[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H15158-H15160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  EDWARD MADIGAN POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill, H.R. 1880, to designate the United States Post Office located at 
102 South McLean, Lincoln, Illinois, as the ``Edward Madigan Post 
Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1880

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The United States Post Office building located at 102 South 
     McLean, Lincoln, Illinois, shall be known and designated as 
     the ``Edward Madigan Post Office Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     Post Office building referred to in section 1 shall be deemed 
     to be a reference to the ``Edward Madigan Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. McHugh] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentlewoman from Michigan [Miss Collins] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York [Mr. McHugh].
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the measure before us was voted on favorably by the 
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1880 
was introduced by Representative Ray LaHood of Illinois and it is 
cosponsored by the entire House Delegation of the State of Illinois per 
the requirement of the committee rules.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1880 honors the late Edward Madigan. Mr. Madigan 
was a respected member of this body and was elected to the U.S. House 
of Representatives 10 times by his Illinois constituents. While serving 
in the House, Mr. Madigan became the ranking Republican member on the 
Agriculture Committee in the 98th Congress. In 1991, President Bush 
nominated Mr. Madigan to be the 24th Secretary of Agriculture; he was 
confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 99 to 0. Mr. Madigan was a native 
of Lincoln, IL, and a graduate of Lincoln College.
  I urge all our colleagues to support H.R. 1880.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1880, legislation sponsored by 
the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. LaHood] designating the U.S. Post 
Office building located at 102 South McLean in Lincoln, IL, as the 
``Edward Madigan Post Office Building.''
  Former Congressman Edward Madigan had a very distinguished career in 
Congress, and he was well known for his ability to influence people and 
secure results. Congressional Quarterly's Politics in America described 
him best by saying, ``Madigan does not often have to resort to 
obstructionist tactics because usually he has a well-placed seat at the 
bargaining table.''
  Being a smart, savvy and skillful legislator certainly paid off for 
Congressman Madigan. I am pleased to support the naming of a post 
office in his hometown after such a man.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from Illinois [Mrs. Collins], the ranking member of the Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight.
  (Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1880, legislation sponsored by 
Congressman LaHood, designating the U.S. Post Office building located 
at 102 South McLean, in Lincoln, IL, as the ``Edward Madigan Post 
Office Building.'' As a cosponsor of this measure, I am pleased we have 
chosen to honor a postal facility after former Congressman Madigan in 
his hometown of Lincoln, IL.
  Ed Madigan was a fighter. He was also a skillful and successful 
negotiator, using his influence and leadership to move legislation 
through committee and on the floor. His sphere of influence included 
the House Agriculture Committee and the former House Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health and the Environment where 
he served as the ranking minority member. I was pleased to have served 
with him on the Energy and Commerce Committee.
  Congressman Madigan was relentless in his pursuit of workable and 
sensible compromise legislation. I am sorry he is not around in the 
104th Congress. Many of my colleagues could have taken pointers on his 
style and method of conducting legislative business.
  Former Congressman Ed Madigan was a man of integrity and a person 
comfortable with having an open mind and speaking and acting his 
conscience. I fear those characteristics are becoming a lost art in 
this Congress. So, as we consider this measure, I urge my colleagues to 
remember Ed Madigan. We could all benefit from such a refreshing change 
in the manner in which we treat each other and pass legislation.

                              {time}  1745

  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. de la Garza], ranking member 
of the Committee on Agriculture.
  Mr. De La GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation 
and commend the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. LaHood] and those that 
have joined him in introducing it.

[[Page H15159]]

