Honoring the life, achievements, and contributions of Paul Newman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life, achievements and contributions of Paul Leonard Newman--a man whose legacy remains in his films and philanthropy.

I, like, I think, every other American am a longtime admirer of Paul Newman's, and I wanted to honor him last year in Congress when he passed, but we were in the process of adjourning, and time didn't make it possible.

In 1985, while a Tennessee State Senator, I sponsored a similar resolution because he had just started his work with Newman's Own, and his philanthropy was starting to spark the Nation. He responded when I sent him a copy of the resolution with a very nice note, signed by Paul Newman, with the return address simply being ``Paul Newman.'' The understated response was typical of a man who was so understated.

Sunday night at the Academy Awards, in their tribute to artists who had passed away in the previous year, we were reminded of this gentleman when he was shown on the screen and received the greatest applause from his cohorts--members of the academy. Newman's daughter described him as a rare symbol of selfless humanity.

Paul Newman was inspirational. His acting career crossed generations. I remember my mother and father enjoying him much when I was a child, and it spanned some 50 years.

In 1986, he won two awards from the Academy--one for best actor, and the other was an honorary Oscar, in part, for his personal integrity and dedication to his craft, but then in 1994, he was awarded a third-- the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic work. Only Frank Sinatra and Paul Newman have so been honored in history.

Newman's astonishing career took a major leap in 1982 when he and his pal and buddy, the noted writer A.E. Hotchner, founded Newman's Own food company. With that change came much moneys for charity and a new salad dressing for me and for many Americans, Mr. Speaker, and new spaghetti sauce and new popcorn--Paul Newman's Own.

They established a policy that all proceeds from Newman's Own products would be donated to charities, all of the profits through Newman's Own Foundation. That has resulted in over $250 million already going to charities around the world.

In the fall of 1988, he opened his first Hole in the Wall Camp in Connecticut for children with serious medical conditions, conditions ranging from cancer to HIV/AIDS, to hemophilia and sickle cell anemia. Over the years that camp has gone worldwide. It has gone to Africa, Asia and the Middle East--seeing children who have devastating illnesses and giving them an opportunity for a summer of enjoyment and laughter. Newman used to visit these camps just to take a look. The kids did not know who he was, but he got a great feeling from worthwhile projects by just watching these young people, and he saw how much they enjoyed the opportunity to have recreation. He served over 135,000 young people over the years.

In his charitable work, he has invested his own time in choosing the charities which go from environmental to educational to the arts, and those charities have gone all over the world. He used his fame to give away much of his fortune. While we have had philanthropic Americans like Melinda and Bill Gates and Ted Turner and in my city Danny Thomas, who came and did so much for St. Jude, I don't think anybody has given such a percentage of their fortune and continues to do so as Paul Newman.

He was one of the founders of the committee encouraging corporate philanthropy--a membership organization of CEOs and corporate chairpersons committed to raising the level of quality of global corporate philanthropy. The committee leads the business community in developing sustainable and strategic community partnerships through philanthropy.

In these times, Mr. Speaker, more people need to assume personal responsibility and contribute to those who are suffering. Paul Newman continues to do so through his charities.

At the end of the Oscars on that tribute to those who passed, Paul Newman was shown on the screen as Chance Wayne in ``Sweet Bird of Youth,'' and he was quoted as saying, ``The biggest difference between people is not between the rich and the poor, the good and the evil. The biggest difference between people is between those who have had the pleasure of love and those who haven't.''

These words were not Paul Newman's. They were the writer's, but they were Paul Newman's life. They were his life--his 50-years of marriage to Joanne Woodward and the love he had for her and for his children. He was not your typical Hollywood star, and it was also his love for people in his charitable work.

I'd like to close by using Newman's own tradition and spirit: ``Shameless exploitation in pursuit of the common good.''

Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone to go to Newmansown.com, look at Paul Newman, think about Paul Newman, and today and every day buy salad dressing, popcorn, spaghetti sauce, and other products of Paul Newman's and let his legacy live on and support the charities: Shameless exploitation in the pursuit of the common good.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in favor of H. Res. 18.

It is my pleasure to stand here and recognize a fellow Ohioan for his great years of service. The world lost one of its greatest actors, film directors, entrepreneurs, and humanitarians last September when Paul Leonard Newman lost his battle with lung cancer at the age of 83--the legendary actor, whose steely blue eyes, good humor and passion for helping the less fortunate made him one of the most prominent figures in the American arts for over 50 years.

