[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23485]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. BILL LIPINSKI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in a 
tribute to my good friend, Bill Lipinski, who has made countless 
contributions to the State of Illinois and to the country during his 
years serving in the House.
  George Washington is quoted as saying, ``How far you go in life 
depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the 
aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the 
strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.'' I 
believe Bill Lipinski modeled his Congressional career around this 
quote.
  Bill's efforts in transforming our country's transportation 
infrastructure, especially that in the State of Illinois, has made 
every American's life a little easier by more efficient travel. 
Throughout the years, Bill and I have worked together on several 
transportation projects, from Metra expansion to road projects. In 
working with him on each of these projects, he showed great leadership, 
but most of all he showed great friendship. It is for this that I 
admire Bill the most. He could look past the harsh realities of 
partisan politics and work with me to help residents within my 
district. I will be eternally grateful not only for Bill's support of 
the projects he and I worked on but also for his friendship.
  Another thing I will always remember Bill for is his independence. 
While Bill is a loyal Democrat--one that I haven't yet been able to 
convert--he was never afraid to break from the ranks to cast his vote 
as he saw fit. I will always miss his camaraderie, and his love for 
this cathedral of democracy.
  Bill, in the years to come, I hope I will still get to see you on the 
flights to and from Chicago and I wish you all the best in your 
retirement.

                          ____________________