  I had the great privilege to know Ed Madigan as a friend, as a fellow 
colleague, and then we had the responsibility of the Committee on 
Agriculture, I as chairman and he as ranking member. We worked together 
as a team. We left the imprints from the Committee on Agriculture on 
the future of thousands, not only in the United States but throughout 
the world. Ed Madigan was certainly a person that I enjoyed working 
with. We had many opportunities to have legislation on the floor.
  Finally, I would like to say on a lighter note that we went to Spain, 
I to look for my Spanish roots, and then we went to Ireland, he to look 
for his Irish roots. When we went to Spain, to northern Spain to 
Galicia, I went there to find out that they say they are Celtic, that 
they are not Spanish. So I came back a Celt. We went to Ireland looking 
for Mr. Madigan's roots and found out that there was no Madigan name in 
the Irish genealogy chart, that it had been formerly a Spanish name, 
Madegano. So, Madigan came back a Spaniard, and I came back a Celt, but 
we continued our relationship on the committee.
  I think it is very appropriate that a Federal building will bear his 
name for all to see and hopefully to remember the major contribution 
that he made to this country, to his district, and to the world.
  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. LaHood], the prime sponsor of this 
legislation.
  (Mr. LaHOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for allowing 
me this time.
  It is a very proud moment in my very short legislative career here to 
say that the first bill that I have introduced and will be passed is a 
bill in honor of a dear friend of so many Members on both sides of the 
aisle, former Congressman Ed Madigan. The Madigan family resides in my 
congressional district in Lincoln, IL. I am proud to call a number of 
members of his family my constituents. I know that the people of 
Lincoln, IL are going to be very proud to see his name emblazoned above 
the post office in Lincoln, IL, because he is Lincoln. He represented 
Lincoln, IL so well.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support today of H.R. 1880, the Edward Madigan 
Post Office Designation Act of 1995.
  It is, indeed, a privilege to be on the floor speaking on behalf of 
this measure commemorating Edward Madigan, a Congressman, a Cabinet 
Secretary, and above all, a respected citizen of the State of Illinois.
  This bill honors not only a great legislator--one that made 
significant contributions to this institution and this country--but, 
this bill, also honors the citizens of Edward Madigan's hometown, 
Lincoln, IL.
  Mr. Madigan's career in public service is impressive: He served in 
the U.S. House of Representatives for 18 years. And, during those 18 
years, he rose to the rank of chief deputy whip and ranking member of 
the Committee on Agriculture.
  His expertise in agricultural issues was duly recognized in January 
1991 when he was appointed by President Bush to the post of Secretary 
of Agriculture.
  Throughout his career, Mr. Madigan conducted himself with integrity 
and with decency, and I urge all Members to support H.R. 1880 so that 
we may rightfully honor Edward Madigan, his family, and his hometown.
  This bill is but a small tribute to one of Illinois' finest public 
servants. The legacy of leadership and service that Edward Madigan left 
to Illinois, and to this Nation, will not be soon forgotten.
  And, if one takes a look at Mr. Madigan's career, it is easy to see 
why; his achievements were eminently impressive.
  Mr. Madigan's public service career spanned nearly 30 years, with 
service to both the State of Illinois and the U.S. Government.
  He began in 1966 as a member of the Illinois State House of 
Representatives, where he served with distinction for 6 years.
  Carrying forward his experience and knowledge that he gained in the 
State House, Mr. Madigan moved on to the U.S. House of Representatives 
in 1973, where he served for 18 years.
  During his tenure in Congress, Mr. Madigan ascended to various 
leadership positions, including ranking member of the Committee on 
Agriculture and chief deputy whip.
  Mr. Madigan's accomplishments as a member of Congress were also 
impressive.
  In 1985 and 1990, as the ranking member of the Committee on 
