The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING DICK THORNBURGH
______
HON. DWIGHT EVANS
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an influential and dedicated gentleman from Pittsburgh, Richard ``Dick'' Thornburgh, a devoted public official, former U.S. Attorney General and the 41st governor of Pennsylvania who died on December 31, 2020 at age 88.
Dick Thornburgh dedicated his life and career to improving the lives of others through public service. Prior to being elected to public office, Thornburgh attended Mercersburg Academy then Yale University from which he obtained an engineering degree in 1954. He later received a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1957, where he served as an editor of the Law Review. He became a member of the Pittsburgh-based law firm Kirkpatrick & Lockhart in 1959. Additionally, Dick was awarded 32 honorary degrees from 32 other colleges and universities.
Dick Thornburgh stands out as an honest, reform-minded public leader. He is universally regarded as an intelligent and empathetic leader. He built his reputation as a crime-busting federal prosecutor in Pittsburgh and as a moderate Republican governor. He is also well known for being a champion to those with intellectual disabilities. Both he and his wife were active in programs for the disabled. In 1985, the Thornburgh's were named ``Family of the Year'' by the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens. As Attorney General, Dick was instrumental in the passing of the Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990.
Dick Thornburgh was the first Republican to serve two successive terms as governor. He was recognized by fellow governors in a 1986 Newsweek poll as one of the most effective big-state governors in the nation. As governor, he oversaw the response to the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident. His calm and steady leadership helped with efforts to the partial meltdown at the nuclear power plant and played a major role in facilitating funding for the cleanup operation. Dick was responsible for consolidating all of Pennsylvania's state-
owned colleges and universities into the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Furthermore, he is credited for creating the Governor's Schools, which were programs for talented and gifted high school students.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan appointed Dick Thornburgh as the United States Attorney General and held on to that position after President George H.W. Bush was inaugurated. Thornburgh was sworn into office after being unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate and served three years as Attorney General. He was steadfast in his pursuit against white-collar crime as the Department of Justice obtained a record number of convictions of savings and loan crisis and other securities officials, defense contractors and corrupt public officials. Dick also established strong relations with law enforcement agencies around the world to help combat drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorism and international white-collar crime.
As an accomplished public leader Dick Thornburgh also worked at the international level, serving as a consultant to the United Nations, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank to combat against corruption and fraud. He penned the book ``Puerto Rico's Future: A Time to Decide'' in 2007, where he argued for a change in the island's territorial/commonwealth status, and concluded it was a relic of colonialism. Throughout his career, Dick traveled widely, visiting over 40 countries and meeting with leaders from Africa, Australia, Canada, China, Cambodia, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Ukraine, Taiwan, New Zealand and Central and South America. He was a former member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
As evidenced by his historic career Dick Thornburgh, dedicated his life to advocating and improving the lives of others. He was a model public servant. The 3rd Congressional District of Pennsylvania extends gratitude to Dick Thornburgh for his dedicated support and service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and mourns with his family and loved ones.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 17
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