Dan Kildee: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Let me just say that, while we are obviously here to give honor and recognize the…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Let me just say that, while we are obviously here to give honor and recognize the service of Mr. Dingell, the honor, at least from where I stand, the honor is really all mine to be able to participate in this moment, Mr. Speaker. I grew up in Michigan. I was born in 1958, 3 years after Mr. Dingell began his service in this body. I grew up in Michigan politics. And if you come from Michigan and if you're interested in politics or government, you know a lot about John Dingell. His name is really synonymous not only with politics and government, but is synonymous with all the good that comes with service in government. We hear so much these days, of course, about the public's opinion of the work that we do and the often cynical nature of public opinion when it comes to government. Well, John really represents all the best in public service and has been a role model for so many people like me, who have had a chance to observe him and watch and learn from the great example that he sets. He, after 21 years in this body, was joined by my uncle, Dale Kildee, my predecessor, who was elected to serve in the Congress in 1976. For 36 years, the two served together. So while I knew of Mr. Dingell as an observer of politics as a young man as he and my uncle serving together so closely and so well, I felt like in many ways John became a part, and we became a part, of his extended family.…”