[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 27 (Monday, February 22, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S1741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO BARNEY DWYER

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
friend and former colleague in Congress, Bernard Dwyer. Barney, as he 
was affectionately known, was a devoted public servant and respected 
New Jerseyan, having served 12 years in the House of Representatives.
  Mr. President, you might not know how devoted he actually was, since 
he never delivered a speech on the floor of the House. But Barney was 
proud of that record.
  He worked proudly, and tirelessly, behind the scenes in Congress as a 
member of the House Appropriations Committee to fund myriad projects 
for New Jersey and for the country. Only some of the examples of his 
hard work was his support of AMTRAK and New Jersey's transportation 
funding needs, his backing of an alcohol abuse program at Rutgers 
University, and his assistance in helping the Red Cross receive grants 
for AIDS education programs. Whether he was improving sidewalks, street 
lamps, public schools or community park paths, Barney approached his 
work with the same diligence and passion.
  Mr. President, Barney began his career over forty years ago, serving 
as councilman and mayor in Edison, New Jersey. He then served as a 
state senator of New Jersey for six years, acting as both senate 
majority leader and as chairman of the Legislature's joint 
appropriations committee.
  Before going into politics, Barney also served in World War II. He 
was the believed to be the only member of Congress to have survived the 
attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
  Mr. President, Barney Dwyer stood out in New Jersey's political 
community as warm, compassionate, modest, even humble. He was an 
honorable statesman and a man of the highest integrity. And he will be 
sorely missed.
  I would like to send my sincerest condolences to Barney's 
family.

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