[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1863-E1864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO ANDY JACOBS AND JOHN MYERS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 1996

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the long and 
illustrious careers of my distinguished colleagues and good friends, 
Andy Jacobs and John Myers. I have had the honor of serving with John 
and Andy since I was first elected to join Indiana's congressional 
delegation in 1984. Before that, I got to know them when I worked on 
the staff of the late Adam Benjamin, Jr. Andy and John have always 
demonstrated that they are men of impeccable character, honesty, and 
integrity. Indeed, Indiana and the Nation are fortunate to have had 
these two honorable and capable individuals representing their 
interests in the U.S. Congress for the past three decades.
  Since he was first elected to represent Indiana's Tenth Congressional 
District in 1964, Andy Jacobs has been a tremendous legislator. As a 
new Member of Congress, he helped to write the 1965 Voting Rights Act 
and led the House debate to help get the United States out of Vietnam. 
A member of the Ways

[[Page E1864]]

and Means Committee, Andy quickly developed an expertise in Medicare 
and Social Security, and he worked tirelessly to help improve the lives 
of millions of America's senior citizens. During his tenure in the 
House, he served as chairman of both the Health, Medicare, and Social 
Security Subcommittees. In this capacity, he was able to strengthen and 
enhance the Social Security Administration and the Medicare Program. 
Widely recognized as one of the most frugal Members of Congress, Andy 
put his money where his mouth is by being an early proponent of a 
balanced budget constitutional amendment.
  the third most senior Republican in the House and the GOP Dean of 
Indiana's congressional delegation, John Myers has served in the House 
since 1966, when he was first elected to represent Indiana's Seventh 
Congressional District. Over the years, John has earned the reputation 
as a staunch fiscal conservative, and he takes pride in the fact that 
he has never voted for a tax increase.
  John's leadership on the Appropriations Committee has been 
particularly distinguished. Since he began his service on the committee 
in 1970, John has compiled a remarkable legislative record, punctuated 
by fairness and bipartisanship. Throughout his career, and, most 
recently, as chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee, he has used 
his experience to craft needed flood control projects for his farming-
intensive district. However, John's work on the subcommittee goes 
beyond helping out his constituents. He has been a long-time advocate 
for high-technology research, including progress in new cancer 
treatments, plant biodiversity, superconductivity, and general science 
at Purdue, Indiana State, and other Indiana universities.
  Andy Jacobs and John Myers will be sorely missed after they retire at 
the end of the 104th Congress. Indiana and the Nation will lose the 
invaluable experience of their combined 60 years in the U.S. Congress. 
I am happy, however, that Andy and John can look forward to spending 
plenty of time with their families. I would like to convey my best 
wishes to Andy's wife, Kim, and their two boys, Andy and Steve. I would 
also like to tell John and his wife, Carol, that they are lucky to have 
more time to spend with their two daughters, Carol Ann and Lori, and 
their two grandsons, Justin and Austin.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Andy Jacobs and John 
Myers for all they have done for me during my tenure in the Congress. 
In addition to being fonts of wisdom and experience, they were always 
there for me when I needed them--first and foremost as friends. John 
and Andy, I am a better person, a better legislator, and a better 
father, because I have known you. I wish both of you good and decent 
men every joy and happiness in life.

                          ____________________