Dan Kildee: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to express my personal gratitude…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to express my personal gratitude to all of the pages for what they have done to serve this House of Representatives. These groups of young people who come from all across the Nation represent what is good about our country. To become a page, Mr. Chairman, these young people have proven themselves to be academically qualified. They have ventured away from the security of their homes and families to spend time in an unfamiliar city. Through this experience, they have witnessed a new culture, made new friends and learned the details of how our government operates. As we all know the job of congressional page is not an easy one. Along with being away from home, the pages must possess the maturity to balance competing demands for their time and their energy. In addition, they must have the dedication to work long hours and the ability to interact with people at a personal level. At the same time they face a challenging academic schedule of classes in the House page school. The pages have witnessed the House debate issues of war and peace, hunger and poverty, justice and civil rights. You have lived through history. You have seen Congress at moments of greatness, and you have seen Congress with its frailties. You have witnessed the workings of an institution that has endured well over 200 years.…”