On the recordDecember 21, 2020
Before I close, I want to take a moment to recognize my good friend and our full committee chairman, Nita Lowey, as this will be the last bill that she will take to the floor. She is the first woman to hold the gavel of the Appropriations Committee, and her retirement is a huge loss to our country, to our committee, and to me personally. When I was named as ranking member and she was named as chair, she called me into her office. We really had never worked together. We were on different committees. I will never forget what she said. She said: We are going to do it on time and on budget, and we will become best friends. {time} 1930 I wasn't sure she wasn't crazy, but I said: I will do that. We became good friends, and we did things on time and on budget. Everything was a joy working with her because she always knew what she wanted and what she wanted to do. She was inclusive, and we did turn and have a friendship that I will always cherish. So I wanted to make sure that you knew that I realized I had a unique opportunity in working with you. I learned a lot, and we had a good time, didn't we? I also want to take a minute to thank the members of our committee and our staff for their hard work this year. This really is a must-pass bill that I look forward to getting signed into law. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of these bills, and I yield back the balance of my time.
