[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17634]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 H.R. 4926, DESIGNATING THE ``JAMES L. OBERSTAR MEMORIAL HIGHWAY'' AND 
            THE ``JAMES L. OBERSTAR NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY''

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2014

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the unanimous passage today of 
H.R. 4926, which names a segment of Interstate 35 the ``James L. 
Oberstar Memorial Highway.''
  Jim Oberstar was an infrastructure partisan, a transportation expert, 
and had more influence over the House Transportation & Infrastructure 
Committee--a committee he served as staffer, member, ranking member, 
and chairman--than anyone in the last 50 years. And he was like an 
uncle to me.
  Jim was a man of remarkable memory and learning. He spoke a half-
dozen languages. He never stopped fighting for what he believed in and 
what he knew was right for his district, his State, or for the American 
people. In his long career, he guided the passage of dozens of landmark 
laws and shaped the transportation policy of our country for the 
better, creating an infrastructure system that is more efficient, more 
sustainable, and safer than before Jim entered politics.
  He was an incredible cyclist, a skilled and passionate legislator, 
and a good friend. I pleased that H.R. 4926 will literally cement his 
legacy.

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