Paul Newman was born on January 26, 1925 in Shaker Heights, Ohio. His father owned a sporting goods store, but Mr. Newman was more interested in following his mother's and uncle's interest in the arts, and he started acting in grade school. After less than a year at Ohio University in Athens, he joined the Navy, and served for 3 years during World War II. After the war, he attended Kenyon College on an athletic scholarship where he played football and acted in numerous plays before graduating in 1949. Mr. Newman later studied drama at Yale University, and soon thereafter, he made his first debut on Broadway in the play ``Picnic.'' A year later, in 1954, he starred in his first Hollywood film, ``The Silver Chalice,'' a flop that he good-naturedly laughed at for the rest of his life.

Although his first film was a failure in his eyes, the 1956 movie ``Somebody Up There Likes Me'' made him a star, and more hits followed: ``The Long, Hot Summer'' opposite his soon-to-be-wife, Joanne Woodward, ``Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'' and ``The Young Philadelphians.'' All of these film classics have withstood the test of time for movie enthusiasts.

Mr. Newman was one of the few actors who successfully made a transition from 1950s cinema to the new film eras of the 1960s and 1970s. He began the decade with ``Exodus,'' ``The Hustler,'' ``Sweet Bird of Youth,'' ``Hud,'' ``Harper and Hombre,'' and many more. In 1968, he turned to directing, earning enthusiastic reviews for his work on ``Rachel, Rachel,'' starring his wife. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mr. Newman played an integral part in the creation of the highest grossing films of their time--``Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'' and ``The Sting''--winning many awards, including best picture for the latter.

However, the movies and occasional stage roles were never enough. In the 1970s, he turned to race car driving, an obsession he picked up in midlife after he was cast as a race car driver in the film ``Winning.'' His first race was in 1972, and his first professional victory was in 1982. He was a co-owner of the Newman/Haas Indy racing team, and at the age of 70, he participated in the 24 Hours of Daytona. He was still racing at the age of 80.

In 1982, as a joke, he decided to sell the salad dressing he created and bottled for friends and family at Christmas. Thus was born the food marketing phenomenon known as ``Newman's Own'' products. More than 25 years later, the brand has expanded to include other foods, ranging from popcorn to spaghetti sauce to wine. All of its profits, more than $200 million, have been donated to charity. Much of the money was used to create a number of Hole in the Wall Gang Camps named after the outlaw gang in ``Butch Cassidy.'' The eleven summer camps, located all over the world, provide free recreation for gravely ill children.

His humanitarian efforts also reach to those with alcohol and drug addiction at the Scott Newman Center, which is in honor of his first born and only son, who died in 1978 at the age of 28 because of a drug and alcohol overdose. It is run by the oldest of his five daughters, Susan Newman, and its mission is to publicize the danger of drugs and alcohol.

Finally, 25 years after ``The Hustler'' and seven Academy Award nominations, Mr. Newman won an Oscar in 1986 for his role in ``The Color of Money.'' He continued to act, charming many with his role in ``Road to Perdition'' at the age of 77. He finally retired in 2007, saying he had lost his confidence and abilities.

The world will mourn Paul Newman--the actor, race car driver and renowned philanthropist--and those blue eyes that mesmerized the public will live on in his wonderful films for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to reserve.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H. Res. 18.

I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 18) honoring the life, achievements, and contributions of Paul Newman.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

On behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to stand in support of House Resolution 18, which expresses admiration and honor for the life, achievement and contributions of screen legend and philanthropist Paul Newman, who, as we all know, lost his battle against cancer last September.

Paul Newman was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to parents Arthur and Teresa Newman during the tumultuous economic times of the 1920s. A supposed athletic powerhouse, Paul Newman's first love during high school ended up being football rather than acting or theater. However, following high school graduation, the legendary Newman would eventually enlist in the United States Navy Air Corps, and would spend a portion of his service time as a radio operator in the Pacific during World War II.

Upon conclusion of his military service, Mr. Newman resumed his collegiate pursuits by attending Kenyon College of Ohio where he would major in theater, thereby fostering his love of acting and the arts. In addition to his undergraduate studies, Mr. Newman also studied at Yale's School of Drama before taking a leap of faith and pursuing his acting ambitions on New York's famed Broadway scene--and the rest, as they say, is history.

From his 1953 Broadway debut in the Pulitzer Prize winning comedy ``Picnic'' to his unforgettable roles in such films as ``Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,'' ``Cool Hand Luke,'' ``Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,'' and the 1982 version of ``The Verdict,'' Mr. Newman's talent has crossed generations and has touched the lives of millions of Americans over nearly a half century.

In addition to his acting career, Mr. Newman is also well-known for his love of Nascar racing and for his extraordinary philanthropical efforts made possible by the proceeds of his famous Newman's Own salad dressing products. Since inception, Newman's Own has donated over $250 million to thousands of charities and worthy causes around the world, including Hole in the Wall Camps, which he and his wife, Joanne Woodward, created as a safe haven for children facing life-threatening illnesses.

