Thomas E. Petri: “At the end of this Congress, we will say farewell to Congressman Jim Oberstar, who has represented Minnesota's 8th…”

“At the end of this Congress, we will say farewell to Congressman Jim Oberstar, who has represented Minnesota's 8th District since 1975. But his Congressional career started long before that in 1963 when he was appointed as a staff member on the then-Public Works Committee by Representative John Blatnick. Forty-four years later, Jim Oberstar would rise to become Chairman of that same committee, now known as the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Having served with Chairman Oberstar during my entire tenure on the Transportation Committee, I want to acknowledge his expertise, his valuable service and the many contributions he has made over many decades. No one knows more about the history of our nation's infrastructure and the critical role it has played in our development as a nation. He is an expert on the history of the Committee and has had a front row seat to the many dramas that have played out over the years as the Committee has worked to pass good, bipartisan bills to move our country forward in building needed highways and transit, airports, developing our ports, protecting our environment--including our shared interest in the Great Lakes--and improving safety amongst all the transportation modes.”