[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 171 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING FORMER CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMAN AND CHAIRMAN OF THE 
     PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY JOHN A. BUSTERUD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 19, 2015

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of John 
A. Busterud, World War II veteran, former Assemblymen, and advocate for 
the environment.
   Born on March 7, 1921, in Coos Bay, Oregon, Mr. Busterud went on to 
graduate from the University of Oregon. He then enlisted in the United 
States Army and served as an Infantry officer with the U.S. Army's 
distinguished 90th Infantry Division in the European Theater. During 
combat operations, his Battalion captured the vast German gold reserves 
and priceless art treasures deep in a salt mine in Merkers, Germany. He 
was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge for his service 
and would eventually retire from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. 
After the war, Mr. Busterud graduated from Yale Law School and moved to 
San Francisco to start his legal career with the firm of Brobeck, 
Phleger and Harrison.
   A dedicated public servant, Mr. Busterud served three terms as a 
California Assemblyman, from 1956 to 1962, representing the 22nd 
District in San Francisco. He rose to the ranks of Assembly Minority 
Leader.
   After his tenure in the Assembly, Mr. Busterud returned to private 
practice, but continued to serve the public as President of the 
Commonwealth Club of California and President of the Committee to Save 
the Headlands. In this latter role, he was instrumental in the 
successful efforts to save the Marin Headlands and lay the groundwork 
for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
   In 1971, President Nixon appointed Mr. Busterud to be the first 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environmental Quality. 
Subsequently, he served as a member and eventually Chairman of the 
President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) under President 
Ford. During his tenure at CEQ, he represented the United States as a 
delegate to the groundbreaking Law of the Sea Convention in Geneva, 
Switzerland. After his service in Washington, Mr. Busterud returned to 
California to found Resolve, an environmental mediation foundation.
   Mr. Busterud is now retired and, at age 94, he enjoys spending time 
with his beloved wife Anne and doting on his three children and seven 
grandchildren. He also authored ``Below the Salt,'' a historical 
account of the 90th Division in WW II and the discovery of the German 
gold at Merkers.
   Mr. Speaker, it is fitting to honor and thank John A. Busterud for 
his long and dedicated service to Country, State, and the environment, 
and express deep appreciation for his impressive and distinguished 
accomplishments.

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