Sam Farr: “I rise on a more somber note than the debate that has been going on here today. I rise under special orders on this day…”

“I rise on a more somber note than the debate that has been going on here today. I rise under special orders on this day, January 4, which would have been the birthday of my younger sister Nancy, had it not been for the tragic death of Nancy when she was killed visiting me when I was a Peace Corps volunteer. But I rise not so much to remember her. I did that when I was sworn into office in this Chamber just a few years ago. But I rise to talk about death, because it has come to one of our colleague's family. Today I ask this country to share my empathy with our truly distinguished colleague, Vic Fazio. He lost his youngest daughter, Anne Noel. Everyone knows how hard Vic works in this institution. He is one of the hardest working Members that we have and certainly one of the most devoted Members to the institution of the House of Representatives. Vic is totally dedicated. But most important, or more important than his leadership, is his family. Today, in Sacramento, as we sit here in Washington, a memorial service is being conducted for his and Joey's daughter. She was a star. She fought off leukemia with a successful bone marrow transplant. She graduated from McClatchey High School. She earned a degree from the University of California at Davis, where she was president of her sorority. To Anne Noel's parents, Vic and Joey, there is nothing more painful than that of the pain of losing a child.”