Dan Kildee: “Tomorrow we will lay Congressman John Dingell to rest, and it will be a painful time. But we can take a lot of comfort…”

“Tomorrow we will lay Congressman John Dingell to rest, and it will be a painful time. But we can take a lot of comfort in the contribution that he has made, not just to this body but to the quality of life in this country; and as individuals with our own perspective, our own experience here, we can take some comfort in knowing that his wife--the love of his life--will continue his legacy by serving here with us side by side. Our hearts go out to her. I know this is a very difficult time for the Dingell family, but especially for Debbie. They loved one another. They were inseparable. They were one. I know this will be a difficult time for her. We stand with her. Mr. Speaker, John Dingell served with 11 Presidents and 11 Speakers of the House. Mr. Speaker, 2,419 Members of Congress served with him. He served 21,551 days in this House and cast over 25,000 votes. But as he would say and has said many times: It is not the longevity that counts, it is the way you serve. He served in a way that brought honor to this Congress and made it a better institution. He led in a way that made this country a better place. And I know for each of us who came to the floor and each of us who served with him, he not only made us better Representatives of the people whom we work for, but he made us better people. We honor John Dingell's life and legacy. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. ____________________”