July 16, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1263 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS PAYING TRIBUTE TO LES American priests were destined to be about so unfashionable, especially among well-edu- MERGELMAN evil committed and covered up, one of the cated and well-paid elites. For 56 years, he truly great priests was called to his eternal wrote a column for the Catholic press, and reward. he returned to union issues so often that he HON. SCOTT McINNIS Monsignor George G. Higgins was the sort once felt obligated to headline one of his of- OF COLORADO of Catholic clergyman regularly cast as a ferings:: ‘‘Why There’s So Much Ado About IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES hero in movies of the 1930s and ’50s. He was Labor in My Column.’’ an uncompromising pro-labor priest who His answer was simple: ‘‘I am convinced Tuesday, July 16, 2002 walked picket lines, fought anti-Semitism, that we are not likely to have a fully free or Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to supported civil rights and wrote and wrote democratic society over the long haul with- take this opportunity to honor a great indi- and wrote in the hope that some of his argu- out a strong and effective labor movement.’’ ments about social justice might penetrate To those who saw collective bargaining as vidual who has helped revitalize and strength- somewhere. outdated in a new economy involving choice, en his community’s way of life. Les He got attached to causes before they be- mobility and entrepreneurship, Higgins Mergelman is an example of success derived came fashionable, and stuck with them after would thunder back about the rights of those from hard work and determination. And it is a the fashionable people moved on. Cesar Cha- for whom such a glittering world was still, at great honor to praise his efforts and contribu- vez once said that no one had done more for best, a distant possibility: hospital workers, tions. American farm workers than Monsignor Hig- farm workers, fast-food workers and others Les is retiring after thirteen proud years of gins. In the 1980s, he traveled regularly to who need higher wages to help their children Poland in support of Solidarity’s struggle reach their dreams. He could not abide well- service as the President of the Olathe State against communism and became an impor- paid intellectuals who regularly derided Bank. During his tenure, the bank prospered tant link between American union leaders unions as dinosaurs, and he told them so, and thrived, becoming an instrumental piece and their Polish brethren. over and over. of the Olathe financial community. Les helped As it happens, even the day of Monsignor It is one of the highest callings of spiritual regenerate lost revenue, and was instrumental Higgins’s death, at the age of 86, was appro- leaders to force those who live happy and in engineering the grand opening of the bank’s priate. He passed from this world on May 1, comfortable lives to consider their obliga- the day that many countries set aside to main office in Olathe. However, Les is not one tions to those heavily burdened by injustice honor labor and that the Catholic Church and deprivation. It is a great loss when such to bask in personal achievement, as he takes designates as the Feast of St. Joseph the prophetic voices are stilled by scandal and pride in the teamwork of his staff. He fervently Worker. the cynicism it breeds. Fortunately, that believes in never giving up and keeping his If Higgins had been there when that fa- never happened to Higgins. He never had to head high regardless of the situation. Les’s mous carpenter was looking for a place to shut up about injustice and, God bless him, wisdom and leadership cannot, by any means, spend the night with his pregnant wife, the he never did. be duplicated, and each member of Les’s of- monsignor would certainly have taken the family in. He would also have handed Joseph f fice undoubtedly cherishes the countless con- a union card, told him he deserved better pay HONORING LAURA E. PAUL LONG tributions Les has made to the ‘team.’ and benefits, and insisted that no working Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to ap- person should ever have to beg for shelter. ON HER 100TH BIRTHDAY plaud the efforts of Les Mergelman before this Yes, Higgins sounds so old-fashioned—and body of Congress and this nation. The State in every good sense he was—that you might HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS of Colorado will always be grateful for his con- wonder about his relevance to our moment. OF PENNSYLVANIA stant support of Olathe sweet corn and the Let us count the ways. