James Oberstar: “I offer my very sincere and genuine personal gratitude to the gentlewoman from Minnesota, Ms. McCollum, and to the…”

“I offer my very sincere and genuine personal gratitude to the gentlewoman from Minnesota, Ms. McCollum, and to the gentleman from Minnesota, Mr. Peterson, for cosponsoring this Special Order. Never have I been the subject of a Special Order. It is a true and unique honor, and I am grateful for all those who have taken time to come this evening to express thoughts about my service in the Congress, especially those of our Minnesota delegation and the gentleman from Minnesota, Mr. Walz, who is here, and our two Senators, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Senator Al Franken. I am grateful to them for making the trip across the divide between the two bodies. The most memorable moment for me was the day that Senator Hubert Humphrey came at the invitation of Speaker O'Neill to address the House of Representatives. Never in the history of the House had a Senator been given that privilege, to address the House. And as Hubert Humphrey stepped at the Clerk's desk just below the Speaker's table, he looked across the expanse of this body and he said, ``Oh, you don't know how long I have wanted to be here.'' Of course, that is where the President stands to give his address to the Nation. It is, in my mind, the greatest privilege in life to be chosen by the people to serve in this greatest legislative body in the world.”