[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 1062-1063]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    WELL WISHES TO HON. BUD SHUSTER ON HIS DEPARTURE FROM HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

  Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, this is the last day for the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), one of the most dynamic experts on 
transportation in the entire country. There has been no individual that 
has had more of an impact on transportation in Pennsylvania, in the 
commonwealth in his district, in my district, in the entire country.
  He was an expert in the field. Even when he was in the minority, he 
had a tremendous impact on transportation things. He convinced the 
Congress and the White House that the taxes we collect for 
transportation ought to go to transportation; and, even against 
tremendous odds, he was able to win that battle.
  It will be a long time before we see another person with his ability. 
He was a Ph.D with a Phi Beta Kappa. He was

[[Page 1063]]

an Army veteran. He was a person of great compassion, and sometimes it 
was overshadowed by things that he was interested in.
  But I will say this, that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Shuster) will be long remembered for all the things that he did in 
Pennsylvania and for his legacy and there will be a better 
transportation system in this great country. And that is absolutely 
essential to our economic progress.
  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the 
finest sons of Pennsylvania: Chairman Bud Shuster.
  Bud, your commitment and vision has reshaped our national landscape 
from the local level to the national level.
  In 1995, when I took the oath of office and won a seat on the T&I 
Committee, you were beginning your 12th term as a Congressman and first 
year as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. 
Little did I realize that under your leadership the Committee would 
become the most productive Congress has ever seen. A large measure of 
your success can be attributed to your fair treatment and respect for 
the minority members of the Committee.
  We as a nation are extremely lucky to have had you working to build 
the Transportation and Environmental infrastructure of our nation. 
Because of your efforts, I do not believe the American people will ever 
again accept inadequate funding for our Waterways, Railways, Airways, 
and Highways.
  Personally, I want to thank you for helping with many projects in my 
district. I am particularly grateful for your visit to my district to 
view the efforts being made to complete the Mon-Fayette and Southern 
Beltway Transportation Projects. Once completed, this project has the 
economic potential to revive the economy for the hard working men and 
women of southwestern Pennsylvania.
  It has been an honor and pleasure to work with you on the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Although I am certain you 
are looking forward to other pursuits, you will be sadly missed by me 
personally and your colleagues on the Committee.
  As you plan for your future, let me assure you that you have a friend 
in Frank Mascara. I wish you the best of everything.

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