Choking up, Boehner eulogizes Young

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) eulogized former Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla) on Thursday as more than a leader in the House of Representatives — “he was the House,” Boehner said.

Boehner, choking up at times as he spoke, said it would be impossible to imagine the House without Young, who died last week while serving his 22nd term in the House. 

{mosads}”Your loss is ours, it’s just that simple,” Boehner said at Young’s funeral Thursday in Largo, Fla. “Here was a man who loved – in this order – God, his family, his country, and the House Appropriations Committee.”

Boehner said lawmakers griped earlier this month when Young, the chairman of the Defense subcommittee of Appropriations, announced he would retire in 2015, because they did not want him to go.  

“Yes, it was greedy of us to gripe when Bill gave word that he wouldn’t run again,” Boehner said. “We did it anyway. After all, we owed the man everything, and we had the chance to tell him that – to give our thanks, to let him know the privilege was all ours. 

“The night Bill left us, I said it would be impossible to imagine the House without him,” Boehner continued. “What now? Who among us will carry on this man’s work? Having thought about it, I would just suggest you look at the person next to you, because no one man or woman can fill such shoes. It will take all of us.” 

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), who also spoke, commended the people of Florida’s 13th district for reelecting Young over the course of 42 years. 

Reading a quote, Hoyer said it’s important to send a young politician to Congress and continue to reelect him as long as he keeps his integrity. 

“The people of Pinellas County took that advice to heart when they sent Bill Young to Congress 42 years ago, and had the good sense to keep sending him back, election after election after election to this very day.”

The House canceled its previously scheduled session Thursday so members could attend the service.