Charles Michel: “My distinguished colleagues, I am overwhelmed to again receive such a nice honor from my colleagues. I do not know what…”

“My distinguished colleagues, I am overwhelmed to again receive such a nice honor from my colleagues. I do not know what the criteria are for the former Members choosing one for this kind of award, but as I look around this room, I would say there are many more who would be justified in receiving it than this Member. After all, I have only been out there in the afterworld of Congress, you know, for less than 2 years. I have not had a chance yet to make my mark in that world, like so many of you out there. But I will tell you, I would not change it for anything. I am happy to be out there where you all are and be a Member of the Former Members Society. And, Lindy, may I congratulate you and the organization for all those myriad of things that the former Members are doing and participating as they are to help publicize what this institution is all about and what representative government is all about. I am very happy that all my papers are going to the Everett Dirksen, have gone to the Everett Dirksen Center for Leadership in Pekin, IL.”