Victor Fazio: “I rise today to commemorate former Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown. Throughout the past several days I have heard the…”

“I rise today to commemorate former Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown. Throughout the past several days I have heard the accomplishments of Ron Brown extolled by my colleagues. Americans everywhere, and especially those who were close to Ron are deeply affected by this tragedy. Ron was much more than a great chairman of the Democratic Party and Secretary of Commerce, he was a true pioneer and an inspirational human being. I feel extremely fortunate to have known Ron as a personal friend. Ron began to serve as chair of the Democratic Party around the time I became chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Ron exhibited unwavering optimism in the face of adversity and inspired others to do the same. Through his tireless efforts, Ron Brown restored the Democratic Party to greatness and brought a Democrat back to the White House. Ron was the type of person who consistently exceeded people's expectations. As Commerce Secretary, Ron single-handedly defined his role. He succeeded in promoting American business and boosting exports to new heights. Ron Brown was a pioneer in every sense of the word. He spent his life overcoming obstacles and opening up new doors for others to follow. His death occurred while he was cultivating the seeds of economic growth and creating greater opportunities for a country ravaged by war. Ron Brown will be long remembered for the tremendous service he provided to his country. However, I will miss him as a close friend.”