[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 15, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH A. LeFANTE, FORMER MEMBER OF CONGRESS

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                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 15, 1997

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated 
public servant, Joseph A. LaFante of Bayonne. Congressman LeFante's 
death at age 68 was a loss for the State of the New Jersey and its 
residents.
  Joseph A. LaFante grew up in his beloved Bayonne. When he turned 16, 
he started to work full-time at a manufacturing plant. As a young man, 
he became involved with unions and attended a 3-year study program at 
St. Peter's Institute of Industrial Relations. He graduated from the 
New Jersey Real Estate institute in 1957.
  Congressman LeFante had an exemplary devotion to the Bayonne 
community. In his first experience with politics, he served as Bayonne 
Charter Commissioner. Then he went on to the city council and the local 
board of school estimate. He was elected to the New Jersey State 
Assembly in 1969 and served 7 years, culminating in his being elected 
speaker of the assembly. In 1976, he was elected to become a Member of 
the 95th Congress. After his service in the House of Representatives, 
he returned to politics in New Jersey as Gov. Brendan Byrne's 
commissioner of community affairs. Although he had an unsuccessful run 
in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 1982, he continued to 
serve the citizens of New Jersey in the administrations of Governor 
Kean and Governor Florio. Throughout this time, he operated Public 
Service Furniture, a furniture store in Bayonne. In the past few years, 
he worked on his furniture businesses before his retirement.
  Joe LeFante never forgot where he came from, was a man of good 
ethics, kept his word and was a man of principle. He had a passion for 
using government to help others, and he used that passion to improve 
the lives of the people he represented.
  Mr. Speaker, it is honor to have had such a distinguished public 
servant living in my district. He always kept the best interests of the 
residents of Bayonne, his district, the State of New Jersey, and the 
Nation in mind when serving in his numerous offices. And he served 
those he represented with distinction.

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