Hoyer Informs the House of Representatives of the Passing of Congressman John D. Dingell Jr.

WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the Floor today to inform the House of Representatives about the passing of the longest serving Member of Congress, Congressman John D. Dingell Jr. of Michigan. Below is a link to the video and a transcript of his remarks:   “Mr. Chairman, my fellow colleagues, I rise with great sadness to announce the passing of one of this House's great and good Members, former Representative John David Dingell Jr., who served in this House for almost a full six decades. His father preceded him for 22 years, and his wife, our beloved colleague, Debbie Dingell, serves now.

"At the request of his beloved wife, I have the sad task of informing the House that John died yesterday after a long, distinguished, and committed career of service to community, to this House, and to his country.

"John served with honor in wartime and with distinction in this House. He worked for the advancement of his fellow veterans and their care and benefits in peace time. And he fought all of his life for fairness and opportunity for all. He defended vigorously the working men and women of the auto industry and working families everywhere. His wit, his humor, brought smiles to our faces. And his fearless questions of witnesses in Committee brought grimaces to those who believed they had undermined the safety and health of our citizens.

“Much will be said. I know that each of you has your own memory of Chairman Dingell. I know each of you will want to rise at some point in time over the next number of days to give your observations of this colleague with whom we were honored to serve. Let us begin our remembrances of him, however, by celebrating the love that he had for this great institution about which he cared so deeply. He believed its powers to be improving people's lives and delivering on the promises of those who came before us and to those who will come after us.

"May John's legacy guide us forward as we seek to make this House all he believed it could be and all he did to make it so better than it might have been. I now yield to the distinguished Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi of California, for one minute.”  

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“I thank the Speaker for her retelling very, briefly, the extraordinary record of our friend and colleague, John Dingell, who made America better; who made this House better; and who believed that, in doing so, it was critically important to reach across the aisle; to have legislation that would have and enjoy the support of both sides of the aisle. And in that regard, I’m pleased now to yield to the Republican Leader, my friend, Mr. [Kevin] McCarthy.”  

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“…Now, John Dingell, apparently, was not always right: he wanted to repeal the Senate, and then he wanted to replace it.

“John Dingell, I will tell you, I was with [him on] Wednesday from approximately 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday until 6:30 p.m., and Debbie was there. Your dad was there, [Rep.] Andy [Levin]. Our dear colleague, Sandy Levin, was there. John Orlando [was there], who served with John in the Energy and Commerce Committee for such a great time.

“He remembered all of you. He asked me to give each of you his best, to wish you well, and to say that our country needs each of us to work together. Would that we could leave just some of the legacy that John Dingell has left behind.

“We are so blessed that we have the opportunity to serve with his wife, his beloved wife, his lovely Deborah. What an extraordinary relationship. What an extraordinary man. How lucky we were and are to serve with him.

“The Speaker will be shortly notifying us of when the funeral will be, opportunities to go to the funeral. There will be a memorial service, as well,  here and probably a service in the Capitol as well. So, there will be opportunities for each of us to stand and testify to the greatness and goodness of John David Dingell Jr. I yield back the balance of my time.”