[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 37 (Thursday, March 2, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING THE LIFE OF ED GARVEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK POCAN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 2, 2017

  Mr. POCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Ed Garvey, 
a progressive icon in Wisconsin who founded the Fighting Bob Festival, 
championed the underdog and fought the good fight for equality, justice 
and true representative democracy.
  Ed Garvey's unwavering support of working people was evident in his 
career as a labor attorney, including early years as executive director 
of the National Football League Players' Association. Before that he 
was a civil rights crusader as president of the National Student 
Association, who in the 1960s traveled south with the Student 
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
  In his legal work, his advocacy, his writings and speeches, Ed 
championed progressive causes from women's rights to environmental 
protection to LGBT rights to protecting voting access and getting big 
money out of politics. He sought, in founding Fighting Bob Fest, to 
bring together groups from diverse walks of life that shared in common 
our values and beliefs, so we could all see we are more alike than 
different. Bob Fest always offered the chance to talk, debate, 
socialize, argue and, at the end of the day, join together to take on 
the powers-that-be.
  He united progressive causes with a populist bent, a dry wit and a 
rabble-rousing spirit. He laid out an admirable path for all of us who 
believe in fighting for the underdog and staying involved in our 
democracy as informed and vocal citizens.
  Ed Garvey kept the spirit of Fightin' Bob LaFollette alive and passed 
it along so generations of Wisconsinites will continue to honor that 
Wisconsin legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the life of Mr. 
Ed Garvey today.

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