congressional_record: CREC-2002-11-22-pt1-PgE2128-2
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| CREC-2002-11-22-pt1-PgE2128-2 | 2002-11-22 | 107 | 2 | RECOGNIZING CONGRESSMAN BOB BORSKI | HOUSE | EXTENSIONS | RECOGNIZING | E2128 | E2128 | [{"name": "John P. Murtha", "role": "speaking"}] | 148 Cong. Rec. E2128 | Congressional Record, Volume 148 Issue 152 (Friday, November 22, 2002) [Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 152 (Friday, November 22, 2002)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E2128] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] RECOGNIZING CONGRESSMAN BOB BORSKI ______ HON. JOHN P. MURTHA of pennsylvania in the house of representatives Friday, November 22, 2002 Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a good friend and colleague, Bob Borski, upon the occasion of his retirement from twenty years of distinguished service in the House of Representatives. Congressman Bob Borski (D-PA) was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 1982. He is currently serving his tenth term as the Representative from Pennsylvania's Third Congressional District, which encompasses Northeast Philadelphia, the River Wards, Society Hill and portions of Queen Village. Of the three districts that include parts of Philadelphia, the 3rd is the only district completely within city limits. As a teenager in Northeast Philadelphia, Bob was a standout athlete for the Frankford High Pioneers, captaining the basketball and baseball teams. He is a low-profile leader in Congress, but he still gives his all for the community where he grew up, devoting most of his energies to the needs and concerns of the 3rd District. Since he was elected, Bob Borski has fought vigorously to preserve military facilities and defense jobs in his congressional district and throughout the Philadelphia region. In 1993 and 1995, he worked with the city of Philadelphia and community leaders to defeat attempts to close the Aviation Supply Office (ASO) and its tenant activities in Northeast Philadelphia. In the past couple of years, Bob has initiated an effort to reclaim and revitalize the neglected waterfront of the Delaware River. We worked together in a coordinated effort with various regional, federal, state and local stakeholders in order to develop Philadelphia's waterfront for the benefit of both the city and the people. He envisioned an exciting, prosperous, new waterfront for Philadelphia that will reconnect neighborhoods with land developed for many uses. Interconnected recreational pathways as well as plenty of open green space bordering the river are principal parts of his vision. Representative Borski retires as the third ranking Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and as the lead Democrat on the Committee's Highways and Transit Subcommittee. In addition to his leadership position on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Bob served as Regional White for Philadelphia and Ohio. As a senior member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Subcommittee Ranking Member, Bob has been a vocal advocate of an improved national transportation system and a strong federal commitment to public infrastructure and mass transit programs. In Philadelphia, his legislative efforts have resulted in millions of dollars more for SEPTA, I-95, neighborhood roads, and transportation improvements which will greatly benefit the Port of Philadelphia, and as a result, the surrounding area. In the 105th Congress, Bob worked to pass TEA-21, authorizing spending for highway, mass transit and other transportation-related projects across the nation. This bill included $221 million in projects for the City of Philadelphia and led to the expansion of Philadelphia International Airport, I-95 improvements, investment in mass transit, and the construction of the Frankford Transportation Center, a state of the art multimodal terminal complex. With TEA-21, Congressman Borski led the effort to bring construction and manufacturing jobs to the City of Philadelphia with projects that also assisted in the reduction of traffic congestion and air pollution. He has worked consistently to defend public safety, authoring legislation which bans the expanded use of triple trailer trucks as well as legislation which prohibited the dangerous practice of backhauling--transporting foods one way and toxic chemicals on the return trip. In previous years, Borski served as the top Democrat on the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, a job that at times pulled him well beyond his customary focus on Philadelphia into issues such as government response to natural disasters and desalination efforts in communities short of fresh water. Bob was instrumental insuring the passage of the landmark Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Bob Borski has been a strong supporter of the environment. As the subcommittee began debate in the 105h Congress on legislation to overhaul the Superfund hazardous waste cleanup program, Borski refused to support legislation that would go easy on polluters or that failed to ensure the protection of human health and the environment. He has pushed for legislation to promote cleanup of ``brownfields''--urban industrial sites where pollution discourages redevelopment. Bob is also a member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, the Congressional Delegation to the NATO Assembly, and the ad-hoc committee on Irish Affairs. In addition to his committee assignments, he represented the concerns and needs of his large senor citizen constituency and serves on the Older Americans Caucus, the Diabetes Caucus, and the Prescription Drug Task Force. Prior to his 1982 election to the U.S. Congress Bob Borski served three terms in the Pennsylvania State House. Before that, he was a floor manager at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. He was born in Philadelphia on October 20, 1948 and is a life-long resident of the city. In 1966, he graduated from Frankford High School where he captained the basketball and baseball teams. He attended the University of Baltimore on an athletic scholarship and, after graduating with a B.A. in 171, served one year as the assistant basketball coach. Congress Borski lives in Northeast Philadelphia with is wife Karen and is the father of four girls and one boy. I am grateful for the many years I've gotten to serve with Bob in the Pennsylvania delegation. His friendship, unfailing congeniality and hard work made it a joy to work with him, contributed immeasurably to the cohesiveness of the delegation and benefited Pennsylvania greatly. He will be remembered as a gentleman and statesman who left a positive mark on this body. ____________________ |