[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]

 
                        TRIBUTE TO HELEN BENTLEY

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the 103d Congress, the House 
of Representatives will lose an extraordinary colleague, a remarkable 
woman and a very treasured friend, Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley.
  I rise in tribute to this distinguished Congresswoman, a 
Congresswoman known for her independent thinking and fierce dedication 
to the representation of the people--the people of her 2d congressional 
district, the people of Maryland and the people of the United States of 
America.
  A woman who for years was ahead of her time, Mrs. Bentley started her 
career as a newspaper reporter, a field that in 1945 was dominated by 
men. As a reporter on the Baltimore Sun the waterfront was one of her 
primary beats, an area that was rarely frequented by women. But, the 
lack of a female presence in her field did not prove an obstacle to 
Mrs. Bentley. Fearlessly and relentlessly, she faced the challenge and 
ultimately earned the title of ``expert'' in the field of maritime 
issues.
  In recognition of her expertise, in 1969, Mrs. Bentley was bestowed 
the extraordinary honor of being the first woman to be appointed by a 
President to head a regulatory agency as well as the honor of being the 
first woman to hold the position of Chairman of the Maritime 
Commission.
  As Chair of the Maritime Commission, Mrs. Bentley protected the 
American shipping fleet and the interests of the American people and 
economy while simultaneously earning the respect and admiration of the 
international maritime community--which by no means was an easy feat.
  Mrs. Bentley's many successes are attributable to her courage in the 
face of criticism, her keen intelligence, her ability to think clearly 
on her feet, her contagious enthusiasm and her boundless amount of 
energy. These same attributes have served her well in her five terms as 
Congresswoman for the Second Congressional District of Maryland.
  Mrs. Bentley, known endearingly as the ``Fighting Lady,'' a straight 
shooter, a doer, has spent her entire congressional career fighting for 
the working people of our Nation. She has been a tireless advocate on 
behalf of fair trade and has fought to keep high paying jobs from 
moving offshore.
  Mrs. Bentley has been quoted as saying that ``I am a great believer 
that God looks over you.'' May God continue to look over Mrs. Bentley 
as she begins the next exciting chapter of her life--one which will 
surely include helping the working people of our Nation.

                          ____________________