[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 21, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H52-H57]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AGREEING WITH THE SENTIMENT OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE DEATH OF THE 
                          HONORABLE PAUL SIMON

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 489) stating the agreement of the House of 
Representatives with the sentiment expressed by the Senate in Senate 
Resolution 281.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 489

       Whereas the Honorable Paul Simon became, at the age of 19, 
     the Nation's youngest editor-publisher when he accepted a 
     Lion's Club challenge to save the Troy Tribune in Troy, 
     Illinois, and subsequently built a chain of 13 newspapers in 
     southern and central Illinois;
       Whereas the Honorable Paul Simon used the Troy Tribune to 
     expose criminal activities and in 1951, at age 22, was called 
     as a key witness to testify before the United States Senate's 
     Crime Investigating Committee;
       Whereas the Honorable Paul Simon served in the Illinois 
     legislature for 14 years, winning the Independent Voters of 
     Illinois ``Best Legislator Award'' every session;
       Whereas the Honorable Paul Simon was elected Lieutenant 
     Governor in 1968 and was the first in Illinois history to be 
     elected to that post with a Governor of another party;
       Whereas the Honorable Paul Simon served Illinois in the 
     United States House of Representatives and the United States 
     Senate with devotion and distinction;
       Whereas the Honorable Paul Simon is the only individual to 
     have served in the Illinois House of Representatives, the 
     Illinois Senate, the United States House of Representatives, 
     and the United States Senate.
       Whereas the Honorable Paul Simon was the founder and 
     director of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois 
     University in Carbondale, Illinois, and taught there for more 
     than six years in the service of the youth of our Nation;
       Whereas the Honorable Paul Simon wrote over 20 books and 
     held over 50 honorary degrees;
       Whereas the Honorable Paul Simon was an unapologetic 
     champion of the less fortunate and a constant example of 
     caring and honesty in public service;
       Whereas his efforts on behalf of Illinoisans and all 
     Americans earned him the esteem and high regard of his 
     colleagues; and
       Whereas his tragic death has deprived his State and the 
     Nation of an outstanding lawmaker and public servant: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives agrees with the 
     sentiment expressed by the Senate in Senate Resolution 281.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Doolittle) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. 
Larson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle).
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution is a resolution basically concurring 
with the sentiments expressed in Senate Resolution 281, a resolution 
regarding, really,

[[Page H53]]

