[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 24, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H10973-H10974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO CARLOS J. MOORHEAD AND ANTHONY C. BEILENSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Brown] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from California 
[Mr. Dreier] and I both want to say a few words about two of our 
retiring Members. At this late date in the session, it is becoming 
increasingly difficult to find the time to do that. So we are going to 
do our best, with each of us taking 5 minutes, to recognize the two 
distinguished senior Members of the California delegation who are 
retiring.
  I want to take this opportunity to focus attention on the public 
service of Congressman Carlos Moorhead and Congressman Tony Beilenson. 
They have both served the Nation and the State of California and 
Congress for over two decades. They will both be very greatly missed.
  Tony and Carlos represent a special type of Member who is willing to 
work with colleagues of any political persuasion in order to get good 
things done here in the Congress. Each has weathered some criticism 
within their respective political parties for this tendency toward 
supporting good government. But it is that special approach to 
government that has earned them the affection of their colleagues and 
their constituents, and, of course, the great respect of those 
colleagues and constituents.

  Congressman Moorhead came to Congress at the start of the 93d 
Congress in 1973 after serving in the California Assembly for 6 years. 
Carlos has been a strong voice on the Commerce and Judiciary Committees 
from the Southern California region and has been an effective advocate 
for our entertainment industry in both of these committees. But Carlos 
has been best known as a leader within the delegation who, as dean of 
the Republican delegation, has been willing to work with anyone on 
issues of importance to the State of California.
  As chairman of the California Democratic Congressional delegation, it 
has been a joy for me to work with Carlos on those issues where we can 
toss aside our party labels and simply become advocates for what is 
best for California.
  Congressman Beilenson came to Congress after 14 years in the 
California State Assembly and Senate, starting with the 95th Congress 
in 1977. Tony has been a strong voice for principle and reason in an 
institution that at times at least seems to lack both qualities.
  As a member of the Committee on Rules, he has had the opportunity to 
show all of us how important those qualities are in the day-to-day 
operations of the Congress. Many times when I have been faced with 
tough fights involving institutional reform, it has been reassuring to 
look up at the Committee on Rules and to see Tony sitting on the dais. 
If nothing else, I knew that he would give me a fair hearing on my 
ideas.
  Both Carlos and Tony have been friends and colleagues of mine for 
much longer than two decades. I have enjoyed working with both of them, 
and I will miss them. But as one who has at times contemplated leaving 
this institution, I understand their desire to move on to a simpler 
lifestyle. This is a greatly changed institution from the one that they 
entered in the 1970's, and I am not referring to the changes that took 
place 2 years ago. This is an institution that has trouble rewarding 
the independent-minded person who struggles to represent their 
constituents as they see best, not as some committee chair or party 
leader feels would be best.

[[Page H10974]]

  There are fewer people like Carlos and Tony today, and tomorrow and 
in the next session of Congress there will be two fewer, and we will 
all be lessened by that. Carlos and Tony, I wish you well, and thank 
you for your service on behalf of California.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield to my good friend, 
the gentleman from California, Mr. Dreier.

                          ____________________