[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E754-E755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DEDICATION OF HERMAN TALMADGE HIGHWAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 1997

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay homage to a former 
distinguished member of the U.S. Congress. I speak of Herman Eugene 
Talmadge, U.S. Senator from the State of Georgia, former chairman of 
the Senate Agriculture Committee and vice chairman of the Senate 
Finance Committee. On Wednesday, April 23, 1997, I had the honor of 
delivering the keynote address at the dedication of the Herman Talmadge 
Highway in Hampton, GA. I wish to enter those remarks into the 
Congressional Record in honor of Senator Herman Talmadge.

 U.S. Representative Mac Collins, on the Dedication of Herman Talmadge 
                  Highway, Hampton, GA, April 23, 1997

       It is not only a privilege but a pleasure to be here today 
     with so many of Georgia's past and present leaders to honor a 
     special man. I want to extend a special thank you to 
     Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irving for acting as our 
     Master of Ceremonies today and also to my good friend Rogers 
     Wade who was responsible for organizing this wonderful event. 
     As many of you know, Rogers was the Chief-of-Staff to our 
     honoree for many years. Rogers took the lessons he learned 
     from him to become one of Georgia's premier governmental 
     specialists.
       I also want to recognize my friend Wayne Shackleford. His 
     leadership as Commissioner of Transportation has given 
     Georgia one of the best highway systems in the nation. And 
     last, but certainly not least, I know all of you will join 
     with me in thanking the Honorable Zell Miller, Governor of 
     the Great State of Georgia, for the outstanding job he has 
     done over the past six years.
       Governor, the legacy you will leave includes a state that 
     is recognized as a leader in helping people move from welfare 
     rolls to payrolls; a state that provides a better education 
     for our children; and a state that is responsible and 
     accountable to its citizens. For this, we owe you our 
     gratitude.
       I know that you, as well as everyone here today, has 
     admired the man we are here to honor. His distinguished 
     career has included serving his nation as a Naval officer 
     during World War II, as Governor, and a United States 
     Senator. The Honorable Herman Talmadge, a son of Georgia. 
     While Herman Talmadge rose to great heights in our nation's 
     government, he never forgot where he came from or whom he 
     represented.
       Herman Talmadge has always been the champion of rural 
     America. During his long career as a public servant, he stood 
     for every American who has farmed an acre of land or run the 
     family-owned business found in small towns across rural 
     America. He worked for all Americans who worked with their 
     hands and their backs to earn an honest living and provide a 
     home for their families.
       Herman Talmadge knows these people. But more importantly, 
     he genuinely cares for them. He was born and raised in rural 
     McRae, Georgia, where the majority of people made their 
     living by farming, or operating or working for small 
     businesses located around the town square. He lived what many 
     people only talk about today--family values, love of God and 
     Country, community service, and the pride and rewards of 
     work.
       His love of politics and the desire to help the people came 
     naturally. His father, Gene Talmadge, was elected Governor of 
     Georgia four times. Following his graduation from the 
     University of Georgia School of Law, a young Herman Talmadge 
     was tapped to run his father's campaign for the United States 
     Senate. Gene Talmadge lost to the incumbent Senator but went 
     on to win his third term as Governor two years later. And his 
     son was right there with him. Herman Talmadge gained valuable 
     hands-on experience and state-wide contacts that would serve 
     him well in the years to come.
       Following the campaign, he joined the United States Naval 
     Reserve and was commissioned an ensign. During World War II, 
     his bravery and courage were demonstrated time and again as 
     he requested transfer from state-side duty to the Pacific 
     theater. There, he took part in the invasion of Guadalcanal, 
     the battle of Okinawa and other encounters with the Japanese 
     Fleet. On V-J Day, Lieutenant Commander Herman Talmadge 
     entered Tokyo Bay with the U.S. Navy forces.
       After the war, he returned home and managed his father's 
     last campaign. In 1946, the Honorable Gene Talmadge was 
     elected to his fourth term as Governor of Georgia. But prior 
     to taking office, the Governor-elect passed away. The vacancy 
     left by the death of Gene Talmadge resulted in what can only 
     be called an ``interesting'' political situation in Georgia. 
     Herman Talmadge was elected by the Georgia House of 
     Representatives to fill the term won by his father. But the 
     incumbent Governor and just-elected Lieutenant Governor also 
     claimed the chief Executive's office. Eventually, the State 
     Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Lieutenant Governor.
       In 1948, Herman Talmadge left the shadow of his famous 
     father and launched his own political career by running for 
     the office his father had won four times. He campaigned on 
     issues that were the hallmarks of his career in the 
     Governor's office and the United States Senate. When he won, 
     he carried through on his promises to help the rural areas of 
     Georgia.
       As the nation's then youngest Governor, Herman Talmadge 
     launched a campaign to modernize his state. He built roads 
     and bridges to link the vast stretches of rural Georgia. He 
     built hospitals in rural areas where there were none before. 
     These facilities brought health care to an entire class of 
     people who had little or no access to medical care. The new 
     Governor deeply believed in education. He built new schools 
     for our children and dedicated a portion of the sales tax to 
     increasing teacher salaries.
       But no matter what projects Gov. Herman Talmadge built or 
     what programs he implemented, he did so only if the State of 
     Georgia could afford them and pay for them. He was a deficit 
     hawk long before that term became popular.
       In 1956, he won a seat in the United States Senate where he 
     continued his work--only now it was for all Americans. As 
     Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition 
     Committee, Senator Talmadge was responsible for the passage 
     of many laws that revitalized rural America and greatly 
     improved the quality of life for all our citizens. As his 
     former Senate colleague, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, so 
     eloquently stated in 1980, the legislation crafted by Herman 
     Talmadge is the ``blueprint for the entire structure of our 
     agricultural, rural development and nutrition policies.''
       Senator Talmadge believed that no child or adult should go 
     hungry in a country that