the life of Senator Simon, who unfortunately passed away this last 
December at the age of 75. The Senator had quite a distinguished life 
of many accomplishments, was during his lifetime both a journalist and 
an author as well as a public servant. He was prodigious in his work 
product, passionate in his concerns for his constituents, and cared a 
great deal.
  I must say he and I would not have agreed on anything probably except 
perhaps the desire to do the best we could for our country. He was an 
honorable public servant and someone who is fitting should be 
commended.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to offer for this body's 
consideration House Resolution 489, a bill stating the agreement of the 
House of Representatives with the sentiment expressed by the Senate in 
Senate Resolution 281 regarding former Illinois Senator Paul Simon, who 
regrettably passed away on December 9, 2003, shortly after undergoing 
heart surgery.
  The Honorable Paul Simon was born November 29, 1928, in Eugene, 
Oregon. At the age of 19, Simon became the Nation's youngest editor-
publisher when he accepted a local Lion's Club challenge to save the 
Troy Tribune newspaper in Troy, Illinois. In little time, Paul created 
a chain of 13 newspapers in southern and central Illinois that were 
notable for their hard-hitting investigative journalism, as was 
demonstrated when one of his papers, the Tribune, exposed syndicate 
gambling connections in Madison County, Illinois.
  Paul Simon served our Nation in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953. 
Following his military service, Paul ran for state office and was 
elected to the Illinois House in 1954. He then was elected into the 
Illinois Senate in 1962. During his 14 years in the state legislature, 
he won the Independent Voters of Illinois' ``Best Legislator Award'' 
every session.
  Simon was elected lieutenant governor of Illinois in 1968, and in 
this capacity, he became the people's ombudsman. He is widely credited 
with turning what had been a ceremonial position into a position 
focused on improving Government's ability to better serve its citizens.
  After narrowly losing the 1972 Democratic gubernatorial primary to 
Dan Walker, Simon started the public affairs reporting program at 
Sangamon State University in Springfield, Illinois (now the University 
of Illinois at Springfield), and lectured during the 1972-1973 school 
year at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
  Simon was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974 and 
served Illinois' 22nd and 24th Congressional Districts for 10 years. 
During his service in the House, Simon played a leading role in 
drafting and enacting major legislation covering a wide range of 
issues, including education, disability policy, and foreign affairs. 
While in the House, he worked closely with former Speaker Newt Gingrich 
in establishing the Office of House Historian.
  In 1984, Simon was elected to the U.S. Senate. During his years as a 
public official, Paul Simon was known for exceptional constituent 
service. He also was the Senate's pacesetter in convening town 
meetings. As a Senator, Simon held more than 600 town meetings 
throughout the state. He was also known for sporting fashionable bow 
ties, which became his trademark.
  Prior to leaving the U.S. Senate, Simon ranked as Illinois' senior 
Senator. In November 1994, Paul Simon announced that he would retire 
from the Senate when his term expired January 3, 1997, ending 12 years 
of exceptional service to the people of Illinois and to the people of 
the United States.
  Simon holds over 55 honorary degrees and has written 22 books. Paul 
Simon married Jeanne Hurley of Wilmette, Illinois, in 1960, whom he met 
while both served in the Illinois House. They had two children, Sheila 
and Martin, three granddaughters and one grandson. After his first wife 
passed away, Senator Simon married Patricia Derge in May 2001.
  Please join me in honoring the life and service of this fine man and 
dedicated public servant by supporting House Resolution 489.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. LARSON of Connecticut asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that we note 
today the passing of a distinguished former Member of this House, Paul 
Simon of Illinois. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Doolittle) for offering this motion, and I also thank the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Costello) for introducing this resolution.
  I regret that I did not have the privilege of serving with Paul 
Simon. He retired from the Senate 2 years before I came to the House. I 
may not have served with Paul Simon; but like millions of Americans, I 
certainly knew of him and admired him greatly.
  Paul Simon's reputation extended far beyond the geographic borders of 
the Land of Lincoln. Through a distinguished career that began at age 
19 as a newspaper editor and publisher and led him to seats in both 
houses of the Illinois general assembly, lieutenant governorship, and 
on to both Houses of the United States Congress, Paul Simon enjoyed a 
reputation of honesty, integrity, and diligence. Known for his 
trademark bowties, Simon championed reform and the cause of the less 
fortunate than himself.
  Mr. Speaker, Paul Simon, the statesman, was a great American who made 
a difference during his long career in public life.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. LaHood).
  (Mr. LaHOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Doolittle) for yielding me this time.
  On December 9, 2003, the citizens of Illinois lost one of the true 
giants in the storied history of politics in our State. Paul Simon was 
a leader who transcended political or ideological labels.
  To be sure, he was a staunch liberal who fought for better housing, 
fair wages, a cleaner environment, and civil justice. At the same time, 
he also leaned conservative when it came to fiscal matters.
  But it was the way he carried out the job that made Paul a revered 
figure in a State that is accustomed to larger-than-life figures. Paul 
Simon represented an approach to politics that is becoming more and 
more rare in today's world, an approach in which he not only respected 
the people he represented but he respected the people who were his 
peers and the institutions in which he served, including this House and 
the other body.
  When I was first elected to the House in 1994, Paul was the senior 
Senator from Illinois, and he took time to reach out to me so we could 
become better acquainted and work on issues of mutual concern.
  As a leading Member of the Senate, I am sure that he had many better 
things to do than getting to know a first-term Member of the House, but 
that was the way Paul did business. He knew that good relationships 
were important in politics and legislating, and I am a better Member of 
the House for Paul Simon's efforts to get to know me.
  When Paul retired from the Senate following the 1996 election, he 
certainly could have landed some lucrative lobbying contracts, but he 
chose instead to continue influencing public policy through a different 
arena, one that could have a lasting impression on generations of 
future public servants, that is, teaching. From his perch as director 
of Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, he 
continued to stay in the public eye, and he was able to carry on his 
advocacy for many of the issues he held so dear. He wrote prolifically 
on many issues during his time at SIU. He continued to travel the world 
to talk about the issues in which he so passionately believed. I would 
imagine he was as busy in his role with the institute as he was during 
his time in the Senate.
  And to this day I am sure Paul Simon's approval numbers in Illinois 
are higher than any politician in our State.
  Paul is someone who should be used as a benchmark, not only for 
future generations of leaders but for today's politicians as well. Paul 
Simon taught us that one can really get ahead through civility, common 
courtesy, and a respect for those with opposing viewpoints. That is a 
far cry from what many of our citizens believe today about their 
elected representatives. All of us could do this job a little better if 
we follow in the footsteps and examples of Paul Simon.
  I might say that when I first got to the House, Paul recommended that 
I get involved in a program called Everybody Wins, which is a reading 
program

