[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 176 (Tuesday, November 5, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6389-S6390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING JOHN H. ADLER

 Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I am honored to rise today in 
recognition of the late John H. Adler on the occasion of the dedication 
of the John H. Adler Memorial Park at Challenge Grove in Cherry Hill, 
NJ.
  The Honorable John H. Adler was a remarkable public servant who 
worked tirelessly on behalf of New Jersey residents for decades. 
Growing up in southern New Jersey, John worked hard in school and 
overcame many personal challenges to earn his undergraduate and law 
degrees from Harvard University before returning home to Camden County. 
He began a selfless career in

[[Page S6390]]

public service in 1987 when he was elected to the Cherry Hill Township 
Committee. In 1992, he went on to represent New Jersey's Sixth 
Legislative District in the State's senate, where he served until 2008. 
There, he rose to the chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee 
and served on the Environmental Committee. One of John's signature 
achievements, New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act, has greatly improved the 
lives of New Jerseyans and will undoubtedly continue to positively 
impact the health and well-being of our State's residents for 
generations.
  In 2008, John was elected to the House of Representatives, becoming 
the first Democratic lawmaker to represent New Jersey's Third 
Congressional District in more than a century. Upon his arrival on 
Capitol Hill, John quickly established a reputation for hard work, 
compromise, and compassion. He advocated forcefully for seniors, 
members of the armed services and veterans, and the environment. He 
recognized the strategic and military importance of Joint Base McGuire-
Dix-Lakehurst and sought to attract new missions to help preserve the 
installation's role in our national defense. He was well known for 
working across the aisle and overcoming partisanship to accomplish 
meaningful legislation to the benefit of our families and constituents.
  I am honored to have served with John both in the New Jersey 
Legislature and as members of New Jersey's Congressional Delegation. 
John represented the very best of our lawmakers, and his sudden passing 
in 2011 was an immense loss to the Garden State. Today, John's wife, 
Shelley, and their sons, Jeffrey, Alex, Andrew, and Oliver, continue to 
carry on his legacy of service and extraordinary dedication to our 
friends, neighbors, and communities.
  Mr. President, I acknowledge and commend the Camden County Board of 
Freeholders on the dedication of the John H. Adler Memorial Park at 
Challenge Grove as a fitting tribute to remember one of New Jersey's 
most honorable sons. I would like to once again recognize, applaud, and 
remember the Honorable John H. Adler's extraordinary life and his 
service to the people of New Jersey.

                          ____________________