[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18686-18687]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING SENATOR PAUL WELLSTONE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KEITH ELLISON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 3, 2013

  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Senator Paul 
Wellstone and to recognize his leadership, integrity, and the lasting 


[[Page 18687]]


impact he has had on the citizens of Minnesota and the United States.
  Last year marked the tenth anniversary of the tragic death of Senator 
Wellstone, who was killed in a plane crash in Northern Minnesota on 
October 25, 2002, along with his wife, Sheila Wellstone, their daughter 
Marcia, members of the Senator's campaign staff Tom Lapic, Mary McEvoy, 
and Will McLaughlin, and the plane's two pilots Richard Conry and 
Michael Guess.
  Paul should not be remembered for the tragedy of his death, but 
rather the energy with which he lived his life. Born in Washington, DC, 
Senator Wellstone took a teaching position at Carleton College in 
Northfield, MN, after graduating from the University of North Carolina. 
While a professor at Carleton College, Paul inspired his students 
though his teaching of political science in the classroom and his 
grassroots organizing in the community. When his position at the 
college was in question, students rallied around him and successfully 
lobbied the college not only to protect his job, but to grant him 
tenure. The activism he infused in his teaching is felt today on 
Capitol Hill, where a number of his former students continue to work 
towards greater equality for all Americans.
  Paul's activism extended beyond the college campus. He worked 
throughout the state of Minnesota, organizing labor groups, farmers, 
and immigrant communities; championing causes such as public housing, 
healthcare, and improved education. Paul's work led to his successful 
Senate bid in 1990, and re-election in 1996, campaigning from the back 
of a beat-up old school bus painted his signature green. In Washington, 
Paul continued his legacy of progressive policy, particularly working 
towards mental health parity. Paul never did what was expedient, 
instead he did what he felt was right, standing up for those without a 
strong voice in Congress. Paul was one of the few senators to vote 
against the authorization of war in Iraq, shortly before the 2002 
election. He knew this vote might cost him his seat in the Senate, and 
he was the only senator up for reelection to vote no.
  Throughout his academic and political career, Paul was matched in 
energy and determination by his wife, Sheila. An outspoken advocate for 
women and families experiencing domestic violence, Sheila brought the 
conversation about domestic violence in our communities to a national 
level, and was instrumental in passing the first Violence Against Women 
Act. A leading voice for women in the United States, she also extended 
her focus to international human rights abuses and spoke out for 
victims of sex trafficking. She helped make the fight against domestic 
violence a national priority.
  Paul and Sheila's work is continued with groups such as Wellstone 
Action, which promotes progressive causes and has trained over 55,000 
candidates, campaign staff, and community organizers around the 
country, and the Sheila Wellstone Institute, which continues Sheila's 
work of ending the violence against women and children.
  Paul's legacy is not encapsulated in a specific cause or any 
individual vote, but by his embodiment of public service. He was an 
example of how to live a life dedicated to values and the greater good. 
Paul did not make decisions based on whether they were right 
politically, but whether they met his basic principles of fairness, 
generosity, and compassion.
  Senator Wellstone was a political inspiration for me, and I am proud 
to call him my friend. He will always be remembered as a champion for 
the underserved, a master at grassroots campaigning, a fervent public 
speaker, and a Minnesota icon. Many of my colleagues have stood on the 
floor here and in the Senate over the last ten years, remembering his 
presence as we unsuccessfully try to fill the gap he left behind in 
politics. A truly uncommon politician, I believe if we live by Senator 
Wellstone's actions, our country will be better for it. As Paul said, 
``We all do better, when we all do better.''