[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 4 (Saturday, January 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E21]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    BUD SHUSTER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BUD SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, January 6, 2001

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, twenty-eight years ago it was my great 
privilege to win my first nomination to the United States Congress from 
the 9th District of Pennsylvania. Since that memorable moment, it has 
been an even greater privilege to receive both the Republican and 
Democratic nominations nine times, a record never before achieved in 
Pennsylvania's history. For that opportunity to serve my country and 
the people of our region, I shall be forever grateful.
  In recent months, both my wife, Patty, and I have been in hospitals 
with different health scares. While we remain optimistic, these 
experiences have caused me to re-evaluate my priorities and 
responsibilities.
  On April 6th, when the President signed my AIR-21 aviation act for 
the 21st century, I realized I had reached the pinnacle of my 
Congressional career. That landmark legislation, coupled with my TEA-21 
highway, transit and safety Act, which became law the previous year, is 
the realization of my long and sometimes lonely battle to unlock 
America's major transportation trust funds so we could re-build the 
nation's transportation systems for the 21st century. And last month we 
finally got our Water Resources bill signed into law, including the 
Everglades, the largest environmental restoration project in the world.
  Having achieved these goals, after meeting with my family, we have 
decided now is the time for me to retire from Congress, as my 
Chairmanship of the largest and most productive committee in Congress 
comes to a close. While the scars of a hundred battles have taken a 
toll on both my family and me, in perspective, they are insignificant 
compared to the opportunities to do good things for people, or the 
broken neck I sustained in the course of my Congressional duties. All 
things considered, we decided now is the time to smell the roses while 
we still can.
  Like my boyhood baseball idol, Lou Gehrig, I consider myself the 
luckiest man on the face of the earth--to have realized my dream of 
becoming a U.S. Congressman. The opportunities to help thousands of 
people, to author major legislation to re-build America, to serve as 
the Chairman of the largest Committee in the history of Congress, and 
to have served as the Ranking Member of the Intelligence Committee 
during our historic victory in the Cold War, all have exceeded my 
fondest expectations.
  Having decided to retire, it is neither in the best interests of my 
constituents, nor in my nature, for me to linger on as a ``lame duck''. 
By retiring at the end of this month, effective January 31st, the 
Governor can call a special election to quickly elect my successor for 
the new Congress. During the interim, our Congressional offices will 
continue to be staffed by the current employees to serve our District.
  To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, now is the time for me to return to 
that higher station in life--that of a private citizen. My prayer is 
that God may bless America and the wonderful people who have supported 
me and my family through these many years.

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