Agriculture, he was instrumental in shepherding two farm bills through 
the House of Representatives.
  He also led the effort to protect farm income and expand export 
markets.
  In 1990, as part of the Clean Air Act amendments, Mr. Madigan, as a 
senior member of the energy and Commerce Committee, put forth 
legislation that would encourage the use of alternative fuels, such as 
ethanol.
  Other accomplishments of Mr. Madigan include legislation that helped 
deregulate the railroad freight industry, as well as legislation that 
helped bring stability to the Rural Electrification Administration 
revolving fund.
  He also worked hard to improve health care in rural areas and was 
instrumental in creating a nursing research center at the National 
Institutes of Health.
  These, and many other legislative initiatives, owe their success, in 
no small part, to Mr. Madigan's relentless determination and 
exceptional leadership.
  Just as Mr. Madigan's experiences in the Illinois State House served 
him well in the House of Representatives, his experiences gained in 
Congress proved to be a tremendous asset when he was appointed in 
January 1991 to be the Secretary of Agriculture under former President 
George Bush.
  Confirmed by the Senate on March 8, 1991, by a vote of 99 to 0, Mr. 
Madigan served with great regard as a member of the Cabinet.
  During Mr. Madigan's tenure as Secretary of Agriculture, he lead the 
agricultural negotiations during the discussions on the General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and he was responsible for overseeing 
agricultural aid to the Republics of the former Soviet Union.
  And, as with his service in Congress, Mr. Madigan always placed the 
needs of the public first.
  Perhaps, the former House minority leader Bob Michel, best summed up 
Mr. Madigan's legacy when he remarked at Mr. Madigan's funeral that 
``Ed Madigan's life is the answer to give to those who doubt that a 
genuine sense of public service still lives in this country.''
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 1880.
  Passage of this bill will bring great honor to the Madigan family and 
the citizens of Lincoln, IL, and will help preserve the legacy of 
Edward Madigan's distinguished public service.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. LaHOOD. I yield to the gentleman from Kansas, distinguished 
chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, a friend of Ed Madigan's.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Speaker, I associate myself with the gentleman's 
timely remarks and his tribute and for his leadership in naming Ed's 
hometown post office in his name.
  He was a good friend, a colleague and a mentor for many of us. Like 
Mr. de la Garza, the distinguished gentleman from Texas, the chairman 
emeritus of the committee, has indicated, we have worked together long 
and hard on many matters in regard to farmers and ranchers and 
agriculture in general.
  I would think the gentleman from Illinois is certainly following his 
example on the House Committee on Agriculture in terms of his demeanor 
and in working hard for agriculture and his farmers and ranchers. I 
would only add that Ed Madigan is now certainly sorely missed by his 
friends and colleagues. We certainly need him in the midst of the 
agriculture debate that we are having in regard to the reconciliation 
bill.
  One thought is that I would not be surprised if the good citizens of 
his hometown of Lincoln, IL, will now be assured of the best postal 
service of any in the country. Ed would not have it any other way.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Ewing].
  (Mr. EWING asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I had the distinct privilege of following Ed 
Madigan to this body after he became Secretary of Agriculture. Ed 
Madigan and I were born in the same county, in the same year, grew up 
in the same time. Our families were friends throughout our lives.
  I did not know Ed as well as a young man as I got to know him later. 
Our political careers paralleled themselves, and it was in the general 
assembly, and he came to Congress. But I have represented that county 
when I first came here before reapportionment. I had most of the old Ed 
Madigan district.

