On the recordFebruary 24, 2010
I met Chairman Murtha for the first time in 1977 when I was an associate staff on Appropriations. My Member and my mentor, Adam Benjamin, Jr., was a member of the Appropriations Committee that year. Mr. Murtha, Mr. Carney, Mr. Benjamin and others were instrumental in that year, not only in that appropriations process, but in also establishing the Steel Caucus, because they were very concerned about people who worked in their district. What I took away as a staffer from that relationship with Mr. Murtha is the fact that he always treated me and every other staff he came into contact with with respect. He always heard what I had to say and what other staff had to say, whether, as Mr. Obey implied, he always agreed with you or not, and he always treated you very professionally. He was a friend to every person he encountered. He was a good friend to the people he represented, because he was most concerned with those who worked hard, who needed a job or who needed a hand up.
