[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 18932]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              IN MEMORIAM TO STATE SENATOR HENRY J. MELLO

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to honor the 
memory of one of California's dedicated public servants, California 
State Senator Henry Mello. Senator Mello passed away on September 4, 
2004. He was 80 years old.
  Senator Mello was first elected to the Santa Cruz County Board of 
Supervisors in 1966, where he served for 8 years. In 1976, he was 
elected to the California State Assembly. After serving for two terms 
in the assembly, Senator Mello was elected to the California State 
Senate, where he spent the majority of his career in public service. 
During his tenure as a member of the California State Legislature, 
Senator Mello carried a record number of bills and resolutions--727--of 
which 456 were signed into law. Because of his successful leadership 
skills and his ability to work across partisan lines, Senator Mello 
served as the State Senate's majority whip from 1981 to 1992, and as 
the majority leader from 1992 to 1996.
  Whether he was championing childrens' rights or seniors' rights, 
environmental issues or public education, residents of the central 
coast knew they had an advocate in Senator Mello. Among his many 
accomplishments in the State legislature, Senator Mello advocated for 
the establishment of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; the 
creation of the California Senior Legislature, and the conversion of 
Fort Ord Army Base into California State University Monterey Bay. A 
particular highlight in his career, Senator Mello cosponsored the 
Mello-Roos Act, which established tax-exempt bonds and special 
districts for school construction and other public improvements.
  Senator Mello was proud of his Portugese heritage, and regularly 
traveled to Washington, DC to advocate for increased foreign aid to 
Portugal. The King of Portugal knighted Senator Mello for his efforts. 
In his spare time, Senator Mello was also an avid deep-sea fisherman 
and jazz pianist. In 2002, Senator Mello played with the Jimmy Dorsey 
Orchestra at the performing arts center in Watsonville that is named 
after him--the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts.
  Senator Mello was a deeply loved member of both the California State 
legislature and the central coast community, and a strong, tenacious 
man who championed the causes of those he represented. He will be 
missed by all who knew him. We take comfort in knowing that future 
generations will benefit from his spirit, his vision, and his 
leadership.

                          ____________________