[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 78 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S3302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 461--HONORING JAMES L. OBERSTAR AS A REMARKABLE 
PUBLIC SERVANT WHO SERVED IN CONGRESS WITH EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION AND 
                                PURPOSE

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. Franken, Mr. Harkin, and Mr. Begich) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 461

       Whereas James L. Oberstar was born on September 10, 1934, 
     in Chisholm, Minnesota;
       Whereas James L. Oberstar was a distinguished legislator 
     who served 36 years in Congress, from 1975 to 2011, as a 
     member of the House of Representatives from northern 
     Minnesota, making him the longest serving Congressman for the 
     State of Minnesota;
       Whereas James L. Oberstar was an expert on public works and 
     transportation issues and devoted his public career to 
     improving transportation and infrastructure, including 
     through his work as a staff member for John Blatnik, member 
     of the House of Representatives from Minnesota, from 1963 to 
     1974;
       Whereas James L. Oberstar was a staunch supporter of the 
     iron ore industry in Minnesota and fought tirelessly to keep 
     the mines open, protect the rights of workers, and improve 
     safety conditions;
       Whereas, throughout his career, James L. Oberstar secured 
     Federal funding for local communities for the development of 
     bike lanes, sidewalks, biking trails, and hiking trails 
     across Minnesota and the United States;
       Whereas James L. Oberstar was the Chair of the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives during the 110th and 111th Congress;
       Whereas James L. Oberstar was a supporter of the Federal 
     Safe Routes to School Program which improves safety on 
     walking and bicycling routes to school and encourages 
     children and families to travel between home and school by 
     walking or biking;
       Whereas James L. Oberstar introduced H.R. 3311 during the 
     110th Congress to provide emergency funding to replace the I-
     35W bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after its tragic 
     collapse in 2007;
       Whereas James L. Oberstar was a strong advocate for 
     improving aviation safety and served as Chair of the 
     Subcommittee on Aviation of the Committee on Transportation 
     and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives from 1989 
     to 1994; and
       Whereas James L. Oberstar was a tireless champion of 
     maritime issues, particularly those on the Great Lakes, and 
     on May 24, 2011, the shipping vessel the Honorable James L. 
     Oberstar was christened in Duluth, Minnesota: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors James L. Oberstar as a remarkable public servant 
     who served in Congress with extraordinary dedication and 
     purpose;
       (2) remembers the work James L. Oberstar accomplished to 
     improve transportation, infrastructure, and mine safety; and
       (3) recognizes the indelible legacy James L. Oberstar has 
     left on the State of Minnesota and the United States.

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