[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 1999)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E281] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] TRIBUTE TO FORMER MICHIGAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAT GAGLIARDI ______ HON. BART STUPAK of michigan in the house of representatives Wednesday, February 24, 1999 Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute today to Pat Gagliardi, a former representative to the Michigan House of Representatives from the 107th Representative District, which is comprised of four counties in my congressional district. First elected to the House in 1982, Pat Gagliardi has just concluded his service in that body because of the Michigan term limits law. This law was enacted at the will of the voters of Michigan, but I have to confess that in this case I believe the law has turned an excellent public servant out of office. The only downside of Pat's political career was his misfortune in being stuck with the nickname ``Gags.'' He was respected by his fellow legislators, Democrats and Republicans alike. He kept in touch with his constituents and he served them well. He was of great assistance to me when I was elected to the Michigan House in 1988, and he has been of great assistance to me in our respective offices in Lansing and Washington. In his role as Majority Floor Leader, Pat helped set the legislative agenda for Michigan in the House, and as a northern Michigan representative he fought tirelessly to make sure that his district received its fair share of funding. Throughout our careers, I have never failed to remind Pat that his hair was getting thinner, just as he has never failed to remind me that mine was getting grayer. I will always remember this banter as a symbol of our friendly cooperation, as we worked together on issues of national importance. Much of our legislative cooperation focused on issues relating to the Great Lakes. Just as my district touches three of the five Great Lakes--Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Superior--so too did Pat's district touch the same three bodies of water. This meant that issues vital to United States commerce, such as the Soo Locks, and issues of national heritage, such as Great Lakes shipwrecks, were likely to bring Pat and I, representing northern Michigan in the Michigan House and the U.S. House, into lockstep. This cooperation bore fruit. For example, in 1995, when a Michigan diver and entrepreneur announced he would market videos of the most famous shipwreck, the Edmund Fitzgerald, and when we learned that those tapes would contain footage of the bodies of seamen who died in that tragedy, Pat joined me in expressing outrage on behalf of the families still trying to reconcile themselves to the loss of their loved ones. When my legislation banning this kind of videotaping stalled in Washington, it was Pat Gagliardi who won approval for such legislation in the Michigan legislature. He is and has been a friend, a mentor, a fellow legislator and a Democratic Party leader. He has my deep respect and friendship. The people of Michigan were well-served by ``Gags.'' They will miss him. I will miss him. ____________________