[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5639-5640]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING JOHN PAUL HAMMERSCHMIDT

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I honor a longtime champion of 
Arkansas, Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt, who passed away earlier 
this month at the age of 92 after a long life as a dedicated public 
servant.
  As a member of the ``greatest generation,'' John Paul served as a 
combat pilot during World War II and was a decorated war hero. As a 
Congressman from the Third District of Arkansas for 26 years and the 
only Republican member of the delegation at the time, he worked across 
the aisle to provide infrastructure and various improvements to 
Arkansas, paving the way for the growth in the northwest corner of the 
State.
  Even following his retirement more than 20 years ago, John Paul 
continued to serve the people, who fondly referred to him as ``JPH.'' 
He always put Arkansas first. His vision for a two-party system in 
Arkansas led him to seek elected office. He paved the way for the 
Republican Party in the State, and his vision continues to be realized 
as the party continues its growth in the State.
  ``John Paul'' is a name that is just as familiar in Arkansas as it is 
to my colleagues in the Senate who served with him before serving in 
this Chamber as well as the many Members in the House who worked 
alongside him during his years of elected service and through decades 
more of providing assistance to his beloved Arkansas.

[[Page 5640]]

  You would have been hard-pressed to find a kinder, gentler man than 
John Paul Hammerschmidt. As a mentor and friend, John Paul's wisdom and 
counsel have shaped my Washington experience more than anyone else. 
When I ran for Congress in 2001, I sought John Paul out for advice. I 
quickly learned, as a newly elected Member of Congress for the Third 
District of Arkansas, how fond his former colleagues were of him. 
Senior Members of the House of Representatives had so much respect for 
him that they welcomed me into their inner circle because he had given 
his approval.
  It was John Paul who taught me that after the election is over, there 
are no more Republicans, no more Democrats, there are only the people 
of Arkansas. His dedication to his constituents during his career of 
public service was unmatched and is a marker we should all strive to 
meet. During his time in Congress, he served in the minority, but he 
would disagree without being disagreeable.
  I always valued John Paul's friendship and his continued advice.
  John Paul set the standard for helping Arkansans. That bar is 
something members of the Arkansas congressional delegation continue to 
strive toward today.
  His vision to improve life for Arkansans led him to serve on the 
House Veterans' Affairs Committee as well as the House Transportation 
and Infrastructure Committee. By the time he retired, he served as the 
latter's ranking member.
  Using his position on the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee, he helped secure funds for roads and infrastructure 
projects, including Interstate 540, which now bears his name, the 
Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, as well as protecting the Buffalo 
River and getting a designation as the first national river.
  John Paul left big shoes to fill. He believed he could make a 
difference in the lives of Arkansans because he believed in loving his 
fellow man. We are capitalizing on the benefits he helped provide--a 
testament to his time in Washington.
  From all Arkansans, I thank John Paul for his devotion to public 
service, his leadership, and his dedication to Arkansas. His example is 
something we should continue to strive for in Washington.

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