[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 76 (Thursday, May 24, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 475--RELATING TO THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE E. JAMES 
ABDNOR, FORMER UNITED STATES SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN FROM THE STATE OF 
                              SOUTH DAKOTA

  Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Reid of 
Nevada, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. 
Barrasso, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Begich, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown of 
Massachusetts, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Burr, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, 
Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Coats, Mr. Coburn, Mr. 
Cochran, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Coons, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cornyn, 
Mr. Crapo, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
Franken, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. 
Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Heller, Mr. Hoeven, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, 
Mr. Inouye, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Johnson of Wisconsin, Mr. 
Kerry, Mr. Kirk, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Lee, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lugar, 
Mr. Manchin, Mr. McCain, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Ms. 
Mikulski, Mr. Moran, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of 
Nebraska, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Paul, Mr. Portman, Mr. Pryor, Mr. 
Reed of Rhode Island, Mr. Risch, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. 
Rubio, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. 
Shelby, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Tester, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Udall of 
Colorado, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Warner, Mr. Webb, 
Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 475

       Whereas James Abdnor was born in Kennebec, South Dakota, on 
     February 13, 1923, and was the son of an immigrant from 
     Lebanon who peddled and homesteaded in Lyman County, South 
     Dakota;
       Whereas James Abdnor enlisted in the United States Army 
     during World War II, farmed in Kennebec after graduating from 
     the University of Nebraska in 1945, and later taught and 
     coached in neighboring Presho;
       Whereas James Abdnor served as Chairman of the Lyman County 
     Young Republicans in 1950, Chairman of the State Young 
     Republicans from 1950 to 1952, and Farm Chairman of the Young 
     Republican National Federation from 1953 to 1955;
       Whereas James Abdnor served as the First Assistant Chief 
     Clerk of the South Dakota House of Representatives during the 
     legislative sessions of 1951, 1953, and 1955;
       Whereas James Abdnor was elected to the South Dakota Senate 
     in 1956, where he served until his election as the 30th 
     Lieutenant Governor of the State of South Dakota, a position 
     he served in from 1969 through 1971;
       Whereas James Abdnor was elected to the United States House 
     of Representatives for the 93rd United States Congress in 
     1972 and served a total of 4 consecutive terms, representing 
     the Second Congressional District of South Dakota;
       Whereas James Abdnor served on the Committee on Public 
     Works of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the 
     Select Committee on Aging of the House of Representatives;
       Whereas James Abdnor was elected to the United States 
     Senate for the 97th United States Congress in 1980 and was 
     appointed Chairman of 3 subcommittees on his first day, 
     including the Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and 
     General Government of the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate, the Subcommittee on Water Resources of the Committee 
     on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the 
     Subcommittee on Agriculture and Transportation of the Joint 
     Economic Committee;
       Whereas James Abdnor was appointed Vice Chairman of the 
     Joint Economic Committee and served on the Committee on 
     Indian Affairs of the Senate;
       Whereas James Abdnor was a voice for the rural United 
     States in Congress, where he advocated for family farms and 
     small business, rural water systems and electrification, a 
     balanced budget, and small-town values;
       Whereas James Abdnor was appointed by President Ronald 
     Reagan to serve as the Administrator of the United States 
     Small Business Administration from 1987 to 1989 following his 
     service in the United States Congress;
       Whereas James Abdnor will be remembered for his humble 
     service to his constituents, dedication to the youth of South 
     Dakota, and defining influence on South Dakota politics; and
       Whereas the hallmarks of James Abdnor's public service were 
     his integrity, kindness, respect for the common man, and love 
     for South Dakota: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate expresses profound sorrow and deep regret 
     regarding the death of the Honorable James Abdnor, former 
     member of the United States Senate and House of 
     Representatives for the State of South Dakota, on May 16, 
     2012;
       (2) the Senate respectfully requests that the Secretary of 
     the Senate communicate this resolution to the House of 
     Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy of this 
     resolution to the family of the deceased; and
       (3) when the Senate adjourns today, the Senate stand 
     adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the 
     Honorable James Abdnor.

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