H696 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE March 3, 1998 10,000 volunteers, up about 35,000 more Currier. However, before Martha and time, Garner spent a lot of his time volunteers, serving overseas by the Garner had a chance to begin raising a taking care of the direct needs and con- year 2000. The demand for their service family, World War II pulled Garner cerns of his constituents back in Kan- is there, the supply is not, and the only away from home for 3 years. He en- sas. As a senior member of the power- thing that stands between that is the listed in the Navy, but after only 10 ful House Appropriations Committee, United States Congress and its ability months he received a commission as Garner was in a unique position to pro- to appropriate the funds. I encourage Lieutenant, leaving the Navy after 3 tect the vital interests of both the 4th my colleagues to do so. years as an officer. During his tour in Congressional District and the State of The proposed expansion of the Peace the Navy, Garner commanded a boat Kansas. Corps comes at a time when the inter- group in the Pacific by the end of the When Garner left Congress in 1977, he est in serving as a volunteer is particu- war. was ranking member of the Appropria- larly high. Last year, more than 150,000 Not long after the war ended, Garner tions Foreign Operations Subcommit- Americans contacted the Peace Corps made his first attempt at elected of- tee and the third ranking Republican to request information on serving as fice. His wife Martha Jane recently re- on the full committee. In that impor- volunteers, an increase of more than 40 counted the story in the Wichita Eagle tant capacity, Garner was able to make percent since 1994. of how Garner first got into politics. sure Kansas was never overlooked dur- The value of the volunteers and their She noted that ``he figured he didn't ing the Federal budget process. experience is not restricted to overseas have anything to lose,'' so in 1946, Gar- On a more personal level, I want to service. I can testify that the best serv- ner ran for the Kansas House of Rep- express my heartfelt thanks again to ice that is given to the Peace Corps is resentatives. She continued, ``When we Garner for his advice and counsel upon the domestic dividend that we all bring went to bed that election night, we my appointment to the Appropriations when we come home. didn't know anything about elections. Committee after my reelection last I urge all of those Members of Con- We woke up the next morning to find year. Before my appointment last year, gress that they ought to think some- out he had won by 222 votes.'' 20 years had passed since a Kansan had day even when they retire, that Peace So began the long and distinguished served on the important committee in Corps has no limit to the age that one career of a great Kansas politician. either the House or Senate. Seeking to can enter. Remember President After serving only 2 terms in the Kan- understand the first thing about the Carter's mother who entered the Peace sas House, Garner set his sights higher Appropriations Committee and how it Corps in her elderly years. I encourage and was elected to the Kansas State operated, I was fortunate to be able to on this 37th anniversary of the Peace Senate, where he served two terms. receive the sage counsel of Garner on Corps that we all be proud of what was During his 12 years of service in the the ins and outs of this committee. created here in the House of Represent- Kansas legislature, Garner championed After leaving Congress in 1977, Gar- atives and what has served its country many worthwhile causes, including ner returned home to Wichita, Kansas, well, the United States Peace Corps. education for handicapped and retarded where he resumed the practice of law and spent the rest of his life alongside f children, getting and keeping reckless his lovely and dedicated wife, Martha drivers off the highways, creating the A TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN Jane. Today, it is only appropriate State Park Authority, important flood GARNER E. SHRIVER that we remember and celebrate the control legislation, and setting up the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under life and accomplishments of Garner E. 4±H livestock show. the Speaker's announced policy of Jan- Shriver. In 1960, Garner left State politics to uary 21, 1997, the gentleman from Kan- Garner Shriver will be missed, not run for Congress. Winning what was sas (Mr. TIAHRT) is recognized during only by his family, but by me and a lot characterized as a very spirited race, morning hour debates for 5 minutes. of other Kansans, Kansans who consid- Garner became the new representative Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, today I ered him a friend, an American hero, of the 4th Congressional District. At come to the floor of the House both to who lived his life with courage, char- that time the district included Sedg- commemorate and honor the life of a acter and integrity. former Member of this distinguished wick and 14 other counties and was So long, Garner. May God bless your body, Garner E. Shriver. Garner died considered to be heavily democratic. soul and your family. this past Sunday, March 1, at age 85. Garner went on to win 8 consecutive Mr. Speaker, I include for the record Both my wife Vickie and I were deep- races before losing in a narrow defeat, a copy of a letter to Mrs. Martha Jane ly saddened when we learned of Gar- 3,200 votes, in 1976, to former Congress- Shriver signed by the entire Kansas ner's death. Over the past couple years, man and now Secretary of Agriculture delegation. Garner had become a personal friend Dan Glickman. U.S. CONGRESS, and someone whom I admired greatly. I During his 16 years in Congress, Gar- Washington, DC, March 2, 1998. speak for the entire Kansas delegation ner became an influential voice on sig- Mrs. MARTHA JANE SHRIVER, in Congress when I say our thoughts nificant issues of the day, including Wichita, Kansas. health and education benefits for our DEAR MRS. SHRIVER: We were deeply sad- and prayers are with Garner's wife, dened when we learned of Garner's death yes- Martha Jane, and their three children, Nation's veterans, and landmark civil rights legislation. Garner served on the terday morning. We want you and your three Kay, David and Linda. children, Kay, David and Linda to know that Born on July 6, 1912, in Towanda, committee that drafted the the Civil our thoughts and prayers are with you dur- Kansas, Garner's family later moved to Rights Act of 1964. His family is very ing this difficult time. We wish we could be Wichita in 1925, where he attended pub- proud of the fact that they have one of with you this Wednesday for Garner's fu- lic schools and graduated from East the pens LBJ used to sign the historic neral. However, Congress will be in session High School. legislation into law. that day. Representative Tiahrt has reserved Garner stayed in Wichita to receive Elected in the same class as fellow time on the floor of the House of Representa- his undergraduate degree from the Uni- Kansan Bob Dole, Garner quickly be- tives for this Tuesday, March 3, to allow us came a close friend and political con- the opportunity to commemorate the distin- versity of Wichita, now Wichita State guished life of Garner. University, in 1934. Today his Congres- fidant of Senator Dole. Upon learning During the nearly 30 years of elected public sional papers, amounting to over of Garner's death, Senator Dole stated office the name of Garner Shriver became 180,000 items, are kept at the Wichita that ``Garner was one of my closest po- synonymous with Wichita and south-central State Ablah Library. litical friends when we served together Kansas. Indeed, Monday's headline in the In 1940, Garner graduated from in Congress. I, like many others, Wichita Eagle obituary for Garner summed Washburn Law School in Topeka, Kan- learned a lot from Garner, who was it up well: Garner Shriver was a political sas. Garner put himself through both known as a quiet and effective legisla- giant. While most of us were too young to re- member back 50 years ago when Garner undergraduate and law school by work- tor, and someone who kept his word. began his political career, everyone can be ing odd jobs, including serving as a He was an exemplary husband and fa- proud of the many accomplishments he doorman. ther.'' achieved during the 12 years he served in the In 1941 Garner married his wife of While Garner worked on various Kansas Legislature and the 16 years he now 56 years, the former Martha Jane issues of national concern during his served in the United States Congress. March 3, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE H697 Elected to Congress in 1960, Garner quickly The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there The answer is pretty clear. Not only became a close friend and advisor to another objection to the request of the gen- is the marriage tax penalty unfair, but famous KansanÐfellow classmate Bob Dole. tleman from Kansas? it is wrong that our Tax Code punishes During his tenure in Congress, Garner be- came an influential voice on significant There was no objection.