[[Page H54]]

where some of us branch out around the Capital and read as mentors to 
students; and if it were not for Paul's initiative for me to get 
involved in that program, which I have been involved with, and it is a 
great program here in Washington, D.C., I would not have been involved. 
But that is the way Paul Simon was. He was an example of not only a 
mentor for children but to all of us who have come to know and love 
him. And he will be missed in Illinois and certainly missed at Southern 
Illinois University. And I thank the committee for recognizing him and 
adopting the Senate resolution.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello), the sponsor of 
this resolution.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my friend, the 
ranking member, for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 489 to honor 
my good friend Senator Paul Simon, who sadly passed away on December 9, 
2003.
  Senator Simon was a good friend and a dedicated public servant. Paul 
worked as a newspaper publisher, public servant, author, and teacher. 
He was elected to the Illinois general assembly in 1954 and the 
Illinois senate in 1962 and was elected lieutenant governor of Illinois 
in 1968.
  While a member of the Illinois legislature, Paul won the Independent 
Voters of Illinois' ``Best Legislator Award'' every session of the 
legislature.
  Senator Simon served in this body for 10 years, beginning in 1974 
when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, then the 
United States Senate for 8 years and ran for President of the United 
States in 1988. Throughout his public service, Paul was known for his 
honesty and his integrity. That was his hallmark.
  As a Member of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, he balanced fiscal 
conservatism with social liberalism. Paul was a champion of a balanced 
budget amendment and worked to overhaul the Federal student loan 
program so that students and their families could borrow money directly 
from the U.S. Government. Paul also led efforts to curb television 
violence, leading the industry to monitor the amount of violence on 
their TV screens. In addition, Paul was instrumental in the 
establishment of the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children.
  Paul Simon was always concerned about the cultural isolation of U.S. 
college students and young Americans in general. One of his first books 
was ``The Tongue-Tied American'' on the need for American students to 
learn a second language. Paul sponsored several programs to increase 
international education and understanding in American schools, and he 
was working to create a foreign exchange program to allow more American 
students to study abroad.
  As impressive as his legislative record was during his tenure in 
Congress, he never forgot his constituents and was known for 
exceptional constituent service. During his service in the U.S. Senate, 
Paul held over 600 town meetings throughout the State of Illinois to 
hear the issues that were important to the citizens of Illinois.
  Paul's career began at age 19, when he became the youngest editor-
publisher of the Troy Tribune in Troy, Illinois, in Madison County, 
Illinois. By 1966 he had built a chain of 13 newspapers in southern and 
central Illinois, which he sold in order to concentrate more time on 
public service and writing.
  Upon his retirement from the U.S. Senate, Paul formed the Public 
Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale to share 
his wisdom and advocacy with the next generation of students. In 
addition to chairing the Public Policy Institute, he also taught 
classes in political science, history, and journalism at SIU.

