Brian Babin: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Our Nation lost a true patriot on November 30 with the passing of George Herbert…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Our Nation lost a true patriot on November 30 with the passing of George Herbert Walker Bush. Our 41st President ascended to the office with an impeccable resume for the position, having served as Congressman, Ambassador to China, CIA Director, and Vice President to our 40th President, Ronald Reagan. His service as a Navy pilot during the Second World War, during which he was shot down over the Pacific, cemented his status as an American hero. But the humble Bush rarely referenced his war experiences. Indeed, President Bush rarely discussed his own record. His accomplishments as President, particularly on the world's stage, seem more impressive with the passing time, and historians and scholars hold his administration in increasingly high esteem. Mr. Speaker, I met President Bush only once, but I still treasure the photograph that I had taken with him. He was a real gentleman. Despite a life spent in public service at the highest levels, President Bush was a devoted family man. He was constantly surrounded by his loved ones. His children adored him, and his relationship with his wife, Barbara, has long been celebrated for its commitment and its warmth. The people of Texas, which became his adopted home after his service in the Navy, will forever hold President Bush in special regard. George Bush led an exemplary life.…”