[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 24286]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF THOMAS M. FOGLIETTA

  (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to pay 
tribute to a former Member of this body, Tom Foglietta, who passed away 
so suddenly this week. Tommy was a gentleman, a diplomat, and a lovely 
and gracious man. We will miss him terribly.
  At age 26 Tom Foglietta, as a Republican, Mr. Speaker, became the 
youngest person in the history of Philadelphia to be elected to the 
city council. He served there for nearly 20 years, devoted to the city 
he loved. In 1980, as a Democrat, Tom was elected to the Congress. I 
saw firsthand his values and his effectiveness as a member of the 
Committee on Appropriations where we developed a strong working 
relationship and a close friendship and took pride in our mutual 
respect for our Italian American heritage.
  Tommy headed the Congressional Urban Caucus, promoted mass transit, 
and fought valiantly for the needs of Philadelphia, including the 
preservation of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The entire country is in 
his debt for his relentless dedication to preserve and protect 
Philadelphia's Independence Hall, one of our Nation's sacred public 
places. In 1997 President Bill Clinton appointed Tom Foglietta to be 
the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, fulfilling a lifetime dream of his to 
serve his beloved America in his family's ancestoral home. Many of us 
heard him say over and over again that his grandparents came down the 
hill on a donkey in Italy to leave to go to America and he returned 
just two generations later as a U.S. Ambassador to Italy. It was in 
that role, in one simple act, that the world came to love and 
appreciate Tommy as we do.
  Shortly after he arrived, a U.S. Marine fighter plane flying off 
course struck a cable car wire and killed 20 Italian skiers. There was 
great grief and outrage over this tragic event. The next day Tommy 
visited the site, knelt in the cold snow, and said a quiet heartfelt 
prayer for those who had lost their lives. That photograph of his 
prayer appeared in newspapers around the world presenting a human face 
of compassion for the United States. His act helped to difuse the 
public anger over the deaths and to convey the sincere apology of our 
country. Tommy did that spontaneously because he was a man of faith.
  We expected no less of our Tommy. Quite simply, he was a good man we 
all loved to be around.
  Tom Foglietta began his political career as a city councilman as a 
Republican, as I mentioned. He later ran for Congress and won as an 
Independent and then became a Democrat and remained so for the rest of 
his life.
  But Tommy remained close to the people from all across the political 
spectrum, a testament to his appealing personality, his open mind, and 
his respect to each and every person in this body.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that I speak for many here when I extend the 
condolences to Tommy's family and to the Pennsylvania delegation for 
this loss.

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