Xavier Becerra: “I wanted to add my words on behalf of a friend and someone who unfortunately has left us, Mr. Walter Capps. Walter, as…”

“I wanted to add my words on behalf of a friend and someone who unfortunately has left us, Mr. Walter Capps. Walter, as most folks also remember, ran earlier in 1994 for election and did not win. He barely lost. And in 1996 he did win. I attribute his first loss to the fact that he did not run as a politician. I attribute his win the second time because folks finally had a chance to see shining through the real qualities of this gentleman. He came up here to serve, and he came up here as Mr. Smith in that movie came up here to serve, and it is unfortunate that he is gone. Most folks do not recognize, as well, that a year and a half ago Walter nearly lost his life in a car accident that almost took his wife's life, as well. He survived that, and I felt the Lord kept him here for a reason. Perhaps now, with his death, maybe he did; maybe he now wants us to take a look at not just what it means to live, but also what it means to die. I am very saddened to lose a friend, Walter Capps. I think this whole institution is saddened. Unfortunately, the American people, as they did not know about his near fatal car accident, as they did not know about his first loss, probably did not get enough time to know this man, who would have been a unique and essential man to the Congress of the United States. I extend my condolences to his family.”