[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. KEITH ELLISON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 14, 2010

  Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to stand with colleagues to 
honor a Minnesota icon, dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation 
and my good friend, Jim Oberstar. When I was first elected to Congress 
in 2006, Jim was one of my first mentors, always there with helpful 
advice and counsel.
  Jim was also there on the sad evening of August 1, 2007, when the 
Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota collapsed into the 
Mississippi River, killing 13 people and injuring near 100 more.
  I worked closely with Jim that evening and the days following along 
with my fellow colleagues in the Minnesota Delegation to immediately 
respond to horrific bridge collapse and then, with Jim's help, the 
House passed the next day a bill to provide funds to rebuild the 
bridge.
  This story that I share with you tonight about Jim's work on the 
Interstate-35W Bridge is just one of many that I have from my four 
short years here in the House.
  So Jim, let me say on behalf of my constituents from the Fifth 
District and the entire state of Minnesota, thank you for your 
incredible service to Minnesota and the entire nation for the past 36 
years.
  Your contributions will not be forgotten.

                          ____________________