Today the nation mourns the loss of a true American statesman, Representative Tom Lantos. Tom dedicated his career to helping those who suffered under oppressive regimes around the world. As the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress, he became a leader in the field of human rights and, in 1983, he co-founded the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, which makes appeals on behalf of victims of persecution.
I had the honor of serving with Chairman Lantos on the House Foreign Affairs Committee for the last fourteen years. He was a good friend and will be greatly missed.