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John Porter

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* Statement from John Porter’s family…

John Edward Porter, former US Representative for Illinois!”10th Congressional District, died the evening of Friday, June 3, after a recent hospitalization. He turned 87 this past Wednesday and passed peacefully in the presence of family members.

Congressman Porter, who represented Illinois!”10th District in the US House of Representatives from 1980-2000, previously served in the Illinois General Assembly from 1973-1979. In the US House, he was one of the prestigious #cardinals” of the Appropriations Committee, serving as Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services and Education.

Born on June 1, 1935, in Evanston, Illinois, Mr. Porter attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated with a B.A. degree from Northwestern University, subsequently earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Michigan. A military veteran, he served in the US Army Reserve from 1958-1964.

He was a nationally prominent legislator known in particular for his tireless advocacy of biomedical research; the John Edward Porter Neuroscience Research Center on the campus of the National Institutes of Health, named in his honor, was dedicated in March 2014. That same year, he was awarded the National Academy of Sciences Public Welfare Medal, the
Academy!s highest honor.

Mr. Porter is survived by his spouse, Amy, children and stepchildren John, David, Annie, Robyn, Donna, McKay and Michelle, and 14 grandchildren. Services will be held later this month in Virginia and the family is planning services in Illinois sometime later this summer.

* From the Daily Herald’s story…

His former chief of staff and protégé Mark Kirk described the Evanston native as someone who was “complete class” and respectful to everybody.

“The whole rough-and-tumble of classless politics was anathema to his character,” said Kirk, who succeeded Porter in the U.S. House before being elected U.S. Senator in 2010. “He was representing the best-educated district in the country. The district wanted an independent leader, and he was that independent leader.”

Porter represented Illinois’ 10th District in Congress from 1980 to 2001, establishing a record as a fiscal conservative who supported human rights efforts across the globe and efforts to protect the environment at home. He also was a strong advocate for scientific and biomedical research.

“His main legacy is in doubling funding for the National Institutes of Health and funding the unlocking of the human genome,” said Kirk, who first served in Porter’s office as an intern before rising to its chief of staff. “These days, when we talk about human genomic therapy, that all came from John Porter’s work.”

* Pearson…

It was through Porter that funding for the National Institutes of Health doubled within five years, helping to lay the groundwork for the mapping of the human genome project as well as in increased research for cancer, HIV, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. […]

In March 2014, the John Edward Porter Neuroscience Research Center on the campus of the National Institutes of Health was named in his honor. Also that year, he was awarded the National Academy of Sciences Public Welfare Medal, the academy’s highest honor.

Porter founded and co-chaired the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, a voluntary association which at the time had more than 250 members of Congress working to identify, monitor and end human rights violations worldwide. He co-authored landmark legislation creating Radio Free Asia to broadcast into China and he was chairman of the Global Legislators Organized for a Balanced Environment, known as GLOBE USA.

Porter supported the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Wilderness Protection Act, the National Park Protection Act and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. He also voted for the Endangered Species Act and against the inhumane use of animals in product testing and the use of leghold traps. He sought to tie U.S. foreign lending to developing nations to their efforts to protect tropical rainforests and wetlands.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 6, 22 @ 4:34 pm

Comments

John Porter was a distinguished member of what was once a respectable and responsible Republican Party. It is sad and regrettable that his type is no more.

Comment by illini Monday, Jun 6, 22 @ 4:57 pm
Well said @illini

Comment by Susburbanon Monday, Jun 6, 22 @ 5:18 pm
Thanks, Congressman, for your distinguished service to your district, and the people of Illinois.

Comment by Keyrock Monday, Jun 6, 22 @ 5:26 pm
I got to meet with John Porter on several work related issues, and he was, by far, my favorite Republican MOC.

But he was more than that. He was the last in a line that includes Dan Rostenkowski and Sid Yates. Congressional workhorses who fought for their districts and their states and got big things done.

Porter was among the first Cardinals to lose his gavel because of Newt Gingrich’s term limit rule. Speaker Hastert may have been the highest ranking Congressman from Illinois in my lifetime, but he had no where near the clout and success as Porter. And Porter succeeded with civility and the best ideals of public service.

We could use more John Porters these days. RIP and thank you.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 6, 22 @ 6:32 pm
May Congressman Porter rest in peace. He was a good man.

Comment by Thomas A Stevens Monday, Jun 6, 22 @ 6:43 pm
That is the Republican Party I knew and grew up with. A patriot in every sense of the world. A RINO now and a true Republican. So if Rich would allow me to all you Trump “Republicans” bite me

Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Jun 6, 22 @ 9:12 pm
When I served in the State Senate, I represented much of John Porter’s congressional district. He was a role model for me and many who tried to emulate his class and competence in public affairs. Just too bad we couldn’t clone John to populate the Republican Party with honorable men and women of integrity so sorely missing in the Republican Party today.

Comment by Bob Kustra Monday, Jun 6, 22 @ 10:45 pm
His passing is a reminder of the days both parties elected people who wanted to make government help the citizens and understood compromise was needed to make government work. They weren’t entertainers first and lawmakers second.

Porter had public policy chops that greatly benefited his district and all of Illinois. We will ever return to the days of the GOP being a serious partner in running government or will we continue to have the clown show the current Illinois GOP is?

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 7:52 am
Annoyed that the very first comment is a slam against the current Republican party. This is not the place for that. This is about John Porter, who was an outstanding public servant. Let’s focus on that.

Comment by Occasional Quipper Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 8:39 am
It’s always good to hear from Bob Kustra, who has been a dedicated public servant in the style of John Porter. We need more politicians who follow their examples.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 9:03 am
Porter was admired by his constituents. People loved him and didn’t care which party he was. As a kid I asked him some questions at a town hall once. My questions were kind of immature and didn’t make sense, he treated me with respect and kindness. He was a great role model.

Comment by north shore Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 9:39 am
I voted for him several times because back then there were candidates you trusted to cross party lines if it was in the best interest of the nation.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 9:46 am
A Gentleman Congressman. Not a poser. Not someone who recited party bullet points. A man who always sought solutions to difficult problems rather than the current political philosophy of exploiting problems for political gain. He was never interested in political litmus tests.

Too bad Congressmen of his kind no longer exist. In the 10th Congressional District he was ably followed by Mark Kirk and Robert Dold who both followed the Porter model. They too are gone from the political office.

Rest in peace Congressman Porter. I will always be an admirer of yours. I hope others will emulate you in the future.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 11:11 am
John Porter was also skilled in championing causes that reflected the sophistication of his district. He was a leader on behalf of Soviet dissidents including the Jews who wanted to emigrate and he fought on behalf of the Bahai’s in Iran. His district had a huge Jewish population and the magnificent Baha’i temple. His work on biomedical research was important to the large drug and medical device manufacturers in the 10th. As a former staffer, I benefited from his attitude to allow staff to follow their hearts and passions on his behalf and on behalf of his constituents. He was not a bomb-throwing partisan, but had to tolerate their ilk in his party and I am sure was appalled at their rise to power. Too bad the GOP tent has shrunk to reject men and women who bring similar values and principles. Rest in peace, JEP.

Comment by former JEP staffer Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 2:41 pm
It is gratifying and heartwarming to read these kind messages extolling my dad and his work on behalf of his constituents and the country. Thank you!

Comment by John Clark Porter Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 7:36 pm