[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 135 (Thursday, October 2, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1932-E1933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO THEODORE S. WEISS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 2, 1997

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
memory of Theodore S. Weiss, who represented New York in the House of 
Representatives from 1977 until his death in 1992. Earlier this week, a 
Federal courthouse in New York City was designated the ``Ted Weiss 
United States Courthouse'' in his memory.
  With Ted Weiss' death in 1992, New York's 17th Congressional District 
lost a well-loved and highly popular political leader. This district, 
one of the most liberal in the country, found a voice in Ted. He 
consistently championed the interests of the poor and the powerless, 
and supported civil and human rights both locally and internationally.
  Born in 1927 in Hungary, Ted escaped Europe one step ahead of the 
Nazis in 1938, which might explain his life-long opposition to 
oppressive dictatorships abroad. He criticized the invasion of Granada, 
lauded the defeat of Pinochet in Chile, and backed sanctions against 
China, El Salvador, and other countries that perpetrate human rights 
abuses. When he served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he made 
humanitarian aid a special concern, proposing additional food 
assistance to drought-stricken Africa. A long-time advocate for peace, 
Ted consistently voted against funding for military projects and 
supported a nuclear weapons freeze.
  Ted was also an active advocate for the rights of his own 
constituency. He was a leader for gay and lesbian rights; he sought aid 
for the mentally ill and homeless; and he fought for reparations for 
Holocaust victims and Vietnam veterans who were exposed to agent 
orange. For much of his career, Ted served on the House Education and 
Labor Committee, where he fought cutbacks in social programs.
  Ted was well-known for his concern for the health and safety of his 
constituents. He pressed the Food and Drug Administration to rigorously 
guard against dangerous drugs and food additives on the market. He also 
advocated increased funding for AIDS research

[[Page E1933]]

and urged the NIH to conduct further experiments in drug treatment.
  Ted Weiss demonstrated true dedication and commitment to human and 
civil rights. It is only fitting that the ``Ted Weiss United States 
Courthouse'' be named in his honor, a testament to his efforts on 
behalf of equity and justice. I respectfully urge my colleagues to take 
a moment today to remember Ted Weiss, a man who made innumerable 
contributions to his own district, as well as to the world at large.

                          ____________________