[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 166 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING CONGRESSMAN JIM OBERSTAR

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. ERIK PAULSEN

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 14, 2010

  Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my distinguished 
colleague from Minnesota, the Dean of our delegation, Chairman Jim 
Oberstar. For nearly four decades, Chairman Oberstar has been 
faithfully serving the Eighth Congressional District of Minnesota in 
this great body.
  From humble beginnings, Chairman Oberstar worked to put himself 
through college in the Minnesota Iron Range mines. After graduating 
Summa Cum Laude from the college of St. Thomas, he began his tenure in 
Congress as a congressional staff member. To his final post in Congress 
as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, 
Chairman Oberstar has committed his life to public service and serving 
the great State of Minnesota.
  A native of Chisholm, Minnesota, Congressman Oberstar has proudly 
served the people of Northeast Minnesota for 18 terms, the longest 
serving Member of Congress from Minnesota.
  In his four years as Chairman of the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee, Chairman Oberstar has been instrumental in 
keeping America moving. From his efforts to create more cycling and 
hiking paths to his work on aviation and aviation safety, Chairman 
Oberstar has done remarkable work in Congress. His knowledge of 
transportation issues will be a great loss to this body.
  He leaves a strong legacy as his name will be forever tied to 
important highway, airline and rail safety legislation. His passion for 
intermodalism is unmatched.
  As Chairman Oberstar departs, I will miss his knowledge of all things 
historical and his linguistic talent, specifically his love for French 
Creole, a language which he picked up while studying in Haiti after 
college.
  In the few short years I have been in Congress, it has been an honor 
and a privilege to serve alongside Chairman Oberstar as a fellow 
Minnesotan. Chairman Oberstar is leaving some large shoes to fill. His 
wisdom, guidance and expertise will be greatly missed and I thank him 
for his service to our great State.

                          ____________________