Jasper Packard: “I wish to come and pay tribute also to my dear friend and colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Vic Fazio). Vic…”

“I wish to come and pay tribute also to my dear friend and colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Vic Fazio). Vic was chairman of the subcommittee that I have in the past chaired and is now chaired by the gentleman from New York. The gentleman kind of broke the ice for me chairing a subcommittee and kind of taught me the ropes, and I just deeply appreciated the advice, the leadership, the example that he showed on quite a bipartisan subcommittee that we served on. It was the first subcommittee I served on as a member of the Committee on Appropriations, and I could not have had a better chairman and a better example, and I personally want to thank him for that. He served for 2 years, or at least I served with him for 2 years as he chaired the subcommittee. I have always appreciated his friendship, and I will always appreciate the way he directed that committee. I could not have succeeded him in guiding the affairs of that committee had I not had the lessons I learned from him. People sometimes say there is too much partisanship in Washington, and I am sure at times this is true, but I think that the gentleman from California (Mr. Fazio) has remained one of the most respected Members of the Congress. His ability to work with everyone is legendary, and he has never let partisanship come before the interest of his constituents and the good of the Nation and I think is an example we could all follow.”