[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1571-E1572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  IN RECOGNITION OF DR. RICHARD L. LESHER, RETIRING PRESIDENT OF U.S. 
                          CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SUE W. KELLY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 1997

  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, February 24, Dr. Richard L. 
Lesher, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, announced his 
retirement. So, I rise today to recognize Dr. Lesher, an individual who 
in his 22-year tenure at the helm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has 
displayed a singular dedication to nurturing entrepreneurship and 
championing the cause of America's small businesspeople.
  With his steady leadership, Dr. Lesher has left a lasting legacy for 
our Nation's business

[[Page E1572]]

community. Since he assumed the leadership of the chamber, the 
organization has grown by leaps and bounds. Today, the chamber's 
membership includes 215,000 members, 3,000 State and local chambers, 
and 1,200 trade and professional associations. Additionally, the 
chamber represents 72 American chambers of commerce abroad in 65 
nations.
  Programmatically, Dr. Lesher was responsible for establishing the 
National Litigation Law Center that has successfully represented 
business interests in Federal court. He was also instrumental in 
developing the Quality Learning Services Program of the Federation 
Programs and Services Division of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This 
program is dedicated to delivering management seminars and continuing 
professional education throughout the United States.
  Dr. Lesher has been effective in generating new membership and 
creating new programs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because of his 
success at making the chamber a more active part of American politics 
and business. He has energetically promoted the chamber's Grassroots 
Action Information Network [GAIN] that is dedicated to amplifying the 
voices of chamber members. He also created the ``How They Voted` 
program, which ranks the voting records of Members of Congress on the 
basis of their stands on small business issues. Additionally under his 
watch, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce also launched BizNet--the American 
Business Network--featuring the shows ``First Business`` and ``It's 
Your Business.`
  Lesher, whose two decades as president of the U.S. Chamber of 
Commerce have shown him to be an individual dedicated to promoting 
small business, individual initiative, and effective grassroots 
political action. Dr. Lesher's advoacy has had but one end--preserving 
the United States as a land of opportunity. I applaud Dr. Lesher's 
fruitful career, and I wish him continued success in all his future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________