John Mica: “we have lost one of our beloved colleagues and one of my dear friends, Steve Schiff, the gentleman from New Mexico. I…”

“we have lost one of our beloved colleagues and one of my dear friends, Steve Schiff, the gentleman from New Mexico. I had the great honor of serving with Steve when I first entered this body as a new Member of the House of Representatives on the Committee on Government Operations. Steve grew to be, as I said, not only my colleague but my friend. There are some things that you distinguish about individuals, and others have said it here today, but truly, in the very truest sense of the word, Steve Schiff was a gentle man. As my colleagues know, he was also a wise man, a wise man because I know so many, including myself, sought his counsel and we depended on him, his judgment, his wisdom and his great intelligence. Steve Schiff was also a tough man. If my colleagues knew Steve, he was a tough individual with a tough prosecutorial background. But most of all, he was a fair man, and that is something we all remember about Steve. Most of all we must remember, and I remember Steve as a family man, and how his family must mourn him today and how we will all miss him because of his dedication to not only his congressional family, but his own family who has suffered such a great loss. This afternoon and in the coming days, my prayers go out to Steve's wife and his family and his many friends in his district, for we indeed have lost a great friend and a gentleman. The House of Representatives has lost indeed a great Member.”