[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 116 (Thursday, September 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN REMEMBRANCE OF REPRESENTATIVE LLOYD MEEDS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RICK LARSEN

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2005

  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today we mourn. We also 
remember. We mourn the loss of a public servant who worked to make 
government the best it could be. We remember his accomplishments and 
celebrate his legacy.
  And we take heart in the memories that we share of this great man.
  Congressman Lloyd Meeds was not a distant politician. He was a friend 
and a neighbor whose public work was devoted to maintaining and 
improving our unique quality of life for generations to come. He was, 
in the words of his colleague Congressman Morris Udall, ``a workhorse 
rather than a showhorse'', a ``glutton for the tough, detailed work 
that so many of us shun.''
  These words paint an accurate picture of a true public servant and 
statesman. And they set a standard of excellence for those of us now 
serving in Congress.
  Congressman Meeds's tough, detailed work played a major role in 
creating Head Start and the Youth Conservation Corps. He took a stand 
as one of the first to support Title IX, the law that bans gender 
discrimination in our schools.
  He set an example for me personally with his work to preserve and 
protect land for future generations by brokering the North Cascades Act 
that created the North Cascades National Park and the Alpine Lakes 
Wilderness. He later worked for a resolution to ensure passage of the 
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, a vital piece of 
legislation that will protect some of the most pristine land in the 
United States for generations to come.
  His accomplishments were many, and his commitment to the Pacific 
Northwest was unyielding. That commitment certainly did not end when he 
left Congress.
  The State of Alaska declared February 28, 2005 ``Lloyd Meeds Day'' as 
a heartfelt thank-you for the Congressman's lifetime of effort on 
behalf of the environment and Native Americans.
  This is the legacy of Congressman Lloyd Meeds--a passionate and 
tireless advocate for the causes he embraced.
  We mourn a loss today. Congressman Meeds will be missed. The 
foundation he laid, however, provides the basis for the diversity and 
strength we see in our communities today.

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