H3384 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 17, 2018 b 1745 of New York, who have lost a great with the wind. She did what was right, HONORING THE LIFE OF CALLA voice in this Chamber, and those of and it didn’t have to be popular. MEDIG other districts’ iterations that she rep- Bob had a love and passion for poli- resented through the years that she tics as great as his wonderful wife, (Mr. KIHUEN asked and was given served in this remarkable body. Louise. They were such a Washington permission to address the House for 1 We call to mind Don and her Rules couple. Bob would sometimes drive minute and to revise and extend his re- staff. People who were there as com- Louise back and forth from Rochester, marks.) mittee people assisting her in her every New York, to Albany. He was known as Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I move. We call to mind Liam and her an incredibly thoughtful and brilliant rise to remember the life of Calla crew here in D.C. and at home in the partner who supported Louise tire- Medig. district office, and certainly her family lessly. Going to the Route 91 festival in Las and friends, people who have worked Their activism began with their fight Vegas had become an annual tradition with her through the years. to protect Hart’s Woods in Perinton, for Calla. She would always take time It is a great loss for all of us. just outside of Rochester. Louise would off from her job as a waitress in Ed- Louise did everything with charm. go on to organize Democrats in monton, Canada, so she could travel to When Louise introduced herself to Perinton, and Bob went on to found the Las Vegas just for the festival. newly elected House Speaker Jim Genesee Valley People’s Power Coali- Calla was a hard worker and was Wright as a newly entering Member tion, fighting against rate increases by about to become the newest manager back in 1986, she spoke in that wonder- Rochester Gas and Electric Corpora- at her restaurant. She was a mature, ful upstate New York accent, inflected tion. grounded, and lighthearted person. with her deep Kentucky roots, which Bob and Louise loved their family Calla will be remembered for being Speaker Wright immediately dis- above all, and tonight I want to recog- kind and warmhearted and for being cerned. nize their daughters—Megan Secatore, someone who would always greet you In her very forward way, she threw Amy Slaughter, and Emily Robin Mi- with a beaming smile. out her hand to shake his, and she in- nerva—and thank them and their fami- I extend my condolences to Calla troduced herself to the new Speaker: lies for the gift of their mother’s time Medig’s family and friends. Please Mr. Speaker, I’m Louise Slaughter and their unselfish giving of her so know that the city of Las Vegas, the from upstate New York. that she could serve our Nation. State of Nevada, and the whole country And he responded: It’s about time up- Megan and Amy and Emily, this Na- grieve with you. state New York elected somebody with- tion owes you a debt of thanks for the f out an accent. extraordinary spirit and achievement CELEBRATING THE EXTRAOR- Louise was a great storyteller. She of your parents, our great and dearly DINARY LIFE OF THE LATE HON- had this way of really personalizing an departed friends, Louise and Bob ORABLE LOUISE SLAUGHTER issue and making it so human that you Slaughter. I have to speak of them as a couldn’t shake. She brought the rel- team. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. evance of issues to human life. There Louise left her imprint on all whom LEWIS of Minnesota). Under the Speak- was no better storyteller than Louise she served in Rochester and in Wash- er’s announced policy of January 3, Slaughter, and she peppered everything ington and for a generation yet unborn. 2017, the gentleman from New York with her unique and delightful sayings Louise’s passion and foresight live on (Mr. TONKO) is recognized for 60 min- that were such a signature of her per- through the lasting and extraordinary utes as the designee of the minority sonality. legacy of her work and through the leader. She was a person of extraordinary in- service that she provided, knowing GENERAL LEAVE tegrity and courage. I remember sit- that that service will continue long Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan- ting with her and some of our col- into the future. imous consent that all Members may leagues when Bob passed, her late hus- She was recognized as a fighter for have 5 legislative days within which to band. I know how much she loved him the common, ordinary person, and that revise and extend their remarks and in- and how much he loved her, and I can- is the greatest tribute we can offer her. clude extraneous material on the topic not imagine the pain she felt in that We say thank you to a humble servant of my Special Order. moment. But I watched her steel her- who picked up the task and did it mas- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there self, pick herself up and go on, just the terfully well. objection to the request of the gen- way Bob would have been wanted, an Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman tleman from New York? expression of the deepest love and re- from New York’s 16th Congressional There was no objection. spect I have ever been privileged to District (Mr. ENGEL). Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, it is with witness. Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my deep sadness that I rise to celebrate Louise had a devotion to public serv- friend and colleague for yielding to me. the extraordinary life of our great ice that was born of the 1960s in a truly I think he really just said it all. friend, colleague, mentor, inspiration, aspirational moment for our country, I had the pleasure of knowing Louise and much-respected Congresswoman, an era that gave birth to a newfound for almost 40 years. We served together Louise Slaughter. driven political generation. And I like in the New York State Assembly up in We met a long time ago in 1983, when to imagine Louise in that moment lis- Albany, New York, and I was senior to both of us entered as freshmen in the tening to the voices of the people, read- her in the New York State Assembly. New York State Assembly. I under- ing news of conflict, of hope for racial She ran for Congress a few years before stood in that moment of meeting that and social justice, of fights for peace in I did, and she was senior to me here. I there was greatness there, and it only the face of seemingly endless war in never stopped teasing her about that to built beyond what I anticipated Vietnam, and empowering women and remind her that she may be senior through the years. speaking for our environment, all set here, but if you put the length of our Louise was a woman of great respect, with extraordinary music. terms together, I am senior to her, and of great charm, of intellect, integrity, Bob Dylan’s ‘‘Blowin’ In The Wind’’ we always got a kick out of that and and passion for doing the right thing. gave us a series of intractable ques- always laughed. And, Louise, this evening, we just say tions about peace, about war, about One thing about Louise is what you thank you for the impact that you freedom, at a time when those ques- saw is what you got. Louise spoke her have had on our lives and, more impor- tions were on the lips of every single mind. She wasn’t afraid to stand up to tantly, on the people for whom you American. And Louise, speaking about power. She was always thinking of the have spoken and for those who have blowing in the wind, was never a good for the country and for New York been impacted favorably by your sound weather vane politician. Amidst the and her congressional district. And works. uncertainty and conflict of that mo- there was no other calculation in what We call to mind this evening the peo- ment, she forged herself a backbone of she did. It was just feeling good trying ple of the 25th Congressional District steel and never wavered, never blew to help the people. VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Apr 18, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K17AP7.081 H17APPT1 lotter on DSK3G9T082PROD with HOUSE April 17, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3385 She was outspoken, and she said She was a passionate voice for pro- Slaughter’s family and the legions of what was on her mind, and she knew gressive values. Like a New Yorker, staff who served her may find comfort more things than many of us have for- she never backed down from a fight. If knowing her great legacy and many ac- gotten. She knew them, and she re- she wanted to get something done, she complishments have improved the lives membered them, and she would always dug in her heels and fought like hell for of so many Americans. have a little quip or a little thing to it. Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to say that would really make you laugh But, as a daughter of the South, she the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs.