liberty him on the Committee all these years. And again, in a job like this, you Bell this morning. I got to go see the JOHN SHIMKUS is well liked on both sides of work really hard advocating for the chamber where George Washington sat the aisle. Why? Because JOHN SHIMKUS is a things that you ran on back home. You as they signed the Declaration of Inde- kind man, a smart man, and a gentleman. We are fighting for the people in your dis- pendence, where they wrote the Con- have been able to debate without spite, col- trict. I am honored to represent south- stitution of the United States, right laborate, and sometimes find common ground. east Louisiana. But you are also work- next door, the chamber where Congress This is how collegiality and compromise work, ing with some incredible people, and met for 10 years when they were build- and I wish we could bottle it and send it you get to meet incredible people along ing this beautiful building, where they around the halls of Congress. the way. JOHN SHIMKUS is truly, as actually passed the Bill of Rights. JOHN will be missed here. I hope he enjoys KEVIN said, one of those true, genuine We are all honored to be a part of every extra moment he’s earned with Karen, people, somebody you can entrust the this special place where people of all David, Joshua, and Daniel. things that you want to share with walks of life come together. And you f only a few people. meet people of different backgrounds, Close friendships do form up here. you work with people of different back- TRIBUTE TO JOHN SHIMKUS You don’t hear about that a lot, yet we grounds, and you work to make this a The SPEAKER pro tempore.