[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16048]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DON EDWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 2015

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, sadly, I note the passing of our former 
colleague, Don Edwards, on October 1. While Don retired from his seat 
representing his district in Northern California in 1994, he left a 
lasting legacy after his 32-year career in the House.
  Taking office in 1963, Don came to Congress at a time when our 
country was in dire need of men of conscience and the courage to lead 
on issues concerning civil rights, civil liberties, and the proper 
limits of government power. Don answered the call, quickly registering 
his support for landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 
1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As a Member of the Judiciary 
Committee, he became the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil and 
Constitutional Rights, a position he used for decades to protect the 
fundamental rights of all Americans.
  He fought particularly hard, in reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act, 
to preserve the Section 5 preclearance requirements for states that had 
a legacy of voting rights abuses. He realized how critical this law is 
to the foundational aspirations of America, and said, ``If you can't 
vote, you are not a real citizen.''
  Another area where Don focused his energies concerned the uncovering 
and elimination of abusive government surveillance. Having been an FBI 
agent for a brief period prior to his military service in World War II, 
Don brought to Congress an understanding of the need for government to 
enforce the laws while not violating the civil liberties of those it is 
designed to serve. His work on the Judiciary Committee included actions 
to reign in government surveillance, and he was also instrumental in 
shutting down the House Un-American Activities Committee, whose sad 
legacy continues to caution Congress not to abuse its considerable 
powers.
  In matters of foreign affairs and the use of U.S. military power, he 
showed wise judgment in opposing the Vietnam War and also opposed the 
use of military force in other instances, such as the war in the 
Persian Gulf in 1991.
  I knew Don Edwards as a principled man who never stopped believing 
that the government's coercive powers should be subject to the highest 
levels of scrutiny, and that we should never forget that our government 
exists through the consent of the governed, with the purpose of 
preserving and not eroding our rights. We are grateful for his service 
to Congress and this country. He will be missed, but we will continue 
the work he devoted himself to in the Judiciary Committee and in 
Congress.

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