Hal Rogers: “Before I yield back, Mr. Speaker, let me take a moment to talk about the ranking member. Mr. Dicks, as I said before…”

“Before I yield back, Mr. Speaker, let me take a moment to talk about the ranking member. Mr. Dicks, as I said before, has served on this committee for 30-plus years. I'm not exactly sure how many. How many is it? It is 36 years. He has been a very, very dedicated member of the committee, including-- and most especially--of the Defense Subcommittee on which he has served for, I think, 34 years. Before that, he was an aide to a Member of Congress, so he has wide, deep experience in this body. Maybe just as importantly, perhaps even more so, is the dedication that he has given to the country through his service in the Congress. I, personally, have found him to be a close friend. He has also been a great partner in this appropriations process since I have become the chairman of the committee. He has been helpful in a thousand instances. His heart is in the right place. His mind is on the business of serving the public, especially the military part of that service. We're going to miss Norm Dicks around here. He is going to leave a large hole in our hearts but also in the business of this body and this Congress, so we wish him well as he embarks upon a new career, perhaps, and a new way of life, perhaps. I've got an idea there are going to be a few fish involved in that future, but we are going to miss Norm Dicks for all that he has meant to us. This may be the last bill that he has a part in.…”