Louis Stokes: “I want to express my appreciation to the distinguished gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Mazzoli] for reserving this special…”

“I want to express my appreciation to the distinguished gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Mazzoli] for reserving this special order in honor of our friend and colleague, the late Bill Natcher. We gather to pay tribute to a dedicated individual whose 40-year tenure in the Congress earned him the respect and admiration of all who knew and served with him. I was proud to have known Chairman Natcher, and I join my colleagues this evening in celebrating his life and contributions to this legislative body and the Nation. With the passing of Chairman Natcher, the Second Congressional District of Kentucky and the Nation have lost a fearless leader and champion. Chairman Natcher served his constituency and the Nation to the very best of his ability. He was a committed public servant who gave selflessly of his time, energy, and talents. Mr. Speaker, in reflecting upon the legislative career of Chairman Bill Natcher, words such as hard-working, conscientious, and one-of-a-kind are used to describe an individual who was easily one of the most respected and admired Members to ever serve in the U.S. Congress.”