Pete Stark: “as the dean of the California delegation, I offer this privileged resolution expressing the profound sorrow of all of us…”

“as the dean of the California delegation, I offer this privileged resolution expressing the profound sorrow of all of us within the House of Representatives at Bob Matsui's passing. I am honored to sponsor this resolution in an attempt to memorialize Bob's contributions to Congress and to our Nation. Like all of us, I was shocked to hear the news that someone as vibrant as Bob Matsui is no longer with us. He has been a forceful leader in Congress, and he will be missed. I will miss his counsel and his friendship, having been honored to serve with him during his time in Congress as a fellow Californian and on the Committee on Ways and Means. But first of all, my thoughts and condolences go to his family, Bob's wife Doris, his son Brian, daughter-in-law Amy, and granddaughter Anna. I just got around I guess to opening his Christmas card a day or so before the sad news came and was reminded of a night early on when Brian, who is now an adult with an adult life, and he could not have been more than 5 or 6 at the time, and he was at a reception with Bob and Doris and myself and choked on a chicken bone, and the consternation we all had, patting Brian on the back and getting him through the chicken bone incident. So as I say to Brian and to Doris, Bob's memory will live with them and give them great support as they move ahead in their lives. In his time here, Bob demonstrated and embodied the utmost integrity.”