[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 44 (Monday, March 21, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN TRIBUTE TO MARTIN OLAV SABO FORMER CONGRESSMAN FROM THE GREAT STATE 
         OF MINNESOTA AND A CHAMPION OF BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 21, 2016

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Martin Olav 
Sabo, a great American who served his country with distinction as a 
Member of this House who passed away on March 13, 2016 in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota, at the age of 77.
  Martin Sabo was born on February 28, 1938, in Crosby, North Dakota, 
the son of Norwegian immigrants.
  While growing up he worked the wheat farm that his family owned and 
operated.
  In 1959, Martin Sabo earned his baccalaureate degree at Augsburg 
College in Minneapolis.
  The following year, 22-year old Martin Sabo was elected to the 
Minnesota House of Representatives, where he served for the next 22 
years.
  In 1963, Martin Sabo met Sylvia, who became his wife and the love of 
his life, and together they had two wonderful children, Julie and Karin 
Sabo.
  In 1973, Martin Sabo was elected by his colleagues to become the 45th 
Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and served in that 
position until 1979, when he was elected to serve the people of the 5th 
Congressional District of Minnesota in the U.S. House of 
Representatives.
  During his time in Congress Martin Sabo chaired the House Committee 
on the Budget.
  Congressman Martin Sabo was a champion of bipartisan legislation.
  A shining example of his ability to work across the aisle is the 
effort he led as Budget Chairman to put together and pass the 1993 
federal budget and deficit reduction package that resulted in the 
budget surplus in 1998, the first in almost 30 years.
  Martin Sabo characterized this collective effort as one of his 
proudest legislative accomplishments.
  Despite the sharp increase in divisive political discourse, 
Congressman Sabo never publicly disparaged another colleague in 
Congress, Republican or Democrat.
  Congressman Sabo said that, ``I've also tried to treat my colleagues 
with respect.''
  On March 13, 2016, surrounded by loving family members, Martin Sabo 
died peacefully at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
  Mr. Speaker, as a former colleague and friend of Martin Olav Sabo, I 
will miss this great man who put aside partisan politics to focus on 
great governance.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to observe a moment of silence in memory 
of our beloved former colleague, Congressman Martin Olav Sabo.

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