Honoring Congressman Henry Waxman and Congressman George Miller on their Retirement

Floor Speech

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Ms. SPEIER. I thank the California Democratic leader and want to say
very simply that Members come and go on the Hill, but some you can't
imagine leaving. Tonight I rise to honor two public servants whose
departure will leave an extraordinary void for years to come. Like the
giant redwoods of California, these men are giants of the Congress.

Representatives Henry Waxman and George Miller have honorably served
the State of California and this Chamber for a combined 80 years--we
have heard that earlier--exactly 40 each. Both arrived in the shadow of
Watergate, ushering in a new era of strong congressional oversight.
They led some of the most significant legislative achievements in our
history and set the gold standard for active oversight for all who
follow.

Representative Waxman, the mustache of justice, never backed down.
His book chronicling his congressional investigations, ``The Waxman
Report,'' is the bible for conducting effective oversight and holding
industry and government officials accountable.

His work combating the tobacco industry is one of the greatest public
health achievements of the last century. But it is only one of many
accomplishments, including the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water
Act, the Affordable Care Act, and holding the Bush administration
accountable throughout the Iraq war.

His truth serum inquiries caused plenty of CEOs to squirm and brought
American consumers cleaner air, water, and quality of life. His stature
in this Congress is iconic, and his oversight techniques are legendary.
He will always be remembered as the grand inquisitor.

Representative Miller was mentored by Phillip Burton, who famously
said: People sent me to Congress to kick A and take names. Well, George
Miller took that to heart, making his presence felt on the House floor
through passionate speeches and actions to match. He didn't mince words
or volume.

George looks like a warm teddy bear, but much like a teddy bear, he
is ferocious in protecting his children, all the children in this
country. He worked to protect educational opportunity for low-income
students and children with disabilities from preschool to graduation. Even in his final days of service, he has worked to expand access to early childhood education
through a new White House initiative.

He has also been an unwavering champion for working families and our
environment. He fought pay discrimination with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair
Pay Act, has worked to keep college accessible for all, and conserved
the California landscape through his tireless efforts to preserve San
Francisco Bay.

As chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, Mr. Miller
helped pass the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992, which
increased water allocations for San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-
San Joaquin River Delta, and he spent the last 20 years defending those
precious gains which benefit the bay area's wildlife, endangered
species, and commercially critical salmon runs.

When George Miller arrived in D.C., he was intent on extending
affordable health care to all, and thanks to his leadership on the
Education and the Workforce Committee, nearly 11 million people are
newly ensured under the Affordable Care Act. It is not often that
Members achieve such lofty goals in Congress, but his masterful work
has led to a law for the history books.

Henry Waxman and George Miller have represented the great heights in
this Chamber and what can be achieved. I hope that we can all learn
from their example and emulate their legacies.

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