Chisholm post office to be named in memory of Oberstar

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Rep. Rick Nolan, have announced that their bill to rename the Chisholm Post Office in memory of former Rep. Jim Oberstar has been signed into law by the president.

Oberstar, who passed away last year, was born in Chisholm and represented the people of northern Minnesota for 36 years. The lawmakers passed a bill last Congress to rename portions of Interstate 35 in memory of the former chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

“Jim Oberstar was a man of purpose and grit who never stopped fighting for the people of northern Minnesota,” Klobuchar said. “From supporting critical transportation projects throughout the state to strengthening the safety of miners on the Iron Range, Jim always remembered his roots. This action will help ensure his hometown post office stands as a tribute to all he did to make his district and our nation a better place.”

“When our friend Jim Oberstar passed away, the community of Chisholm lost a true hometown hero,” Franken said. “Jim, who served the Eighth District virtually his entire adult life, left an enduring legacy both in Minnesota and all across the country. By getting this bill passed, we’ve been able to ensure that the post office in Chisholm becomes a testament to Jim’s life and legacy.”

Nolan, who sponsored the House version of the Klobuchar bill, told colleagues, “Jim received more honors than he could count in life – and even more with his passing. But no honor would have meant more to him than being recognized by his colleagues in the town where he grew up.

“Chisholm – on Minnesota’s Iron Range – is where Jim learned the value of ideas as a star on the high school debating team. Chisholm is also where he learned about public service with his first job – delivering newspapers to the miners and the mining families. Chisholm is where he learned about hard work from his parents. Jim’s dad worked the mines his entire life – hardly ever missing a day. And Chisholm is the place where Jim learned those old-fashioned values he brought to Congress. Jim believed that a good idea is a good idea. It didn’t matter whether it was a Democrat or a Republican who offered an amendment or proposed a piece of legislation. If it was good for the nation – it was good enough for Jim.”