[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 108 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING BILL SIMON FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE 
                             LESS FORTUNATE

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                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 4, 1998

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former Secretary of the 
Treasury Bill Simon for his service and dedication to helping the poor. 
His commitment to the poor is unfortunately a rarely publicized aspect 
of an extraordinary man. He served the country under two 
administrations as Secretary of the Treasury but his greatest gift is 
the hope he has given the less fortunate. My friend Paul Harvey honored 
Bill Simon in an address he gave on ABC Radio Networks on July 25th. In 
that address Mr. Harvey said and I quote:

       You are likely carrying around in your pocket the autograph 
     of a most extraordinary man. It's on your dollar bill. 
     Because he was our nation's first Energy Czar and 
     subsequently Secretary of the Treasury under two 
     administrations.
       After serving his Country in public office, Bill Simon went 
     back to the world of commerce and industry and got rich. 
     Though his greatest wealth is not his hundreds of millions of 
     dollars, but his family. His wife, two sons and five 
     daughters.
       They remember from their earliest Christmases that dad 
     would arise early and leave his New Jersey home to head off 
     to volunteer at a shelter for runaway youths in New York 
     City.
       As the children grew older he took them along. They'd work 
     in the kitchen, they'd clean, serve meals, hand out Christmas 
     presents--and sometimes--most important--just listen to the 
     poor, the disabled, the unwed mothers, the lonely elderly.
       So the children matured responsibly respectful of their 
     obligation to help others. Bill Junior now has his own 
     charitable foundation. Sister Mary is much involved with the 
     Kids in Crisis Shelter in Connecticut.
       The Simons believe as did Andrew Carnegie that people are 
     helped best by helping them to help themselves. And each of 
     the Simon siblings emulates the example of their parents.
       Today you might find Bill Simon in Harlem at the Terence 
     Cardinal Cooke Health Center--Talking to an aids patient--
     praying with him--a procedure which he has repeated with 
     literally thousands of terminally ill and destitute patients 
     at that center. He calls this Eucharistic Ministry the most 
     important thing that he has ever done.
       I've watched Bill Simon for thirty years--demonstrating 
     that a good Businessman--can also be a Good businessman.
       Now preparing to give away most of the rest of his 350 
     million dollars, he says he hopes others who can, will.
       He calls giving `the ultimately rewarding experience,

  Paul Harvey's speech honoring Bill Simon for his service to the less 
fortunate is surely an accolade Mr. Simon has long deserved. I am glad 
I was able to share this speech with you and I hope we all can learn 
from the example Bill Simon has set.

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