[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 147 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN HARRIS FAWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 15, 1998

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, because I was not able to come to the floor 
at the time our colleagues offered their special testimony honoring my 
good friend, Harris Fawell, I wish to add my tribute to their words of 
admiration and praise.
  During his fourteen industrious years of dedicated effort in solving 
some of the most complex and challenging problems one can find on this 
Hill, Harris has been the acknowledged mentor of many of us in our 
attempt to understand some of the more difficult problems we face in 
the Congress. In matters such as labor law, labor relations, health 
insurance, retirement savings, education, waste in government, and 
other issues fraught with complicated technical questions, many of us 
turned to Harris for his wise counsel. His legendary ability to explain 
and interpret the most intricate details with great clarity was the 
result of his commitment to working hard to master the difficult and 
the abstruse.
  Mr. Speaker, one measure of a man's ability to make a difference in 
this Congress--or anywhere in this world--is how he is looked upon by 
his own staff. One of our fellow Illinoisians, John Shimkus, read a 
testimony on the floor the other day which was written by the members 
of Harris' staff. Here is just part of that expression of respect and 
love which the Fawell staffers displayed in the tribute:

       In these cynical times, it is easy for staffers to become 
     disillusioned with government service. Working with you has 
     shown us how an honest and caring man of integrity can still 
     make a difference here in Washington. Our time with you has 
     maintained our faith in leadership.

  The staff referred to Harris' kindness, humility and quiet 
leadership, and said further,

       Harris, they say that the ship reflects the captain. We 
     count ourselves lucky to have been on the Fawell ship. We can 
     only hope that we have been a reflection of you and that we 
     will be, even as you sail on other seas.

  This is remarkably touching testimonial to the quiet strength and 
goodness which his colleagues have long since found in the 
representative from the Thirteenth District of Illinois. Many of us 
hope that we might be worthy of such a tribute from our staffs when we, 
too, find it is time to sail on other seas.
  After the retirement of our old friend, John Erlenborn, Harris took 
over his place on what is now the Committee on Education and the Work 
Force, and in tandem with Chairman Bill Goodling, has made the 
Committee the source of many strong legislative initiatives for the 
good of the American citizens, particularly in the area of education.
  Mr. Jerry Solomon, our very good friend who is also going to be 
missed so much in the future, has said that he always knew that he 
could do no wrong in voting the same way Harris did, because Harris 
``never came to this floor without being prepared.'' Such is the kind 
of trust his colleagues continuously felt in Harris' judgment.
  Through his no-nonsense early concern about federal waste, and with 
his invention of the ``Pork Busters'' program, Harris started the 
beginning initiatives leading to today's balanced budget success. His 
colleagues know how hard he has worked to make this a more frugal 
government, and the constituents in his district will surely miss this 
kind of leadership on their behalf.
  Mr. Speaker, there are endless additional reasons why this Congress 
will have a hard time filling the void which will be left when this 
good man sails on to other seas. His will surely be the greater 
enjoyment during retirement because he will have the satisfaction of 
knowing that he has served his country, his colleagues, and his 
constituents so very well. We send him on his way with favorable winds 
at his back, and bid him a heart-felt God bless, Harris, and Godspeed!




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