[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 86 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE LIFE OF THE HONORABLE JAMES JARRELL PICKLE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 2005

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of a 
true patriot. Known simply as ``Jake,'' James Jarrell Pickle served in 
the House of Representatives for 32 years where he became a senior 
Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee--where I had the pleasure of 
serving with him.
  While in Congress, his dedication to the concerns of his constituents 
as well as putting their interests first made Jake a well respected 
figure on Capitol Hill. Publicly listing his home phone number and 
personally taking calls from his constituents well into the night, Jake 
embodied accountability in governance. His political drive was so 
focused that it is said that he lost 25 pounds during his first 
Congressional campaign.
  The strength of Jake's political convictions can best be seen in his 
vote in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1964--one year after his first 
election. Jake was convinced that this vote would guarantee him a 
ticket out of Washington in his next election. Regardless of this 
potential outcome, he became one of only seven southern Representatives 
to vote for this important piece of legislation, and the good voters of 
Texas' 10th District sent him back to Congress for the next 31 years.
  As the Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social 
Security, Jake played a major role in writing legislation that saved 
Social Security in 1983, when, much like today, it faced financial 
challenges. His words then calling for bipartisanship ring true today--
Jake said, ``We should hold our fire. We can't inflame this subject. If 
we inflame it too much, nothing will get done, and if nothing gets 
done, the American people will have the right to throw us all out.'' 
One year later, Jake was influential in preserving Social Security 
benefits for the disabled.
  Before he entered Congress, Jake served in World War II as a Gunnery 
Officer on the USS St. Louis and the USS Miami. During his three year 
stint, starting in 1942, Jake survived three torpedo attacks. Clearly 
he was meant to make it back. When he returned home, he established 
Austin, Texas's third radio station, KVET.
  When I was first elected to the Ways and Means Committee, Jake helped 
me understand the great tradition of that Committee. Once, our 
Committee held a retreat in Austin, Texas, and Jake entertained us for 
hours with Lady Bird Johnson, telling us story after story. Jake served 
his District and Nation well, and he will be missed by all of us.

                          ____________________