[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5702]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO FORMER REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT W. KASTENMEIER

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. MARK POCAN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 28, 2015

  Mr. POCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and 
work of former Representative Robert W. Kastenmeier from Wisconsin's 
2nd Congressional District.
  Bob Kastenmeier died on March 20 at his home in Arlington, VA at the 
age of 91. As we remember Bob's life and his service to our country, 
our thoughts are also with his wife, Dorothy; their three sons William, 
Andrew, and Edward; and two grandchildren.
  Born on January 24, 1924 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Bob later attended 
the University of Wisconsin Law School. During World War II, he 
interrupted his studies to serve in the U.S. Army in the Philippines. 
After the war, he returned to the University of Wisconsin to finish his 
law degree and practiced law in southern Wisconsin until he was first 
elected to Congress in 1958.
  During his 32-year career in Congress, Bob was the standard bearer 
for Wisconsin's proud tradition of public service and progressive 
values. Looking back, it turns out Bob was on the right side of history 
more often than not.
  As a courageous and principled public servant you could always count 
on Bob to speak truth to power. He opposed funding for the so-called 
House Un-American Activities Committee. He stood up to a president of 
his own party to criticize the Vietnam War. He continued to speak out 
as thousands of American GI's, including more than 1,100 Wisconsinites, 
died in Vietnam.
  Bob Kastenmeier served during a tumultuous period in our nation's 
history that includes passage of the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights 
Act, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War, 
and the impeachment trials for President Nixon. Through it all, Bob was 
quintessential Bob, a calming presence in Congress who held the 
institution to its values and principles.
  Bob leaves behind a long legacy as a champion for the people of 
Wisconsin and the United States. Through his leadership on the 
Judiciary Committee, Bob became a giant in the field of intellectual 
property law. Most notably, Bob helped draft and pass the landmark 1976 
Copyright Act, the first overhaul of U.S. copyright law since 1909. He 
was also influential in the passage of several patent, trademark, and 
counterfeiting statutes.
  I got my start in national politics working on Bob's campaigns while 
in college. I'll always remember how much all those who were touched by 
his life's work loved and admired him. His legacy of honest public 
service remains an inspiration to me and other elected officials in 
Wisconsin and across the country.
  Bob was a leading voice for civil rights and civil liberties, an 
advocate for peace, and a leader in Congress during his 32 years as a 
U.S. Representative. He will always be remembered as one of Wisconsin's 
greatest legislators--among the likes of Bob LaFollette, Gaylord 
Nelson, and William Proxmire.
  I ask my colleagues to join the people of Wisconsin to mourn the loss 
of a leader whose humility and dedication will forever serve as the 
model to every person who answers the call to public service. It was a 
privilege to know him as a friend. It is an honor to continue his 
legacy in the U.S. House of Representatives.

                          ____________________