Louis Stokes: “Mr. Chairman, before making my formal remarks, I want to take just a moment to express to the gentleman from California…”

“Mr. Chairman, before making my formal remarks, I want to take just a moment to express to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), the chairman, the extreme pleasure and honor I deem it to have been able to work with him on the VA-HUD subcommittee for so many years. During that period of time he and I have been able to establish a very personal friendship, and I think it is important for all my colleagues to know and understand that the bill that we bring before the House today is one that he and I have crafted together, under circumstances where he has at all times been extremely fair to me. He has been cooperative in every respect, in terms of all of my concerns relative to this legislation, and serving with the gentleman has been one of the great honors of my career. I want him to know that, as we take this bill through the House, that all the courtesies, all the professional consideration that he has afforded me is deeply appreciated. Mr. Chairman, this is a bittersweet moment, bringing to the floor with my chairman the last VA-HUD spending measure that I will have the privilege to handle.”