[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 57 (Thursday, April 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE AND CONGRESSIONAL LEGACY OF MINNESOTA'S MARTIN OLAV 
                                  SABO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2016

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, on March 13, 2016 former Minnesota 
Congressman Martin Olav Sabo passed away. For twenty-eight years Rep. 
Sabo represented Minneapolis, Minnesota and the surrounding suburban 
communities in the U.S. House. He was a giant of a legislator, an 
exceptional public servant, and a man I respected tremendously.
  It was my profound honor to serve with Martin during the final six 
years of his career. He was liberal, smart, and his values reflected 
the very best of Minnesota's traditions and heritage. In Congress, 
Martin was reserved, but when he spoke the room went silent because 
everyone knew something worth hearing was about to be said. Martin was 
truly an experienced and astute legislator.
  In 1960 Martin Sabo was first elected to the Minnesota House of 
Representatives at the age of 22. Over his eighteen year career as a 
state legislator he served three years as minority leader and six years 
as the Speaker of the House. He was elected to Congress in 1978 where 
he immediately was appointed a member of the House Appropriations 
Committee--an impressive and very significant status.
  In the early 1990s Rep. Sabo served as the House Budget Committee 
Chairman and is credited with guiding the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 
Act of 1973 through the House. This historic legislation set the 
country on a course that resulted in a federal budget surplus.
  Over his career Martin Sabo's work on behalf of Minnesota transformed 
our state and helped create the economic success experienced by the 
Twin Cities today. After Martin's delivered funding the Hiawatha light 
rail transit line in Minneapolis, I had the privilege of working with 
Martin to secure the Central Corridor light rail transit line that has 
now connected downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis. This 
infrastructure investment is transforming the Twin Cities and it all 
started with Martin Sabo's sage guidance and his ability to take ideas 
and turn them into tangible projects.
  Martin was well known for being a quiet Norwegian. He loved baseball 
and especially the Minnesota Twins. He was also one of the kindest of 
souls.
  When Martin left Congress at the end of 2006 we lost an effective and 
wise public servant. Now, Minnesota has lost the last of a generation 
of citizen legislators who was always respectful, civil, and true to 
his values. In other words, we've lost a good man.
  My deepest sympathies go out to Sylvia Sabo, Martin's wife of fifty-
two years, along with their daughters Karin and Julie, and their many 
grandchildren.

                          ____________________