[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 148 (Friday, November 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2047-E2048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF JAMES (JIM) C. BENFIELD

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM KOLBE

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2002

  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sorrow that I rise today to 
offer my condolences to the family and friends of James (Jim) C. 
Benfield, who passed away on November 2, 2002. I would ask for 
unanimous consent that his obituary appearing in the Washington Post on 
November 3 be included in the Record.
  For over 12 years, I have worked closely with Jim on an issue that I 
have spearheaded, and I have been consistently impressed with his 
selfless and tireless advocacy. His ability to organize diverse 
grassroots coalitions and deal honestly with me and my colleagues 
impressed me beyond words. His efforts and ethics will be remembered 
and we will long recognize the trails he blazed on behalf of his 
clients, his community, and the underprivileged that he served in his 
spare time.
  I have had a picture that Jim took hanging in my office for many 
years. It is a photo of the Statute of Freedom being lifted from the 
Capitol dome as that she could be refurbished. What an appropriate 
subject. Jim loved and appreciated the institution she oversees. He 
strived to see issues and seek solutions from an elevated viewpoint 
like she does. Moreover, he embraced everyone like she symbolically 
does.
  I will miss my friend Jim. Please join me in expressing the 
condolences of the House to his family.

       [lsqb]From the Washington Post, Nov. 3, 2002[rsqb]

[[Page E2048]]

               James C. Benfield, 59; Organizer, Activist

                          (By Richard Pearson)

       James C. Benfield, 59, a lobbyist since about 1980 who was 
     chief financial officer and a partner at Bracy Tucker Brown, 
     the Washington government and public affairs consulting 
     concern, died of a brain tumor Nov. 2 at his home in Takoma 
     Park.
       Mr. Benfield, an authority on grass-roots organizing and 
     advocacy, had corporate clients and was often involved in 
     consumer issues, as well as causes including coinage, 
     daylight savings time reform and help for the poor.
       He had done work for such clients as the Continental Group, 
     the Clorox Co. and McDonald's. But he made headlines locally 
     for his advocacy efforts, often as a volunteer, managing the 
     Daylight Savings Time Coalition, which he founded, and 
     directing the Coin Coalition and the Campaign for Home Energy 
     Assistance.
       Mr. Benfield, who joined what became Bracy Tucker in 1980, 
     was a master at organizing coalitions. In his successful 
     efforts to extend daylight savings time in April, he 
     trumpeted the belief that daylight savings, with its longer 
     hours of afternoon daylight, extended hours of outdoor 
     activity. This helped him secure the support of associations 
     representing amateur softball, barbecue makers, convenience 
     stores, service station dealers, chain restaurants and 
     sporting goods.
       His efforts to reform coinage featured drives to replace 
     the dollar bill with a dollar coin, which he pointed out 
     would save the government more than $450 million annually 
     because coins last longer than bills. It helped lead to the 
     Sacagawea dollar coin. Groups that came on board for that 
     campaign included vending businesses and mass transit and 
     amusement park associations.
       Another of his great efforts was the Home Energy Assistance 
     Campaign he started in 1993. It now helps 4.3 million 
     households and has secured annual congressional 
     appropriations of $2 billion. His partners in this effort 
     included the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
       Over the years, Mr. Benfield explained his views on these 
     issues on ABC's ``Good Morning America,'' CNN's ``Larry King 
     Live'' and on National Public Radio. He wrote for The 
     Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Des Moines Register. He 
     also lectured at Harvard University and conducted workshops 
     for the Energy Department.
       Mr. Benfield, who was born in Philadelphia, was a 1965 
     economics graduate of Drake University in Iowa. He was an 
     Army photographer in South Korea in 1967 and 1968. He came to 
     the Washington area in the 1970s. Before becoming a 
     professional lobbyist, he held a variety of jobs.
       In fact, the collection of jobs he held led to a 1977 
     profile in The Post. The jobs included public relations 
     director of the National Symphony Orchestra, freelance 
     photographer, and apartment manager and part-time janitor. He 
     also had managed a local chamber music group, had played 
     classical guitar at restaurants and had given guitar lessons.
       He assisted the homeless, both with contributions and 
     helping to obtain government aid and secure medical care. He 
     worked with area churches to raise corporate aid for the 
     homeless. The Post wrote about his efforts to raise funds for 
     a sick street musician and after the musician's death, to 
     place a plaque on the wall where he most often performed.
       His neighbors remembered him as the guy who hosted 
     community Fourth of July picnics that included the firing of 
     a Civil War canon and pruning trees along railroad rights of 
     way. He also improved a muddy shortcut that commuters took to 
     the local Metro by laying a bed of garbage can lid-size 
     stones. He also was known for always giving a hand, forever 
     taking people into his home who had suffered a tragedy.
       His first marriage ended in divorce.
       Survivors include his wife of 17 years, Susan Storing 
     Benfield, and two children, Anna Corinne Benfield and Michael 
     Storing Benfield, all of Takoma Park; his mother, Corinne 
     Benfield of Lombard, Ill.; and a sister.

     

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