[[Page H15160]]

  He was, indeed, revered by the people he served. He did an excellent 
job in his work here in the Congress and in representing the people 
from our district. He was, of course, a marvel on the stump because he 
could tell such great Irish jokes, even if he was not Irish. If he was 
Spanish, he told great Irish jokes. He had a number of jokes about my 
father, who was a horse trader, who had supposedly taken his father on 
a bad horse deal. But we had so many memorable occasions.
  He was indeed a great Congressman, a great leader. His wife Evelyn is 
back in Lincoln. He has a daughter who lives in my district. They are 
great people. His brother is a State senator, and I know that they will 
be indeed proud for the tribute today to Ed Madigan and to have this 
post office as a living and continuing memorial.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1880, which 
officially renames the U.S. Post Office building located at 102 South 
McLean in Lincoln, IL, in honor of Edward Madigan.
  Ed Madigan served the citizens of central Illinois with great 
distinction during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, and 
later as President Bush's Secretary of Agriculture. Although Ed is 
sadly no longer with us, his service, dedication, honor, charisma, and 
love of family continue to inspire each of us and should serve as a 
role model for all to follow.
  As the Member of Congress who followed Ed Madigan into office, I want 
to take just a moment to share some of Ed Madigan's life with the 
House. Ed was born on January 13, 1936, and he remained a life-long 
resident of Lincoln, IL. He was first elected to the Illinois House of 
Representatives in 1966, where he served for 6 years until he was 
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972. Ed continued to 
serve the citizens of central Illinois in the House until he accepted 
President Bush's invitation to serve as our Nation's 24th Secretary of 
Agriculture.
  In such a short time it is difficult to appropriately commemorate Ed 
Madigan's distinguished public service and personal richness, but I 
think H.R. 1880 embodies a fitting tribute to our dear former 
colleague. Although current residents of Lincoln need no reminder of 
who Ed Madigan was, Ed Madigan deserves to be properly memorialized in 
the town and amongst the people he loved and served so proudly.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1880.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Hastert], esteemed deputy majority whip.
  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I can remember coming to the Congress, and 
Ed Madigan would sit over there on the side. If you needed some wisdom 
or if he thought you needed a little wisdom, he would have you come 
over and sit down. We would have a little talk, and I learned a lot 
from Ed Madigan. He certainly was sage. He was wise.
  I think he was a politician in the finest sense of the word 
politician. He knew how to make a deal. He knew how to bring people 
into the picture. He knew how to compromise. He knew how to put things 
together.
  I tell the story, I guess it links up with something the gentleman 
from Illinois [Mr. Ewing] was talking about. We talked about his 
heritage a lot, growing up in Lincoln, IL. I guess his father, too, was 
a horse trader, and they had a livery business. That meant you rented 
out horses. That livery business grew into a taxicab business. Ed's 
first job was to run the taxicab in Lincoln, IL.
  Out of that he had a fondness of cars. He especially had a fondness 
for Packard automobiles. I do not know how many taxicabs were Packards 
back then. Anyway, he collected Packard automobiles. But the stories 
that he told about the livery business and horse trading, I guess if 
you ever got into a deal with Ed Madigan, you knew that he was a pretty 
good horse trader.
  He knew how to make a deal, and he knew the value of what he was 
putting together. He certainly was a valued Member of this Congress in 
both the Committee on Energy and Commerce, which I had the privilege of 
serving with him, and also in the Ag Committee. He, as I said, was a 
Member who was a Member's Member. He could put things together. He 
understands people.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HASTERT. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding to me.
  I want to join my colleagues in this tribute and thank the gentleman 
for naming this Federal post office facility for our former colleague, 
Ed Madigan. I think the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Hastert] has 
touched upon what many of us felt about Congressman Madigan, and that 
was his wisdom. And he was wise. He would offer some advice sometimes 
when he thought maybe you had gone a little too far one way or another.
  I happened to share an area in the House gymnasium, and, even when he 
was Secretary of Agriculture, he would come in late at night. We would 
talk about what it was like to be Secretary of Agriculture and about 
the House. He was a Member's Member.
  He had a great sense of individuals, of personalities, of the needs 
of people. Maybe sometimes when this place got a little off track, Ed 
Madigan was one of the people that would try to bring us back and to be 
a little bit more civil and understanding of one another.
  I just wanted to associate myself with the gentleman's remarks and 
thank him.
  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I guess in closing we will remember Ed as a 
gentle man, a man of great humility, a man who had a great sense about 
this House and the history of this House, and certainly aptly coming 
from a town named after Abraham Lincoln.
  I served with Ed's brother who served in the Illinois House and now 
in the Illinois Senate. I certainly stand with a great deal of pride 
with that family knowing this post office in Lincoln, IL, will be named 
after Ed and wish them very, very well.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation 
and in tribute to a good friend and a great leader, Ed Madigan.
  Ed left his mark on this institution and this Nation through his 
thoughtful leadership and quiet effectiveness. Both as a Member of the 
House and as our Secretary of Agriculture under President Bush, Ed's 
expertise and common sense helped guide America toward a sound farm 
policy. Ed Madigan provided me with a great deal of guidance on 
Agriculture issues and helped me to learn and understand the needs of 
the farmers and how to approach these issues.
  But beyond his wise judgment, I will always cherish Ed's great 
strength of character and his personal warmth. He was not only a leader 
who informed our debates, but a friend whose great courage in facing 
cancer inspired all of us. He was not only a representative who knew 
how to get the job done, but someone who knew how to keep things in 
perspective.
  Ed was a consummate legislator and--both in his role as ranking 
member of the full House Agriculture Committee, and of Energy and 
Commerce Health Subcommittee--he understood how to obtain bipartisan 
agreement on contentious matters, a skill that is unfortunately too 
often in short supply in this body.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman for bringing this legislation to 
the floor today, it is a fitting tribute to a great American and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). The question is 
on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. McHugh] that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1880.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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