Bart Stupak: “thank you, Mr. Conyers, for the opportunity to stand and recognize one of the finest men to ever serve in the United…”

“thank you, Mr. Conyers, for the opportunity to stand and recognize one of the finest men to ever serve in the United States Congress. John Dingell can be and has been described using a wide variety of adjectives--ranging anywhere from fierce and intimidating to kind and charming and just about everywhere in between. This man has been leaving vivid impressions on those of us he has worked with during his 50 years as a United States Congressman. Whether one may have come to enjoy the deeply intellectual candor associated with his great knowledge of issues spanning from health care to the environment to labor; or whether one may have become a victim of his witty tongue lashings he has been known to dole out to his opposition or to those testifying before him--either way, these individuals have more than likely walked away from these scenarios respecting Mr. John Dingell all the more. Mr. Dingell is the Dean of the House because he has spent 50 years working diligently to fight for those who may not be able to fight for themselves. He has fought for vulnerable people and worthy causes with an iron first. He has defended large companies even when allies have criticized him because those companies sustain the jobs his constituents depend on to feed their families. He has stood up for unpopular ideas based on righteous values. He has led wars for universal causes in order to see the eventual acceptance of a fair ideal.…”