                              {time}  1145

  Senator Simon is survived by his two children, and Martin, his four 
grandchildren, Reilly Marie, Corey Jeanne, Brennan and Nicholas, and 
his second wife, Patti and her two children, Jennie and Bill. Jennie 
currently works right here on the Hill for our good friend and 
colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood).
  Mr. Speaker, at Senator Simon's funeral, Senator Ted Kennedy said, 
``In another era, he would have been a founding father. He was that 
good. He will never be forgotten.''
  Senator Simon was a great man that served our country with honor and 
distinction. It is fitting that we honor him with this resolution 
today.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Shimkus).
  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, not very much will get me motivated enough 
to wear a bow tie in this world, but now I have done it two days in a 
row, and it is a Paul Simon tie. When he ran for President, at the 
funeral, at the wake, the lapel pins had the trademark bow tie. This is 
a Paul Simon bow tie that I have been allowed to use by the Tomasewski 
family of Washington County, and I thank them for that. It only took me 
about 4 hours to tie it, but, once I got it down, I kind of slept with 
it last night and did not change shirts.
  Paul was a great man. A lot has been said and gone over with regard 
to his history, and I will highlight a few other points. But I am going 
to talk about the man of faith, the man of religion.
  I am of the Lutheran faith. Paul comes from a strong family of 
Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. His father was a missionary in China. 
That moral background and upbringing I think helped serve him well in 
the crusades that he fought in the future.
  A lot of the pillars of my congregation in Holy Cross Lutheran Church 
in Collinsville remember Senator Simon fondly as a member of what was 
then called the Walther League, which was the youth group. They would 
meet throughout parts of Southern Illinois. And that friendship 
transcended partisan idealogy, as a lot of my colleagues have said 
today, because when Senator Simon walked into any room, whether you 
agreed or disagreed, you never questioned the integrity, the thought, 
the desire, the real passion that he brought to any issue. I think we 
would do well in memory of him to emulate that, to remember that, and 
to bring that back into the civil discourse that sometimes we do not 
have here on the floor of the House.
  He was also a great crusader. Again, my colleague the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Costello) mentioned at 19 his getting a newspaper in 
Troy, Illinois, just down the road from both of us, and using that 
paper to reform government, to fight corruption. Madison County and St. 
Claire County was a bastion of illegal activities, of crime and 
gambling, and at a very young age he really put his life at risk by 
writing and exposing those that would break the law. That courage, 
developed at a young age, just led on to a very, very successful 
career.
  When he went to into the legislature, he pushed for and his best 
known legislation was the State's first act to require open meetings by 
local governments under most circumstances, the Open Meetings Act, Paul 
Simon's signature issue, which helped bring the public closer to the 
real discussions of what elected officials are doing. Now, sometimes we 
may not like that, but for the discourse and knowing what is really 
going on, requiring notification, requiring people to have access to 
these meetings, it is real reform.
  Upon his retirement, everyone knows he is a noted author, has written 
tremendously various issues, he did not retire. He went down to 
Southern Illinois University in Carbondale around his home in Makanda, 
and continued to work and in transforming the public policy debate 
around the world.
  I was privileged to call him a fellow member of faith, a friend. I 
was able to travel with him on airplane rides. He remembered my mother 
when she had some health issues just around the time when he had health 
issues. They exchanged greetings and notes. He was just that type of 
guy that made us all proud.
  We will miss Senator Simon, and hopefully the members of the Illinois 
delegation and the members of both Chambers of Congress will remember 
his years of service and really dedicate ourselves to some of the 
higher ideas that Senator Simon really called us all to be. I thank him 
for his service and I thank him for his friendship.

[[Page H55]]

