mr. larson for calling this special order. i'm honored to be here with him and with our distinguished whip, mr. hoyer. i yield back. mr. larson: i thank the leader. i would point out in history there are often identify connick -- iconic pictures, one has to wonder in looking at the pictures that grace museums across this country, could that man who said a torch will be passed to another generation, could he have known when he was shaking bill clinton's hand that he would be a future president of the united states? could he have known when he met with tommy's daughter that she would be the first woman speaker of the house? that was the inspiration of kennedy who touched so many people, and our leaders, nancy pelosi and steny hoyer, typify a generation drawn into public of the not only because inspiration but the calling to president kennedy to public service. he majority whip, steny hoyer. mr. hoyer: i thank the gentleman for -- from connecticut. special on for the order but the speech he gave as we led into this special order a

mr. larson. mr. larson: both steny and rich have said it well. everything that's rich about public service is embodied in the service provided by barry sullivan. as rich pointed out, to have come here with tip and joe, puts you in the stars of new england. i would point out to mr. capuano, rich neal is not only the dean of the massachusetts delegation but the dean of the new england delegation and barry sullivan is new england through and through. he's irish, he's catholic, he's red sox, celtic, bruin and patriots and he gets us through the day. my first encounter with him came over in the pennsylvania corner where he would be summoned on a regular basis. i thought he was jack murta's personal valet. i didn't know there was a white button that they would press but he would appear out of the back room and would assure mr. murtha things would be right. what time we would get out of here and all the essentials that members need. the wonderful thing about barry, his three sons and barbara is that he apit mieses class. he is such a gentleman, even amo