Joe Cunningham: “a few weeks back, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman) came to me with an idea for this resolution. It was not…”

“a few weeks back, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman) came to me with an idea for this resolution. It was not my idea, Mr. Speaker; I am just flying wing on the gentlewoman from California at this time, and I thank her for her foresight in bringing this forward. Many of the words that the gentlewoman and myself placed in it are supported both by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) in this resolution, and I thank them both. The gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) spent his life supporting our troops, and what better person to bring a resolution. His father was a Marine, he was a combat veteran in Vietnam, and his young son is in the United States Marine Corps. And, Mr. Speaker, I owe great homage to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton). I served on the authorization committee and learned to love and support him. When we were in the minority at one time, I was just hotter than a hatter because the majority was stopping me from an amendment, and I was about ready to go to battle stations. The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) pulled me aside and he sat me there in that third row chair and started talking to me about his heritage as a descendant of Daniel Boone. After 30 minutes of speaking and calming me down, he said, ``Duke, are you settled down now?'' It was his way of saying ``Ease up, Duke,'' and I will never forget that. But many of us have tears in the well.…”