Patrick J. Tiberi: “I thank Congressman Gibbs for yielding. The Akron Beacon Journal, a few days ago, wrote an extraordinary editorial about…”

“I thank Congressman Gibbs for yielding. The Akron Beacon Journal, a few days ago, wrote an extraordinary editorial about Ralph Regula. The last paragraph sums Congressman Regula up best: ``What would benefit Congress and the country today are more lawmakers like Ralph Regula, devoted to their districts without losing sight of the larger picture. He wasn't just superb at legislating. He delivered what governing requires.'' I couldn't say it any better. We in Ohio lost a truly wonderful person, a great American. Ohio has lost three of them in the last year who I served with here in the United States Congress who made this body a better place and who made this country a better place: nearly a year ago, Steve LaTourette from northeastern Ohio; earlier this year, Mike Oxley; and now Ralph Regula. Ralph Regula was the dean of the delegation even before I got here, and he was the dean of the delegation when I came here in 2001. One of the great things that Ralph Regula did on our side of the aisle when we were in the minority and then when we were in the majority is he strategically placed members of our team from Ohio throughout all the committees. So you had people on the Appropriations Committee, you had people on the Ways and Means Committee, on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and on the Armed Services Committee. Ralph was so thoughtful that way trying to make sure that we represented our State in all sorts of ways.…”