[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DEATH OF THE HONORABLE BILL EMERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 25, 1996

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I want to rise today to praise my 
colleague and good friend, Bill Emerson, who died last Saturday after a 
brave struggle against lung cancer. Bill Emerson was a true public 
servant, who cared deeply about his congressional district as well as 
issues of global concern.
  Bill served with me on the House Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee, and we worked together on issues of regional concern for 
both Illinois and Missouri. Many of those problems which affect the 
boot heel of Missouri are also endemic to southern Illinois; the need 
for new infrastructure, good jobs and public health which is accessible 
and affordable for the people who live there. One project in particular 
which Bill and I recently worked on was Federal funding for the new 
Cape Girardeau Bridge; I join my colleagues in asking the House to name 
this bridge in Bill's honor.
  We had the opportunity to serve together for 8 years, and over those 
years I learned from Bill's way of working in a bipartisan fashion. 
Bill Emerson knew that progress is not made with just one side of the 
coin; it takes balance to keep moving forward. By working with both 
Republicans and Democrats, Bill Emerson was able to accomplish things 
for the people of his congressional district as well as the Nation.
  And the world. Bill Emerson, along with our former colleague Mickey 
Leland, fought for those people who could not fight for themselves--
people in Ethiopia, Somalia, and other countries where citizens starved 
and were too weak to make their case to those who could help. Bill 
fought for food and nutrition programs, to provide essential sustenance 
to keep people alive.
  His legacy will not soon be forgotten. But his kind manner, his 
decency, his bipartisanship, and his commitment to caring for other 
people will never be forgotten.

                          ____________________