[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        IN TRIBUTE TO ED MADIGAN

                                 ______


                         HON. HARRIS W. FAWELL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 17, 1995
  Mr. FAWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my former colleague 
in the House, my dear colleague from the State of Illinois and, 
moreover, my good friend, Ed Madigan.
  I had the honor of serving with Ed Madigan in Congress from 1985 to 
1991. Ed was one of the Members of the Illinois delegation, and of the 
entire Congress, that I most respected and from whom I frequently 
sought counsel and advice.
  For those of my colleagues who did not have the honor of serving with 
Ed in Congress, he served 10 terms in the House from Illinois' 15th 
Congressional District. For 8 years he was the ranking member of the 
House Agriculture Committee, and served on that committee for a total 
of 18 years. There was no greater authority in Congress on farm issues 
than Ed Madigan, and I often sought Ed's views on farm issues when they 
came before the House.
  But Ed was not only a leader on agriculture issues. While in the 
House, he served as chairman of the Republican Research Committee, and 
was a senior member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  Of course, in 1991, President Bush named Ed the Nation's 24th 
Secretary of Agriculture. As Secretary, Ed was designated by President 
Bush to serve as the lead negotiator on the agriculture portion of the 
trade negotiations under the GATT.
  However, Ed Madigan is best remembered by me as simply a very good 
friend. Although when I first came to Congress, Ed was an eminently 
successful Member. He was never too busy to give me a listening ear. 
His success in politics never went to his head. With Ed, what you saw 
was what you got. There were no pretensions. He was a friend who could 
put one at ease precisely because he was interested in other people's 
concerns. I do not believe I ever heard anyone in Congress, or, for 
that matter, anyone in my presence ever say anything derogatory about 
Ed Madigan. I know I shall miss him. He leaves a rich legacy for all of 
us who were privileged to have known him.


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