[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 131 (Tuesday, October 8, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE BENJAMIN GILMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 8, 2002

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened by the action that we take here 
this week, honoring one of the House's greatest Members, Benjamin 
Gilman, upon his retirement after 15 terms in Congress.
  Ben has been a friend and supporter of many of us on the other side 
of the aisle. His compassion for serving others is legendary. Whether 
it was fighting for the creation of the Select Committee on hunger or 
freeing political prisoners in Cuba, Ben was a stalwart in protecting 
the rights of others. He brought that same concern for others to his 
role as the Ranking Member of the House Post Office and Civil Service 
Commitee from 1989 to 1993 which had oversight over civil service and 
postal employees. Ben has continued to be a voice of reason on the 
successor to this committee, the House Government Reform Committee. 
Having traveled with him on several anti-drug codels, I know how 
committed he has been not only in fighting drug trafficking but also in 
working for the resources necessary to assist those affected by drug 
abuse.
  For his entire congressional career, Ben was known as someone from 
``upstate New York''. Within the New York delegation, that simply means 
that Ben is not from New York city. While he may not hail from ``the 
Big Apple'', he is one of ``New York's finest'' and it has been an 
honor and a pleasure for me to serve with him and to call him my 
friend. Ben, please know that you will be sorely missed even by those 
of us who are not from your side of the aisle or from upstate New York. 
I can only wish you well and to thank for your years of service to the 
people of New York and this Nation.

                          ____________________