[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 162 (Wednesday, October 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING FORMER CONGRESSMAN CHARLIE VANIK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE CHABOT

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 24, 2007

  Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of a 
former member of this body from my home state of Ohio--Mr. Charles 
Vanik--who represented Ohio's 21st Congressional district, the east 
side of Cleveland, which later became the 22nd District.
  After serving on the Cleveland City Council and in the Ohio State 
Senate, Charlie Vanik enlisted in the Naval Reserves during World War 
II and fought in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. He later went on to 
serve as a local judge before being elected to the United States House 
of Representatives in 1954.
  Known for his black suits and bow ties, Charlie was a champion of 
working class families and was most famous for his strong stance 
against nations that denied freedom to its citizens--particularly the 
Soviet Union.
  In 1974 he partnered with then-Senator Henry ``Scoop'' Jackson to 
craft what became known as the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, which denied 
normal trade relations to certain countries that oppressed its people 
and restricted the freedom of emigration. That amendment was offered to 
a trade reform bill and was intended to allow Jewish refugees to escape 
from the Soviet Union. The Jackson-Vanik Amendment is still on the 
books today.
  Charlie Vanik is survived by his wife, two children and two 
grandchildren. I ask my colleagues to keep his family and friends in 
their thoughts and prayers in the coming months.




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