[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7613]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMENDING CONGRESSMAN DAVID OBEY

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, we recently learned that David Obey, one 
of the longest serving Members of the other body, a friend, and a 
fellow member of the Wisconsin delegation, has decided to retire. To 
come here and try to sum up his record and accomplishments isn't easy 
to do; Congressman Obey has achieved so much for Wisconsin, and for 
this Nation. He has been the dean of the Wisconsin delegation, the 
chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and a national leader 
on many issues affecting hardworking families.
  Congressman Obey understood the concerns of the people of the 7th 
District of Wisconsin, and he has been their champion for more than 40 
years. He and I are both so fortunate to represent this beautiful swath 
of Wisconsin's north woods, including the magnificent Apostle Islands. 
In fact, Congressman Obey and I worked together to protect the 
Apostles, designating almost 80 percent of the Apostles as federally 
protected wilderness.
  That was just one of many ways that Congressman Obey and I worked 
together. Recently, we were also proud to come together to honor our 
friend, the late Gaylord Nelson, on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. 
And through the years, I have had the chance to work with Congressman 
Obey in areas where he has shown tremendous leadership, including 
advocating for veterans, farmers, and seniors.
  Wisconsin veterans have a terrific ally in Congressman Obey, who has 
stood up for better funding and facilities for our veterans time and 
again. I have been so pleased to work with him to open new veterans' 
health clinics, push for more vet centers, and fight for the best 
possible care for those men and women who have sacrificed so much for 
our country.
  Congressman Obey has also worked tirelessly on behalf of the farmers 
of our State. He has fought for country-of-origin labeling and other 
issues critical to ginseng farmers, worked for emergency appropriations 
funding for direct payments to help shore up the safety net for dairy 
farmers in tough times, and pushed to create, extend and improve the 
Milk Income Loss Contract, MILC, Program. Those are just a few of the 
many things he has done for Wisconsin's farmers, and I was proud to 
join him in those efforts.
  He is also a determined advocate for our seniors, and was a critical 
member of our effort to save the SeniorCare Program in both 2007 and 
2009. Congressman Obey also has a long and distinguished record on a 
host of other issues. He is committed to strengthening public 
education, improving our health care system, and a longtime advocate 
for political and congressional reforms.
  There are so many things he has accomplished, and so many reasons he 
will be missed. I want to take this opportunity to recognize 
Congressman Obey's outstanding service in the other body. I wish him 
all the best, and I thank him for his dedicated work for the people of 
Wisconsin and for every American.

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