Leaders from both parties pay tribute to Dingell’s life on House floor

“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 said.

{mosads}“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.”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said they lost a “beloved pillar of this Congress,” referring to him as one of the greatest legislators in history.

“Every chapter of Chairman John Dingell’s life was lived in service to our country, from his time as a House page, as a teenager, to his time in World War II, to almost six decades of serving the people of Michigan in the U.S. Congress,” she said on the floor.

“John Dingell leaves a towering legacy of unshakeable strength, boundless energy and transformative leadership.”

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) applauded Dingell’s commitment to his constituents, giving a nod to his wit on social media and ability to work with members across the aisle.

“He had great passions, passions for his constituents, passion for his committee, Energy and Commerce. He loved this committee so much he thought there needed [to be] no other committee in this House,” McCarthy joked.  

 

“It wasn’t until his retirement that we got jurisdiction back in other places. But he understood in an ever-changing world, if you can only imagine serving that long. And he was able to adapt, which we should learn from too,” he added.

Dingell, 92, served in the House from 1955 to 2015. He died Thursday after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018.

 

His wife, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D), was elected to serve as the representative for his former district following his retirement.