Frank Pallone: “I don't know where to begin. I think of Chair Cathy Rodgers as a friend. I truly mean that. We use that term a lot, but…”

“I don't know where to begin. I think of Chair Cathy Rodgers as a friend. I truly mean that. We use that term a lot, but in her case, it is truly true. I consider her a real friend. The other thing I wanted to say is that you hear me a lot on the floor and in the committee talking about how I often blame Republicans for being in the pocket or somehow beholden to corporate interests, to big corporations, to the wealthy. Forgive me for saying that tonight because I do say it a lot, but I have to say it is never the case with her. She has a set of values that I don't know if it is just her, it is from eastern Washington, or what it is, but she is always looking out for what I call the little guy, particularly the children. You never get the impression with Cathy that she is here because she wants to cater to some special interest group or somebody who is wealthy. She is always looking out for the average person in a way that--I am not saying there aren't other Republicans that do that; of course, there are, many who are on the floor tonight--but there is something very special about the fact that she always looks out for the little guy. Everything that she does is oriented to trying to help the average American and not thinking about any trade association or lobbying association, at least from what I have seen. I know she was a trailblazer.…”