On the recordDecember 21, 2010
His values that he came here with he continued to want to express. It was very important for him to continue his service as chairman of the Labor, HHS, Education Subcommittee where he could really affect all of those constituencies, which really allowed him to do those things that were important to him and to express that progressive attitude. Madam Speaker, David Obey has been a real contribution to the United States Congress. During his career--and it will be lasting after his career--his mark has been indelible in the reforms that are reflected in how we do business here. I don't know of a person in the institution who could have assimilated within the appropriations process--the rules and changes in procedures in the way we did business in response to legitimate concerns about the appropriations process--better than David Obey. It was his ability to separate the chaff from the grain, to understand what were legitimate expressions of concern about the appropriations process, his ability to deal with them, and his embracing the prerogatives of the appropriations process. At the same time, we recognize the process of the legislative branch reflects that which will really be his legacy. Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing me to say a few words. I want to personally thank David Obey for his personal considerations.
