[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 54 (Monday, April 26, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SENATOR PAUL SIMON FEDERAL BUILDING

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 2004

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to support S. 2022, a 
bill to honor our former House and Senate colleague Paul Simon and I 
commend Mr. Costello for introducing the House companion bill H.R. 
3713. Both House and Senate bills have bi-partisan support.
  Paul Simon began his public career in 1954 with his election to the 
Illinois House. In 1962, he advanced to the Illinois Senate and in 1968 
he was elected Lieutenant Governor. During his 14 years in the state 
legislature he won the Independent Voters of Illinois ``Best Legislator 
Award'' in every session.
  After teaching at Sangamon State University, and the John F. Kennedy 
School of Government at Harvard, Simon returned to public life in 1974 
with his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1984 he 
upset Senator Percy to win a seat in the U.S. Senate. In 1990 he won 
re-election to the Senate by defeating his opponent with 65 percent of 
the vote and by nearly a million votes--the largest plurality of any 
contested candidate for senator of either party that year.
  In the Senate he become the champion of new, direct college loan 
programs, and was the chief democratic sponsor of the balanced budget 
amendment. He was active in addressing violence in television 
programming, and wrote the National Literacy Act, the Job Training 
partnership amendments, and several provisions of the 1994 Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act.
  Simon held numerous honorary degrees and wrote several books on such 
topics as world hunger, political science, historical biographies, and 
monetary policy. Paul Simon was a true gentleman, thoughtful and 
courteous. The American public benefited from his service both in House 
and Senate.
  Upon his retirement and until his untimely death in December 2003, 
Senator Simon taught political science and journalism at Southern 
Illinois University--Carbondale campus.
  It is most fitting and proper we honor the legacy of our colleague 
and friend with this designation. I urge support for S. 2022.

                          ____________________