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES One of the most astonishing and disturbing culture of Colorado. We wish him the best with aspects of the Catholic Church’s current Tuesday, July 16, 2002 all the future endeavors that he undertakes. I scandal is the profound disjunction—that’s a Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to fervently believe that he will continue to be a charitable word—between what the church honor Mrs. Laura E. Paul Long of Gratz, beacon to the Olathe community for years to preaches about sexuality and compassion to- Pennsylvania. On August 3, Laura will be come. ward the young and how its leaders reacted celebrating her 100th birthday. f to the flagrant violation of these norms by priests. Laura is the daughter of Maria Hoch Paul MONSIGNOR GEORGE C. HIGGINS Higgins, who spent decades as the Catholic and David D. Paul and was born on August 3, Church’s point man on labor and social-jus- 1902, in Leck Kill, Pennsylvania. She spent tice issues, hated the idea of preachers’ ex- her childhood in Lower Mahanoy Township HON. DAVID R. OBEY horting people to do one thing and then with her parents and siblings and was married OF WISCONSIN doing the opposite. And so he made himself in 1922 to Samuel Felix Long. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES into a true pain for any administrator of any Laura worked at Pillow Manufacturing in Pil- Catholic institution who resisted the de- Tuesday, July 16, 2002 mands of workers for fair pay and union rep- low, Pennsylvania and for Dormar Manufac- Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, in the tumult of re- resentation. turing located in Gratz, Pennsylvania. She fi- cent events, the passing of a great man did ‘‘These men and women mop the floors of nally retired from Dormar Manufacturing not receive as much attention as it should Catholic schools, work in Catholic hospital around the age of 68. kitchens and perform other sometimes me- Content with her life in Pennsylvania, Laura have. Monsignor George C. Higgins died on nial tasks in various institutions,’’ he once never left the state until after she retired when May 1. wrote. ‘‘They have not volunteered to serve she traveled throughout Europe with her More than any other clergyman in this cen- the church for less than proportionate com- youngest daughter. tury, Monsignor Higgins personified the moral pensation.’’ Although noted for her crocheting, Laura is obligation that a just society has to honor work ‘‘The church has a long history of speaking out on justice and peace issues,’’ he said. renowned for her talent at continuing a line of and workers. To me he more than anyone geraniums descendant from the plants she else over his long lifetime personified the de- ‘‘Yet only in more recent times has the church made it clear that these teachings grew on her farm in Klingerstown, PA in the mand for justice that should permeate our apply as well to the workings of its own in- 1930’s. Her geraniums still thrive today. whole society. stitutions.’’ Laura is also very dedicated to her family E.J. Dionne, the thoughtful Washington Post Where some religious leaders complain with nine children, 29 grandchildren, 43 great- columnist, wrote a splendid column on the that they get caught up in scandal because grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. they are unfairly held to higher standards, death of Monsignor Higgins. I commend it to She was widowed in 1966. my colleagues. Higgins believed that higher standards were exactly the calling of those who claim the I ask my colleagues in the House to join me THE GREAT MONSIGNOR authority to tell others what to do. in wishing Laura a wonderful One-Hundredth There is no such thing as a timely death. It bothered Higgins to the end of his life Birthday and continued health and happiness But just when you thought all the stories on that the cause of trade unionism had become for many years to come. ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. VerDate 11<MAY>2000 04:54 Jul 17, 2002 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16JY8.000 pfrm12 PsN: E16PT1 E1264 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 16, 2002 PAYING TRIBUTE TO SGT. TONY guilty of campaign finance improprieties. Mr. controls, and mission documentation. The full LOMBARD Zhyr was disqualified from the race with no article is attached. time to appeal the decision. As the domestic I’m pleased to note that the Center for Medi- HON. SCOTT McINNIS nonpartisan election watchdog group the Com- care and Medicaid Services (CMS) is currently OF COLORADO mittee of Voters of Ukraine has commented, making improvements in the quality of the ESRD Program such as the implementation of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the last minute timing of the decision made it impossible for the elections to be considered health outcomes standards and data system Tuesday, July 16, 2002 democratic.