[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 8997-8998]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO JUDGE EDWARD R. BECKER

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to comment on a 
funeral service that was held earlier today for Judge Edward R. Becker. 
Judge Becker was one of the greatest citizens in the history of the 
city of Philadelphia and one of the greatest Federal judges in the 
history of the United States. When the contemporary history is written 
of the past 50 years, I believe Judge Becker will rank with Benjamin 
Franklin among the greatest of Philadelphia citizens, and with Judge 
Learned Hand, who is among the greatest Federal judges.
  I first met Judge Becker in 1950 when we rode public transportation 
from northeast Philadelphia to the University of Pennsylvania, an hour 
ride each way, where we attended that school. He was 17 at the time; I 
was 20. He was a freshman, and I was a senior. He had an extraordinary 
academic record, Phi Beta Kappa from Penn, Yale Law School, a 
distinguished record in the practice of law, and he became a Federal 
judge at the age of 37. He served on the U.S. District Court for the 
Eastern District of Pennsylvania for 15 years, until he was elevated to 
the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
  During 35\1/2\ years, he had an extraordinary record as a Federal 
judge. On several occasions, Judge Becker's opinions were followed by 
the Supreme Court of the United States on cutting edge questions. In 
one case, Judge Becker wrote the opinion for the Court of Appeals for 
the Third Circuit, which was in disagreement with the conclusions of 
seven other courts of appeals. When the issue got to the Supreme Court 
of the United States, the Supreme Court followed Judge Becker.
  He was a man of great charm and great versatility. One of his 
opinions was written in rhyme. He was an extraordinary pianist and was 
called upon by the Supreme Court not only for his legal erudition but 
for playing the piano at the so-called Supreme Court sing-a-longs. He 
was the recipient of the Devitt Award, which is given to the 
outstanding Federal jurist on the basis of scholarship, achievement, 
and community service.
  Even as chief judge of the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, he 
rode the elevated public transportation to work every day. Among his 
many attributes were intelligence--really brilliance--integrity, 
independence, loyalty, and a sense of humor. But his greatest attribute 
was his modesty and his humility.
  He lived in the same house he came to as a child of 3 or 4 years of 
age and was always a friend equally to the janitors in the Federal 
courthouse as he was to Supreme Court Justices.
  Regrettably, Judge Becker contracted prostate cancer and fought a 
valiant fight but succumbed last Friday to the ravages of the cancer 
and, today, as I say, we celebrated a great life and an outstanding 
life. One of the real regrets I have is that we have not yet found a 
cure for cancer, which could have saved Judge Becker's life.
  In 1970, the President of the United States declared war on cancer 
and had that war been pursued with the same diligence and resources 
that we pursue other wars, Judge Becker would not have died from 
prostate cancer. Two years ago, my chief of staff, Carey Lackman, a 
beautiful young woman of 48, died of breast cancer. A year and a half 
ago, a good friend, Paula Kline, wife of Tom Kline, my former law 
partner, died of breast cancer. It is something that we hear about 
every day.
  The reality is that the United States of America, with a gross 
national product of $11 trillion and a Federal budget of $2.8 trillion, 
could conquer cancer and the other maladies if we approached it with 
sufficient resources and a sufficient sense of urgency. We have a 
budget for the subcommittee of appropriations that I chair which has to 
fund the Departments of Health, Education and Labor, workman safety, 
which has had cuts of $15.7 billion in the last two fiscal years, 
factoring in inflation. We have a budget resolution that passed, which 
would add $7 billion--insufficient but at least a start in making up 
some of that deficiency which would allocate $2 billion to the National 
Institutes of Health.
  The Federal Government is precluded from financing embryonic stem 
cell research, which ought to be reversed by this body.
  Judge Becker is well known to the Senate. Shortly after he achieved 
senior status, when he turned 70 in May of 2003, I asked him to 
participate in our legislative efforts to have asbestos reform. In 
August of 2003, for 2 days, he convened the so-called stakeholders--the 
manufacturers, the trial lawyers, the AFL-CIO representing labor, and 
the insurance industry in his chambers. And for the intervening almost 
3 years he has presided at about 50 meetings where large groups 
assembled in my conference room on Capitol Hill, working for a 
resolution of the asbestos litigation crisis, where thousands of people 
suffering from mesothelioma are unable to get compensation because 
their companies are bankrupt. Seventy-seven companies have gone under 
bankruptcy.
  Judge Becker, well known to this body, is really befitting of the 
title of the 101st Senator. I think his passing from prostate cancer 
will make a deep indentation and mark on this body and will serve as a 
signal for action to attack cancer, attack prostate cancer, to find a 
cure for cancer. His passing leaves a very deep mark on his family, 
three children, his widow, four grandchildren, and many friends, many 
of whom are in this body. His record is truly that of an extraordinary 
jurist and a great American.
  I yield the floor to my distinguished colleague from Alabama.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama is recognized.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I am honored to have been here this 
evening to hear the remarks of Senator Specter about his friend Judge 
Becker. I came to know him and respect him greatly myself. I remember 
it was Judge Becker this and Judge Becker that as we wrestled with the 
asbestos litigation. Senator Specter, I knew, had such extraordinary 
respect for him. I guess it probably would be fair to say that in the 
last year, if there had to be a 101st Senator, he might have been the 
one we would name because he met time and time again with Senators and 
groups and interests and people to try to work out an asbestos bill 
that would be effective.
  I came around to the thinking that he was exactly correct and agreed 
that he and Senator Specter had the right approach to that historic 
piece of legislation.
  I am very sad we never could move it forward, but Judge Becker 
provided a great and extraordinary contribution to the legislation. In 
getting to know him, talking to him about other judges, he talked about 
Bill Pryor, a judge from Alabama who was recently confirmed. He knew 
and studied his record. I came to feel that he was a fine and decent 
person who loved his country and just didn't want to retire and sit 
around. He was right in the middle of things to his last days on this 
Earth.
  I thank Senator Specter for allowing us the opportunity to get to 
know him. I hope he will convey to Judge Becker's family our admiration 
and respect for him.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, I thank him 
for those very generous comments. I kept Judge Becker fully informed as 
to our work on the asbestos legislation. The leader has stated his 
interest in bringing the legislation back to the floor. I continue to 
lobby our colleagues one by one. I gave Judge Becker a report a few 
days before his passing, and he said: Let's pass one for the Gipper.
  Mr. SESSIONS. I am not surprised. I am not surprised at all that he 
would

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be focused on policies that are important for America, even during his 
suffering.
  I thank Senator Specter for letting us get to know him.

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