Jeff Denham: “I thank Mr. Hill for recognizing me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John McCain, a family man, a war hero, United…”

“I thank Mr. Hill for recognizing me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John McCain, a family man, a war hero, United States Senator, and a very, very close friend. John was a one-of-a-kind, a man with an undeniable spirit, an incredible gift to work alongside people of different beliefs and backgrounds for the good of all people. As a veteran, I recognized John's service went above and beyond the call of duty. McCain was not the kind of man to put his brothers in arms at risk to save his own skin. Even as a POW, he put country first. His patriotism was inspiring. It was so inspiring that, as a young airman at the time--I was going to junior college at Victor Valley College, became the student body president, and the first time they sent somebody to Washington, D.C., it was me. It was my first trip to Washington, D.C., and I actually got to meet the man that I had only read about and really got to know him, know John and his real character. It was an honor to be with him in the 2000 campaign and again in the 2008 campaign. In 2008, we spent a lot of time traveling together throughout the West Coast, even spending some time in my district in Modesto, California. Sonia and I were lucky enough to witness John at his happiest on his ranch in Sedona, working the grill, surrounded by family, to see the joy in the man's face just flipping shrimp and burgers and being around family in a very serene, beautiful spot. John never lost sight of what truly mattered.…”