[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM D. FORD

  (Mr. McCLOSKEY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. McCLOSKEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to honor Bill Ford 
whom I am sorry to see retiring at the end of this Congress. I am 
grateful to call Bill Ford a personal friend, in addition to being a 
distinguished colleague.
  Bill Ford has been a champion over the past 30 years for the American 
worker and the American college student. He has contributed 
significantly to every Federal education bill since the 89th Congress. 
His most recent efforts include passage of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act reauthorization which was an uphill battle, and 
reauthorization of the Higher Education Act which made it possible for 
any student to qualify for Federal Education assistance regardless of 
their income level.
  Having been raised by parents who worked in the auto industry in the 
plant lines, Bill has never forgotten his roots and has always promoted 
and defended the rights of American workers. In the past two Congresses 
he has taken the lead on comprehensive OSHA reform. He was the driving 
force behind the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act 
[WARN]. He won a 14-year battle to obtain passage of his plant-closing 
legislation despite a veto by President Reagan. He has also been on the 
forefront to assist American workers whose jobs move to Mexico and to 
obtain fair trade treatment for the auto industry and its workers.

  I am happy to have served under Bill Ford's stewardship of the House 
Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. He and his staff were 
extremely helpful to me when I became the chairman of the Subcommittee 
on Postal Personnel and Modernization in 1985. During his tenure as 
chairman of Post Office and Civil Service, He worked tirelessly to help 
Federal employees and to ensure the viability of the U.S. Postal 
Service. He and Bill Clay, my distinguished current chairman, were 
instrumental in obtaining passage of Hatch Act reform which was signed 
into law last year.
  As I stated earlier, his staff has been extremely helpful to me 
whenever I have contacted them. I wish Bill great success in the 
private sector and hope that I see him often in whatever path he 
chooses after Congress.
  Bill Ford came to Congress as a man with high ideals and I am happy 
to say will be leaving Congress with all of the same high ideals. I 
wish Bill and his lovely wife, Mary Whalen, much happiness and success 
in life after Congress.

                          ____________________