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), the most distinct voice in the 
House of Representatives and one of the most distinguished Members.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Connecticut for yielding me time.
  Paul Simon was absolutely the head of that part of the Democrats in 
Illinois that I have been associated with for so long. As a matter of 
fact, he was like the Seal of Good Housekeeping. That is, if you could 
get Paul Simon to say something good about you or endorse you, then it 
was the highest honor. You could not get any better than that.
  I have always remembered when I ran for the House, Senator Simon said 
to me, ``I don't endorse in primaries generally. This year I am going 
to make two exceptions. I am going to endorse Dick Durbin for my seat, 
who has been my protegee and worked with me. I am going to endorse you 
for the seat that you are running for.'' I have always counted that as 
one of the high moments of my political career.
  Someone mentioned all of the town hall meetings that Senator Simon 
would hold. I can remember attending many of those. In many instances, 
there might be only 15 or 20 people there, sometimes 10, and I would be 
amazed that this United States Senator would be at a small town hall 
meeting with 10 or 12 people, in an African American community, a 
little church, a library, and he would stay there two, sometimes three 
hours, just talking to the two or three people, trying to educate, 
trying to stimulate, trying to motivate.
  I can remember all the small receptions that he and his wife Jennie 
and the rest of us used to attend, always sort of swimming upstream. 
The last communication that I had from Senator Simon was just before he 
died. I got a letter from him in the mail and an article from the 
Chicago Tribune saying congratulations, I commend you all for the work 
you are doing on behalf of ex-prisoners, people who are coming home 
from jail. That was Paul Simon, always seeking to assist the underdog, 
those that society would sometimes look at the other way at; Africa, 
food, nutrition, hunger.
  At his funeral, as it was coming to a close, I remembered the words 
of a song that we sometimes sing when a person has done what they can 
do, that says, ``If when you give the best of your service, telling the 
world that the Savior has come, be not dismayed when men don't believe 
you, he'll understand and say well done.''
  Senator Simon, well done.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to get up and speak in honor of Paul 
Simon. I first knew his brother, Art, through Bread for the World. I 
had been active in world hunger activities and in fact was a coauthor 
of a book regarding world hunger. When I read Bread for the World at 
that time I was very impressed with it. I knew that Senator Simon was 
Art's brother, so I was very pleased when I first had the opportunity 
to meet Senator Simon and have a discussion with him.
  He was an honorable person, and, even though I never had close 
contact with him on a continuing basis, I was very impressed with his 
forthrightness, his thoughtfulness, his ability and his honesty. He set 
a high standard for all of us to follow.
  I also appreciated the help of his wife, who was very interested in 
the Library of Congress. I was on the Committee on House Administration 
and served on the Joint House-Senate Committee on the Library of 
Congress, and she was a great help to me at various times in trying to 
achieve my objectives. They were a wonderful couple.
  My last contact with Senator Simon was just 2 months ago, when I 
received a very kind, handwritten note from him. He had heard one of my 
speeches on the floor and sent me a quick note saying, in effect, 
``That is the kind of voice we need to hear more in the Congress.'' I 
thought that was an overwhelming act of kindness on his part, to take 
time at this point in life, with the difficulties he faced, to write to 
a relatively unknown Congressman from a neighboring State and express 
his appreciation.
  This indicated what a wonderful person he was, the kindness and the 
thoughtfulness he had. I am just delighted to join in this accolade for 
him. He was a great man. We could use many more like that in the 
Congress.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Missouri, the ``Show Me State'' (Mr. 
Clay).
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member from Connecticut 
for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution honoring the late 
Senator Paul Simon. It was my privilege to have known Senator Simon for 
most of my life. I have fond memories of watching Congressman Simon on 
the House floor many years ago when I was a student and a doorkeeper, 
and he has long been a source of personal inspiration.
  When I first came to know Congressman Simon, he represented Southern 
Illinois and served with my father on the House Committee on Education 
and Labor. He was among the most active and effective Members in the 
history of this institution, and I was not surprised when I recently 
learned that in 1983, Time Magazine cited Congressman Simon for passing 
more amendments than any other Member of the U.S. House of 
Representatives.
  Paul Simon served in the Illinois House of Representatives, the 
Illinois Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. 
Throughout his career, Paul Simon was famous for championing the causes 
of working people, children, the disabled and veterans. When he served 
in the Illinois legislature, he helped to create the State's community 
college system and the Illinois Arts Council. He also won the 
Independent Voters of Illinois Best Legislator Award every session in 
which he served.
  While serving in the U.S. Congress, Paul Simon sponsored the Missing 
Children Act and the legislation establishing the National Center for 
Missing and Exploited Children. He also wrote the National Literacy 
Act, the School to Work Opportunities Act and the Job Training 
Partnership Act amendments. He was a leader in the reauthorization of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the establishment of the 
direct college loan program.
  Deeply dedicated to the community that sent him to represent their 
interests in Washington, Senator Simon held more town hall meetings 
than any other Illinois senator and his office was legendary for its 
constituent services.
  While in Congress, Paul Simon worked to enact legislation designating 
the first five federally chartered future high-speed rail corridors, 
which included the St. Louis-Chicago-Detroit/Milwaukee corridor, and to 
designate the Illinois-Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. He 
was also instrumental in expanding the Jefferson National Expansion 
Memorial, which is St. Louis's Gateway Arch National Park, to the State 
of Illinois.

