On the recordMarch 30, 2017
On Thursday, March 31, 1910, Bertel Spier was born, and tomorrow she will celebrate her 107th birthday. Just imagine what she has seen: two world wars, technological advancements beyond our wildest dreams. When she sees a video on a telephone, she cannot believe it. She has an extraordinary legacy: a loving daughter, four adoring and adorable great-grandchildren, and three grandsons to whom she is a hero. I am proud to be one of them. My grandma is someone who is a testament to the greatness of this Nation and of the importance of what happens in this building. She immigrated to the U.S. from Holland and was welcomed here and accepted here, built a life here. That is part of the greatness of this Nation. A person born 10 years before women's suffrage, she proudly voted herself this past November. That is part of the greatness of this Nation. A person who outlived any projected retirement, she has been able to retire and live with dignity because of two of our country's most successful public policies: Medicare and Social Security. That is part of the greatness of this Nation, too. Madam Speaker, it is such an honor for me to say four of the most extraordinary and almost unbelievable words that I may ever say on this floor: Happy 107th birthday, Oma. We love you. ____________________
