[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 162 (Wednesday, October 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING FORMER CONGRESSMAN CHARLES VANIK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN A. BOEHNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 24, 2007

  Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor former Congressman 
Charles Vanik, who passed away earlier this year. There are two things 
we do in Washington--politics and policy. Congressman Vanik excelled at 
policy and understood politics well enough to make a difference with 
the policies that he fought to see enacted. A champion of the underdog 
and an unfailing advocate for the poor, Congressman Vanik's legacy was 
solidified in 1974 by the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to the Trade Reform 
Bill linking the former Soviet Union's trade status with the ability of 
Russian Jews to emigrate freely.
  Congressman Vanik served in the House from 1955 to 1981, representing 
his Cleveland-area constituents well. A 13-term veteran of the U.S. 
House, Congressman Vanik graciously stepped aside from his original 
district in 1968 to make way for Louis Stokes, who became the first 
African-American Congressman from Ohio. He also had his own particular 
style, and those privileged to have served with Congressman Vanik 
remember his black suits and bow ties in addition to his utter disdain 
to having to raise re-election funds. His constituents responded to his 
hard work and his commitment to them by continuing to re-elect him, 
proving that a hard-charging public servant who's in Congress for the 
right reasons will be returned to continue his work.
  Congressman Vanik's public service began after graduating from 
Western Reserve University and Law School when he entered the Navy 
during World War II. Following the war, he served as a municipal judge 
and in the Ohio Senate before first running for Congress in 1954.
  My thoughts and prayers continue to be with Congressman Vanik's 
family and friends, and we are grateful for his dedicated public 
service.

                          ____________________