                              {time}  1200

  He possessed a rare knowledge and understanding of the legislative 
process and manifested an extraordinary energy for public policy-
making.
  Senator Simon left us all way too soon. He lived a life dedicated to 
serving others, and he certainly left this world a better place for his 
time on Earth.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel), former advisor to 
President Clinton.
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution 
honoring the memory and lasting contributions of Paul Simon.
  I was honored to work on his election to the Senate, where he made 
all of the people of Illinois and America proud. When we look across 
Illinois today, we see that we have an Attorney General who worked for 
Paul Simon and started a career in politics working for Paul Simon, a 
Member of Congress, a State Senator, a county commissioner. Although he 
is very famous for those who say that John Kennedy touched a set of 
idealisms for people to go into public service, for a number of us in 
Illinois, regardless of our party, Paul Simon

[[Page H56]]

touched that chord of idealism; and we knew then that reaching for our 
ideals was possible by seeking a life in public service.
  Despite winning five elections and winning elections in five 
different decades serving his State, his area, and his country in many 
different capacities, his character, integrity, and intelligence are 
what endure; and it is why Paul Simon today remains one of the most 
popular figures in the State of Illinois.
  Long before they were fashionable, Paul Simon championed civil 
rights, education, and campaign finance reform. He saw in those areas 
his ideals being realized. In everything he did, he was guided by a 
deep, deep desire to help those who needed a voice. And for a number of 
us in Illinois, we can still hear his voice with ``how are you today'' 
and that deep sense that you were Paul Simon's person that he was 
talking to. And he always had a sense that he was not up here to be a 
vote, but to be a voice for our values, regardless of what party we 
came from. He taught many of us, and some of us, in fact, have come to 
this lesson hard in life, that you can disagree without being 
disagreeable.
  After his retirement from Congress, he did not leave public service. 
He spent the remaining days of his life pursuing what he cared most 
about, which was education. As this resolution states, he remained an 
unapologetic champion of the less fortunate and a constant example of 
caring and honesty in public service.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for the opportunity to recognize a 
true hero for many of us in Illinois. We will always remember Paul 
Simon and honor his enduring contributions to the State of Illinois and 
to this country. His memory will be a blessing to those who follow in 
his path.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), my neighbor and good 
friend.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, it gives me such great honor and 
pleasure to join in support of this resolution in memory and to 
celebrate the life of former Senator Paul Simon who was my friend and 
my mentor and my Senator and my role model.
  Paul Simon was unique. He was the real thing, though. When we look at 
him with his bow tie and his suit, he was an authentic person. And 
those who might make the mistake of kind of relegating Paul Simon to 
the kind of politician of the past, that would be wrong. Paul Simon, 
although he had that kind of almost old-fashioned gentlemanly way about 
him, was someone who we can learn a lot from today. He had incredible 
courage. The thing that Paul Simon really understood was that it is not 
only important for your own personal integrity to stand up for your 
beliefs, but that it was also really good politics.
  Paul Simon his whole life was an opponent of the death penalty, not 
always a popular issue in the State of Illinois; and it is an issue 
that inspired a lot of hot feelings about that. And yet people who 
would disagree with him on that or, like me, who disagreed with him on 
the Balanced Budget Amendment pretty strongly, nonetheless often would 
come up to Senator Paul Simon and say, you know, Senator, I do not 
agree with you on this or that, or even, I do not agree with you on 
most things, but I trust you. I am going to vote for you. I admire the 
way that you stand up for the State of Illinois and for the things that 
you believe in. It would be wonderful if more of us would do that.
  I went to Iowa. We just finished the Iowa primaries. I went to Iowa 
for a month for Paul Simon in 1988 and, by the end, of course, 
everybody could say the speech with him. I could just hear that voice 
