[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 96 (Tuesday, June 13, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      A TRIBUTE TO THOMAS J. LAVIN

                                 ______


                            HON. DICK ZIMMER

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 13, 1995
  Mr. ZIMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize a 
remarkable individual, Thomas Lavin, who has been highly instrumental 
in promoting Irish-American awareness in New Jersey. Tom is now 
recovering from a near-fatal car accident, but even this has not 
dampened his spirit or his energy.
  Tom almost single-handedly created the Irish American Public Action 
Committee, Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting the Irish 
culture and heritage. This organization also collects, through 
contributions and purchases, Irish books and tapes and donates them to 
libraries. In addition, IAPAC organizes lectures on Irish matters of 
interest and arranges traditional Irish entertainment for colleges and 
universities. The son of Irish immigrants from County Mayo, Tom was 
IAPAC's first president and serves as a director today.
  I would like to join IAPAC in honoring Tom for all that he has done 
for Irish-Americans in New Jersey. Although still confined to a 
wheelchair, Tom has enjoyed a phenomenal recovery and looks forward to 
many more years of sharing his Irish heritage.


                          ____________________