[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 150 (Friday, October 31, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H9839-H9840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF JOHN N. STURDIVANT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella] is recognized for 5 minutes.

[[Page H9840]]

  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of John 
Sturdivant, a good friend of mine and a good friend of hundreds of 
thousands of Federal employees, including those he knew personally and 
those whom he never met. John died after a courageous struggle with 
cancer on Tuesday night. His death and the loss of his leadership are 
devastating blows to his family, his friends, and all Federal 
employees. I will miss him very much.
  As president of the American Federation of Government Employees since 
1988, John was an outstanding champion of Federal employees during a 
time of rapid downsizing and unprecedented attacks against Federal 
employees.
  He was a wonderful ally to have in our fight for Federal employees. 
We worked together to successfully reform the Hatch Act and give 
Federal employees the political voice they deserve.
  In 1995, we stood together protesting the deleterious and wasteful 
Government shutdowns. He presented not only compelling arguments 
against the Government shutdowns, but he also voiced the human costs of 
the Government shutdown in a very powerful way.
  He successfully advocated the use of official time and led the charge 
against excessive Government privatization. John was there, with me and 
several of my colleagues, as we successfully fought against proposals 
to reduce Federal retirement benefits. He did not let partisan politics 
obstruct his pursuit of fairness for Federal employees. We supported 
one another, I valued his help, his guidance, and his bipartisan 
approach to Federal employee issues.
  He was a man who was selfless in his dedication to AFGE. Enduring his 
illness, in and out of the hospital, he continued to speak out 
powerfully on issues involving our civil service.
  I offer condolences to his companion, Peggy Potter, his daughter, 
Michelle Sturdivant, his mother, Ethiel Jessie, and his brother, 
stepbrother, and sister. May they be strengthened by his inspiration, 
his warm personality, and his achievements.
  Madam Speaker, I honor the memory and the great accomplishments of 
John Sturdivant, a man who touched the lives of hundreds of thousands 
of people, and a man who will be greatly missed by all who knew him and 
by those for whom he fought, who never had the good fortune to meet 
him.

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