[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1793-E1794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING FORMER SECRETARY LLOYD M. BENTSEN ON THE RECEIPT OF THE 
                     PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 5, 1999

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, August 11, 1999, President 
William Jefferson Clinton will present the Medal of Freedom to Lloyd M. 
Bentsen--the 69th Secretary of the Treasury, member of the Senate and 
House of Representatives, and candidate for Vice President of the 
United States.
  Lloyd Bentsen was born in Mission, in Texas' Rio Grande Valley in 
1921. The first of four children to Edna Ruth Colbath Bentsen and Lloyd 
M. Bentsen, Sr. Lloyd Bentsen grew up in the South Texas farming 
community, seven miles from the Mexican border. He received his B.A. 
and law degree from the University of Texas in 1942. With World War II 
underway, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After brief service 
as a private in intelligence work in Brazil, he became a pilot and in 
early 1944 began flying combat missions in B-24's from southern Italy 
with the 449th Bomb Group. At age 23 he was promoted to rank of Major 
and given command of a squadron of 600 men.
  In 18 months of combat, Bentsen flew 35 missions against highly 
defended targets such as the Ploesti oil fields in Romania, which were 
critical to the German war machine. The 15th Air Force, to which the 
449th was attached, is credited with destroying all the gasoline 
production within its range, or about half German's fuel on the 
continent. Bentsen's unit also flew against communications centers, 
aircraft factories, and industrial targets in Germany, Italy, Austria, 
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Bentsen participated in 
bombing raids in support of the Anzio campaign, and flew against 
targets in preparation for the landing in southern France.
  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the Army Air 
Corps' and now the  Air Force's highest commendations for valor. He 
also was awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the medal 
and each subsequent cluster representing specific campaigns for which 
he was decorated. He was promoted to colonel in the Air Force Reserve 
before completing his military service.

  After the war, Bentsen returned to his native Rio Grande Valley where 
he was elected as Hidalgo County Judge in 1946 and to the U.S. House of 
Representatives from the 15th Congressional District in 1948. He served 
three terms in the House during which he cast crucial votes against the 
poll tax and in support of programs for returning veterans. He declined 
to seek reelection in 1954 and decided to begin a career in business.
  For 16 years, Bentsen was a businessman in Houston. By 1970, he had 
become President of Lincoln Consolidated, a financial holding 
institution, including insurance, banking, and real estate. In this 
capacity, he built the first integrated hotel in Houston.
  Secretary Bentsen was elected a United States Senator from Texas in 
1970 and served as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee from 1987 
through early 1993. He also served as Chairman of the Joint Committee 
on Taxation and the Joint Economic Committee and was a member of the 
Senate Armed Services, Commerce, Science and Transportation, 
Intelligence, and Environment and Public Works Committees. In 1988, he 
was the Democratic Party nominee for Vice President of the United 
States.
  During his 23 years in the U.S. Senate, Lloyd Bentsen drafted and 
passed progressive and far reaching legislation. He left an indelible 
mark on tax, trade, health care, and transportation legislation. His 
greatest achievements include the passage of the landmark Employer 
Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Trade Act of 1988, Equal 
Opportunity Education legislation, anti-age discrimination legislation 
for the elderly, Medicare and Medicaid expansion--particularly 
benefiting indigent children. He was also a leader in establishing a 
more equitable funding formula for federal highways. As a result, 
Texas' highways are in much better shape because of his efforts.
  Senator Bentsen was nominated by President Clinton to be the 69th 
Secretary of the Treasury. He served from January 20, 1993 until 
December 22, 1994.
  As Secretary of the Treasury, Lloyd Bentsen was an important 
architect of the President's economic recovery package that has helped 
fuel the longest peacetime economic expansion in more than 60 years, 
while bringing the federal budget into balance. He also led the 
President's effort to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement.
  On December 27, 1994 he ended his 30-plus years of public service and 
returned to practice law in Houston, where he now resides with his wife 
of 55 years, the former Beryl Ann Longino of Lufkin, Texas. While 
public service has been their calling, their true blessing has been 
their three children, Lloyd III, Lan, and Tina and their respective 
spouses, Gail, Adele,

[[Page E1794]]

and Rick Smith and their seven grandchildren, Lloyd IV and Ryan 
Bentsen; Skyler, Kendall and Kate Bentsen; and Lori and Richard Smith.
  Mr. Speaker, Lloyd Bentsen is a committed public servant with a 
remarkable record of achievement as Treasury Secretary, Senator, 
Representative, businessman and decorated was veteran. He is also a 
devoted husband and a caring father, grandfather, and uncle. He has 
dedicated his life to public service and his family. He is an example 
and an inspiration to Texans and Americans, of all that is good in 
public service. He is truly deserving of the Medal of Freedom, which is 
awarded by the President and recognizes individuals who have made 
significant meritorious contributions to the security or national 
interests of the United States; world peace; cultural or other 
significant public or private endeavors. Without doubt, Lloyd Bentsen 
meets this criteria and I salute him for his achievements and receipt 
of this award.

                          ____________________