[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11272-11273]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF CONGRESSMAN FRANK MASCARA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JASON ALTMIRE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 15, 2011

  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to former Congressman 
Frank R. Mascara, who passed away Sunday, July 10 at the age of 81. 
Born in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, Congressman Mascara proudly served 
southwestern Pennsylvania for over 30 years, first at the county level, 
then for four terms in the United States House of Representatives.
   A first-generation Italian-American, Mascara embodied the humble, 
hardworking nature of his immigrant parents and his constituents 
throughout his political career. Known as the ``Dean of Washington 
County politics,'' Mascara fought successfully for projects to spur 
economic development in his district, including the Mon-Fayette 
Expressway and the Southpointe development project, which is now home 
to 150 businesses.
   Congressman Mascara served in the Army and worked as an insurance 
salesman and an accountant before he entered politics as Washington 
County Controller in 1973. From there, he served as county commissioner 
as well as a trustee of his alma mater, California University of 
Pennsylvania. In 2009, he received his university's Lifetime 
Achievement Award, becoming only the third alumnus to receive such an 
honor.
   Although he was sent to Washington as a leader of his district, he 
never lost touch with the blue collar, middle-class values of his 
western Pennsylvania home of Charleroi. He famously spurned fancy 
Capitol Hill restaurants for cheaper eateries, always aware

[[Page 11273]]

that he was spending the taxpayers' money through his salary. While in 
Congress, he continued to live in the same house in Charleroi that he 
purchased for $7,500.
   Congressman Mascara had a calm, good-natured manner, but he fought 
vigorously in Congress for his district. For a time, the Southpointe 
development project that he championed was popularly known as ``Frank's 
Folly.'' However, looking back on the project at the end of his career, 
despite difficulties getting it off the ground, he believed it to be 
his greatest political achievement. Through his blue-collar attitude 
and political wit, Mascara was a strong and effective advocate for his 
constituents.
   Frank Mascara is survived by his wife Dolores, two sons, Frank and 
Jon, a daughter, Karen, and a brother, John. He will be remembered as a 
dedicated family man and a hardworking, down-to-earth public servant. 
He will be deeply missed by his family, his fellow Pennsylvanians, and 
his former colleagues here in Congress.

                          ____________________