[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 126 (Tuesday, August 1, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H8146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RETIREMENT OF ROGER SLAGLE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Mineta] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MINETA. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to recognize a member of 
the staff of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Roger 
Slagle, and to express, on behalf of the committee, my gratitude to 
Roger for his hard work, wise counsel, wonderful sense of humor, and 
great personal friendship.
  Roger will be retiring next week after nearly two decades of 
Government service and advocacy for a sound and balanced transportation 
system.
  After graduating from Georgetown University in 1976, Roger came 
directly to the Hill to work on the Senate Commerce Committee. Then in 
1981, he moved to Los Angeles where he served ably as the chief liaison 
for Federal and State Governments for the Southern California Rapid 
Transit District. Roger joined the House Public Works and 
Transportation Committee in 1988, and to our advantage, he came with a 
storehouse of knowledge and experience on transportation issues.
  One of the great truths of Capitol Hill is that good staff work is 
the foundation of sound legislation. I strongly agree and think of 
Roger as a perfect example of that. His understanding of transportation 
issues and effective communication skills have combined to guide us on 
the committee in making many intelligent decisions. Roger's imprint can 
be found on many significant pieces of legislation. During the 
committee's consideration of the Intermodal Surface Transportation 
Efficiency Act in 1991, or
 ISTEA as it has come to be known, Roger was an energetic advocate for 
the cause of mass transit. Frankly, Roger is recognized as one of the 
most knowledgeable people in transit issues in Washington and as a 
leading expert among transit people in the Nation. Not only does he 
have a solid understanding of transit law, but he also knows many of 
the systems around the country first hand, making it a point to see 
them and ride the system--often without the local transit authorities 
knowing and providing escort.

  Roger helped to ensure the recognition that planning for effective 
and efficient transportation systems is instrumental in helping to 
address our Nation's clean air problems. He was the lead on ISTEA on 
all the planning provisions which helped local governments, giving them 
the tools they needed to help put local governments back in charge of 
their transportation planning processes.
  Roger was the point man for the committee staff in formulating the 
Americans With Disabilities Act, a monumentally important piece of 
legislation in opening up access for our disabled citizens.
  In addition to being an extremely dedicated professional, Roger is a 
delightful individual with many varied interests. His personal travel 
takes him all over the globe, and he delights in bringing back stories 
and artifacts and building upon his knowledge of interesting food and 
diverse architecture. I have enjoyed working with Roger over these many 
years, admiring his irrepressible spirit and respecting his talent.
  As a friend and a colleague, Roger will be missed on our committee. I 
join with his many friends in wishing him the best in his retirement.


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