[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 19, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13750-S13751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE DEATH OF STATE SENATOR JOHN PLEWA

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am deeply saddened by the loss of a 
dear friend and former colleague, State Senator John Plewa.
  I had the pleasure of serving with John in the legislature for 10 
years, and for 8 of them in the State senate. He represented the people 
of Wisconsin, first in the assembly, and then in the 

[[Page S13751]]
State senate, with dedication and devotion, and his constituents 
returned him to office at every election since he was first elected in 
1972. At the time of his death, John had the fourth longest tenure 
among lawmakers currently serving in the Wisconsin Legislature.
  John was a lifelong resident of Milwaukee, graduating from Don Bosco 
High School in 1963. He earned a bachelor of education degree in 1968 
at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and following that, taught 
history and social studies at Milwaukee Area Technical College prior to 
his service in the legislature.
  A committed and passionate advocate for Wisconsin's families, John 
may be best remembered as the father of Wisconsin's family and medical 
leave law, which allows people to take time off from their job to 
provide assistance to a family member needing care, from newborns to an 
elderly relative--a law that helped pave the way for the Federal family 
leave law that was enacted in 1993.
  His commitment to families in need went well beyond the family leave 
law. John was vice chair of the Senate Aging Committee when I chaired 
that body, and I saw first-hand his steadfast and effective support of 
long-term care reforms that help people with disabilities of all ages 
remain in their own homes with their families.
  John was also vitally concerned with housing policy, serving on the 
board of Wisconsin's Housing and Economic Development Authority for 10 
years. I had the pleasure of working with John in this area as well 
when we coauthored Wisconsin's Housing Trust Fund, to provide flexible 
help to families in need of decent, affordable housing.
  John would have been 50 years old this Friday. But even though he did 
not live to celebrate that anniversary, he left Wisconsin an impressive 
legacy.
  Today, thousands are able to take time from work to care for a family 
member without the fear of losing that job. Other families are finally 
able to afford a decent home. Wisconsin families, who otherwise might 
be forced apart because of a long-term disability, are able to remain 
together, and individuals needing long-term care, who otherwise might 
be forced to seek services in an institution, are able to remain in 
their homes. All because of John Plewa. Wisconsin families have lost 
one of their foremost champions, and I know they join in offering their 
sympathy to the friends and colleagues John leaves behind, to his 
staff, and most especially to John's wife Susan and their two sons.
  We will miss him.

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