TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN JOHN McKEE SPRATT, JR.

On 2024-12-18, Representative James E. Clyburn (D-SC-6) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN JOHN McKEE SPRATT, JR." in the House. The speech addressed healthcare and also covered taxes, the environment.

TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN JOHN McKEE SPRATT, JR.

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 188 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 188 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1299-E1300] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN JOHN McKEE SPRATT, JR. ______ HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN of south carolina in the house of representatives Wednesday, December 18, 2024 Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great South Carolinian and good friend. Congressman John McKee Spratt, Jr. transitioned to eternal rest on December 14, 2024, in York, South Carolina. His compassion, generosity, and wisdom will be remembered and cherished by all who were fortunate to meet him. John Spratt was born on November 1, 1942. He grew up in York, South Carolina, a small mill town where his family has roots dating back to the Revolutionary War. John was a precocious child, known for his inquisitiveness and curiosity. After graduating from York High School in 1960, where he served as Student Body President, John attended Davidson College and pursued a degree in history. John's peers at Davidson saw the same intellect in him as his friends did in York, and similarly elected him Student Body President of the university. After graduating, he studied philosophy, politics, and economics on a Marshall Scholarship at Oxford University before attending Yale Law School in 1966. Following law school, he served three years as an Army Captain at the Pentagon, earning a Meritorious Service Medal. In 1971, John returned home to York to practice law at his father's firm and pursue various business interests. Over the next decade, he became a leader in the York community. John's exposure to politics came at a young age. His father was an influential figure in the York County and South Carolina Democratic Parties, and he encouraged John's participation in the political process. Although John served as a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention, it wasn't until nearly two decades later, in 1982, that he pursued elected office. When Representative Ken Holland of South Carolina's 5th Congressional District decided not to seek reelection, John won the Democratic primary handily and breezed through the general election to become the 5th District's Representative. He would hold that seat for the next 28 years. A man of profound decency, extraordinary intelligence, and an unmatched work ethic, John became one of Congress's most effective legislators. He never feared working across the aisle to get things done and perfected the art of finding common ground while standing firm on his principles. His unique ability to find that common ground allowed him to fend off challengers time and again even as the political environment in South Carolina shifted beneath him. During his service on the House Armed Services Committee, John chaired multiple subcommittees and eventually became the second highest-ranking Democrat. His interest in nuclear issues led him to lead the first foreign delegation to the Soviet Union to tour nuclear weapons plants, and he played a central role in passing the 1992 moratorium on U.S. nuclear testing. John also played a key role in helping the Catawba Tribe gain long-sought federal recognition, bringing together Catawba leaders and local landowners to negotiate a deal that met both sides' approval. John's proudest accomplishments in Congress came when he assumed the powerful role as the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee in 1997. When President Bill Clinton expressed support for a balanced budget, John and his friend Erskine Bowles, Clinton's Chief of Staff, were tasked with negotiating with Republicans on a bill that preserved critical investments in education, health care, and social programs while cutting government spending. The resulting Balanced Budget Act of 1997 created the first federal budget surplus in 30 years and the budget hasn't been balanced since. When Democrats regained the House majority in 2006, John became chair of the House Budget Committee. When President Barack Obama made health care reform a [[Page E1300]] central focus of his first term, it was the House Budget Committee, with John as Chair, that helped shepherd the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act through Congress in 2010. John knew his role in pushing the bill forward would likely cost him his seat in Congress-- and it did--but it was a price he was willing to pay for the good of the country. John is survived by his childhood sweetheart and wife of 56 years, Jane Stacy Spratt; three daughters, Susan, Sarah, and Catherine; and five grandchildren. When he retired from Congress, John returned to his home community of York and served as a Visiting Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Winthrop University and on the board of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Mr. Speaker, serving in this Body with John Spratt was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. He was a friend and confidant, a colleague and counselor, a mentor and partner. His love of country and respect for humanity were always on display. He was an inconspicuous genius and the most ordinary, extraordinary person I have ever known. I will always remember his wise counsel, quick wit, and endless kindness. John represented the best of America, and America is better off because of him. We will miss John dearly, and may he rest in peace. ____________________