Robin Carnahan: “today I congratulate Chairman Emeritus Dingell for achieving a great milestone that no one has achieved before--serving…”

“today I congratulate Chairman Emeritus Dingell for achieving a great milestone that no one has achieved before--serving the people of Michigan for 19,420 days and becoming the longest serving member of the House of Representatives in U.S. history. Long before I was elected to Congress, I looked to Chairman Dingell for inspiration and guidance. In fact his service began before I was born. I was deeply honored after being elected to represent Missouri in this great body when Dingell, as the Dean of the House, agreed to meet with me and offer his unmatched advice and counsel. What made it even more worthwhile was the fact that he had served with my grandfather ASJ Carnahan in this same body in the 1950s. It was a pleasure to hear of stories he and my grandfather shared together. He has achieved a great deal since 1955 when he was first elected having presided over the House when Medicare was created to care for some of our most vulnerable citizens 10 years after he was first elected. Both Congressman John D. Dingell Sr., the Chairman's father, and President Harry S. Truman of Missouri fought for a national health care system together. It was a cause important to Congressman Dingell Sr. and has continued to be a cause Chairman Dingell has championed. Chairman Dingell has worked with eleven U.S. presidents spanning his career--a quarter of the 44 Presidents in the entire history of our country.”