Floor SpeechNeutral2026-04-20

HONORING DON SCHLITZ

TaxesHousing

Context

On 2026-04-20, Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING DON SCHLITZ" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered housing.

Full Text

HONORING DON SCHLITZ

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 69 (Monday, April 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 69 (Monday, April 20, 2026)] [House] [Page H2964] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING DON SCHLITZ (Mr. Cohen of Tennessee was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker: You got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away And know when to run You never count your money When you're sitting at the table There'll be time enough for counting When the dealing's done. If you recognize those words, which most Americans would, they are the words of ``The Gambler.'' ``The Gambler'' was performed successfully by Kenny Rogers, but it was written by Don Schlitz. Don Schlitz was 23 years old when he wrote that song. He was one of the greatest songwriters of our time. He passed away last Thursday night in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 73. He was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and he won two Grammy Awards. He had three Country Music Association Awards for Song of the Year and was ASCAP's Country Songwriter of the Year for 4 consecutive years. What a career he had. Among his 25 hits that hit number one were, of course, ``The Gambler'' by Kenny Rogers; ``Forever and Ever, Amen'' by Randy Travis; ``When You Say Nothing At All'' performed by both Keith Whitley, who made a hit out of it, and so did Alison Krauss; ``Forty Hour Week'' by Alabama; ``One Promise Too Late'' by Reba McEntire; ``He Thinks He'll Keep Her'' by Mary Chapin Carpenter, who cowrote the song with Don; ``Strong Enough to Bend'' by Tanya Tucker; and ``On the Other Hand'' by Randy Travis. He had his first major hit with ``The Gambler'' in 1978. He was 23, and he had come to Nashville after going to Duke for a while. He wanted to be a songwriter, and he came to Nashville with $80 in his pocket. That was the first song he wrote that ever got recorded. Bobby Bare did it first. It didn't sell enough or well, and then finally Kenny Rogers got it, and it has become one of the greatest songs we know in history. That song would win him both the Song of the Year at the Country Music Awards and the Country Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards. He was also a friend of mine. He was a wonderful human being with a big heart. He used to call me his Congressman even though he lived in Nashville, and I was in Memphis. I was honored by that appellation, and I will take it for the rest of my life as a great honor. He served at the Room in the Inn helping people who were homeless. He just had a big heart. He leaves his wife, Stacey, who is a sweetheart; his daughter, Cory; his son, Pete, and a brother and a sister. He leaves behind a great legacy and a great history of country music and songs that move the spirit. May God bless my friend Don Schlitz. ____________________

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HONORING DON SCHLITZ Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 69 (Monday, April 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 69 (Monday, April 20, 2026)] [House] [Page H2964] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING DON SCHLITZ (Mr. Cohen of Tennessee was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker: You got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away And know when to run You never count your money When you're sitting at the table There'll be time enough for counting When the dealing's done. If you recognize those words, which most Americans would, they are the words of ``The Gambler.'' ``The Gambler'' was performed successfully by Kenny Rogers, but it was written by Don Schlitz. Don Schlitz was 23 years old when he wrote that song. He was one of the greatest songwriters of our time. He passed away last Thursday night in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 73. He was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and he won two Grammy Awards. He had three Country Music Association Awards for Song of the Year and was ASCAP's Country Songwriter of the Year for 4 consecutive years. What a career he had. Among his 25 hits that hit number one were, of course, ``The Gambler'' by Kenny Rogers; ``Forever and Ever, Amen'' by Randy Travis; ``When You Say Nothing At All'' performed by both Keith Whitley, who made a hit out of it, and so did Alison Krauss; ``Forty Hour Week'' by Alabama; ``One Promise Too Late'' by Reba McEntire; ``He Thinks He'll Keep Her'' by Mary Chapin Carpenter, who cowrote the song with Don; ``Strong Enough to Bend'' by Tanya Tucker; and ``On the Other Hand'' by Randy Travis. He had his first major hit with ``The Gambler'' in 1978. He was 23, and he had come to Nashville after going to Duke for a while. He wanted to be a songwriter, and he came to Nashville with $80 in his pocket. That was the first song he wrote that ever got recorded. Bobby Bare did it first. It didn't sell enough or well, and then finally Kenny Rogers got it, and it has become one of the greatest songs we know in history. That song would win him both the Song of the Year at the Country Music Awards and the Country Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards. He was also a friend of mine. He was a wonderful human being with a big heart. He used to call me his Congressman even though he lived in Nashville, and I was in Memphis. I was honored by that appellation, and I will take it for the rest of my life as a great honor. He served at the Room in the Inn helping people who were homeless. He just had a big heart. He leaves his wife, Stacey, who is a sweetheart; his daughter, Cory; his son, Pete, and a brother and a sister. He leaves behind a great legacy and a great history of country music and songs that move the spirit. May God bless my friend Don Schlitz. ____________________