John Larson

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, the passing of Clem Roy--an old friend of mine--happened so abruptly, and struck at the core of the notion we all have of our brief time on this planet, and the importance of friends and family, and what we mean to one another. Faith teaches us that Clem is in a better place: at peace and without suffering, while we scramble to fill the void left by his passing with stories and memories of the friend we laughed with, argued and debated with, and with whom we shared in the ups and downs of the human comedy that is life. Two Connecticut writers--both contemporaries of Clem's--Kevin Rennie of The Hartford Courant, and Mark Pazniokas of the CT Mirror, wrote excellent pieces about Clem that I am proud to submit for the Congressional Record at the same time that a flag will fly over the United States Capitol in Clem Roy's memory. These writers captured his essence. The following are the articles as they appeared in The Hartford Courant and CT Mirror: Lobbyist Clem Roy: A Sharp Operator With a Lot of Heart (By Kevin Rennie--The Hartford Courant) ``You can read a bill and you can vote for a bill, but you shouldn't do both.'' So goes the wisdom of an original in Connecticut politics, Clem Roy. A lobbyist for more than 30 years, Clem has been struck by an aggressive brain tumor diagnosed a few weeks ago. In those decades bivouacking in the Capitol village, he has fashioned a distinct, colorful legacy in the gray world of state politics. You could tell the future by watching Clem. He was what consumer analysts call an early adopter. The first cellphones were bigger than bricks. Clem made his look like a natural accoutrement to his careful look. Hard frame briefcases were at the end of their run when Clem began carrying a Coach leather backpack. He was right that keys and a thick wallet wreck the drape of an elegant suit. You could live by his compendium of aphorisms, which his legion of friends have been sharing as they buck up each other's flagging spirits. That is usually Clem's job. Born in 1946 and raised in Bristol, Clem served in Vietnam from 1966 into 1967. Really served, not just told people he did on the way to a seat in the U.S. Senate. (Don't get him started on that.) He returned to the United States and worked for Robert Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign. He worked for a legislative committee in the late 1970s and then, without a client, became a lobbyist. His foresight expanded beyond technology and fashion. In 1981, he managed Thurman Milner's successful campaign for mayor of Hartford, helping Milner become the first black mayor of a New England city. For more than 30 years, Clem has been a source of pungent opinions, smart insights and surprises. He represented tobacco companies at a time when the same people who gasped at the lighting of a cigarette supported making taxpayers give drug addicts free needles. He brought a sense of proportion to human weakness in its struggle against tiresome Utopians. He has had many clients and he can argue most briefs. He knows how to create a diversion that unbalances an adversary on one issue while working with them on a different one. In a place where a governor's repetitive green ties pass for fashion, Clem Roy does it all with high style, often purchased from swank Louis, Boston. Lobbying has been good to Clem. He can employ a gruff demeanor and a memory for slights (not the worst thing), but he has a secret. Shouldn't everyone? He is a secret Samaritan. When a friend was celebrating a milestone and her newly married daughter could not afford to fly to Connecticut from California, Clem bought her a ticket so she could surprise her mother. The halls of government and Hartford Hospital, where he now is, reverberate with such stories. Clem believes mixing in mannered company can help lift one's lot. A few years ago, he sent the residents of a women's shelter to a salon, told them to get dolled up and had them to delivered to his favorite haunt, Max Downtown. There, compliments of Clem, they learned about what was once called deportment while the staff raised their spirits and enriched their knowledge of another part of the world. A successful lobbyist needs a vigilant eye for detail and relentless focus. Clem possesses those attributes and his perceptions extend beyond the matter of the moment. He had an urge to lift in ways that would escape others. An advancing brain tumor did not keep him from doing one more good work. A friend visited him in the hospital last week and thought Clem might be fading in and out of lucidity when he started going on about the women not having stools to sit on. Stools were his final mission in the service of good works in unexpected places. It bothered him that the cashiers in the cafeteria at the Legislative Office Building had to stand all day at their registers. He wanted them to have stools. It's only fair. In his personal distress, he would not let it go. On Friday, stools were delivered to the LOB. He is, according to his closest friend, at peace. Clem Roy, Lobbyist and Bon Vivant, Dies at 65 (By Mark Pazniokas--The Connecticut Mirror) Clem Roy, one of most delightfully idiosyncratic characters ever to grace the halls of the state Capitol, died today at Hartford Hospital, just weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Roy, 65, was a successful lobbyist with a largely business clientele, but a much, much broader portfolio of interests and causes. He managed the 1981 mayoral campaign of Thurman Milner, the first black mayor of Hartford. He was deeply interested in the arts. He gambled, golfed and enjoyed cigars. Women tended to find him charming, and not only the three he married. The staff on the second floor of the Conklin Building at Hartford Hospital had to wonder just whom they had as their guest for the past few weeks. The stream of visitors included legislators, a former governor and a prominent restaurant owner. The latter brought Roy's favorite steak, along with a favorite waitress to serve it. As was his habit at the restaurant, Roy was gracious to the wait staff, then crabbed at the owner about how the meal was prepared. The owner was delighted. Roy grew up in Bristol. He served in Vietnam with the U.S. Army, then got involved in politics, volunteering for Bobby Kennedy's campaign in 1968. He was a committee clerk at the Capitol more than 30 years ago, then became a lobbyist in an era where the ethical and cultural norms were a tad more relaxed. His first lobbying client was a bank sent his way by the chairman of the banks committee. In later years, his business partner was Craig LeRoy, a buttoned-down yin to Roy's yang. LeRoy is married with three children, who saw their father's partner as an impossibly colorful uncle. Roy and LeRoy each seemed to live a little vicariously through the other. Conversations with Roy were wild rambles. Topics might include his system at slots, his vote for Barack Obama in 2008, or his resolve not to vote for him in 2012 over Obama's absence from Arlington National Cemetery one Memorial Day. Unforgivable in Roy's view. He took no offense, however, when it once was noted in a news story that Roy's clients included Big Tobacco and the funeral industry. He repeated the line often. Roy insisted he didn't talk to reporters. He did lobbying, not PR. He reminded me of that every time we talked.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Chair, on Wednesday, May 25, 2011, my vote on rollcall vote No. 343 was incorrectly recorded as ``aye'', when I intended to vote ``no.'' Amendment No. 12 Offered by Mr. Hunter

