[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMEN ROBERT S. WALKER AND WILLIAM F. CLINGER, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 1996

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join with my colleagues to 
pay tribute to two of my very esteemed retiring colleagues from the 
other side of the Mason-Dixon line, Congressman Robert S. Walker, 
chairman of the Science Committee, and Congressman William F. Clinger, 
Jr., chairman of the Government Reform and Oversight Committee.
  The extraordinary years of public service of these two men have 
strengthened the principles of democracy which governs our Nation. Bob 
Walker has acted as our tireless parliamentary floor leader protecting 
our rights when we were in the minority and has been a leader in 
developing the U.S. science and technology policy. Bill Clinger has 
served the role of the administration watchdog, providing vigilant 
oversight and preserving the system of checks and balances--so 
important to our system of Government.
  These two distinguished careers have been capped with their 
chairmanships, in this Congress, of the Science and Government Reform 
and Oversight Committees. As a member of both of their committees, 
these two gentlemen from Pennsylvania have had a deep and profound 
impact during my years here in Congress.
  I have always treasured their insightful wisdom, their deliberate 
guidance, their sage counsel, and their continual courtesies. I wish 
them much health and happiness in their future as they conclude their 
congressional careers.
  Like Bob Walker, I have served on the House Science Committee since 
my first year in office--except Bob began in 1976, 10 years before I 
did. This year, he became the first Republican chairman in the history 
of the Science Committee, which is one of the largest in the House. I 
am honored to serve with Bob as his chair of the Technology 
Subcommittee.
  The Technology Subcommittee has jurisdiction over our Nation's 
technology and competitiveness policy. Bob has been a strong supporter 
of enhancing our Nation's ability to compete in the global marketplace 
and has endorsed efforts to create a better economic climate for the 
development of new technologies. Bob's support was crucial in the 
enactment into law of The National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1996, legislation which I authored.

  During his tenure on the Science Committee, Bob has been a strong 
advocate of basic research. Through the years, he has been a consistent 
and principled advocate for his views on science and technology policy. 
As the chairman, Bob has focused on returning Federal research and 
development priorities to basic research.
  As a former social studies teacher, Bob has been an avid promoter of 
math and science education. He has been a consistent and enthusiastic 
supporter of a manned space program and has led bipartisan whip teams 
to victory over many funding battles regarding the space station on the 
House floor.
  Bob views space as an economic frontier that must be explored, and 
believes that the future of space and aeronautical research will rely 
on partnerships and relationships of the Federal research enterprise 
with entrepreneurs using risk capital to leverage Government 
capability. He is the author of a number of initiatives to promote 
space commercialization.
  As chairman, Bob shepherded the Risk Assessment and Cost Benefit 
Analysis Act of 1995, which was part of the Contract With America, and 
the Hydrogen Future Act through the committee and the full House.
  He also took the unprecedented step of securing House passage of all 
the committee's authorization bills in this Congress, thereby elevating 
science in the authorization process. Not only has this been unequaled 
in the committee, but Bob is also one of the few committee chairmen to 
have that distinction.
  Additionally, I was very pleased to work closely with Bob to ensure 
environmental protection of Antarctica. Bob successfully pushed for 
House passage of the Antarctic Environmental Protection Act of 1996, 
which we expect the President to sign shortly.
  This bill would provide the necessary legislative authority for the 
United States to implement the 1991 Environment Protocol to the 
Antarctic Treaty and preserve that fragile ecosystem for science and 
research.
  In the committee, Bob has held a number of future-oriented hearings 
to discuss the importance of science and technology to our country.
  There is a plaque hanging on the wall in our committee room which 
reminds us each time we enter that, ``Where there is no vision, the 
people perish.'' (Proverbs 29:18) In his tenure on the committee, Bob 
has had a vision and he has, indeed, touched and influenced the future.
  I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve with Bob on the 
Science Committee over the years. Good luck to you, Bob, and to Sue, as 
you return back to Lancaster.
  It has also been an extreme pleasure to work with Bill Clinger during 
the last 10 years that we have both served in the Congress, especially 
in the past 2 years on the Government Reform and Oversight Committee.
  As chairman Bill has been an outstanding leader. His commitment to 
good Government has been unwavering.
  While his recent oversight work has received much attention, I want 
to remind my colleagues of the unglamorous, detail-oriented oversight 
work that he has spent the majority of his time pursuing--that is, 
ensuring that our tax dollars are well spent and our Government is 
operating as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
  Under his leadership, the Government Reform and Oversight Committee 
has tackled a wide range of important issues, including Federal 
employee benefits, Medicare and Medicaid fraud, FDA oversight, the war 
on drugs, teenage pregnancy prevention, unfunded mandates, the year 
2000 computer crisis, and Federal agency oversight.
  If it were not for Bill's thorough work, we would have never known 
the extent of the mistreatment of the White House Travel Office 
employees or the improper White House requests for over 700 FBI files 
of former Bush and Reagan employees.
  I have enjoyed working with Bill very much, and I especially want to 
commend him for his fairness. I appreciate his willingness to listen to 
the sometimes dissenting views of his colleagues.
  The Fifth District of Pennsylvania has been extremely well served for 
the last 18 years, and the Government Reform and Oversight Committee is 
losing a great leader. I will miss Bill as a leader and a friend, and I 
wish him, and his wife, Judy, all the best as he leaves Capitol Hill.

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