September 19, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1489 In 1959, John was appointed by Florida to pay special tribute to a very special man, truly great former Chairman of the Committee Governor Leroy Collins to complete his fa- and that is Congressman from on Transportation and Infrastructure—Jim ther’s term as Santa Rosa County Sheriff, and . Oberstar. in 1962, John was elected to the Florida In my entire 22 years in this Congress, I We can all take comfort—and some pleas- House of Representatives. John and Christina have served on the Transportation and Infra- ure as well—in knowing that Jim was well moved to Gulf Breeze, Florida, with their fam- structure Committee. I had a couple of aware of the respect and esteem we ALL had ily in 1964 to begin their business, John chances in my early years to move to other for him—Republicans, Democrats, liberals and Broxson and Associates, Inc., an Independent committees, and I think people were surprised conservatives. Insurance agency and real-estate brokerage that I didn’t take either one of those offers. But That was evident when he quietly entered company. Committed to public service, John I enjoyed serving on the Transportation and this chamber in January of last year—for the also served in other various roles to include, Infrastructure Committee, originally called the first time as a former Congressman. Florida State Senator and Santa Rosa County Public Works and Transportation Committee, First one member spotted him—then an- Commissioner. in part because it was considered to be the other and another—and within a few seconds Both John and Christina have lived a life of most bipartisan, or nonpartisan, committee everyone was standing, cheering, and ap- service to God and country, while raising five probably in the Congress. It was often said plauding spontaneously. children: Sylvia, Bob, Cheryl, Bart, and An- that there is no such thing as a Republican It was a truly unforgettable moment—a ges- gela. John and Christina are loving and de- highway or a Democratic highway; and on ture I haven’t seen in this historic place since voted parents, grandparents, and great-grand- many, many things people on both sides of addressed a joint session of parents. the aisle on that committee worked together to Congress shortly before he passed away Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the help build America. some 36 years ago. Congress, it is my pleasure to join John and Certainly, Congressman Oberstar was one When I think of Jim Oberstar, four big words Christina Broxson; their children; grand- of the great leaders of that committee through come to mind. The first word is accomplish- children; great-grandchildren; and the entire his entire time in the Congress. Jim Oberstar ment. Broxson family in celebration of their sixty served for 11 years on the committee staff, He was the son of a miner who grew up in years of marriage. My wife, Vicki, and I wish rising to the position of staff director. He then a little House in Chisholm, Minnesota—whose John and Christina many more years of happi- began his service in the House and continued career in public service and as a leader on the ness and all of God’s blessings. to serve for the past 36 years. Transportation Committee touched every great f It is an astounding figure to think that a man city, every town, and every small community in worked on this one committee for 47 years of our great nation .... CHAIRMAN OBERSTAR his life, but he has done so with great honor With a road—a bridge—a park—a harbor— and distinction. In fact, I think almost every- an airport—a public building. Tens of millions HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR. body knows that there is no one in the Con- of people have a better, safer quality of life OF TENNESSEE gress and probably never has been anyone in thanks to Jim Oberstar. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the history of the Congress who has known And those accomplishments were genuinely bipartisan in nature. Thursday, September 18, 2014 transportation issues and understood them and worked on them longer and harder and As Chairman, Jim believed a good idea is a Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, with more effectiveness than Jim Oberstar good idea regardless of who proposes it. several years ago, they sent us to a civility has. So Committee debates were wide open, conference because they didn’t think that At one point, he was chairman of the Avia- with plenty of give and take. If you had an Democrats and Republicans were getting tion Subcommittee. In 1994, after the election, idea, Jim made sure it was heard and de- along well enough in the Congress, and I have the Republicans took control and I had the bated—and that it received an up or down never forgotten something our first speaker honor of becoming the chairman of the Avia- vote after all was said and done. said. tion Subcommittee, and I served for 6 years in The second big word that applies to Jim is David McCullough, the great historian, told a that position, which was the maximum allow- work—hard work. story about a Russian visitor who came up able on our side. Regardless of how early you showed up— into the House gallery in 1948 and watched When I took over as chairman of the Avia- you couldn’t arrive early enough to beat Jim to for a while, and then he went out and shook tion Subcommittee, I had frequently heard Jim the office every morning. And his light was al- his head and he said, ‘‘The House is a Oberstar referred to as ‘‘Mr. Aviation.’’ So I ways the last one to go out after the rest of strange place.’’ He said, ‘‘A man stands up went to him and asked for his help, and he us had left for the night. and says absolutely nothing, no one pays any helped me and guided me and gave me ad- Of course, Jim didn’t worry about DC traffic. attention, and then everyone disagrees.’’ vice that to this day I appreciate very much, This man, who presided over hundreds of They say there is a little bit of truth in the and he did that in a very kind and humble billions of dollars in transportation projects— best humor, and I guess there is some truth way. and who understood more about the intrica- in that humor. But David McCullough was kind Then, of course, in the last 4 years, he cies of transportation policies than most of the enough to go on from there and say, but if he reached the pinnacle and became chairman of rest of us combined—just wove through the had a chance to live his life over again and he that committee, a committee that he loves. He traffic jams riding his bike to work every morn- could choose what he wanted to do, he would has been a great chairman, and I think he has ing. choose to be a member of that wild and rau- tried to help everyone on both sides of the And by the way, thanks to Jim’s ‘‘Safe cous bunch known as the United States aisle. Routes to School’’ program, millions of kids House of Representatives. So I just wanted to rise and pay tribute to are walking and biking to work every day I think today, because of some of the tele- a man that I consider to be a great American across our nation. vision talk shows, that many people around and a great Member of Congress, Congress- The third word for Jim is intellect. To para- the country think that we all dislike each other man James Oberstar. phrase President Kennedy—Thomas Jefferson or that we hate each other at times, or that f was the smartest American to ever dine Democrats and Republicans just don’t get alone—except perhaps when Jim Oberstar along at all. But that is not true at all, and I JIM OBERSTAR was grabbing a bite to eat in the Rayburn caf- think for the great, great majority of Members, eteria. all of us get along really well with everyone, HON. RICHARD M. NOLAN Jim was simply brilliant He spoke six lan- regardless of party, and all of us consider it a OF MINNESOTA guages fluently—from French to Creole to that great privilege and honor to serve in the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES strange combination of Finnish and English we United States House of Representatives. call ‘‘Range Speak’’ up north on Minnesota’s We are losing many, many good Members Thursday, September 18, 2014 . from both sides of the aisle this year because Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, what an honor it There was no detail to small—and no vision of retirements, running for other offices, or for is for me to convene this special order for our to grand—for Jim to comprehend—and then all sorts of reasons, and there are many other friend and colleague—Minnesota’s longest articulate in a manner everyone else could un- Members, both Democrat and Republican, serving Member of Congress and my prede- derstand as well. who are good friends of mine who are leaving cessor in representing our state’s Eighth Con- Last but not least—when I think of Jim, I to whom I should pay tribute. But I rise tonight gressional District.... A giant of a man—the think of home.

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