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following: Everett Corey, Directing Business Representative for the International Association of Machinists in Connecticut, Remarks From Monday, May 9, 2011 What a day! What a victory for Pratt & Whitney right here in Connecticut! What a victory for American jobs and American workers! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a distinguished--and genuinely remarkable--group here today, people who have changed the world through skill, intelligence, dedication and perseverance despite the odds. I'm referring, of course, to the employees of Pratt & Whitney--who are, without a doubt--the greatest jet engine makers in the world. And the best of the best are right here, in the State of Connecticut. Thank you for all you do. President Chenevert, President Hess--I want to thank you for inviting the Machinists Union to participate in this program. Congratulations to you both on these great victories. Members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation--we know how hard you have worked to reach this result. We know that you understand, it's all about jobs. You have worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of Connecticut, and the workers of Pratt & Whitney, and it's great to see all that effort end up with two big wins--the Air Force tanker, and sole sourcing on the F-35. Congressman Norm Dicks--Thousands of workers here and in Washington State, including thousands of Machinists Union members, will have work for years ahead, thanks to your efforts. On behalf of the International Association of Machinists--thank you, Congressman Dicks. Governor Malloy--what a great relief to have a Governor of Connecticut who is so engaged, so smart, so tough and determined. We know, that like us, your first thought in the morning and your last thought at night is about jobs for Connecticut. Well, here you go--how about 25 years worth of work going forward? A great moment for state. I thanked the entire Congressional delegation, because they deserve it. But I have to extend a special, heartfelt thanks to Congressman John Larson--who more than anyone, took on the fight for both these contracts, worked countless hours, pushed relentlessly--and brought home two enormous, unbelievable wins. Congressman Larson--you truly are the man who ``keeps the eagle flying.'' We thank you, we salute you-- Connecticut owes you a debt that words cannot express. The other person who deserves special thanks, but who could not be here today is Jim Parent, Assistant Directing Business Representative of District 26 and chief negotiator for UTC issues. Both management and labor here at Pratt, and people across the state and around the country, have benefited from the work of Brother Parent, on this and countless other issues. This day is his, and we thank him. Jim will be retiring in January, and we wish him well. Let me end with two brief comments. First, to David Hess and Louis Chenevert. We were proud to work with you in the fight to get these contracts--and will continue to work with you whenever and wherever we can jointly fight for work that keeps jobs and grows jobs in Connecticut. We even have a coalition called GrowJobsCT--we invite you to join, and we'll waive the initiation fee. Finally--Pratt & Whitney employees, hourly and salary, sister and brother Machinists Union members--stand proud today, and every day. It's your skills, your hard work, your dedication--that keep this company thriving, and most important, help defend our great country. More than anybody--this victory belongs to you--and was earned by decades of hard work. We salute you. Congratulations!

