Romano Mazzoli: “I thank the gentleman very much. The gentlewoman from Georgia. Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman so much…”

“I thank the gentleman very much. The gentlewoman from Georgia. Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman so much for organizing this special order, so we could say some nice things about a man who was always so nice to us. I suspect that I might always have a place in Chairman Natcher's journal, and I do not know if I turned out right or not. But I would like to talk about my first experience with Chairman Natcher. It is one that I will carry with me for the rest of my political career. My very first memory of Chairman William Natcher will last forever. I sat on the floor with my friend Carrie Meek anticipating the start of our first joint session of Congress as Members. Carrie and I talked about everything under the sun--including abolishing the Appropriations Committee. Little did I know that the elderly gentleman sitting next to me was the Chair of the Committee. He introduced himself--and this Georgia peach blossom shrank, realizing that I had to try to remove the foot from my mouth--and fast. Unfazed by my embarrassment, Mr. Natcher was just as nice as he could be. And from that moment on, it became a tradition for the two of us to sit together during joint sessions. He would even help me fight for my seat as more senior Members tried to move me--a freshman with no seniority--to a less than prime location in the gallery. Mr. Natcher would say, "This seat is reserved for my Georgia Peach!" I miss Mr. Natcher.”