Eleanor Holmes Norton: “I certainly associate myself with the remarks of Mr. Duncan. I am asking my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 179.…”

“I certainly associate myself with the remarks of Mr. Duncan. I am asking my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 179. That is the bill that would designate a United States post office located at 14 3rd Avenue Northwest in Jim Oberstar's hometown, Chisholm, Minnesota; and it would be called the James L. Oberstar Memorial Post Office. Mr. Speaker, I am speaking today for a memorial for Jim Oberstar not only because of my position on the committee, but for me, this is an act of love and respect. I am speaking for a man known in this House as one of singular intellect and personal qualities. Jim was a native of Chisholm. He graduated--and anybody who knew Jim will not be surprised at this--summa cum laude from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota; then he got a master's degree in Belgium. That may be where he picked up his French, which he playfully used on us at every opportunity. Jim was not long out of college when he began working in this House, and working in this House was to determine his destiny for the rest of his life. He first served as clerk of the Committee on Rivers and Harbors, as it was then called. He became administrator of the Committee on Public Works--now called Transportation and Infrastructure--when Representative John Blatnik became chairman in 1970. Four years later, Jim, himself, ran for Congress, succeeding Mr. Blatnik who retired from Minnesota's Eighth District of Congress.…”