December 15, 1977
Page 39423
EDITORIAL HIGHLIGHTS SENATOR RANDOLPH'S LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS AND OUTSTANDING SERVICE FOR WEST VIRGINIA AND NATION
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, earlier today it was my pleasure to call attention to the contributions made by the chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senator JENNINGS RANDOLPH, in bringing to this body the conference report on the Clean Water Act. His work on this legislation was typical of his leadership in the Senate for the past 19 years.
The Clean Water Act was not the only legislation approved today which had the active involvement of Senator RANDOLPH. He was a principal architect of the conference report on the black lung legislation and he was an active cosponsor of Senator GLENN's natural gas bill.
Less than a week ago we received the welcome news that Senator RANDOLPH will be a candidate for reelection next year. When he first ran for the Senate in 1958 I went to West Virginia to assist him in that campaign. His performance as a Member of this body long ago convinced me that my confidence in him was not misplaced.
Mr. President, that Senator RANDOLPH is recognized for his ability and his value to his State and our Nation is reflected in an editorial recently published in the Wheeling News Register. It shows that in West Virginia he is respected as a man of integrity and a productive legislator for the people he represents.
I ask unanimous consent that the editorial be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the editorial was ordered to be printed in the RECORD as follows:
SENATOR RANDOLPH WILL Go AGAIN
We were not surprised by the announcement over the weekend that West Virginia's senior United States Senator Jennings Randolph would seek another six year term at next year's elections.
Given the excellent state of the Senator's health and the reported progress in Mrs. Randolph's recovery from an illness, it was to be expected that the popular veteran lawmaker from Randolph County would make the race again. In recent days, he has been urged to run again by President Carter, Vice President Mondale, Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd and Governor Rockefeller. Many important Democrats and Republicans alike around the state also have given Senator Randolph encouragement in helping him make up his mind in favor of entering the '78 campaign.
His age doesn't bother us at all, for at 75, he is one of the most energetic and alert individuals we know. A much younger man would have difficulty trying to follow the Senator's rigorous schedule each week. When the Senate is not in session or he has a weekend free, Senator Randolph is back in West Virginia visiting with friends in one of the state's 55 counties. On some weekends he may have two or three speaking engagements in several areas of the state.
That West Virginia is fortunate to have a man of Senator Randolph's calibre and experience in Washington cannot be overlooked. He is the only member of Congress today who served during those famous first 100 days of Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration, some 45 years ago. He now ranks 13th in seniority among the 100 senators and this does not include his 14 years in the House.
Senator Randolph either heads up or serves on some of the most important committees in the United States Senate. He is chairman of the powerful and massive Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and chairman of the Subcommittee on the Handicapped. He also is a member of the Committees on Human Resources and Veterans Affairs.
His colleagues well recognize this remarkable man's farsightedness and leadership in Washington's legislative halls over these many year of service to West Virginians and all Americans. Decades ago he foresaw the approaching energy crisis and sought to have this nation adopt a meaningful national energy policy. He vigorously fought for coal's rightful place on the energy scene and battled for better safety for the coal miner.
Senator Randolph championed the cause of a federal highway system to link all parts of this country with a modern thoroughfare system. In 1965, he sponsored legislation creating the Appalachian Regional Commission which since has meant so much to West Virginia and other areas in Appalachia once considered poverty ridden and underdeveloped. He has fought vigorously ever since to see that West Virginia received its fair share of ARC funds to build roads, hospitals, clinics, airports, education programs and park improvements.
As long ago as 1942, Senator Randolph introduced legislation to give 18-year-olds the right to vote. The measure finally was enacted in 1972. Again, it was the senior Senator from West Virginia who initiated legislation which led to the construction of the National Air and Space Museum which attracted more than 12 million visitors during 1976.
His compassionate concern for the handicapped is well known. Through his efforts vendors stands in post offices across the country were operated by the blind.
It is impossible to enumerate in this space here the many accomplishments of this dynamic public servant or his contributions to the welfare of West Virginia and the nation. But his friends in every walk of life are legion. He probably knows more fellow West Virginians by first name than any other man or woman in the state.
From a very parochial standpoint, we must say that Senator Randolph always has been good to the Wheeling area and the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia even though he calls Elkins home. There isn't a project in the area where federal funds have been involved that hasn't received the personal assistance of Senator Randolph in boosting the effort along. Even outside the sphere of government, he has helped provide funds for local projects through his service on the Board of Trustees of the Benedum Foundation.
Senator Randolph is a man for all seasons and we believe there is much he can still contribute to his state and country during another term in the United States Senate. We are most happy that he has decided to make the race again.