John Culberson: “America is a far better place because Barbara Bush lived. She has been an inspiration to all of us. George H.W. Bush has…”

“America is a far better place because Barbara Bush lived. She has been an inspiration to all of us. George H.W. Bush has been a leader in Texas. He started out his career as the Harris County Republican Party chairman and was elected to Congress in 1966, and a new district was created on the west side, the Seventh District. When George Bush came into this House Chamber, he was assigned to the Ways and Means Committee. He served on the Ways and Means Committee for two terms. Then he ran for the United States Senate in 1970, and he ran against Lloyd Benson in that race, and then he moved on to become the United Nations Ambassador. Then George Bush's successor in Congress, Bill Archer, who was elected in 1970, went on to become chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Chairman Archer served there from 1970 to 2001, when it was my privilege to succeed Bill Archer. And I joined the Appropriations Committee. Right now, I chair a subcommittee. The United States is very, very fortunate in that another Texan has stepped up to serve as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Kevin Brady, who joins us here tonight. He represents the Woodlands and the Eighth Congressional District.…”