David Skaggs: “I want to thank very much the gentleman from Washington. I am grateful for those kind remarks, and let me return them to…”

“I want to thank very much the gentleman from Washington. I am grateful for those kind remarks, and let me return them to him. His leadership on this committee has been extraordinary, and the Nation is in his debt for the kind of care and attention that he has paid to these many, many profoundly important issues. I also extend my great thanks and admiration and respect to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss), who really has conducted this committee in an exemplary fashion. Mr. Speaker, I arrived at the Capitol this morning for what may be my third or fourth next to the last day of voting in this great body. It is a cherished and awesome responsibility that we all enjoy as Members of this House. But this committee, I think, has a special responsibility that goes beyond that which we all share here. Yes, we have a vital role in developing every year the spending authorization bill for the next fiscal year. That is what is before the House at the moment, and I urge the adoption of the 1999 bill.”