saying, the United States is a great country, but we can be an even 
better country. And he believed that so much. His desire, as he stated 
it: I wanted to do something where I could continue to contribute. I 
did not get into office just because I wanted a title; I wanted to get 
something meaningful done, and he did. He continued to do that. That is 
so true. He did not just want to be something; he wanted to do 
something.
  So when he retired from being in the Senate, he continued in his role 
at Southern Illinois University and all the while prodding all of us. 
We heard mention of those personal notes. He wrote a book called 
``Tapped Out,'' dealing with the water crisis around the world; and he 
really wanted me to get involved in that. He would write me letters. 
Then he sent me the book. He said, now look, your name is in the 
forward of the book. It said, to someone who is going to be working on 
this issue. I knew what he was saying to me: you better work on this 
issue; you are in my book.
  Paul, I am going to be working on that issue and so many more where 
you forged the path.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez).
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for this resolution and thank my good friend and colleague, the 
gentleman from Illinois, for introducing it.
  My friend Senator Paul Simon was a statesman, a respected leader, and 
an unwavering champion of the little guy; and he possessed a heart, a 
smile, and a baritone voice that could fill a room. He was truly one of 
a kind, a principled human being, a principled politician, a real 
reformer, and an unapologetic idealist whose words were followed by 
genuine and unrelenting action.
  From his time as a young journalist rooting out corruption in 
Illinois, to the 14 years he served in the general assembly in 
Springfield, to his distinguished tenure in Congress, Paul never 
wavered in his fight for fairness and justice. He never backed down. No 
matter the odds, no matter the political ramifications, no matter how 
unpopular or lonely his positions, he remained fervent and passionate.
  Paul was a role model for many of us in the Illinois delegation today 
and for many who continue to seek public office. I know he is a role 
model for me.
  During his tenure in the Senate, Paul fought ardently and selflessly 
on the issues that made a real difference in ordinary people's lives. 
He always saw the good in people and used that good for the benefit and 
the betterment of our country. He stood up with us in the fight for 
immigration reform and on so many other issues important to my 
constituents and to this country.
  But my friend's legacy transcends politics. Paul was a beacon of hope 
for anyone who wished to dream the American Dream. He embodied the type 
of heart needed to sustain the uphill battles required to make real 
change, and he was the consummate underdog and dedicated his life to 
public service. He was always for the underdog and giving a voice to 
the concerns of the voiceless. Paul simply would have no part in 
pandering to the special interests. To him, public service was about 
one thing, people, and he maintained that steadfast commitment to them.
  We lost an irreplaceable friend, a teacher, and a mentor. He touched 
countless lives in countless ways, and we will never forget him.
  But just remembering Senator Simon is not enough; just honoring him 
is not enough. He would have wanted us to do more. He would have wanted 
us to stand together, to fight together; and I think that is what this 
resolution is really all about. It is about recognizing and building on 
Senator Simon's accomplishments, his ideas, his life and, indeed, his 
legacy. We should not let this enormous loss be the end of his work. We 
all have a responsibility now in this Chamber and across this country. 
We must embody Paul's heart and his spirit. We must embrace his honesty 
and his integrity.
  Mr. Speaker, this Congress and this country face many challenges in 
the coming months and years. I think we would be well served to pause 
and ask, what would our friend, Senator Simon, do? I am confident that 
by asking that simple question, we will set ourselves on the right 
course.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of the 
time to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Farr).
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I am not from Illinois, but I have to tell my 
colleagues that Senator Simon was a man of all seasons, was a mentor 
and a teacher. And most importantly, when he talked, people listened. I 
remember when the Defense Language Institute, which is our premier 
language school in the world, and he was very dedicated to having 
Americans learn languages,

