[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO HON. ALFRED A. McCANDLESS ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES A. LEACH

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 1994

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, it is with enormous regret that his many 
friends bid farewell to the Honorable Al McCandless as he prepares to 
leave public service at the end of this Congress.
  I have had the good fortune to serve on the Banking Committee with 
this consistent and principled conservative since he came to the 
Congress in 1982.
  During his tenure on the Banking Committee, the Committee had the 
difficult task of dealing with a savings and loan industry in crisis. 
Al, in particular had the wisdom to foresee difficulties in the 
industry and the courage to be part of the solution. For example, in 
1990 Al was at the forefront of the effort to strengthen laws on bank 
fraud, thus enhancing the ability of the Federal Government to recover 
some of the lost money from the S&L debacle.
  During the last 4 years, Al has served as the Ranking Member of the 
Consumer Affairs Subcommittee. He has been a leader in the movement to 
ease the regulation burden on our financial institution. After 3 years 
of being out front on this issue, the President this week has been 
presented for signature a bill do just that.
  As an implacable foe of burdensome regulations, Al has worked 
particularly assiduously to ease the burden on small institutions that 
must grapple with the cumbersome paper work requirements of the 
Community Reinvestment Act.

  Of all the legislators I have ever served with, Al is the most ``get-
at-the-heart-of-the-matter'' Representative. Al couldn't be discursive 
if he wanted to be. Instead, he could always be counted upon to object 
to repetitive debate in committee. In particular, he abhored political 
rather than substantive opening statements of his colleagues. Calm by 
nature, the only impatience he ever reflected was a desire to get on 
with the people's business. The appreciation of Members on both sides 
of the aisle was always evident in his insistent moves for previous 
question--that is, his desire to put an end to individual talk and make 
a collective decision, whatever the outcome.
  Let me add that though Al's record in Congress is distinguished, he 
has served the public in many different ways. For 12 years, beginning 
in 1970, he served on the board of supervisors in his home of Riverside 
County. Al understood the interrelationship of levels of government and 
never suffered from the all-too-prevalent ``Washington-knows-best'' 
syndrome.
  He also understood the private section. Before coming to Congress Al 
was a respected automobile dealer. Because of his wide experience and 
evident maturity, when Al waded in to conversations with an opinion, 
his succinct views were particularly appreciated and seldom countered, 
at least within Republican ranks.
  A former marine, who served two stints in the Armed Services--1945-46 
and 1950-52-- Al is tough. He never waffles, never is wanting for an 
internal compass.
  All of us will miss Al McCandless, particularly this Member. With his 
steadfast calm, dry sense of humor, and decency of character, Al as a 
singular counter-point to what the public has come to disrespect in 
Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, Riverside, CA is losing a distinguished Congressman, and 
the House is losing a gentleman and great public servant. I know I am 
joined by all of his colleagues in wishing Al and his wife Gail the 
happy retirement they so richly deserve.

                          ____________________