[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 170 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       A TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF FORMER MEMBER OF CONGRESS B.F. SISK

                                 ______


                         HON. CALVIN M. DOOLEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 31, 1995

  Mr. DOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in 
remembering a former Member of this body and a true leader from 
California's Central Valley, B.F. Sisk, who died last week at the age 
of 84. As one who follows the tradition of moderate Democrats from 
central California who are dedicated to furthering the cause of valley 
agriculture that Mr. Sisk helped establish, it is an honor for me to 
offer this tribute.
  Mr. Sisk ran for Congress in 1954 while working as a tire salesman in 
Fresno and went on to become one of the most influential Members of the 
House by the time he retired in 1978. His contributions ranged from 
serving on the House panel that led the way to our country landing on 
the Moon to being one of the Rules Committee members who ensured that 
President Kennedy's civil rights and education initiatives were 
enacted.
  But back home, Mr. Sisk was perhaps best known for his dogged work 
that led to the building of the San Luis unit of the Central Valley 
project. The San Luis unit includes 115 miles of canals and the 2 
million acre-foot San Luis Reservoir--the largest reservoir in the 
world without a natural stream.
  Because of the San Luis unit, millions of acres of farmland on the 
valley's west side have been brought into production. It is now one of 
the most productive agricultural regions of the world. In honor of Mr. 
Sisk's leadership, the dam creating the San Luis Reservoir has been 
renamed the B.F. Sisk Dam.
  Along with a host of other projects he helped bring to the valley, 
Mr. Sisk also left behind a political legacy. One of his top aides, 
Tony Coelho, was elected to replace Mr. Sisk when he retired in 1978. 
As we all know, Mr. Coelho went on to become the House majority whip. 
Throughout his career, Mr. Coelho cited the mentorship of Mr. Sisk as 
one of the keys to his success.
  Less directly, Mr. Sisk also had an impact on many current Members of 
Congress, myself included. He set an example of a nonpartisan, moderate 
Democrat who put accomplishments for his district ahead of party 
politics. It is an example that I and many others have tried to follow.
  Again, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the memory 
of B.F. Sisk.

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