Ron Kind: “I thank the gentlewoman from California, first of all, for recognizing me tonight but also for securing this Special…”

“I thank the gentlewoman from California, first of all, for recognizing me tonight but also for securing this Special Order to honor one of our great friends and great colleagues in this institution, Ellen Tauscher. I also thank John Garamendi for helping to organize tonight's Special Order as well. Ellen was a true patriot. She was a great American, someone who loved the congressional district that allowed her to represent them, loved her home State, and loved our country even more. I got to know Ellen as a member of the incoming class of 1997. We were both present at the creation of the New Democrat Coalition. It didn't exist back then, until we first joined. Then, with the help of Cal Dooley, another California Representative; Tim Roemer; Jim Moran; and Adam Smith, who is now chairing the Armed Services Committee and was also one of the founding Members, we helped form the New Democrat Coalition, where Ellen really excelled in her leadership. It was fun getting to work with her on such a personal level.…”