[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10432]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   A TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF THE LIFE OF THE HONORABLE JOHN VASCONCELLOS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 18, 2014

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues, Congresswoman 
Karen Bass, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congressman Ami Bera, 
Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Congresswoman Lois Capps, Congressman 
Tony Cardenas, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congressman Jim Costa, 
Congresswoman Susan Davis, Congressman Sam Farr, Congressman John 
Garamendi, Congresswoman Janice Hahn, Congressman Jared Huffman, 
Congressman Mike Honda, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Zoe 
Lofgren, Congressman Jerry McNerney, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, 
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Congressman Alan Lowenthal, 
Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod, 
Congressman George Miller, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, 
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Scott Peters, Congresswoman 
Lucille Roybal-Allard, Congressman Raul Ruiz, Congressman Adam Schiff, 
Congressman Brad Sherman, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Congressman Eric 
Swalwell, Congressman Mark Takano, Congressman Mike Thompson, 
Congressman Juan Vargas, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Congressman 
Henry Waxman to honor the life of our friend who distinguished himself 
for 38 years in public service, the Honorable John Vasconcellos, who 
died on May 24, 2014, at his home in Santa Clara, California.
  John was born on May 11, 1932, in San Jose, California, to a 
Portuguese father and German mother. He graduated from Bellarmine 
College Preparatory High School with top honors, and attended Santa 
Clara University, graduating magna cum laude. After two years of 
service to his country in the Army, he graduated again at the top of 
his class from Santa Clara University's Law School. He practiced law 
before joining Governor Pat Brown's staff, and was soon recruited by 
his many friends and admirers to run for a seat in the California State 
Assembly in 1966. This began almost forty years of public service. John 
was a legislator's legislator. He had a brilliant intellect and a 
compassionate heart. He became the Chairman of the Assembly Ways and 
Means Committee, one of the most powerful assignments in the California 
Legislature. He proposed the State Task Force to Promote Self-Esteem in 
October 1986, and in 1989, Speaker Willie Brown appointed him to Chair 
the Select Assembly Committee on Ethics. He was elected to the 
California State Senate in 1996, representing the heart of Silicon 
Valley, and served as Chairman of the Public Safety, Education, and 
Economic Development Committees.
  John Vasconcellos' 38 year tenure in the California Legislature was 
reflective of the innovative Silicon Valley District he represented. He 
was a disruptor and a pioneering public servant who was ahead of his 
time. His legislative work is widely recognized for its groundbreaking 
innovations in public safety, state budgets, ethics, health and human 
services, as well as in education. He wrote first-of-its-kind 
legislation addressing AIDS research, medical marijuana, and family 
health. He wrote legislation combating toxic chemicals in our 
atmosphere; he paved the way for midwives to practice; and he promoted 
child care at all public colleges. He saw the need before others to 
modernize our education system and make it affordable for all. He 
involved young people in the political process, launching programs like 
shadowing legislators in the State Capitol.
  John was an avid subscriber to the human-potential movement therapies 
to deal with the rage, tension and fear that continued to grow in our 
society. We called John our friend, and we were very proud to do so, 
but he was also a brother and a mentor to many of us and we will miss 
him always.
  Mr. Speaker, we ask the entire House of Representatives to join us in 
honoring Senator John Vasconcellos, a brilliant visionary with a giant 
heart who served his constituents, his state and his country with 
integrity and respect for building the politics of trust. We extend our 
condolences to his brother Jim Vasconcellos, his sister Margaret 
Brindle, his niece Beth Brindle, his Hawaiian family, including his 
chosen son Mitch Saunders, his daughter-in-law Cindy and his two 
beloved grandchildren Megan and Briana, as well as his devoted staff, 
his large circle of extended friends and family in California, Hawaii 
and around the world.

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