[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 60 (Saturday, April 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO PHILLIP BURTON

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                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 11, 2003

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to commemorate the life of the 
late Congressman Phil Burton, who in my humble opinion was one of the 
greatest and most brilliant legislators in modern times.
  Those of us who had the privilege of working with Phil Burton can 
certainly attest to his unique and outstanding leadership capabilities 
and his tremendous influence still being felt today. No doubt we all 
have our Phi Burton stories to tell, most of which center around the 
life and times of a man who is one of the great legislative giants of 
our times.
  Twenty years ago, over 125 Members of Congress, including House 
Speaker ``Tip'' O'Neill, traveled to San Francisco to attend a special 
memorial service in honor of Phil Burton. It was one of the largest 
delegations of Members, perhaps even the largest, to attend a memorial 
service of one of its own colleagues.
  I remember former California Assembly Speaker and now Mayor of San 
Francisco, Mayor Willie Brown, a close personal friend and associate of 
Phil Burton, made an interesting observation of Phil's life and career. 
Mayor Brown said, ``Now I know some of you Members of Congress are here 
to pay your respects and truly offer your sympathies to Sala (Phil's 
wife) and the family. But I also sense that some of you are here to be 
absolutely certain that Phil Burton is dead and to be sure that you 
will never have to confront him again.''
  At the memorial service, House Speaker Tip O'Neill also made this 
comment concerning Phil Burton. He said, ``Few in the House of the past 
or in the present can match his contribution.'' ``Phil had his losses, 
but he always shoved adversity aside. He fought for the hungry and the 
sick and against bigotry with tremendous energy and commitment.''
  Some people describe Phil Burton as an ultra-liberal and very 
difficult to work with because of his so-called ideology. But I 
considered Phil a very unique kind of liberal, one who was able to 
foster relationships with other Members, despite differences in 
ideologies. It was not uncommon to find Phil in a corner of this 
chamber talking to a conservative Republican or conservative Democrat. 
I remember well one of Phil's famous proverbial expressions, ``Cut the 
B.S. and let's be operational.''
  Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues are well aware, one of the most 
ideologically-based committees in this institution is the Committee on 
Resources. A committee composed mainly of Members from Western states, 
whose districts are significantly effected by the involvement of the 
Federal Government regarding the control and administration of millions 
of acres of land which are located in these states.
  Recognizing the atmosphere that existed in the Committee, I once 
asked former Congressman Sam Steiger, a senior Republican from Arizona, 
how he was able to get along with a liberal like Phil. Congressman 
Steiger replied, ``Two things Eni. First, Phil is among the few 
liberals who at least comes and talks to us on this side of the aisle, 
and second, in all the years that I've known and worked with him, Phil 
Burton has never broken a promise.'' Mr. Speaker, Phil Burton was a man 
of his word.
  Long before I knew that I was going to be a member of this great 
institution, I served as a member of Phil's staff. From him I learned a 
lesson that I have carried with me ever since. ``Eni,'' he told me, 
``the only thing that matters and is worth anything working in this 
place--is your word. Don't ever forget that.''
  Mr. Speaker, I haven't forgotten this lesson, and the many others I 
learned from Phil. He was a man of principle, conviction and 
determination. A man who left behind a legacy of integrity. A man who 
was my mentor and friend.

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