Chris Smith: “I thank the gentleman from Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa). Mr. LaMALFA.…”

“I thank the gentleman from Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa). Mr. LaMALFA. I thank Mr. Smith. I really appreciate his efforts in honoring Joe Pitts here tonight and all of the gentleman's efforts over the many years in sticking up for the values that really are important; so I thank the gentleman for that. Madam Speaker, indeed, it is a night to recognize our leader of the Values Action Team, Mr. Joe Pitts, and all of his dedication to these important causes for our values, which are the things that, I like to say, are going to be remembered long past all the other stuff we do-- the fiscal-related things and some other things--that nobody will remember. I like to think they will remember that we stood up for the things that were truly important to families, to the things that endure over time; so being able to join in tonight in recognizing our friend from Pennsylvania is a privilege for me as it was to be able--and it is--to work with Joe. Over the few short years I have been in the House, I have gotten to know what he is about, and I respect him greatly as a man of faith and courage in standing against the tide that is pretty unpopular these days, a lot of times, in this era of political correctness where what is up is down and what is down is up. He stood in there on some very difficult issues--on life, on basic liberties, on moral conscience, and even on religious conscience.…”