Steny Hoyer: “I came to speak about the loss of a leader in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in our community, but as well in our…”

“I came to speak about the loss of a leader in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in our community, but as well in our Nation. I came to the floor and I heard the gentleman from Washington speak about Joel Pritchard. I had not heard that he died. Madam Speaker, I had the opportunity to serve with Joel Pritchard. He was a Representative, as has been said, of great integrity and great substance, a very decent human being who believed that partisanship came long after principle. He was a delight to serve with, and I am sorry to hear that he has passed away. But as I will say about John Sturdivant, Joel Pritchard was someone who made this House a better place because of his service. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak about a very good friend of mine, John Sturdivant, president of the American Federation of Government Employees. John Sturdivant died just a few days ago of cancer. I had the opportunity to talk to him about 3 our 4 days prior to his death. Even at that time, he was talking about his beloved members of the American Federation of Government Employees, was talking about how he could fight for and work for ensuring that they had an opportunity to earn sufficient funds to create for themselves a decent life and to provide well for their families, their husbands, their wives, their children.”