[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E37]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SALUTE TO JAMES JOHN LENIHAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 1997

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker. In an era when hard work and dedication to 
the public good sometimes seem outdated, we need to be reminded what 
personal character and long-term commitment mean. It is the men and 
woman who work hard, raise children and contribute to the quality of 
their neighbor's lives who are the true heroes of American life.
  Jim Lenihan is such a person. Jim graduated from the University of 
San Francisco, married his wife, Nancy, and began a long and successful 
career in the insurance business which lasted forty years. During this 
time, Jim and Nancy raised their five children, while Jim found time to 
engage in a host of civic activities in Mountain View and Santa Clara 
County. A dedicated family man who also worked hard to give back to his 
community, Jim is much loved in Mountain View. In 1960, Jim began his 
other career in the water resources field by being elected Board 
Director of the Santa Clara Valley Water Conservation District, the 
predecessor to today's Santa Clara Valley Water District in San Jose, 
CA.
  Jim has served for 36 years on the Santa Clara Valley Water District 
Board as a guiding force for thoughtful water resources management. 
During his tenure, Jim had a leading role in the critical decisions 
facing the District in the development of a reliable water supply for 
the County. Specifically, Jim was involved in the development of the 
San Felipe Water Importation System, the Guadalupe River Flood Control 
Project, the State Water Project and a host of state and federal water 
policy issues. His early involvement and effective leadership to secure 
local, state and federal finding in support of the State Water Project 
and the federal Central Valley Project has helped make Santa Clara 
County and the State of California leaders in the stewardship of our 
water resources. One of Jim's key successes and one which our County 
long profit from was Jim's hands-on involvement and support for the 
approval and construction of the San Felipe Division of the Central 
Valley Project. This project, for the first time, brought federal water 
into our County. His leadership was critical at a time when many did 
not think it was possible to overcome all the hurdles involved in 
bringing Federal water to our area. But Jim did.
  Throughout his career, the governors of California have sought out 
Jim's counsel and leadership naming him to numerous boards and task 
forces on California's more difficult water issues ranging from Auburn 
Dam to the transfer of the Central Valley Project to the state. Jim 
also served for ten critical years as a governor's appointee to the 
California Water Commission. This assignment brought him to Washington 
to make California's case for increased funding for our water 
initiatives. Many stories are told of Jim's tenacious, but thoughtful 
support for California's projects among the appropriations committee 
staff and federal agencies--and what a difference he made.
  I was privileged to see Jim in action last spring as he led a San 
Jose contingent to Washington to make the case for key funding levels 
for the Guadalupe River Project. His sincere feeling for the protection 
of his constituents, coupled with his knowledge of the appropriations 
process and his Irish wit and good humor made for a winning 
combination. This enabled the County's federal representatives to 
secure federal funding in difficult financial times. Jim's been working 
his magic for our County now for 36 years--we cannot afford for him to 
retire.
  But retire he will in late January 1997 to Watsonville, CA, with 
Nancy where he will enjoy his five children and plan for the next phase 
of his tremendous career. We know Jim will stay involved in California 
water issues and as the County's elder statesman on water policy, we 
look forward to calling on him for his wisdom and insight in the years 
ahead.
  And so Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my fellow Californians' 
utmost gratitude to Mr. Jim Lenihan for a job well-done earning him a 
list of sterling achievements rarely matched among our state's leaders 
in water policy development.

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