[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 140 (Friday, August 22, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S ``BORN TO RUN''

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                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 22, 2025

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th 
anniversary of one of the most iconic albums in American music history, 
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. Released on August 25, 1975, this 
landmark album did more than launch a young songwriter from Long 
Branch, New Jersey into stardom; it became the soundtrack for countless 
Americans and an anthem for all those blessed to call New Jersey home.
  Songs like ``Thunder Road'', ``Jungleland'', and the titular ``Born 
to Run'' demonstrate Springsteen's unmatched ability to blend vivid 
storytelling set in the incredible mosaic that is New Jersey with the 
generational musical talent of the E Street Band. Born to Run has stood 
the test of time and is remembered today as a timeless masterpiece 
about our daily struggles and chasing our dreams no matter the odds.
  Over the past five decades, Bruce Springsteen has become more than 
just an iconic artist. He is a staple of American culture. Known as 
``The Boss'', he has sold more than 150 million records, won 20 Grammy 
Awards, and been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His 
philanthropic efforts supporting food banks, veteran organizations, and 
anti-poverty initiatives reflect the values of compassion, solidarity 
and looking after each other that have always been the foundation of 
his music. And even with all of his success, you can still find him 
near the streets, venues, boardwalks and people that shaped him and his 
music.
  Mr. Speaker, the 50th anniversary of Born to Run is not just a 
celebration of an album, it is a recognition of Bruce Springsteen's 
enduring impact on our country. For more than half a century he has 
given voice to the struggles and aspirations of the people we encounter 
in all our lives--the dreamers and the believers, the down-but-not-out, 
and the men and women whose stars may have faded but still burn inside 
them. But perhaps what separates Springsteen from his peers is that he 
continues to create music that captures the moment and times we are in.
  On behalf of the people of New Jersey's Eighth Congressional 
District, and the millions of Springsteen fans worldwide, it is a 
privilege to honor this important anniversary and to thank him for all 
his contributions to our country, and most notably, to the great Garden 
State.

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