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, I missed rollcall vote 283. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' or ``aye.''

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. I want to thank Chairman Van Hollen and I want to thank Mr. Ryan for the conduct of this debate that's taking place. They are two exemplary examples of how debate and discussion should move forward and emanate here in the House of Representatives. Harry Truman said, ``Every segment of our population, and every individual, has a right to expect from his government a fair deal.'' I rise in strong support of the fair deal that's being proposed by the Democratic side in this debate. I rise because it helps us out with jobs and the economy, and recognizes that we must deal with the deficit, but deal with it in a manner that makes sense. In my hometown we go to a place called Augie & Ray's. In Augie & Ray's, they want to know, whose side are you on in this? When you take Medicare and end the program as we know it, and shift the burden of the deficit at a time when we need shared sacrifice to the elderly, it is just flatly unfair. The social contract that the governed, that the people have with their government is about shared sacrifice, but it's also about the guarantee. This is not about charts and statistics and flow charts; it's about people at the end of the day who are impacted by the decisions that we make; not by some economist's theory, but about a guarantee from their government, a guarantee that if they pay in, at the end of the day they are going to receive the benefits they have worked so hard for all of their lives. That guarantee shouldn't be two-tiered. That guarantee shouldn't cut off benefits immediately to some and postpone it for others. That's a guarantee we should be working to fix, not to end. That is the fundamental difference in what's going on here today. My distinguished colleague, the leader, Mr. Clyburn, said let's recognize what's going on here, the extreme differences that have existed in this party since Roosevelt became President. An end of Social Security, an end of Medicare, an end to Medicaid, that has been the goal of the other side. I stand in strong support of the Democratic alternative.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, on April 7, 2011 I missed rollcall vote 245. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' or ``nay.'' Motion to Recommit

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady. I wish her a happy St. Patrick's Day. Mr. Speaker, there is a pattern here. Americans are seeing through what amounts to an ideological purge. In Wisconsin, under the guise of dealing with the deficit, they are taking away collective bargaining rights. In Washington, under the guise of dealing with the deficit, they are cutting Planned Parenthood and taking away women's rights. Under the guise of dealing with the deficit, they are planning to privatize Social Security and voucher Medicare, as if they had anything to do with causing the deficit and the problem we are in. And under the guise of saving taxpayers' dollars, what they are doing is silencing NPR, not because it saves money, but because it is not on the same ideological frequency of the extreme right.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, on March 14, 2011 I missed rollcall votes 175 and 176. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' or ``aye'' on both.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, the following entry is a poem that was given at the Irish Embassy by the Democratic Caucus' Poet Laureate the Honorable Bill Pascrell. As we approach the ``Day'', I think it only fitting to submit Mr. Pascrell's work for the Congressional Record--in which he honors Ambassador Michael Collins and the Nation of Ireland. Mike Collins--At Best (By the Honorable Bill Pascrell, Jr.) Raising glasses to a white sky, Pausing . . . to look at twinkling eyes, In blue skies hemorrhaging avocado dreams of a homeland of Irish monks who saved Ireland-- as Cahill wrote, indeed, saved the world . . . Raising glasses many times, with many chimes and voices clear And monks as advocates of avocadoes And prose to beat for Gaelic friends good cheer And Have no fear . . . Long live Ireland

