[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


IN HONOR OF FORMER CONGRESSMAN JOSEPH A. LeFANTE WHO WAS RECOGNIZED BY 
                               IRELAND 32

                                 ______


                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 8, 1995
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take this opportunity to 
recognize the accomplishments of former Congressman Joseph LeFante, who 
was honored on January 20, 1995 by Ireland 32. He is an outstanding 
citizen and his service to the American people is second to none.
  Mr. LeFante was born in Bayonne to Thomas and Rose LeFante. He was 
raised in Bayonne and attended St. Peter's College in Jersey City. He 
has been married for 46 years to his high school sweetheart, the former 
Florence Behym. They have three beautiful children Janice, Tom, and 
Diane, and five grandchildren.
  His achievements and his awards are numerous and exemplary. Mr. 
LeFante was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1977-78. 
He served on the Committee on Education and Labor and Small Business 
Committee. His expertise was crucial in drafting important legislative 
proposals in these areas. He was the only freshman member to serve on 
the Select Committee on Welfare Reform.
  Prior to his congressional career, Mr. LeFante distinctly served on 
the New Jersey General Assembly. He was an assembly speaker in 1976, 
majority leader in 1974-75, chairman of the joint appropriations 
committee in 1973 and chairman of the assembly appropriations committee 
in 1972-73. He was commissioner of the New Jersey Department of 
Community Affairs. In 1990 for 2 years he served as director at the 
Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the New Jersey Department of 
Environment Protection and Energy.
  Mr. LeFante has also been a member of several commissions, such as 
the Bayonne Charter Commission and was the director of the Hackensack 
Meadowlands Development Commission. In addition, he was a member of the 
Bayonne Municipal Council where he served as chairman of the urban 
renewal program, the code enforcement committee, and the drug abuse 
committee.
  Mr. LeFante has received countless honors and awards for his 
outstanding work and dedication. He has been honored by St. John's 
University with an honorary doctorate of humane letters, Jaycees 
Distinguished Service Award, and the Dr. Benjamin Rush Humanitarian 
Award just to name a few.
  It is impossible to state all of Mr. LeFante's achievements. He has 
served his community with dignity and respect. He has been a great 
humanitarian by serving and helping the public. He is a distinguished 
gentleman respected by all. I commend him for his countless efforts to 
help others and for giving his time to help and aid the community.


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