[[Page H57]]

and it was threatened for closure, he called President Clinton and 
said, do not take that off the list. Clinton said, why are you 
interested in a base that is in California? And Senator Simon said, 
because it is an intellectual capital for languages and we need to keep 
it that way.
  A very impressive man. The country will greatly miss him. He was the 
epitome of politics, the greatness of politics in America.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  On behalf of the Committee on House Administration committee 
chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), and myself, I would like 
to thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. 
Larson), and the author of the resolution, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Costello), and the committee staff. Please join me in honoring the 
life and service of this fine man and dedicated public servant, Paul 
Simon, by supporting House Resolution 489.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
resolution introduced today to honor the life and legacy of Paul Simon. 
I learned with great sadness of his death in December.
  Senator Simon epitomized all that is best about Congress. He served 
in the House of Representatives and the Senate, and was a distinguished 
member in both chambers. His presence was a constant example of the 
importance of hard work, discipline, and compassion. Senator Simon 
believed that government could serve the people, and serve them in a 
positive way. He served his State and his Nation beginning in 1954, 
when he entered the Illinois State legislature. His service would 
continue until his death as a professor in Illinois, where he shared a 
lifetime of wisdom with the leaders of the future.
  Senator Simon's season of service would take him to the House of 
Representatives, the United States Senate, and the campaign trail as a 
candidate for the presidency. His work included fighting against 
television violence, working for those without jobs, and trying to 
balance the budget. I was pleased to join with him in raising the issue 
of gambling's ill effects on families, individuals, and communities. He 
was concerned about the welfare not only of Illinois, but of the entire 
Nation.
  Senator Simon's talents were not limited to Congress. In his 
lifetime, he wrote over 20 books and was awarded over 50 honorary 
degrees. He was cerebral as well as practical. Senator Simon lived a 
life of the mind as well as a life dedicated to enlightening and 
lifting up his fellow citizens. After he left the Senate, Paul Simon 
returned home, and taught at Southern Illinois University, to impart 
his wisdom to the next generation, to enlighten young minds, and to 
continue serving his state.
  His life was one of constant service in the public interest. Senator 
Simon lived many lives in one--editor-publisher, legislator, public 
crusader, professor. That he did so much is impressive. That he did it 
all so well and so selflessly is inspirational. Congress and the Nation 
is a lesser place for his passing, but both were greatly enriched by 
his life and his example. Senator Simon will be missed, but through the 
lives he touched, the life he lived, and the lives he inspired, he will 
not be forgotten.
  Our sympathies go to his family and our thanks to them as well for 
sharing this remarkable man with us.
   Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
honoring the late Senator Paul Simon. Certainly, many of us recall his 
involvement, his active support for U.S. bilateral assistance to Africa 
and his work in the fight against apartheid in South Africa. Today, 
however, I want to pay special tribute to the Senator's long time 
advocacy for historically Black colleges and universities, HBCUs. As 
the chair for the Postsecondary Education Subcommittees in both the 
House and the Senate, he lent his unwavering support for these 
institutions during reauthorizations of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 as well as adding a pivotal endorsement of the creation of an 
endowment fund for HBCUs. While Paul Simon is a colleague who will 
always be remembered as a supporter of the disadvantaged, he will also 
be remembered for his belief that the disadvantaged could be successful 
with the right kind of assistance from government programs. Senator 
Simon will be sorely missed but we are all better from having known and 
worked with him.
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution to 
commemorate my distinguished colleague, Senator Paul Simon. It is with 
great sentiment that I rise to honor Paul Simon for his life's 
accomplishments.
  In the book of Isaiah, the prophet writes, ``How beautiful upon the 
mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims 
peace, who brings glad tiding of good things, who proclaims salvation, 
and who says to Zion, your God reigns.'' Through my personal 
experiences in working with Senator Simon, he was I believe, the 
epitome of those prophetic words from Isaiah. Paul, a son of a 
missionary, was a man who was known for his calm and comforting 
demeanor, a man that demonstrated a true testament of peace, and a man 
who believed in breaking barriers and shattering prejudices. I am not 
telling you what I think, but I am telling you what I know. I had the 
privilege to know him professionally and personally. Paul Simon was a 
Senator who earned the tremendous respect from all people who knew him. 
In my congressional district, he was revered by all. His calm 
temperament, his respect for mankind, and his unwavering commitment to 
fairness and equality was deeply admired in my community. He was 
vigilant in his fight for the struggle to protect and preserve civil 
liberties and human rights for all people.
  Paul Simon was an icon for many political leaders such as myself and 
a ``giant'' in the history of the American democracy. During his tenure 
in Congress, Simon was a champion of education and a key advocate for 
literacy and lifelong learning. In the Senate, he was the author of the 
National Literacy Act, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, the Job 
Training Partnership Act amendments, the 1994 re-authorization of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the direct student loan 
program. Senator Simon held numerous influential committee assignments, 
including serving as the Chairman of the Senate's Subcommittee on 
Africa.
  Without question, Mr. Speaker, Paul Simon was one of the most 
effective Senators to have served the citizens of Illinois, and the 
American people.
  Although Senator Simon has been called to answer his new ``heavenly'' 
assignment, he leaves with us his legacy and principles of nobility 
that will never be forgotten.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kline). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 489.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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