[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF DAN SCHAEFER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2006

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I was saddened to learn of the 
death of former U.S. Representative Dan Schaefer, who represented 
Colorado's 6th Congressional District for 15 years before he retired at 
the end of the 105th Congress.
  While I did not serve with Dan, we occasionally found each other on 
the familiar flights between Washington and Denver after his retirement 
from Congress, and like all Coloradans I am aware of his contributions 
to our state and the nation.
  He took a leadership role in establishing the House's renewable-
energy caucus and in support of the important work of the National 
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)--a role that was appropriately 
recognized when NREL's visitors' center was named for him.
  He also worked closely with my predecessor, Representative David 
Skaggs, in pressing for timely cleanup of the closed Rocky Flats 
nuclear-weapons facility--a goal that was finally achieved just last 
year.
  And as our state experienced rapid population growth, he also worked 
to provide federal assistance to help fund essential transportation 
infrastructure, including funds for highway and light-rail construction 
and improvements.
  In the words of The Denver Post, ``Schaefer had a fine ability to 
disagree with people without being disagreeable. Besides leaving 
cleaner lands and water as his legacy, he left a record of civility and 
decency in public affairs that will be greatly missed in today's often 
strident politics.''
  He will be missed, in Colorado and in Congress. For the information 
of our colleagues, I am attaching a recent editorial about his career 
and contributions.

                 [From the Denver Post, Apr. 24, 2006]

                     Schaefer Served Colorado Well

       Dan Schaefer's legacy can be seen in the native grasses 
     that replaced the former Rocky Flats nuclear bomb factory and 
     in the pavement of C-470. Schaefer, who last week died of 
     cancer at age 70, represented Colorado's 6th Congressional 
     District for 15 years until retiring in 1998. Called a 
     conservative in his political career, today he would be a 
     moderate Republican.
       While in office, Schaefer focused on service to his 
     district and state, and fiscal restraint in government. His 
     national initiatives, to end the income tax and deregulate 
     electrical utilities, failed on their merits.
       Close to home, though, he successfully worked with David 
     Skaggs, the Boulder Democrat who then represented the 2nd 
     Congressional District, to fast-track Rocky Flats' cleanup. 
     He pushed the U.S. government to meet the same environmental 
     standards imposed on industry. He got crucial federal support 
     for C-470 but supported mass transit, too. Schaefer was such 
     a champion of renewable energy that the main building at the 
     National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden is named after 
     him.
       Schaefer had a fine ability to disagree with people without 
     being disagreeable. Besides leaving cleaner lands and water 
     as his legacy, he left a record of civility and decency in 
     public affairs that will be greatly missed in today's often 
     strident politics.

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