Norvell Emerson: “I really had to come over and couldn't let this opportunity slip by without coming to the floor to say a few words about…”

“I really had to come over and couldn't let this opportunity slip by without coming to the floor to say a few words about my friend former Congressman Bill Clay, even though we still kind of call him 'Congressman.' This is such a well-deserved honor for the former chairman of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee but really more so because of the man that he is. Bill Clay has dedicated his life to his community in St. Louis, the State of Missouri, our Nation, and is well loved throughout the State, not just in St. Louis, where he is from. He was a magnificent leader in this Congress for civil rights and a congressman who really exemplified what's good about this institution, and that is that there are so many of us who can put aside differences and strive to work for a common good, and Bill Clay always did that. He was not a partisan politician. He was and he does remain a true leader. So that is why I am happy to support this legislation to name a post office after our former colleague, a wonderful man and my friend, Bill Clay.”