[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO HAMILTON FISH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 1996

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, as you well know, one of our great 
colleagues recently passed away, Hamilton Fish, Jr. During a memorial 
service held in his behalf, Ralph Neas of the leadership conference on 
civil rights delivered eloquent remarks which I am inserting into the 
Record at this point:

   Remarks of Ralph G. Neas at the Memorial Service for Congressman 
                           Hamilton Fish. Jr.

       Mary Ann, Hamilton, Alexa, Nicholas, Peter, others in the 
     Fish family, Speaker Gingrich, Members of Congress, and 
     distinguished guests, I am profoundly grateful and deeply 
     honored to have this opportunity to help celebrate the 
     extraordinary life and legislative career of Congressman 
     Hamilton Fish, Jr.
       As the Executive Director of the Leadership Conference on 
     Civil Rights, the legislative arm of the civil rights 
     movement, I had the privilege of working with Ham Fish on 
     nearly two dozen legislative campaigns between 1981 and 1995. 
     Hamilton Fish was a civil rights champion, a mentor, and a 
     close friend.
       During the past week, the press coverage of Ham's thirteen 
     terms in Congress has accurately characterized his personal 
     integrity, his principled leadership, and his courageous 
     commitment to equal opportunity for all Americans.
       But, frankly, what I have read does not capture the sheer 
     magnitude of Ham Fish's legislative accomplishments or, very 
     importantly, the manner in which he achieved them. For a few 
     minutes, I would like to share with you my perspective on 
     this great man.
       First, let us look at Ham Fish's civil rights record. It 
     was legendary in its scope and breadth. Propelled by an 
     awesome sense of justice and a determination not to rest 
     until he had completed his mission, Ham Fish played an 
     important role in virtuality every civil rights law enacted 
     over the past two and a half decades.
       Even during the Reagan and Bush presidencies, when Ham 
     often faced formidable odds, he helped shepherd through 
     Congress nearly a score of civil rights laws. Indeed, during 
     this remarkable era, Ham, along with Don Edwards, his 
     Democratic partner in guarding the Constitution, actually 
     strengthened all the major civil rights statutes.
       To sum up all these legislative successes would take up 
     most of the morning. But I would like to mention specifically 
     five landmark laws where Ham Fish was either the House author 
     or the lead Republican sponsor. And, with respect to several 
     of them. Ham was the legislator who fashioned the bipartisan 
     compromise that catapulted the bill toward passage.
       The 1982 Voting Rights Act Extension: Extended the Voting 
     Rights Act of twenty-five years, overturned an adverse 
     Supreme Court decision, and extended for ten years bilingual 
     ballot assistance for language minorities.
       The Civil Rights Restoration Act (1988): Overturned the 
     notorious 1984 Grove City Supreme Court decision and once 
     again made it illegal to use Federal funds to discriminate 
     against women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and 
     older Americans.
       The Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988: Provided at long 
     last an effective enforcement mechanism for the 1968 Fair 
     Housing Act. The 1988 Amendments also prohibited 
     discrimination in housing against families with children and 
     people with disabilities for the first time.
       The Civil Rights Act of 1991: Overturned eight Supreme 
     Court decisions that had dramatically weakened our nation's 
     equal employment opportunity laws. And provides, for the 
     first time, monetary damages for women and persons with 
     disabilities who are victims of intentional discrimination.
       The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990): Prohibits 
     discrimination against 49 million Americans with disabilities 
     in employment, public accommodations, communications and 
     transportation.
       These historic civil rights laws have benefitted, and will 
     continue to benefit, millions of Americans. And let me state 
     this as unequivocally as possible: these laws would not have 
     been enacted without Congressman Hamilton Fish. His 
     leadership during the most challenging of times was 
     absolutely indispensable.
       But it was not just the quantity and qualify of these civil 
     rights laws, or the legislative skills that made them 
     possible, that made Hamilton Fish so special. In fact, his 
     other attributes are what truly set him apart, providing 
     standards of leadership that should serve as a model for 
     everyone.
       First, Ham Fish always understood thoroughly the need for 
     bipartisanship. He knew how to build coalitions and forge a 
     consensus. He knew the art of the timely compromise, the good 
     compromise made at the right time that will produce the 
     requisite number of votes, either a simple majority or a 
     super majority, that is needed to enact a law.
       The numerical results of the legislative victories I cited 
     previously amply demonstrate this commitment to 
     bipartisanship. The average final passage vote on these five 
     laws was 90 percent of both Houses of Congress. Thanks to Ham 
     Fish and his allies, he past decade and a half has been, 
     legislatively, a bipartisan reaffirmation of civil rights 
     laws and remedies.
       Second, while Ham Fish was passionate in his beliefs, 
     civility characterized his every action. He treated everyone 
     with dignity. Few in Washington have matched his ability to 
     command both the respect and the love of his peers. Time and 
     again he proved that a nice guy can finish first.
       Third, Ham Fish revered the institution in which he served. 
     He enjoyed immensely being a member of the House of 
     Representatives and always strove to make the House work. And 
     while the House held his primary allegiance, he also 
     respected the other institutions that comprise the Federal 
     Government.
       When the need arose, Ham Fish could be a fierce partisan. 
     But he knew that bipartisan cooperation, not partisan 
     confrontation, must ultimately prevail if government is to 
     function at all.
       Finally, and perhaps most significantly, Ham Fish was 
     courageous. Whether it was voting to impeach a President of 
     his own party or standing firm on civil rights legislation, 
     Ham Fish did what he believed to be fair and just.
       Last week, Congressman Maurice Hinchey summarized 
     eloquently how Ham carefully balanced loyalty and 
     independence in order to further the national interest. He 
     stated: ``Ham was very proud to be called a loyal Republican, 
     but he knew that loyalty does not mean surrender of one's own 
     judgment and temperament * * * He believed that he served his 
     party best when he served his country best, and that he 
     served the country best by bringing the best of his own mind 
     and heart to every issue he addressed.''
       After he retired from the House, Ham Fish continued to work 
     on behalf of his favorite issues. Just last month the two of 
     us visited Senator Nancy Kassebaum and Congressman Amo 
     Houghton lobbying on behalf of affirmative action and legal 
     services.
       As you can tell by now, I cherished my friendship with Ham. 
     He was always there to help, performing any task with 
     graceful enthusiasm. I will miss so much his warm smile, his 
     mischievous sense of humor, and his calm and gentle presence.
       As I sat praying at St. Albans chapel this morning, I 
     thanked God for allowing Katy and me the opportunity to get 
     to know Ham. And I was thankful that we all had the benefit 
     of Ham's leadership at critical moments during our nation's 
     past quarter of a century. As we leave the chapel shortly, 
     let us all pray that God will bless America with a few more 
     Ham Fishes.

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