Anna Eshoo: “I rise today to place into the Record a tribute to honor former Representative Tillie Kidd Fowler, who passed away…”

“I rise today to place into the Record a tribute to honor former Representative Tillie Kidd Fowler, who passed away unexpectedly on March 2, 2005. Tillie was not only an extraordinary leader and a dedicated public servant, she was also a dear and loyal friend. Tillie and I came to the Congress together in 1993, and worked together on many issues during the eight years she served her constituents in the communities of Jacksonville, Florida. Tillie was kind, intelligent and thoughtful. She put aside partisanship and politics for the good of the American people. Too few today speak with courtesy and respect when in disagreement with a colleague on important issues, but Tillie always did. These attributes earned her enormous respect among Republicans and Democrats alike, and undoubtedly played a role in her rise to Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, placing her fifth in the Republican leadership hierarchy. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Tillie was a champion of a strong national defense and worked tirelessly to improve military culture in the U.S. and abroad. She continued this good work after her retirement from Congress in 2001, serving on the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee where she aided the Secretary of Defense on strategy and policy matters. She also served on several panels to investigate allegations of discrimination and sexual misconduct at the U.S. Air Force Academy, as well as prisoner abuse in Iraq.”