[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FORMER REPRESENTATIVE JIM OBERSTAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join in honoring our former 
colleague from Minnesota, Congressman Jim Oberstar.
  He was a legendary figure in the House, elected in 1974 as part of 
the class of Democrats called the Watergate Babies that also included 
my colleagues from California, Henry Waxman and George Miller.
  During his service in Congress, he became a well respected voice for 
transportation and infrastructure issues, earning him the nickname of 
``Mr. Transportation.''
  For decades he fought tirelessly to rebuild and renew our country's 
infrastructure and he eventually rose to chair the House Transportation 
and Infrastructure Committee.
  Under his leadership he championed transportation, reinvigorating 
commerce, and good stewardship of our environment. An avid cyclist, he 
championed the creation of trails for hiking and cycling. Under the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, he can be credited with 
including major funding for transportation and infrastructure projects 
that put Americans back to work rebuilding our bridges and roads--and 
rebuilding our economy in the process.
  I have very fond memories of Jim Obstar.
  At the time Democrats were in the majority--I was Chair of the Ethics 
Committee--I enjoyed Jim's wise counsel and perspective on many 
legislative matters when we gathered with our fellow Chairs during the 
Leader's weekly Chair meetings.
  Jim was a real expert in transportation and infrastructure but his 
passion was for working people. I appreciate Jim Oberstar as an amazing 
and multi-faceted person.
  He was born into humble roots in Chisolm, Minnesota and he rose to 
greatness through hard work and higher education:
  He earned his Bachelor of Arts from College of St. Thomas (now the 
University of St. Thomas) in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1956.
  He earned his Master's degree in European Studies from the College of 
Europe in Bruges, Belgium in 1957,
  And he studied further at Universite Laval in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, 
Canada and Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
  Jim even spent four years as a civilian language teacher in the 
United StatesMarine Corps, teaching English to Haitian military 
personnel and French to American Marine officers and noncommissioned 
officers.
  Jim's talents did not go unnoticed and when he served as a 
Congressional staffer he quickly rose to Chief of Staff for Congressman 
John Blatnik (D-Minnesota-8).
  Later, he was elected to represent his beloved Minnesota as the 
Congressman from the 8th District, ultimately being reelected for 18 
terms--the longest tenure in Minnesota history for a Member of 
Congress.
  Many of us will remember Jim Oberstar as a modern renaissance man of 
many talents and an amazing intellect but--he never forgot his 
hardworking roots, or stopped fighting for the hard working people of 
his state and our country.
   Like many of my colleagues, I join in praising Jim Oberstar and send 
my deepest sympathy to his wife Jean, his children and his 
grandchildren. We share your feelings of loss and send our sincerest 
gratitude to you for sharing this great man with our country.

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