[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 475 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 475
Relating to the death of the Honorable E. James Abdnor, former United
States Senator and Congressman from the State of South Dakota.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 24, 2012
Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Reid, Mr.
McConnell, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Barrasso, Mr.
Baucus, Mr. Begich, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr.
Blunt, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown of Massachusetts, Mr. Brown
of Ohio, Mr. Burr, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mr.
Chambliss, Mr. Coats, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cochran, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad,
Mr. Coons, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Crapo, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Durbin,
Mr. Enzi, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Franken, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Graham, Mr.
Grassley, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Heller, Mr. Hoeven,
Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johanns, Mr.
Johnson of Wisconsin, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kirk, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl, Mr.
Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Lee, Mr. Levin, Mr.
Lieberman, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Manchin, Mr. McCain, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr.
Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Moran, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs.
Murray, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Paul, Mr.
Portman, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Risch, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller,
Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr.
Shelby, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Tester, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Udall of
Colorado, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Warner, Mr. Webb,
Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Relating to the death of the Honorable E. James Abdnor, former United
States Senator and Congressman from the State of South Dakota.
Whereas James Abdnor was born in Kennebec, South Dakota, on February 13, 1923,
and was the son of an immigrant from Lebanon who peddled and homesteaded
in Lyman County, South Dakota;
Whereas James Abdnor enlisted in the United States Army during World War II,
farmed in Kennebec after graduating from the University of Nebraska in
1945, and later taught and coached in neighboring Presho;
Whereas James Abdnor served as Chairman of the Lyman County Young Republicans in
1950, Chairman of the State Young Republicans from 1950 to 1952, and
Farm Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation from 1953 to
1955;
Whereas James Abdnor served as the First Assistant Chief Clerk of the South
Dakota House of Representatives during the legislative sessions of 1951,
1953, and 1955;
Whereas James Abdnor was elected to the South Dakota Senate in 1956, where he
served until his election as the 30th Lieutenant Governor of the State
of South Dakota, a position he served in from 1969 through 1971;
Whereas James Abdnor was elected to the United States House of Representatives
for the 93rd United States Congress in 1972 and served a total of 4
consecutive terms, representing the Second Congressional District of
South Dakota;
Whereas James Abdnor served on the Committee on Public Works of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives, and the Select Committee on Aging of the House of
Representatives;
Whereas James Abdnor was elected to the United States Senate for the 97th United
States Congress in 1980 and was appointed Chairman of 3 subcommittees on
his first day, including the Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service,
and General Government of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate,
the Subcommittee on Water Resources of the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate, and the Subcommittee on Agriculture and
Transportation of the Joint Economic Committee;
Whereas James Abdnor was appointed Vice Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee
and served on the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate;
Whereas James Abdnor was a voice for the rural United States in Congress, where
he advocated for family farms and small business, rural water systems
and electrification, a balanced budget, and small-town values;
Whereas James Abdnor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve as the
Administrator of the United States Small Business Administration from
1987 to 1989 following his service in the United States Congress;
Whereas James Abdnor will be remembered for his humble service to his
constituents, dedication to the youth of South Dakota, and defining
influence on South Dakota politics; and
Whereas the hallmarks of James Abdnor's public service were his integrity,
kindness, respect for the common man, and love for South Dakota: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) the Senate expresses profound sorrow and deep regret
regarding the death of the Honorable James Abdnor, former
member of the United States Senate and House of Representatives
for the State of South Dakota, on May 16, 2012;
(2) the Senate respectfully requests that the Secretary of
the Senate communicate this resolution to the House of
Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy of this
resolution to the family of the deceased; and
(3) when the Senate adjourns today, the Senate stand
adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the
Honorable James Abdnor.
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