[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 102 (Thursday, July 9, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LEGACY OF PAUL M. WEYRICH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 9, 2009

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is with deep respect that I rise 
today to pay tribute to an outstanding American, a great champion of 
conservative values, and my good friend, Paul M. Weyrich, who passed 
away last December 18, 2008. His contributions to American conservative 
politics over the past 35 years have been tremendous. Paul co-founded 
the Heritage Foundation in 1973, and in 1974 organized the Committee 
for the Survival of Free Congress, which later reorganized into the 
Free Congress Foundation on which he served as Chairman and CEO. By 
1977, both the Heritage Foundation and Free Congress Foundation were 
ranked in the top 5 most influential and best funded conservative think 
tanks. Paul also held the highest honorary position in the Council for 
National Policy.
  Born in Racine, Washington to Ignatius and Virginia Weyrich, Paul 
began his interest in politics while attending the University of 
Wisconsin-Madison. At the age of 19, he joined the Racine County Young 
Republicans where he was active for the next three years until 1964, 
when he chose to take part in Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign. 
In 1966 he became the press secretary to Republican U.S. Senator Gordon 
L. Allott of Colorado. While there he became acquainted with Jack 
Wilson, an aide to Joseph Coors of the Coors Brewing family. This 
contact spurred a series of events, which resulted in the formation of 
the Heritage Foundation.
  The Free Congress Foundation, established shortly after the formation 
of the Heritage Foundation, and where Mr. Weyrich served as President 
from 1977 until 2002, is yet another milestone in his long list of 
achievements. The FCF served as a format to train and mobilize 
conservative activists, recruit conservative candidates, as well as 
raise funds for conservative causes. To raise funds, the FCF became one 
of the first organizations to utilize evangelical churches for 
recruiting support for conservative politics.
  A titan in the world of conservative politics, Mr. Weyrich worked 
ceaselessly. His contributions include co-founding the Christian Voice 
with Robert Grant in 1977; co-founding the Moral Majority with Jerry 
Falwell in 1979; founding the American Legislative Exchange Council; 
founding the Council for National Policy; co-publishing the magazine 
Conservative Digest; serving as the National Chairman of Coalitions for 
America; founding the Washington, D.C. based satellite television 
station ``National Empowerment Television (NET)'', which later re-
launched as ``America's Voice''; serving as President of the Krieble 
Institute from 1989 to 1996, a unit of FCF which trained activists to 
support democracy movements and establish small businesses in Eastern 
Europe and the former Soviet Union. Mr. Weyrich was also an ardent 
supporter of rail mass transit; his expertise in this area was utilized 
while he served as an AMTRAK Director and a National Surface 
Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commissioner. In and after 
1989, Mr. Weyrich traveled to the formerly Communist Soviet Union where 
he organized training courses for the promotion of democracy and 
individual rights. In 2005 Mr. Weyrich won the Heritage Foundation's 
prestigious Clare Booth Luce Award.
  These accomplishments are a testament to his unwavering commitment 
and passion for conservatism. A leader in his faith, as well as in the 
political realm, Paul was ordained in 1990 as a deacon in the Melkite 
Greek Eparchy, a conservative Catholic Church.
  A few years ago he was diagnosed with a spinal injury, arachnoiditis, 
and as his illness progressed over the years, he was confined to a 
wheelchair. Despite these limitations, Paul persisted in his pursuit to 
better the nation and world through conservatism. He continued to play 
key roles as a political advisor and speaker, even finding time to 
organize summit meetings on the future of conservatism, and write 
opinion pieces for his own foundation and for news organizations.
  On December 18, 2008, Paul passed away in Fairfax, Virginia, and our 
country lost one of its strongest champions for conservatism. He is 
survived by his wife of 45 years, Joyce, their five children and 
thirteen grandchildren.
  Revered Louis P. Sheldon commented on the life of his friend, stating 
``Paul Weyrich was a pioneer of the conservative movement and a staunch 
defender of traditional values. He was a brilliant strategist, an 
aggressive defender of the faith, and a determined foe against the 
failed philosophy of liberalism. Most of all, he was a good friend, 
confidante and someone who could be relied upon to do the right thing 
for our nation and for the Christian faith, which he embraced. We will 
miss him--and the conservative movement has lost a giant whose 
influence will be felt for years to come.''
  Though Paul is no longer with us, he leaves a powerful legacy that 
will be remembered for generations to come. Madam Speaker, I ask those 
here today to join me in remembering and celebrating the life and 
achievements of this great American, Mr. Paul M. Weyrich.

                          ____________________