[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 137 (Monday, December 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN KLECZKA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 6, 2004

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a fellow Member and 
friend, Congressman Jerry Kleczka, and to congratulate him on his 
twenty years of outstanding service to those in Wisconsin's 4th 
Congressional District.
  Since the age of twenty-four, Mr. Kleczka has been active in the 
public service sector and has served in the House of Representatives 
since 1984. Mr. Kleczka has made a timeless effort to serve his 
constituents and has demonstrated his commitment to serve those in his 
local community by becoming a member of the Hispanic Chamber of 
Commerce, the Brady Street Area Association, and America's Black 
Holocaust Museum.
  Mr. Kleczka has illustrated his desire to meet the needs of his 
constituents by addressing a variety of issues while serving in the 
House of Representatives. The people of southeast Wisconsin were once 
faced with the severe problem of elderly abuse in public housing 
complexes. Recognizing the severity of this situation, Mr. Kleczka 
fought back with strong legislation resulting in Milwaukee becoming the 
first city in the nation to provide elderly-only public housing.
  Mr. Kleczka has demonstrated not only his desire to improve the 
health and well-being of elderly in unsafe living conditions, but he 
has also fought for measures to decrease health care costs and increase 
personal privacy for deserving Americans.
  Mr. Kleczka has also displayed his leadership capabilities by 
representing not just those in his district, but all citizens from 
Wisconsin by serving on the House Ways and Means Committee. This 
committee has allowed him to take an active role in the legislative 
process and effectively serve the people of Wisconsin.
  Mr. Kleczka has served in the House of Representatives in a 
respectful manner, and his creative insight for implementing new policy 
and unselfish dedication to serving others will be greatly missed but 
not forgotten.
  To the Wisconsin delegation, the retirement of Jerry Kleczka may feel 
like the Packers losing the leadership and dedication of their head 
coach Mike Sherman. It will be very difficult to follow in the 
footsteps of Mr. Kleczka; however, I am confident that my fellow 
Wisconsin members will follow the example Jerry Kleczka began twenty 
years ago.
  I want to thank Jerry for his leadership and his friendship. I wish 
him the best of luck on his new endeavors.

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