Date: 2007-01-29
Speaker: DANNY DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H

Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce. Postal Service. and the District of Columbia. And to the Leadership for their consideration of this tribute to Congressman Lane Evans. Mr. Speaker. it is with great admiration and respect that I rise today in support of H.R. 521. a bill to designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 2633 11 th Street in Rock Island. Illinois. as the "Lane Evans Post Office Building". Mr. Speaker. there is no one more deserving of this recognition than Congressman Lane Evans. On January 17. Mr. LAHOOD and I introduced this bill and within days we received overwhelming support in favor of the legislation. To date. 82 of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle have signed on as cosponsors of H.R. 521. Not only have Members of Congress expressed support for the bill. but it has also been wellreceived by staff members. one staff member saying "Anything for Lane" and another stating "Hes a great man who I have tremendous respect and admiration for. We all know what kind of manLane is. but for those who have yet to make his acquaintance. I am honored that I have the opportunity to share with you the story of this rare politician. I met Lane on the campaign trail back in 1976. We were two young dreamers with the mutual goal of making a difference in the world. Soon after the election. we became a team. I traveled with Lane from one end of the district to another as he provided his legal services to working families. children and the poor. I can recall many times when Lane offered his services free of charge to elderly men and women in need of a will. It was not too long before the people of the 17th district of Illinois rewarded him for his sacrifices and commitment to hard working families. In 1982. Lane ran for the congressional seat of the 17th district of Illinois. At the time. the manufacturing industry of western Illinois was suffering from an economic recession. which left many looking for a new direction in representation. Lanes populist message coupled with his plainspoken personal integrity resonated with the people. and at only 31 years of age. this young legal services attorney was able to win the majority of the votes. which had been reserved -for a Republican candidate for more than a century. Following the election. Lane asked. me to represent him as his District Director. I was flattered that Lane thought so highly of me and entrusted me with the care of his constituency. I accepted because Lane promised me that I would never have to lie. and I can proudly say that in 24 years he kept his promise. It was not too difficult because even those who disagreed with Lane respected him and his commitment to serving on behalf of the middle class family. Mr. Speaker. Lane has succeeded in politics by following the Marine motto. "Semper Fi". Throughout his career. he has been "always faithful" to his principles. to his constituents and to himself. For 12 elections the people of the 17th sent Lane back to Washington with confidence that he would represent their interests. The secret to Lanes success was the value he placed in their trust. He never took the people who elected him for granted. and it showed. He prided himself on maintaining a firstrate constituent service program. To anyone that walked through his door. Lane and his staff were always ready. willing. and able to go the extra mile in assisting them.. Although Lane was a man who delivered on his promises to bringjobs to the Rock Island Arsenal and build veteran outpatient clinics. what mattered most to the people was the manner in which he represented them. What has always struck m6 most about Lane was the humility he showed towards everyone he knew. To everyone he was just Lane. He was more than a Congressman to the people of the 17th district. he was a friend. Mr. Speaker. Lanes sincere rapport with people was not limited to the 17th district. As a Vietnam era veteran of the Marine Corps himself. Lane had the remarkable ability to relate to our service men and women. His career in Congress is marked with legislative victories on behalf of the Nations 24 million veterans. Always a man of great conviction. Lane challenged those who ignored the harmful effects of Agent Orange exposure. Eventually. Lane was successful in his effort to pass legislation awarding compensation to vets exposed to Agent Orange. In the 108th Congress. he built on that legislative milestone by winning passage of a law that delivers health and compensation benefits to children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange who were born with spina bifida. representing the first time children of veterans will receive government benefits. Mr. Speaker. Lanes crusade for veterans did not stop there. He was one of the first Congressional voices to speak out about problems experienced by Persian Gulf veterans. what is now known as the Gulf War syndrome. He also pushed Congress to increase funding for veterans programs. which were so important tohim because they delivered needed government services to working class families. At the end of the 109th Congress. Lane retired after serving 24 years as.a distinguished Member of Congress. It was a sad day for veterans and the people of the 17th district of Illinois when Lane announced he would not run for reelection. but no. one was more disappointed than Lane. In spite of all his legislative accomplishments. Lane still felt there was so much more that he could have done. Mr. Speaker. I am proud that my first legislative action will be to honor my good friend and mentor. Congressman Lane Evans. My only hope is that when I leave this body I can do half the things that Lane has done for the 17th district. the State of Illinois. and the Nation. Mr. Speaker. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 521. Lane. thank you for your support throughout the years. It means more to me than you will .ever know.