SOLOMON P. ORTIZ: “I rise today to join my colleagues in this special tribute to our friend--and our former Speaker--Tip O'Neill. I admired…”

“I rise today to join my colleagues in this special tribute to our friend--and our former Speaker--Tip O'Neill. I admired him very much for his passion and his unparalleled dedication to his home and his district. The natural result of that passion and dedication was the oft-quoted philosophy of Speaker O'Neill, ``All politics is local.'' I worked with Speaker O'Neill very briefly, but like everyone else who happened to be in the Speaker's company, I felt the comfort he constantly radiated. No matter who was in his presence, he was a master at making people feel comfortable. That is an admirable trait, one that is indispensable in a public servant. I remember the first meeting I had with Speaker O'Neill. I was going to ask to be put on the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control. Since I was a brandnew Member and he was the Speaker, I was a little bit nervous. When he asked me why I wanted to sit on that committee, I told him about having been a law enforcement officer with an ongoing interest in the narcotics trade in the United States. At that point, his interest in my committee assignment became apparent. He told me that it was important to the institution of Congress that the concerns of law enforcement be represented on this important committee. I was pleased and proud when he told me right then that he would support my membership on that select committee.”