Bart Stupak: “5 minutes is not nearly enough time to do justice to Congressman John Dingell's record-breaking 53 years of service in…”

“5 minutes is not nearly enough time to do justice to Congressman John Dingell's record-breaking 53 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives, but I wish to highlight the profound impact his work has had on the lives of Americans. It is not the length of time you serve here but rather what you do with that time that counts. Today we are honoring not only John Dingell's record tenure but also his many successes over the past 53 years that have improved the lives of all Americans and made our country a better place. Whether it was passage of landmark environmental laws, implementation of Medicare or passage of the Civil Rights Act, the history that dominates the past half century was being shaped by John Dingell. From his first days in the House, Mr. Dingell has carried on his father's fight to provide health care for every American. He has proposed a national health insurance bill in every Congress since 1957. In April of 1965, Mr. Dingell was presiding over the U.S. House of Representatives for the historic vote to create the Medicare program.”