[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 12, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SALUTING PHIL COHEN, ``MR. BROOKLYN CENTER,'' ON A LIFETIME OF PUBLIC 
                                SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 2008

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very 
special government, business and civic leader in Brooklyn Center. 
Minnesota, Phil Cohen.
  Phil's long career in public service has been guided by former Vice 
President Hubert Humphrey's fundamental principle: ``The moral test of 
government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of 
life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; 
and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the 
handicapped.''
  Phil has truly lived up to those lofty aspirations. I want to thank 
Phil Cohen for his many decades of public service to the people of our 
area--and wish him a happy 80th birthday.
  Phil Cohen, ``Mr. Brooklyn Center,'' is one of a kind--a friend to 
all and a dynamic whirlwind of economic, civic and charitable activity. 
His personal motto is: ``It's important for each generation to leave 
society in a better state than they found it.'' Madam Speaker, Phil 
Cohen has done that and then some.
  He is truly an inspiration. The Philip Q. Cohen Room at the Brooklyn 
Center Community Center attests to the magnitude of his giving.
  There are many reasons Phil is known as ``Mr. Brooklyn Center,'' From 
1960 to 1990, at various times he served as Mayor and on the City 
Council and School Board. He has held leadership positions with the 
Metropolitan Council, the League of Minnesota Cities and many more 
community organizations.
  There is no cause or community organization, from the Lions and 
Rotary to the North Metro Mayors Association, Chamber of Commerce and 
Babe Ruth Baseball, which has not been touched by his energy and his 
heart. Phil helped create the Brooklyn Center Crime Prevention 
Association and the Brooklyn Center Charitable Foundation.
  Whether it is helping the Brooklyn Center Police Department obtain 
life-saving equipment; rescuing the Brooklyn Center High School Band 
program, which includes many students from disadvantaged families; 
helping local youth baseball; making every imaginable non-profit and 
civic group more viable and effective; mentoring a young person in 
leadership and public service; or just being there for someone in need, 
Phil Cohen has done it all.
  I have personally long relied on Phil's wise counsel. As a young 
Congressman arriving in Washington. I appreciated Phil's guidance on 
the ways of our Nation's Capitol. Phil was always there to counsel. As 
Legislative Assistant to former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger for a 
decade. Phil shared his expertise with me, and my constituents have 
been the beneficiaries.
  Madam Speaker, I want to wish Phil Cohen a most joyous 80th birthday 
for his inexhaustible spirit of public service and all the good he has 
done for the people of Brooklyn Center. Phil truly is ``Mr. Brooklyn 
Center.''

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