[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN TRIBUTE TO THE SERVICE OF CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I join the people of Illinois and 
the people of this country in celebrating the tremendous service of my 
dear colleague and friend Congressman Lane Evans.
  Congressman Evans was a native of Rock Island, IL. Drawing on his 
first-hand experience a U.S. Marine Veteran in Vietnam, Congressman 
Evans has fought hard to bring to light the experience for our veterans 
in the Persian Gulf War. His experience served him well on the Armed 
Services Committee. He worked to increase funding and to expand and 
build new veteran clinics across America. Before coming to Congress, 
Evans fought as a lawyer for working families and the poor in Rock 
Island. In Congress, in addition to fighting for veterans he also 
fought for the Environment. In fact, he was named an ``Environmental 
Hero'' by the League of Conservation Voters and he was awarded the 
Conservationist of the Year in 1995 by the Illinois Sierra Club.
  My most fond memories of Rep. Evans were when Lane invited me to 
participate in the Homecourt Basketball Tournament. Homecourt Charity 
Basketball Game features members of Congress playing against the 
Georgetown Law School Faculty to raise money for the Homeless Legal 
Center. In 2000, Mervyn L. Jones II, my son, age 16, began playing on 
our team. He has played in every game since 2000. Mervyn and Lane have 
gotten to know each other well and he and I will miss our annual games 
under the leadership of Lane Evans. Lane was the manager and former 
Rep. Carrie Meek and I were the coaches. Upon Rep. Meek's retirement I 
took on the coaching responsibilities. I am committed to keeping the 
Lane Evans Homecourt Basketball tradition alive.
  I will truly miss my friend and colleague, Lane Evans' presence on 
the hill and on the Basketball Court. I pray that God will continue to 
bless Lane Evans and his family.

                          ____________________