[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 112 (Friday, August 1, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1587-E1588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. RICHARD LESHER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 1997

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, next month the American business community 
will lose a potent and proactive leader as Dr. Richard Lesher, steps 
down as president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Since 1975 Dr. 
Lesher has presided over the day-to-day activities of the world's 
largest broad-based business organization, and its dramatic growth into 
a powerful voice for American businesses and organizations in 
Washington and around the world.
  After more than 20 years with Dr. Lesher at the helm, the chamber's 
membership has grown to 215,000 business members, 3000 State and local 
chambers of commerce and 1,200 trade and professional associations. 
Membership also includes 72 American Chambers of Commerce abroad in 65 
countries. Since Dr. Lesher became president, the chamber's annual 
budget has risen from $40 million to over $70 million.

[[Page E1588]]

  Dick Lesher's energy and vision has transformed the direction and 
thinking of the chamber leading to the creation of the most advanced 
and effective communications network of any business organization. With 
television facilities producing daily and weekly syndicated business 
programming, satellite training seminars and televised town-hall 
meetings. Her chartered the National Chamber Litigation Center, a 
public policy legal arm, that widely represents business interest in 
the Federal courts with great success. And, he created an extensive 
pro-business, proactive and powerful grassroots legislative-action 
network throughout the country to track, rank and hold Members of 
Congress accountable for their voting record on business issues. Dr. 
Lesher's accomplishments were honored in March 1994 when association 
Trends presented him with their Executive of the Year Award for ``* * * 
the dynamic leadership that he has brought in sharpening the focus of 
the chamber and broadening its activities.''
  Dr. Lesher has been a great leader and a forceful spokesman for 
business and I urge my colleagues to join with me in congratulating Dr. 
Lesher for his years of service and wishing him a long, happy, and 
healthy retirement.

                          ____________________