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 129 I was unfortunately detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Amendment No. 548 Offered by Mr. Jones

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. I move to strike the last word.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment by Tom Rooney of Florida. Let me commend my colleague from Florida, first and foremost, and those that have joined him in this amendment. At the President's State of the Union message there was a symbolic gesture in this Chamber for us to sit together, and we did. And we talked about the camaraderie and the need to reach out and work together. I applaud my colleague for his strong stance and his willingness to work bipartisanly to do what the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines, the Secretary of Defense, the Bush administration and the Obama administration have asked Congress to do: end this wasteful, duplicative spending. There are new Members that have come to Congress on both sides with new zeal and the ability to perhaps look outside the beltway at what people have to experience on a regular basis, and they scratch their heads in awe of what seems to be a commonsense proposal by the Bush administration, by the Obama administration, by the Air Force, by the Marines, and by the Navy, and that's to end this wasteful spending. We've heard great talk about competition. My God, I'm all for competition. I don't think there isn't a person who isn't for competition. Two engines, why not three? Why not four? It would be better overall for our industrial base. But the people on the committee know the hard truth, as do all Americans. We've seen it. I fault no one for support of the interest of their State or their district or their employees, but let's be honest about this. We're going to have to make priorities. I've witnessed it in the C-17 and the F-22. And there comes a time when you recognize that we need these precious dollars. There has to be cuts. Both sides have acknowledged, and again I want to compliment my colleagues on the other side for the zeal that they have come here with to say, listen, the Pentagon isn't sacrosanct either, and we have to make these cuts. And here's the Secretary of Defense pleading yesterday at a conference saying, please, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force do not want this engine. Look, competition is great, but let's look at some of the facts here that have been cited as well. If you have 86 percent of the market currently, and you're seeking to get 92 percent of it, where does competition lie? With a company that has 86 percent? I don't think so. And I think anyone who looks at this from a commonsense perspective comes to that understanding, comes to that difficult decision that has to be made with respect to the Nation's deficit. Now, Mr. Rooney has proposed that this money go directly into a lock box to deal with the Nation's deficit. There are a lot of good proposals where to use money, but that's what he's proposed. I submit, as a Democrat who would like to see the money going to COPS funding, to make sure that LIHEAP funding gets there, that these are the kinds of compromises and decisions that we have to make. And this is what's right for the country. We have to address this deficit. And if we have our leadership, the Bush administration, and their Pentagon, the Obama administration, you heard Joe Courtney talk about Admiral Roughead again saying today the absurdity involved in this argument. It doesn't matter what company. What matters is this country. I strongly support his amendment.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, on January 26, 2011 I missed rollcall votes 22 and 23, due to a family emergency. Had I been present on rollcall vote 22, I would have voted ``no'' or ``nay''. Had I been present on rollcall vote 23, I would have voted ``yes'' or ``aye.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 24, I would have voted ``yes'' or ``aye.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 25, I would have voted ``no'' or ``nay.''

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I would like to add one more story to this debate to help illustrate why the Affordable Care Act is so important. One of my constituents recently wrote to tell me that his 19 year old son has a rare liver disease and that his only hope is a transplant. Under the new healthcare reform law, he is now able to keep his son on his insurance plan to age 26. His household would be out of luck without healthcare reform as last year his son's health care costs exceeded $120,000. It is stories like these that are the essence of why passing health reform was so important. It provides protections to ensure that someone like my constituent can access health care and not face exorbitant personal costs when an illness strikes. I urge all of my colleagues to oppose this repeal legislation and hope we can all work together to find ways to move our country forward.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Equal protection under the law is the cornerstone of our Constitution. That is why we as Nation strive to form a more perfect Union in a commonsense way of looking out for one another. No one can prepare for a birth defect, catastrophe, or accident of life that may await any one of us. This Congress cannot disenfranchise the 129 million Americans with preexisting conditions impacted by this repeal proposal. The proposal that is before us is not worthy of the party of Lincoln or the tea party. Repeal, repeal, repeal is not a plan. It is an empty political refrain. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are honorable people. I cannot accept that they are indifferent to the 129 million Americans with preexisting conditions who would continue to be denied coverage and forced to pay higher rates with repeal. I cannot accept that they are indifferent to millions of children who would once again face denial of health care coverage. I don't believe they are indifferent to the millions of seniors who would be facing higher prescription drug costs because of repeal. I cannot accept that they are indifferent to the families that face cancer diagnosis and would once again be subject to lifetime limits on coverage and possible bankruptcy because of repeal. Addressing these fundamental issues of fairness was what the health care legislation and law is all about. In this Chamber, and clearly down the hall, we understand the charade of this repeal legislation. But it is not lost on the 129 million Americans with preexisting conditions that are counting on us.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, on January 18, 2011, I missed rollcall vote 12. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' or ``aye.''

