December 21, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1983 HONORING JAY PIERSON ON HIS tion to the liberty movement was his work sup- When I left Congress in 1984, Burt and RETIREMENT FROM THE HOUSE porting libertarian scholars—especially young- George assisted me in establishing Ron Paul OF REPRESENTATIVES er scholars, who often lacked opportunities Coins. I worked with Burt and George until I available to their peers who were willing to returned to Congress in 1996 and had to end SPEECH OF promote statist academic orthodoxy. my involvement in the company. Getting to HON. JOE WILSON George began supporting promising liber- know George was one of the most enjoyable OF SOUTH CAROLINA tarian scholars in the 1950s, when he met aspects of working in the coin business. You IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Professor F.A. ‘‘Baldy’’ Harper at Robert could not ask for a better business partner or LeFevre’s Freedom School. Harper imme- friend than George. He never treated anyone Tuesday, December 18, 2012 diately recognized George’s qualities of mind with anything less than complete respect. He Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speak- and strong character, and eventually recruited had a wonderful understated sense of humor, er, I would like to take this opportunity to rec- George to work with the William Volker Fund. and like our mutual friends Murray Rothbard ognize Mr. Jay Pierson, Floor Assistant with At the time, the Volker Fund was one of the and Burt Blumert, a Menckenesque apprecia- the Office of the Speaker, on his retirement few organizations dedicated to the develop- tion of the absurdities of modern American from over 34 years of dedicated service in the ment and promotion of libertarian ideas. politics. George also never lost his ability to House of Representatives. At the Volker Fund, George worked with spot potential young leaders or counsel, as- Jay has been an exemplary public servant many leading libertarians thinkers of the day sist, and spend time talking to young people who has demonstrated the highest standards to identify books and authors worthy of pro- interested in advancing liberty. My Legislative of professionalism on a daily basis. His career motion and support. One of the people Director, for example, benefited from George’s in public service has been a testament to the George worked with was Murray Rothbard, advice and friendship. importance of unselfish devotion. Ludwig von Mises’ heir and the founder of the Mr. Speaker, George Resch’s many friends I know firsthand of Jay’s professionalism modern libertarian movement. George and in the liberty movement are deeply saddened from my first day of advising on protocol, and Murray’s friendship began when they dis- by his passing. We are also grateful for all he he is always cheerful while providing counsel cussed monopolies. George had heard that did to build the liberty movement, and for the on proper parliamentary procedure. Rothbard was developing a theory of antitrust example he set for all of us who continue his As Jay embarks on a new chapter in life, it more ‘‘radical’’ than Mises’, and wanted to work of advancing freedom. is my hope that he may recall with a deep learn more. The conversation resulted in a f sense of pride and accomplishment the out- friendship that lasted until Murray passed ´ standing contributions he has made to the away in 1995. TRIBUTE TO JOHN DELEON United States House of Representatives and In 1961, George helped Professor Harper the people of the United States of America. create the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS). HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ I would like to send Jay my best wishes for IHS’s goal was to expand the Volker Fund’s OF TEXAS continued success in his future endeavors, mission of promoting libertarian scholarship by IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and may his life be filled with health and hap- identifying and supporting young people with piness. the potential to become leading libertarian Thursday, December 20, 2012 f scholars. George played a major role in help- Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask my col- ing to sustain and grow IHS in its early years. leagues to join me in recognizing the life of a PERSONAL EXPLANATION In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that soldier, an inspiring community leader and a Baldy Harper never would have gotten IHS off dear friend of mine who is no longer with us, HON. PETER WELCH the ground without George’s help. The thou- Mr. John de Leo´n. OF VERMONT sands of young people who have been intro- John was born in San Antonio, Texas on IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES duced to the ideas of liberty through IHS’s May 6, 1944. He began his career with the Thursday, December 20, 2012 programs, as well as those who received aca- United States Army before going on to serve Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, had I been demic and career support from IHS, all owe a a long career with the Federal Government. present for rollcall vote Nos. 627 and 628, I debt of gratitude to George Resch. Throughout his career, John was dedicated to would have voted ‘‘aye.’’ In 1965, George helped his friends Murray community development, civil rights and Rothbard and Leonard Liggio publish Left and human rights. As a result of his exceptional f Right, a journal dedicated to preserving the work, dedication and professionalism, he re- TRIBUTE TO GEORGE RESCH ‘‘Old Right’s’’ limited government and anti-im- ceived several awards and special recogni- perialist ideals. As the title suggests, Left and tions from community organizations and the HON. RON PAUL Right also sought to create an alliance with Federal Government. OF TEXAS the anti-imperialist and anti-corporatist ele- Once he retired from the Federal Govern- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ments found on the left. Left and Right was ment, Mr. de Leon went on to serve with the published until 1968. However, its influence is City of Houston, became Chairman of the Har- Thursday, December 20, 2012 still felt today. The seeds that Rothbard, ris County Tejano Democrats, and later as Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor H. Liggio, and Resch planted are at last bearing Chairman of the U.S. Democrats Abroad in George Resch, who passed away last week. fruit as a new left-right coalition has embraced Mexico. Mr. de Leon not only spent his life as George was a lifelong champion of liberty, the ideas Left and Right championed. This co- a dedicated public servant, but as a loving sound money, and peace who played a key alition of libertarians, liberals, and constitu- husband to his dear wife Irene, father, grand- role in the development of the modern liberty tional conservatives is working together to op- father and dear friend to many. Please join me movement. I was privileged to know George pose militarism, protect civil liberties, end cor- in recognizing his career of distinguished serv- as a business associate and a friend. porate welfare, and reduce the power of the ice and contribution to our great country. George was one of the liberty movement’s Federal Reserve. f leading experts on the dangers of government George also had a successful private-sector control of education. One of his most signifi- career working with Burt Blumert at Camino DON’T LET FOREIGN AID FALL cant contributions to libertarian scholarship Coins. Burt and George truly were kindred OFF THE FISCAL CLIFF was an essay titled ‘‘Human Variations and In- souls, both tireless promoters and supporters dividuality,’’ published in the 1974 anthology of the ideas of liberty. Burt and George made HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN The Twelve Year Sentence. In this essay, Camino one of the country’s top coin busi- OF CALIFORNIA George convincingly challenged the popular nesses. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES idea that government must control education George also worked with Burt at the Center in order to ensure ‘‘equality of opportunity.’’ As for Libertarian Studies. The Center published Thursday, December 20, 2012 George made clear, because all people differ the Journal of Libertarian Studies (among Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, as negotiations in their abilities and interests, the only way the many other projects), the first academic jour- to avoid the ‘‘fiscal cliff’’ enter the final stages, state can ensure ‘‘equal opportunities’’ is to nal devoted to the ideas of liberty. George it is important that we keep in mind the poten- prevent any student from excelling. also helped Burt and Lew Rockwell establish tially devastating consequences of across-the- As important as George’s scholarship on and develop Lewrockwell.com, the world’s board cuts. This is true not only for domestic educational freedom was, his main contribu- most-visited libertarian web site. programs, but also for foreign assistance, VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:18 Feb 06, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\RECORD12\RECFILES\E21DE2.REC E21DE2 mmaher on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE.