[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS FOGLIETTA AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO 
                                 ITALY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 1997

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the House's most 
distinguished Members, Representative Thomas Foglietta of Pennsylvania, 
for his upcoming appointment by the President as the next U.S. 
Ambassador to Italy. This is an extraordinary and well-deserved honor 
for a true gentleman who has given four decades of his life to public 
service.
  Since his election to the House of Representatives in 1980, Tom 
Foglietta has been a tireless fighter for his constituents in 
Philadelphia and Delaware County. As a member of the Appropriations 
Committee and a leader of the Urban Caucus, he has protected city jobs, 
helped restore Independence Hall, and put more police on the streets.
  Perhaps just as important to his new duties, Tom Foglietta has also 
been on the forefront of global affairs. He has worked to provide 
famine relief to starving people overseas and has never hesitated to 
speak up against tyrants around the world.
  Only in America could the grandson of immigrants who came from Italy 
over 100 years ago live the dream of representing the birthplace of 
this Nation's freedom in the Halls of Congress and go on to serve his 
country as its representative in the land of his family's heritage. Tom 
Foglietta is an outstanding example of what is possible for those who 
serve the United States with honor and distinction.
  Mr. Speaker, Washington's loss is Italy's gain. Congress will 
undoubtedly be a lesser place when Tom Foglietta takes his 
intelligence, dedication, integrity, and charm to Italy. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in extending best wishes and a fond arrivederci 
to Tom Foglietta as he stands ready to embark on another exciting 
chapter of his career, and insert the following editorial from the 
Philadelphia Inquirer to be included for the Record.

             [From The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 28, 1997]

   Arrivederci--Tom Foglietta Has Earned His New Job. Let's Hope His 
             Successor Serves the Region as Well as He Did

       After four decades of public service, Tom Foglietta richly 
     deserves a job that melds diplomacy and la dolce vita: U.S. 
     ambassador to Italy. So even though the Philadelphia area 
     stands to lose its most senior member of the U.S. House, his 
     constituents in the city and in Delaware County can still 
     salute the (unofficial) news that he's headed for Rome.
       Mr. Foglietta has worked hard for the needs of Philadelphia 
     and other cities. As a member of the Appropriations Committee 
     since 1993 and as a prime mover of the Urban Caucus, he's 
     tried to aim more federal dollars at urban needs. His local 
     causes have included protecting jobs at the Navy Yard, 
     reversing the neglect of Independence Hall, and funding more 
     police for the city of Chester.
       Not all of his votes on pocketbook issues have been dead-
     on. He backed the Clinton economic package, tax hikes and 
     all, but loudly opposed the modest, Penny-Kasich spending 
     cuts. He sided with labor over consumers by voting against 
     NAFTA.
       But Mr. Foglietta is more than a bring-home-the-bacon guy. 
     He's been a leading voice against despots around the globe. 
     He's been as committed to famine relief in Africa as he was 
     to food assistance at home.
       A fair assessment of Mr. Foglietta's contributions must 
     look beyond his specific stands on issues. In a city renowned 
     for political corruption, Mr. Foglietta stood against the 
     tide.
       Running for Congress as an independent in 1980, he beat the 
     comeback bid by Democrat Michael ``Ozzie'' Myers, who had 
     been expelled from the House after being convicted of taking 
     an Abscam bribe. In 1984 and 1986, Mr. Foglietta turned back 
     strong challenges by a future felon: then-Councilman James 
     Tayoun.
       Endorsing him for Congress in 1980, this Editorial Page 
     called Mr. Foglietta ``sensitive and intelligent and 
     convincingly committed to public service.''
       Ideally, Mr. Foglietta's successor would share his fervor 
     for urban needs, his commitment to human needs and human 
     rights, his people skills and intelligence, his ethics. And 
     voters would be the ultimate judge of that if he were 
     retiring at the end of a two-year term.
       Unfortunately, the vacancy will be filled by a special 
     election, without a primary. The favorite in this Democratic 
     district will be whomever the Democratic organization 
     chooses. The reported front-runners are former Rep. Lucien 
     Blackwell--who was voted out of the Second District seat 
     three years after the Democratic machine handed it to him--
     and city Democratic boss Bob Brady. Neither of them stacks up 
     to Tom Foglietta.

     

                          ____________________