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. I thank the gentleman from Arizona. Shakespeare tells us in Othello that when Iago whispers mistruths in the ear of Othello, something beautiful dies. Something beautiful died in Tucson, Arizona, this past Saturday. People who came to an event, to hear their congresswoman speak--one little girl, 9 years old--all beautiful, all celebrating the great beauty and majesty of our democracy, passed on that day. Who knows what mistruths were bouncing around in the head of the assassin. Who could know that? But something beautiful died. Democracy died just a little that day. But beauty has a way of coming back. It resides in people like Gabrielle Giffords. She epitomizes all that is good and rich about serving in the United States Congress. From her very demeanor, to her graciousness, to the way she carried herself in committee, with her legislation, and how she held forth with her constituents in an accountable manner that has become so much a fabric of our democracy-- our Congress on the Corner. She truly is a beautiful person. And that beauty had others responding that day with acts of heroism that have already been recounted on this floor. And that beauty lies with her husband by her side and with the fervent prayers of a Nation in hope, knowing and feeling confident that she will return from this awful incident and be back here with us gracing us with her beauty and dignity and vision and purpose. One of her last remarks, in speaking to Mr. Trey Grayson, director of the Harvard Institute of Politics, was to say, I would love to talk about what we can do to promote centrism and moderation. I think we need to figure out how to tone down our rhetoric and the partisanship that exists here.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Congressman William Ratchford who passed away on Sunday at the age of 76. He served in this body for three terms from 1979 to 1985 representing Connecticut's fifth congressional district. Bill was born in Danbury, Connecticut in 1934 and led a remarkable life that was most notable for putting public service first. His father was a hat-factory worker and Bill went on to graduate from the University of Connecticut and then to Georgetown University Law School. After graduating from law school, he became a lawyer in Danbury and served in the Connecticut National Guard. He was first elected to office in 1962 as a representative in the Connecticut General Assembly where he served for six terms and rose to the position of Speaker of the House during his last four years. While in the State House, he became involved in the issue of aging, which came to define his legacy. He made a tremendous contribution to the state as chairman of the Governors' Blue Ribbon Committee on Nursing Homes, and in 1977 he was tapped by Governor Ella Grasso to become the state commissioner on aging. In 1979, Bill won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the Fifth Congressional District in Northwestern Connecticut. During his three terms in Congress, he served on the committees on appropriations, transportation, education and labor, and interior. Bill continued to have an active career after leaving Congress, remaining involved in government and teaching at Georgetown University. He was appointed by President Clinton to be assistant administrator at the General Services Administration where he served until 2001. Bill Ratchford was an honest public servant who cared deeply about making the world around him a better place and advocating for the issues that he passionately cared about. He will always be remembered for his focus on senior citizens and children and will be missed by all who knew him. I offer my deep condolences to his wife Barbara of 53 years, his three sons, and to his family and friends.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the resolution, but before offering the amendment, I request that there be a division of the question on the resolution so that we may have a separate vote on the Chaplain.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the remainder of the resolution.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Clerk, as chairman of the Democratic Caucus, I am directed by the vote of that caucus to present for election to the Office of Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 112th Congress a person who gives me great honor and privilege, who has led with decency and dignity. I submit on behalf of this caucus the name of the Honorable Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi, a Representative-elect from the great State of California.