Anna Eshoo: “I want to thank the gentleman from California, my dear friend Mr. Miller, for organizing this Special Order tonight so…”

“I want to thank the gentleman from California, my dear friend Mr. Miller, for organizing this Special Order tonight so that we can take some time, which is the most precious thing, really, that God gives us, is time, and pay tribute to our colleagues who have spent their time being giants in terms of representation and fighting on behalf of their constituents, bringing honor to the House of Representatives and to our country--some of the best exports of the Bay Area and our State of California. I want to start with the dean of our delegation, Congressman Pete Stark. We salute you, Pete, for all that you have given and done. It's an extraordinary record of 40 years in the House of Representatives. Your name has been synonymous with health care consistently for all of that period of time; for fighting for a place in that health care system for people that are unknown to so many in our society and rejected. You have made room for them in the emergency room and wrote a law that no one would be mistreated. In fact, they had to be treated before they were asked whether they had health insurance or not. Your record is replete with great and good things. On behalf of your constituents, on behalf of those that so much of society has overlooked, I know that those blessings will come back to you in a very rich and meaningful way as you depart this place. We will miss you. I thank you for your personal kindnesses and for all the wonderful things that you have done.…”