[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 35 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO REP. JIM HOWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. THOMAS J. MANTON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 25, 1998

  Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to former 
Representative James J. Howard on this the 10th Anniversary of his 
passing. First elected to Congress in 1964 and serving until his death 
in 1988, Congressman Howard served longer than any other Representative 
in the history of the Third Congressional District of New Jersey.
  As the first representative from New Jersey to serve as chairman of 
the House Public Works and Transportation Committee, Representative 
Howard was responsible for passage of important legislation such as the 
55-mile-per-hour national speed limit which was the first legislation 
to focus attention on the relationship between speed and safety. In 
addition, his anti-drunk driving and 21-year old minimum drinking age 
laws have prevented the deaths of many young motorists and innocent 
victims around the country.
  Out of deep concern for the shore district he represented, 
Representative Howard championed major environmental legislation 
throughout his tenure in Congress. Among the bills he sponsored were 
the 1987 Clean Water Act, the Superfund Act of 1986 which limited the 
discharge of raw sewage by New York City and banned new sludge dumping 
in the New York Bight, the Plastic Pollution and Research Act of 1987 
and the Groundwater Protection Act of 1987.
  He was also responsible for passage of the Surface Transportation 
Assistance Act of 1982, which increased the Federal gas tax by five 
cents a gallon to greatly expand the nation's highway program, as well 
as numerous other pieces of legislation which greatly improved our 
nation's transportation system.
  Mr. Speaker, Representative Howard truly demonstrated loyalty to his 
community and country throughout his lifetime of service. I know my 
colleagues join me in paying tribute to this fine man on the 10th 
Anniversary of his passing.

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