[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13] [House] [Pages 18352-18353] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF FORMER MEMBER STEVE SOLARZ (Mr. RANGEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I would soulfully report to this body the loss of a great Member, Congressman Steve Solarz, who just left us. He passed away at the age of 70 years. He served in this body from 1975 to 1992. Republican or Democrat, he loved this country, and he fought hard for a sound foreign policy. At this point, I would like to yield to Congressman Jerry Nadler, whose district now takes in a great part of former Congressman Solarz' congressional district. Mr. NADLER of New York. Mr. Speaker, Steve Solarz served the people of Brooklyn in this House from 1975 to 1992. He served with distinction, boundless energy, great intellect, and a true passion to pursue justice. I have had the privilege of representing a large portion of Brooklyn that was once his district, and I can attest that he is still fondly remembered and admired by the people of Brooklyn. He was also a vigorous advocate for our communities close to home and for human dignity around the world. [[Page 18353]] Steve was a member of the historic Watergate class of 1974, and he very soon became one of the leading voices in Congress on foreign affairs. As chairman of the Africa Subcommittee, he was one of the architects of legislation imposing sanctions on the apartheid government of South Africa. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs, he led the investigation that exposed the corruption of the Marcos Government in the Philippines, where he is still revered for having steered U.S. policy away from support of that brutal and corrupt government and in support of true democratic change, which resulted in the election of Corazon Aquino. Israel never had a better friend in the Congress than Steve Solarz. That commitment was more than just a personal one. He was one of the architects of the plan which was finally adopted by the United Nations to end the bloody war in Cambodia, which brought an end to the notorious killing fields. Steve's dedication to religious liberty had a profound effect on our legal system. In response to the Supreme Court's decision in Employment Division v. Smith, he drafted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which restored the application of strict scrutiny to governmental burdens on the free exercise of religion. On a more personal note, Steve Solarz was a mensch. He leaves behind friends and colleagues who will miss him very much. Our country is a better place because of his commitment to public service. The people of the world have lost a tireless advocate for freedom and democracy. I want to extend the condolences of this House to Nina Solarz, to their children--Randy Glantz and Lisa Prickett--and to their families. The Nation shares in their loss and wishes them well. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember an outstanding public servant, Congressman Stephen J. Solarz, who passed away last night. Steve served the people of Brooklyn in the House from 1975 to 1992, with distinction, boundless energy, great intellect, and a true passion to pursue justice. I have had the privilege of representing a large portion of Brooklyn that was once in his district, and I can attest that he is still fondly remembered and admired by the people of Brooklyn. He was always a vigorous advocate for our communities close to home, and for human dignity around the world. His passing is a great loss to the Nation, but also to people around the world who saw in him the best of what the United States has to offer; a country fully engaged with other nations in the effort to bring peace, human rights, and freedom to every corner of the globe. Steve Solarz served in the New York State Assembly from 1968 until he was elected to the House of Representatives as part of the historic Watergate class in 1974. He very soon became one of the leading voices in Congress on foreign affairs. He was respected by his colleagues for his breadth of knowledge and his insight into some of the most vexing international issues. As Chairman of the Africa Subcommittee, he was one of the architects of legislation imposing sanctions on the Apartheid government of South Africa. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs he led the investigation that exposed the corruption of the Marcos government in the Phillippines, where he is still revered for having steered U.S. policy away from support of that brutal and corrupt government, and in support of true democratic change which resulted in the election of Corazon Aquino. Israel never had a better friend in the Congress than Steve Solarz. That commitment was more than just a personal one. He understood the importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance to our national interests in a way that few others did. When he spoke, it was both from the heart and from the head. I think that is why he was often so persuasive. He was one of the architects of the plan, finally adopted by the United Nations, to end the bloody war in Cambodia, which brought an end to the notorious killing fields. He also used his expertise to help people on a very personal level. He managed to negotiate with the Asad government of Syria the right of Syrian Jewish women to emigrate to the United States because there were no Jewish men in Syria for them to marry. The freedom he won for the ``Syrian Brides'' is still remembered fondly in New York's Syrian Jewish community which I now represent. His dedication to religious liberty had a profound effect on our legal system. In response to the Supreme Court's decision in Employment Division v. Smith, he drafted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which restored the application of strict scrutiny to governmental burdens on the free exercise of religion. Although later gutted by the Supreme Court with respect to the states, it remains the law of the land at the federal level. Less well known was the so-called ``Yarmulke Bill,'' which he introduced in response to the Supreme Court's decision in Goldman v. Weinberger, in which the Court held that Americans serving in uniform had no religious right to wear even non-obtrusive religious articles such as a yarmulke. The bill eventually passed over vocal opposition from the Reagan administration, and remains the law of the land. In these endeavors, he managed to bring together a diverse coalition of religious and civil liberties organizations from across the spectrum; from the American Civil Liberties Union, to the National Association of Evangelicals. As a son of Brooklyn, who never forgot where he came from, he was always active in the life of the neighborhoods he represented. Although not as well known as his more high profile accomplishments, he fought for Brooklyn's working waterfront as a member of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. He shepherded through the reconstruction of the historic beach at Coney Island. Whether people had concerns about local transportation issues, or the quality of their schools, Steve Solarz was always there fighting for his neighbors. Even after leaving office, Steve Solarz was a respected voice in international affairs. His vast knowledge and experience were of great importance to decision makers when grappling with some of the most complex and sensitive global issues. We will miss his wise counsel as we face an increasingly complex future. On a more personal note, Steve Solarz was a mensch. He leaves behind friends and colleagues who will miss him very much. Our country is a better place because of his commitment to public service. The people of the world have lost a tireless advocate for freedom and democracy. I want to extend my personal condolences to Nina Solarz, their children, Randy Glantz and Lisa Prickett, and to their families. The Nation shares in their loss, and wishes them well. Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York, Peter King. Mr. KING of New York. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I want to join with my colleagues in expressing condolences on the death of Steve Solarz, who served with distinction in the New York State Legislature and for many years here in Congress, earning a bipartisan reputation for his expertise in foreign affairs. In an age of partisanship, I will bring out that, in a bipartisan nature, he worked very closely with President Bush 41 in cosponsoring the resolution for Operation Desert Storm, and he was also a principal adviser to President Bill Clinton in his campaign for President in 1992. He transcended party politics. He was a true foreign policy expert, and all of New York mourns his passing. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members and guests of the House will please rise to observe a moment of silence. ____________________