Paul Tonko: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. John, it is an honor and pleasure to be here with our colleagues to salute you and…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. John, it is an honor and pleasure to be here with our colleagues to salute you and thank you for the tremendous service that you have provided not only to people of your congressional district, but the people of this Nation. It is very obvious that you are much loved and appreciated and respected by your colleagues in this House. It is also humbling to know that you have brought a good name to politics, and you have reminded us by your very actions and your deeply rooted beliefs in the various issues that you tackle that it is not only okay, but it is essential to have differences in this House; and it is to share those differences in a respectable way, which you have always done so as to build the best product. So I think this evening we salute your integrity and your humility, which oftentimes is what I think drives your personality to be able to achieve and to have this driving force to accomplish on behalf of the people. I appreciate the opportunity to participate this evening, and I will try not to undermine John Shimkus' sterling conservative credentials by joining in this discussion this evening. For 6 years, I have served as the ranking member to Mr. Shimkus' subcommittee chair. In the past 2 years, we have switched roles. But during all of that time, we have disagreed on many occasions.…”