III 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 475 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 24, 2012 Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Reid, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Begich, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown of Massachusetts, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Burr, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Coats, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cochran, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Coons, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Crapo, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Franken, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Heller, Mr. Hoeven, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Johnson of Wisconsin, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kirk, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Lee, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Manchin, Mr. McCain, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Moran, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Paul, Mr. Portman, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Risch, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Shelby, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Tester, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Warner, Mr. Webb, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Relating to the death of the Honorable E. James Abdnor, former United States Senator and Congressman from the State of South Dakota.

Whereas James Abdnor was born in Kennebec, South Dakota, on February 13, 1923, and was the son of an immigrant from Lebanon who peddled and homesteaded in Lyman County, South Dakota; Whereas James Abdnor enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, farmed in Kennebec after graduating from the University of Nebraska in 1945, and later taught and coached in neighboring Presho; Whereas James Abdnor served as Chairman of the Lyman County Young Republicans in 1950, Chairman of the State Young Republicans from 1950 to 1952, and Farm Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation from 1953 to 1955; Whereas James Abdnor served as the First Assistant Chief Clerk of the South Dakota House of Representatives during the legislative sessions of 1951, 1953, and 1955; Whereas James Abdnor was elected to the South Dakota Senate in 1956, where he served until his election as the 30th Lieutenant Governor of the State of South Dakota, a position he served in from 1969 through 1971; Whereas James Abdnor was elected to the United States House of Representatives for the 93rd United States Congress in 1972 and served a total of 4 consecutive terms, representing the Second Congressional District of South Dakota; Whereas James Abdnor served on the Committee on Public Works of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee on Aging of the House of Representatives; Whereas James Abdnor was elected to the United States Senate for the 97th United States Congress in 1980 and was appointed Chairman of 3 subcommittees on his first day, including the Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Subcommittee on Water Resources of the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the Subcommittee on Agriculture and Transportation of the Joint Economic Committee; Whereas James Abdnor was appointed Vice Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and served on the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate; Whereas James Abdnor was a voice for the rural United States in Congress, where he advocated for family farms and small business, rural water systems and electrification, a balanced budget, and small-town values; Whereas James Abdnor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve as the Administrator of the United States Small Business Administration from 1987 to 1989 following his service in the United States Congress; Whereas James Abdnor will be remembered for his humble service to his constituents, dedication to the youth of South Dakota, and defining influence on South Dakota politics; and Whereas the hallmarks of James Abdnor’s public service were his integrity, kindness, respect for the common man, and love for South Dakota: Now, therefore, be it

That— (1)the Senate expresses profound sorrow and deep regret regarding the death of the Honorable James Abdnor, former member of the United States Senate and House of Representatives for the State of South Dakota, on May 16, 2012; (2)the Senate respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of the deceased; and (3)when the Senate adjourns today, the Senate stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable James Abdnor.