[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 22]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 30456]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO A GOOD FRIEND AND LOYAL PUBLIC SERVANT, JAMES J. MANCINI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM SAXTON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2003

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today 
to pay tribute to one of my greatest friends and one of Ocean County's 
finest, Ocean County Freeholder and Long Beach Township Mayor James J. 
Mancini.
  Upon hearing of his passing, I was deeply saddened, given the 
tremendous impact he had on my life and those he served in Ocean 
County. To say that Jim will be missed is an understatement; he touched 
the lives of so many around him and spent every day of his life helping 
others.
  A champion for seniors and veterans, Mayor Mancini's dedication to 
his community and his genuine interest in reaching out to others was 
unparalleled. As one of Ocean County's best advocates for seniors, his 
commitment to providing retirees with quality health care was 
unwavering. Every chance he had, Jim worked to make life better for 
every senior who lived in Ocean County.
  Additionally, as a Veteran of World War II, Mayor Mancini made it his 
top priority to work on behalf of our local veterans. In fact, as a 
result of his efforts, services to tens of thousands of veterans were 
increased and improved.
  Many of us from south Jersey remember the two ``nor'easter'' storms 
in the early 1990's that severely damaged the beaches of Long Beach 
Island. As a result of the threat to property and lives, Mayor Mancini 
made it his mission to guarantee these beaches would be rebuilt.
  After ten years of work--including securing 3 million federal 
dollars, 8 years of study and design, and overcoming hurdles that 
prevented new beach replenishment projects from starting--just 
yesterday we found out that Jim's long-sought after funding to begin 
replenishing Long Beach Island's beaches came to fruition. This funding 
was included in the House-passed final version of the 2004 Energy and 
Water Appropriations Bill.
  How ironic. After more than a decade, the project was approved by the 
House of Representatives on the same day as Mayor Mancini's passing. 
Without his persistence, it likely would not have happened.
  Beginning from his election as Mayor of Long Beach Township in 1964 
to his serving as a State Assemblyman in the 1970s to his becoming an 
Ocean County Freeholder in the 1980's, Mayor Mancini lived his life to 
serve and help others, and his legacy will live on for many years to 
come.
  Throughout my life, I have met few people as compassionate and as 
selfless as Jim Mancini; it was an honor and privilege to be his 
friend. I extend my deepest sympathies to Madeline Mancini and the rest 
of their family, and know we will remember this caring friend, 
wonderful father and grandfather, admired leader, and dedicated public 
servant for the rest of our lives.

                          ____________________