[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO THE LATE SENATOR ALAN CRANSTON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 6, 2001

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my sympathies to the 
family of the late Senator Alan Cranston. Senator Cranston passed away 
on New Year's eve, 2000.
  Born in California, Senator Cranston honored our Golden State for 
many years with his service to community and country, serving for eight 
years as State Controller of California, and in the United States 
Senate for twenty-four years.
  Senator Cranston will be remembered for his fight for human rights in 
the world. He will be remembered for his mastery of the issues, his 
hard work, plain spoken manner, and humility.
  He fought against fascism and Nazism, alerting people to the threat 
of Hitler, by exposing the virulent nature of Hitler's writings. This 
act of courage helped to show the world the importance of fighting this 
menace to freedom and democracy. Many years later he fought with the 
same level of conviction against apartheid in South Africa, helping to 
end that unjust system through economic sanctions by the United States.
  He fought to protect federal employees against job discrimination, 
worked for opportunities for women in the workforce, and strove to end 
discrimination against pregnant employees.
  He championed legislation to expand the family planning program, and 
he helped lead the fight for the proposed equal rights amendment.
  Senator Cranston was always eloquent, honorable, tenacious in his 
causes, respected even by those who did not share his position on the 
issues. He was gentlemen in the best sense of the word, a scholar, a 
thinker, a doer, and a leader. He will be missed.

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