[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E5]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO JIM HARKINS

                                 ______


                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 3, 1996

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, as chance would have it, the end of 1995 
brought about not only the elimination of the Interstate Commerce 
Commission but the retirement from the Regular Common Carrier 
Conference [RCCC] of a friend to many of us, Jim Harkins.
  While Jim has had a long and distinguished career in the freight 
transportation industry, including stints in the railroad industry and 
with a major shipper, many of us first came to know him in his capacity 
from 1967 through 1985 as executive director of the Traffic Department 
of the American Trucking Associations and of the National Motor Freight 
Traffic Association. It was probably from Jim that many of us who know 
anything about freight classification learned it.
  In 1985, Jim became executive director of the RCCC. In that capacity, 
he has been an articulate, knowledgeable, and effective spokesman from 
the less-than-truckload segment of the motor carrier industry.
  Although Jim is leaving RCCC, I am sure that we will continue to hear 
from him on matters related to freight transportation in this country. 
I also hope that Jim and his wife Lucille will have more opportunity to 
enjoy a relaxed life in Maryland and Florida with their four children, 
and of course, their grandchildren.
  It has been indeed a great pleasure for this gentleman from West 
Virginia to have worked closely with Jim Harkins. On behalf of the many 
members of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, and the full 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, who know Jim, I wish 
him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________