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that Paul Newman's legacy, talents and contributions to our country's cultural and social fabric will long be remembered. Nevertheless, House Resolution 18, as introduced by Steve Cohen of Tennessee and considered by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, allows our Chamber to also express our gratitude and commemoration for the life of Paul Newman. For this reason alone, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 18.

I reserve the balance of my time.

At this point, I would like to recognize my friend for 5 minutes, Representative Steve Cohen from Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I am very pleased to recognize the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) for 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to recognize Chairman George Miller from California for 2 minutes.

(Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to join with Mr. Cohen and the other speakers in supporting the resolution at hand.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution to honor the life and accomplishments of Paul Newman, a truly great American and a man I am proud to have called my friend.

Sadly, Paul passed away late last year. Paul was a magnificent human being. While he played the anti-hero on the silver screen, in real life he was a true hero. Like his character Cool Hand Luke, Paul Newman was not afraid to rock the boat.

Paul never limited his horizons--in his acting, his advocacy, or his vision of our world. He once admonished some of his colleagues who shied away from politics, he said, ``Do you abdicate the responsibilities of citizenship merely because you carry a Screen Actors' Guild card . . . Or do you dig deeply and become as knowledgeable an expert as you can and speak your piece and hope your weight was being thrown on the right side?''

I knew Paul before he knew me, and when our friend, Lizzie Robbins, introduced us to one another, I realized I had never met anyone like him in public life before. He was modern despite his age, he remained curious throughout his life, he had an enormous passion and steadfast commitment. He started the Hole in the Wall Gang kids camp for kids with life-threatening diseases, and they attended the camp free of charge.

He was an advocate of nuclear disarmament, early childhood development, and a healthy environment. He even helped to pioneer alternative fuel technologies to cut carbon emissions.

It was an honor to be on the receiving end of his exultations, his missives, his opinion pieces for the vision that he and I shared for peace and justice for this world--even while the right wing tried to punish him in the marketplace for his willingness to speak his mind. But the right wing could never win that argument because America knew Paul Newman, and they trusted him.

With Paul's enormous success in acting and business where he raised over $250 million for the charity of his Newman's Own brand--and that's in addition to giving away half of his income a year.

In giving away half his income to causes he supported, it was especially striking how humble Paul had remained throughout his life. But Paul was the first to acknowledge luck in his life. He said, ``The beneficence of it,'' he said, ``in many lives and the brutality of it in the lives of others, especially children, who might not have a lifetime to make up for it.''

Paul once asked what he owed his fans after all of these years, to which he humbly replied, ``Thank you.'' And that's exactly what the world owes him.

I want to thank Congressman Cohen for introducing this resolution, and I want to offer, obviously, my best wishes to Paul's family--the kids and the grandkids--and to that magnificent partner of his in a magnificent relationship, Joanne, and thank them for sharing Paul with us during his great life.

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious from listening to the prior comments of this great resolution that Paul Newman touched a lot of parts of America: His birthplace in Ohio; the time he spent, obviously, in Hollywood making movies; Tennessee, other places. But he did, for the last half of his life, live in Westport, Connecticut, a place that our State was always glad to embrace him and his wonderful wife, Joanne Woodward.

He was somebody who, in the State of Connecticut, was usually seen in jeans, in casual clothes, probably even having a libation now and then at community events, very low-key, and never really looking to draw attention to himself.

It's been mentioned earlier the great work that he did founding the Hole in the Wall Gang, which was an extraordinary accomplishment even in just the latter stage of his life. And the first camp which he founded was in Ashford, Connecticut, in eastern Connecticut, a 30-acre farm by the Harakaly family. Again, a place where children suffering chronic, in many cases crushing illnesses were able to come and actually enjoy life as a summer camper which otherwise would never ever have been possible.

I just wanted to share a description by one of the boards of directors about when Paul Newman would show up at the camp because he didn't just go through the motions of just leaving his name, but he appeared in many instances to participate in camp activities. He loved to talk about the little kids who had no idea who he was, the friendly old guy who kept showing up at camp to take them fishing. While their counselors stammered star struck, the campers indulged Newman the way they would have indulged a particularly friendly hospital blood technician.

It took me years to understand why Newman loved being at the Hole in the

Wall Gang Camp. It was for precisely the same reasons these kids did. When the campers showed up, they became regular kids, despite the catheters and the wheelchairs and the prosthetic legs. And when Newman showed up, he was a regular guy with blue eyes, despite the Oscars and the race cars and the burgeoning marinara empire.

The most striking thing about Paul Newman was that a man who could have blasted through life demanding, ``Have you any idea who I am,'' invariably wanted to hang out with the folks, often the little ones who neither knew or cared.

Again, I want to applaud Mr. Cohen for bringing this extraordinary measure and calling our Members for unanimous support.