[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 16, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1810-E1811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN MEMORY OF JOHN F. SEIBERLING

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 2008

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, like so many of our colleagues 
I heard with great sorrow of the passing of former Representative John 
F. Seiberling of Ohio.
  While I did not have the opportunity to serve with Mr. Seiberling, I 
knew of his distinguished career and especially of his being a longtime 
friend and colleague of my father, both during and after his own 
service in the House.
  My father and John Seiberling not only served at the same time, they 
worked closely together on many measures that came before what was then 
the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs--now known as the Natural 
Resources Committee.
  Examples include the legislation dealing with strip mining, the 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, finally signed into law by 
President Carter after President Ford had vetoed an earlier version, 
and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, ANILCA, also 
known as the ``Alaska Lands Act,'' which was signed into law on 
December 2, 1980.
  Also, for many years John Seiberling was the voice of historic 
preservation in the Congress. He authored the legislation that created 
the Historic Preservation Fund and the 1980 Amendments to the National 
Historic Preservation Act, and he helped win passage of the first 
Federal tax credits to preserve historic buildings.
  Indeed, both as a private citizen and a public leader, John 
Seiberling inspired and elevated the stewardship of our Nation's land 
and its natural and cultural heritage.
  At home, he was a leader in saving the historic heritage of Ohio, 
including his birthplace, Stan Hywet Hall in Akron. And while he was 
the shepherd of more than 60 park-related bills, he took special pride 
in writing and achieving the enactment of the Act to protect the 
Cuyahoga Valley between Akron and Cleveland, Ohio, as a national 
recreation area, now a national park.
  As his hometown paper, the Akron Beacon Journal put it ``John F. 
Seiberling often explained that in preserving land, we preserve 
something of ourselves. One generation sends an enduring message to its 
successors about what it holds dear. Who has forgotten the wisdom of 
Theodore Roosevelt and others advancing the cause of national parks? In 
that same way, Mr. Seiberling long will be remembered . . . for his 
vision in seeking to preserve' 33,000 acres in Northeast Ohio, a vast 
urban parkland between Akron and Cleveland, and then having the 
political skills to turn the dream into reality.''
  And the same editorial also noted an important point about John 
Seiberling's character and why he was so effective here in Congress and 
back home:

       Almost anyone who spent time with Mr. Seiberling soon 
     encountered his intelligence

[[Page E1811]]

     and wit. What his legislative colleagues and others 
     appreciated was his modesty and civility, He listened to 
     opposing views, Perhaps that stemmed from his own story, the 
     scion of the family that founded Goodyear becoming a liberal 
     Democrat. His calm, informed and reasoned approach proved 
     most effective in aiding his causes. It meant that when he 
     got his back up (say, his snapping ``Who the hell are you?'' 
     at James Goldsmith, the corporate pirate seeking to consume 
     Goodyear), his passion proved all the more persuasive.

  President Clinton later awarded John Seiberling the Presidential 
Citizens Medal, which is awarded in recognition of U.S. citizens who 
have performed exemplary deeds of service for our Nation.
  In making the award, the President rightly explained that ``An ardent 
advocate for the environment, John F. Seiberling has demonstrated a 
profound commitment to America's natural treasures. Championing 
numerous bills during his 17 years in Congress, including the Alaska 
Lands Act, John Seiberling safeguarded millions of acres of parks, 
forests, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas.'' And, in recognition 
of John Seiberling's work as a member of the Judiciary Committee, 
President Clinton went on to say that ``working in a spirit of 
bipartisanship, he also promoted civil rights and worker rights, always 
striving to improve the quality of life in America.''
  Truer words were never spoken of any Member of Congress--and, once 
again, the Beacon Journal got it right when its editors wrote ``John 
Seiberling led an admirable life. He might have been content to become 
the fine attorney and avid amateur photographer that he was. Instead, 
he jumped into the political fray and in doing so, provided an example 
of what it means to pursue the highest standards of public life. That 
is something very much worth remembering and preserving.''
  John Seiberling's example is one we should all remember and try to 
emulate.
  Here is the complete text of the Beacon Journal editorial, from the 
paper's August 5th edition:

 The Seiberling Legacy.--Start with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 
  and then consider the remarkable political skills that brought the 
                            dream to reality

       John F. Seiberling often explained that in preserving land, 
     we preserve something of ourselves. One generation sends an 
     enduring message to its successors about what it holds dear. 
     Who has forgotten the wisdom of Theodore Roosevelt and others 
     advancing the cause of national parks? In that same way, Mr. 
     Seiberling long will be remembered, following his death over 
     the weekend at age 89, for his vision in seeking to preserve 
     33,000 acres in Northeast Ohio, a vast urban parkland between 
     Akron and Cleveland, and then having the political skills to 
     turn the dream into reality.
       That achievement revealed so much about his public service. 
     In this election season, candidates spend many hours touting 
     their virtues, why their presence at the Statehouse or on 
     Capitol Hill is necessary. Rare is the lawmaker who enhances 
     the quality of community life to the degree of Mr. 
     Seiberling. He was a once-in-a-generation leader.
       Look at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park today, three 
     decades after its creation, millions of people each year 
     hiking and riding its pathways, enjoying its meadows, its 
     wetlands and banks of trees, their colors radiant in the 
     fall. Practically all of us boast about the park to friends 
     and family elsewhere, and when they come to visit, they 
     marvel, too.
       The park isn't the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone, obviously. 
     Mr. Seiberling knew the Big Country. One of his proudest 
     accomplishments representing the Akron area in the U.S. House 
     for 16 years was his essential role in preserving 54 million 
     acres of wilderness in Alaska. The Cuyahoga Valley park 
     represented an innovation in the concept. Why not do the same 
     in the industrial heartland of the country?
       Almost anyone who spent time with Mr. Seiberling soon 
     encountered his intelligence and wit. What his legislative 
     colleagues and others appreciated was his modesty and 
     civility. He listened to opposing views. Perhaps that stemmed 
     from his own story, the scion of the family that founded 
     Goodyear becoming a liberal Democrat. His calm, informed and 
     reasoned approach proved most effective in aiding his causes. 
     It meant that when he got his back up (say, his snapping 
     ``Who the hell are you?'' at James Goldsmith, the corporate 
     pirate seeking to consume Goodyear), his passion proved all 
     the more persuasive.
       Most telling, Mr. Seiberling knew who he was, and didn't 
     pretend otherwise. Even as he cut a national profile 
     conserving public lands, he understood his leading role 
     involved representing the city and its surroundings. He 
     brought federal backing to the Akron-Canton airport, the 
     Goodyear Technical Center and other projects critical to the 
     community. He didn't duck confrontations. He felt comfortable 
     in his own skin, and at ease in the face of opposition.
       John Seiberling led an admirable life. He might have been 
     content to become the fine attorney and avid amateur 
     photographer that he was. Instead, he jumped into the 
     political fray and in doing so, provided an example of what 
     it means to pursue the highest standards of public life. That 
     is something very much worth remembering and preserving.

                          ____________________