Maxine Waters: “I am stunned; I am saddened. It is very difficult to understand how one day you have your colleague here with you, and…”

“I am stunned; I am saddened. It is very difficult to understand how one day you have your colleague here with you, and, in a few days, he is gone. Julian Dixon is a man and a Member of Congress that is respected by all. I have known him since before he ran for the California State Assembly. When Julian Dixon was elected to the California State Assembly, he immediately established himself as a brilliant, credible, dependable human being. He gained a lot of friends in the California State Assembly, friends that he still has until today. He went on to be elected to the Congress of the United States, where he developed the same kind of reputation, steady as a rock, dependable, friendly, gets along with everybody, even mediates when there are problems between other Members. You could always go to him for help. He is loved in California. He is highly respected. This comes as a great blow. He is in the district immediately adjacent to mine; and so we share venues, we share all kinds of operations. We have held joint town-halls together. I am going to miss him, and my heart goes out to Bettye and to his family. I am certain that this Congress will show its deepest respect and sympathy in every way that we possibly can. We have lost a great legislator and a great friend.”