[[Page E755]]

     produces enough food to feed the world. But he saw poverty 
     and hunger in many areas of our nation. He saw men and women, 
     parents and families fighting to make a living in rural areas 
     that were losing population and business to the cities. He 
     also saw that same hunger and poverty in the faces of those 
     who had migrated to the cities to try and better their lives 
     and the lives of their families.
       To combat this tragedy, Senator Talmadge authored 
     legislation to ensure no American would go hungry. He wrote 
     the law establishing the school lunch program. He helped to 
     develop the food stamp program for needy individuals and 
     families. At their inception, Senator Talmadge ensured these 
     programs would help those who needed the help. He also 
     believed that these programs should help those who helped 
     themselves. Herman Talmadge was raised with a strong work 
     ethic and he supported provisions to the law that able-bodied 
     people should work for these benefits. Senator Talmadge did 
     not want federal assistance to become a way of life for any 
     American.
       Senator Talmadge created an Agriculture Subcommittee to 
     focus on the problems and opportunities of rural America. 
     Through his leadership, Congress passed legislation that 
     provided low interest loans to local governments for sewers, 
     water treatment plants and health facilities. He also worked 
     to pass legislation providing industrial development loans to 
     local governments which they used as ``seed'' money to 
     attract industrial projects to rural areas. I would like 
     everyone here to note the fact that these programs were not 
     federal ``give-aways.'' The money provided to local 
     governments and rural communities was paid back to the 
     federal treasury--with interest.
       As I have pointed out, Senator Talmadge has always been a 
     guardian of the people's money. As a member of the powerful 
     Senate Finance Committee, he supported legislation to 
     eliminate fraud and abuse in the Federal Medicare and 
     Medicaid programs. Senator Talmadge saw early on the 
     potential costs of these programs to American taxpayers and 
     worked to bring accountability to them.
       I think it is appropriate we note that Senator Talmadge 
     firmly believed that the federal government, like its state 
     counterparts, should balance its budget every year. He 
     supported a 1973 Constitutional amendment to prohibit the 
     federal government from spending more than it took in--except 
     in a Congressionally declared national emergency. In 1976, 
     Senator Talmadge introduced a resolution calling for a 
     balanced budget. He said that continued unrestricted spending 
     would bring the nation to bankruptcy.
       If Congress had heeded the wisdom of Senator Talmadge and 
     acted upon his budget proposals, America's government and 
     economy would be more financially secure. We who serve in 
     Congress today, are working to enact the legislation proposed 
     by Herman Talmadge over twenty years ago. We are working to 
     balance the federal budget. We are working to save Medicare 
     and Medicaid from the fraud and abuse that drains its 
     precious financial resources. We are working to see that our 
     children and grandchildren can grow up in an America that 
     allows them to achieve their dreams.
       Senator Herman Talmadge was a giant among giants in the 
     United States Senate. He counseled Presidents and world 
     leaders. He crafted and helped to pass legislation that has 
     enhanced and enriched the lives of all Americans. And let 
     none of us forget, Herman Talmadge and his colleagues also 
     made our country strong in the face of communist aggression. 
     Their courage in facing that threat allowed the United States 
     to finally win the cold war and make our world a safer place 
     to live.
       For three decades, Herman Talmadge served Georgia and 
     America. But he not only served, he led. That is the mark of 
     a great public servant. And while Herman Talmadge achieved 
     great power and success, he tempered it with grace, wisdom, 
     compassion and a love for the people who elected him to high 
     office.
       We all owe Senator Talmadge our appreciation and our 
     gratitude for dedicating his life to public service. He 
     touched the lives of every Georgian and millions of 
     Americans. He is truly a special man and he is very special 
     to me. Thank you and God Bless you Senator.

                          ____________________