[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 200-201]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FORMER NEW YORK GOV. MARIO CUOMO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 7, 2015

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of Governor Mario Cuomo, who passed away on January 1, 2015 at the age 
of 82. A highly respected public servant and brilliant orator, Mario 
Cuomo

[[Page 201]]

served as Governor of New York State for three terms, from 1983 to 
1994.
  Governor Cuomo was born on June 15, 1932, in his beloved Borough of 
Queens. Hailing from a family of Italian immigrants, he worked in the 
family's grocery store in South Jamaica growing up. The governor 
graduated from St. John's Preparatory School, and went on to play 
baseball on the freshman team at St. John's University. An aggressive 
player, he showed great talent and promise. Indeed, he was signed as a 
prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, earning a signing 
bonus that exceeded that of a contemporary prospect--Mickey Mantle--
that was later the subject of joking between the two men.
  Shortly after beginning to play for the Class D Brunswick Pirates in 
Georgia, the young future Governor Cuomo was struck in the head by a 
fastball, forcing his retirement from baseball. He then returned to St. 
John's University, graduating in 1953. There he met his wife, a fellow 
student, Matilda Raffa Cuomo. Together they had five children: Andrew 
Cuomo, the current Governor of New York, Dr. Margaret I. Cuomo, Maria 
Cuomo Cole, Madeline Cuomo O'Donohue and Christopher Cuomo, a 
journalist at CNN; and fourteen grandchildren.
  Upon graduation, Cuomo enrolled in St. John's Law School on 
scholarship, where he graduated at the top of his class. Cuomo 
experienced success in his law career early on, often fighting on 
behalf of many blue-collar and middle class families like his own.
  His success did not go unnoticed, and in 1974 he was the Democratic 
Party's choice for Lieutenant Governor of New York. Although he lost 
the primary election, newly elected Governor Hugh Carey named him New 
York's Secretary of State. In 1978, Governor Carey asked Cuomo to be 
his running mate as Lieutenant Governor, and the pair won the election 
handily.
  In 1982, when Carey did not run for re-election, Cuomo sought and won 
the office of Governor of New York. In his inaugural speech, Cuomo 
called on the state government to be ``a positive source for good,'' 
espousing an energetic optimism and true belief in government. An 
elegant spokesman for liberal politics, his keynote address at the 1984 
Democratic National Convention is widely regarded as one of the finest 
political speeches of our time.
  Gov. Cuomo served proudly as New York's 52nd Governor for three 
terms, leading the state with a philosophy of ``progressive 
pragmatism'' that resulted in fiscal and ethics reforms for the state, 
and a broader economic reach for the state in the global marketplace. 
At his lead, New York became renowned for passing more ``first in the 
nation'' types of legislation than any other state. From automobile 
safety to education reforms to public safety, Mario Cuomo's leadership, 
more than anyone else's, succeeded in ensuring New York's rightful 
place at the Empire State.
  On a personal level, I was always an admirer of Governor Mario Cuomo, 
from his first election right up until his unfortunate passing. Shortly 
after my initial election to Congress in 2004, I made an appointment to 
meet with Gov. Cuomo at his New York law office. Scheduled as I was for 
a brief meeting, I was surprised to spend nearly two hours in the 
Governor's office, absorbing his advice and hearing of his many 
experiences in government and private life. To this day, to gain 
inspiration and to learn more about how to say what is on my mind, I 
consult many of Gov. Cuomo's writings. His voice still teaches and his 
message still resonates all these many years later.
  Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me a few moments to honor the 
life of Governor Mario Cuomo. I ask that my colleagues join me in 
expressing our deepest condolences to the Cuomo family, and our most 
sincere gratitude for his dedication to creating a better state and 
nation.

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