On the recordDecember 9, 2014
Thank you, Chairman Barton. It is great to be here to talk a moment or two about my good friend Ralph Hall. When I was first elected to Congress a few years back, Ralph was one of the first people that I met, being a Texan, and I tell you, he has the kindest heart and always has a smile on his face and a good joke ready at hand. You know, people ask me: What do you see as your career as a Congressman? Who do you look up to? Where do you see your career in Congress going? I might want to grow up to be Ralph Hall. Then some of his adversaries said he was getting too old to be in Congress, and Ralph jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. I had to rethink, ``I want to grow up to be Ralph Hall,'' after he jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. But I tell you, it is a reflection of the courage and dedication that a man like Ralph Hall has. Ralph was committed to serving Texas and the folks that he represented, and he would go to any length, including jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, to continue to serve. It was an honor and a privilege to have spent 4 years of my life as a colleague of Ralph's, and it has been the greatest 4 years of my life. It is an honor and privilege to have served with him, and he truly will be missed. I appreciate the opportunity, Chairman Barton, to be on the floor today to acknowledge my friend and, quite frankly, one of my strongest mentors here in Congress, Ralph Hall. God bless you, Ralph. We are going to miss you.
