[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28293]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING FORMER CONGRESSMAN CHARLES VANIK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BETTY SUTTON

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 24, 2007

  Ms. SUTTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay 
tribute to former Congressman Charles Vanik, who served his 
constituents with honor and integrity in this body for 26 years.
  On behalf of the people of Ohio's 13th District, I want to express my 
deepest sympathies to his wife of 62 years, Betty Best Vanik, their 2 
children, John Vanik and Phyllis Vanik, his 2 grandchildren and the 
rest of the Vanik family.
  We have lost a man who dedicated his life to serving our great State 
and this great country. Prior to being elected to Congress in 1954, 
Congressman Vanik served on the Cleveland City Council, in the Ohio 
State Senate and as a Cleveland municipal judge. He also served in the 
Navy during World War II.
  In Congress, he earned a reputation as savvy legislator and a 
tireless advocate for the people of northeast Ohio. His 1974 amendment 
to the Trade Reform Bill is widely remembered for forcing the Soviet 
Union to allow fair treatment and increased emigration of Soviet Jews. 
This accomplishment had a significant impact on American-Soviet 
relations.
  And Congressman Vanik was ahead of his times on civil rights, 
sacrificing his own congressional seat in 1968 so that Louis Stokes 
could become Ohio's first African American Congressman.
  But Charles Vanik was so well-regarded in northeast Ohio that voters 
from the neighboring district would not stand for him leaving this 
House, and they chose to send him to Congress instead of the 
Representative who had served for nearly 30 years. Congressman Vanik 
returned to Congress and continued to work with Congressman Stokes and 
others to advocate for the people of Ohio.
  Although I did not have the privilege of serving in the House with 
Congressman Vanik, I am honored to follow in his footsteps as a public 
servant and a voice for the people of Ohio.
  It is truly an honor to stand on the Floor of the House of 
Representatives, where Charles Vanik stood for so many years fighting 
for northeast Ohio, to celebrate his life and his accomplishments.
  And it is wonderful to hear so many touching stories about the 
memories my colleagues have of him and the influence he had on this 
House and its Members.
  Although Congress, the United States, and the State of Ohio have lost 
a great statesman, he has been outlived by his legacy, and I am 
confident that we will continue to fondly recall Charles Vanik and the 
great work he did for years to come.
  Again, I want to express my condolences to the Vanik family.

                          ____________________