On the recordFebruary 23, 2010
Today I would like to congratulate my colleague, the distinguished gentleman from Michigan, Congressman Dale Kildee, on casting 20,000 votes in the United States House of Representatives--the people's House. Twenty thousand votes is quite an achievement, and to some, it may seem like a miraculous number. But the true measure of Dale's accomplishment is a much smaller number--he has only missed 27 votes in his entire career. That's right, Dale cast 20,000 votes out of 20,027-- a batting average of .999 over a 33-year career. That certainly qualifies the man from Flint for the Congressional Hall of Fame. But it isn't the statistic that counts, it is what that statistic represents: Dale's work ethic and his dedication to the state of Michigan, his district, which neighbors mine, and the people he serves. Dale has been a leader on the Congressional Auto Caucus he helped to form. This caucus has been a valuable asset for the American auto industry and has helped serve as a platform to protect Michigan auto jobs. We have worked together on many local economic development projects, most recently, the development of the new MBS International Airport, which is a valuable asset for our region's economy. Today, I join my colleagues in congratulating and commending Congressman Dale Kildee for not only reaching 20,000 votes, but for his career of service to the families of mid-Michigan.
