Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: “I rise today to honor the passing of a good friend, Bill Lehman, retired Member of Congress and a faithful servant of…”

“I rise today to honor the passing of a good friend, Bill Lehman, retired Member of Congress and a faithful servant of the Great State of Florida. In 1972, Bill ran for Congress and got the overwhelming majority of the vote and kept getting reelected easily until his retirement. As chairman of the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Bill Lehman was a relentless advocate for the needs of the citizens of Miami-Dade County. Bill was an avid supporter of human rights also, demonstrating his ability to not only fight for the constituents in his district, but also for people throughout the world. He served his country as a Congressman, school board chairman, and was a beloved teacher, husband, father, and grandfather. During my first term in Congress in 1989, I saw firsthand the tremendous love that Bill had for his constituents and the admiration that the people of south Florida had for him. Mr. Speaker, I join the people of Miami-Dade, the State of Florida, and our country in honoring the exemplary life of a great statesman, Congressman Bill Lehman. May he rest in peace. ____________________”