Romano Mazzoli: “tonight it is my honor, on behalf of the delegation from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and really on behalf, I am sure…”

“tonight it is my honor, on behalf of the delegation from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and really on behalf, I am sure, of all the Members of the House, to take this special order to pay tribute, and I can think of no better word than the word tribute, it is very apposite here with respect to our late colleague, Congressman Bill Natcher of Kentucky, but to take this moment to pay tribute to that great man for his over 40 years of devoted and diligent service to the House of Representatives, to the Nation, to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, to the Second Congressional District of Kentucky, to his friends and his family in Bowling Green, his birthplace, and the center of his district. Mr. Speaker, it has to be said that there have been in the history of the House, the history of this Congress on both sides of the Hill, important people, men and women, who have served their Nation with particular distinction. But try as I might and with full allowance to the fact that being a native-born Kentuckian myself, I am probably not one to be completely objective here, but try as I might, in searching my brain and the books of this Nation as carefully as I have, it is hard to think of anyone more qualified than Congressman Natcher, our late friend, for holding a distinction as one of the premier lawmakers in the history of our country.”