Mike Thompson: “I thank our California delegation leader for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize two men that I have had…”

“I thank our California delegation leader for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize two men that I have had the high honor and the great privilege to serve with for their last 16 years in Congress: George Miller and Henry Waxman. And I have had the unenviable task to try and represent part of George's old district and, I will tell you, you have got to work about three times as hard just to try and catch up to where he has been. When I was first elected to Congress, I learned quickly that none of us are able to accomplish anything without the help and the sacrifices of those who came before us. For many of us, myself included, none have helped or sacrificed more than George and Henry. They fought the good fight, they have won some incredible battles, and America is a better place for it today. George, I remember, I don't know about fondly, but I remember like it was yesterday, joining forces with you to reverse a water decision that a former administration had made that killed 80,000 spawning salmon in my district and economically devastated the area that I represented. Had it not been for you, those people would still be washed up on the rocks. But we came on this floor together and, with your guidance and you as my mentor, we were able to help those folks weather that very, very terrible time. I appreciate your help, and so do they. It has been said that any of us who experience any success at all in Congress do so on the shoulder of giants.…”