[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           HONORING THE HONORABLE WILLIAM D. FORD OF MICHIGAN

                                 ______


                               speech of

                        HON. MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 4, 1994

  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who 
has been a mentor to me throughout my 13 years in the Congress.
  A man whose knowledge of the House and the legislation passed and 
considered over the past three decades has helped those of us on the 
Education and Labor Committee to continue to develop strong leadership 
in the fight against poverty in this country.
  Bill Ford, as chairman of the Education and Labor Committee in the 
102d and 103d Congresses, has presided over a transition from the 
twelve years of voodoo and trickle down to the beginning of an era of 
reinvestment in America's workers and children.
  His leadership in education, especially higher education, has led to 
greater opportunities for low income youth to attend college and to 
have a productive future in America, capped by the direct loan and 
national service programs enacted in the present Congress.
  As one of the architects of the Head Start Program in his first term, 
in 1965, Bill Ford was present at the creation of the most successful 
anticrime and antipoverty program in our Nation's arsenal.
  Throughout his long and distinguished career, Bill Ford has continued 
to work to strengthen the Head Start Program, which we again 
reauthorized this year under his able leadership.
  In the 1970's, he was a leader on the Education and Labor Committee 
as programs were developed for older American's for senior volunteers, 
and for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention.
  All of those programs bear the imprint of Mr. Ford's personal 
dedication to alleviating the situation of those Americans who need a 
hand up.
  As chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, Mr. Ford developed 
an annual agenda--and guided the committee toward achieving that agenda 
with a firm and steady hand.
  While it took a number of years to achieve, Bill Ford never wavered 
in his determination to see family and medical leave become law, as it 
did in this Congress.
  Likewise, even though the final enactment of the OSHA reform and 
striker replacement bills has not taken place, I am confident that they 
will pass, and, when the history of those efforts is written, the name 
Bill Ford will loom large in the story.
  Chairman Ford, for your dedication, you leadership, and your 
friendship, I thank you.
  Those of us who hope to labor on in the 104th Congress, who were 
educated by you in our early careers, and who appreciate your 
outstanding leadership, salute you and wish you well.

                          ____________________