Joe Baca: “I rise today to remember a respected colleague, and to celebrate a life filled with courage, love, and service. With the…”

“I rise today to remember a respected colleague, and to celebrate a life filled with courage, love, and service. With the passing of Representative Tom Lantos yesterday, this body and this country lost a champion for human rights and life everywhere. A quick look at Representative Lantos' life shows us what a remarkable man he really was. Born in Hungary, he fought in the underground struggle against the Nazis in Europe and twice escaped from labor camps as a teenager. Later, as the only Holocaust survivor to ever serve in Congress, he used this experience to work against the forces of oppression, intolerance, and genocide. Representative Lantos was also known as a dedicated family man. He and his dear wife Annette were usually inseparable--and all of my colleagues in the House knew of his dedication to his 17 grandchildren. So let us take this time to recognize and mourn our dear friend Representative Tom Lantos--a fierce defender of human rights, and true leader who worked to improve the world for both the free and oppressed alike. The thoughts and prayers of Barbara and I are with his family, friends, and constituents at this difficult time.”