View source for Jim Oberstar

{{Short description|American politician (1934–2014)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Jim Oberstar
| image               = Jim Oberstar in 2009.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2009
| office              = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Transportation Committee]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2007
| term_end            = January 3, 2011
| predecessor         = [[Don Young]]
| successor           = [[John Mica]]
| office1             = Ranking Member of the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Transportation Committee]]
| term_start1         = October 10, 1995
| term_end1           = January 3, 2007
| predecessor1        = [[Norman Mineta]]
| successor1          = [[John Mica]]
| state2              = [[Minnesota]]
| district2           = {{ushr|MN|8|8th}}
| term_start2         = January 3, 1975
| term_end2           = January 3, 2011
| predecessor2        = [[John Blatnik]]
| successor2          = [[Chip Cravaack]]
| birth_name          = James Louis Oberstar
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1934|9|10}}
| birth_place         = [[Chisholm, Minnesota]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2014|5|3|1934|9|10}}
| death_place         = [[Potomac, Maryland]], U.S.
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = Jo Garlick (deceased)<br>Jean Kurth
| children            = 4
| education           = [[University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)|University of St. Thomas, Minnesota]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[College of Europe]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])
| module              = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Rep. Jim Oberstar Speaks in Support of the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act of 2008.ogg |title=Oberstar's voice |type=speech |description=Oberstar supporting the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act of 2008.<br>Recorded March 26, 2007}}
}}
'''James Louis Oberstar''' (September 10, 1934&nbsp;– May 3, 2014) was an American politician and [[Congressman]] who served in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1975 to 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Representative James L. Oberstar (1934 - 2014), in Congress 1975 - 2011 |url=https://www.congress.gov/member/james-oberstar/O000006?s=7&r=391 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=United States Congress}}</ref> Hailing from [[Minnesota]] and a member of the state's local [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]], he represented the northeastern [[Minnesota's 8th congressional district|eighth congressional district]], which included the cities of [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]], [[Brainerd, Minnesota|Brainerd]], [[Grand Rapids, Minnesota|Grand Rapids]], [[International Falls]], and [[Hibbing, Minnesota|Hibbing]], within an area of Minnesota known as the [[Iron Range]]. He chaired the [[U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee]] from 2007 until his departure, having been the ranking minority member since 1995. In November 2010, he was defeated by a margin of 4,407 votes by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Chip Cravaack]]. He had the longest tenure of any Congressman from Minnesota.

==Early life, education and career==
Oberstar was born in [[Chisholm, Minnesota]], and on his deathbed, he still owned his original family home in Chisholm. His father Louis, of German ancestry, was an iron ore miner and the first card-carrying member of the [[United Steelworkers|United Steelworkers (USW)]] on the [[Iron Range]] of Minnesota.<ref name="ore boat"/> Oberstar also has Slovenian ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtvslo.si/svet/umrl-nekdanji-ameriski-kongresnik-slovenskih-korenin-jim-oberstar/336017|title=Umrl nekdanji ameriški kongresnik slovenskih korenin Jim Oberstar|website=rtvslo.si|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>

Oberstar graduated from [[Chisholm High School]] in 1952 and went on to the College of St. Thomas (now the [[University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)|University of St. Thomas]]) in St. Paul, Minnesota where he received his B.A. degree in 1956.<ref name="cong bio"/> He received a master's degree in European Studies from the [[College of Europe]] in [[Bruges, Belgium]] in 1957,<ref name="cong bio"/> with further study at [[Université Laval]] in [[Sainte-Foy, Quebec]], Canada and [[Georgetown University]] in Washington, D.C.

He spent four years as a civilian language teacher in the [[United States Marine Corps]], teaching English to [[Armed Forces of Haiti|Haitian military personnel]] and French to American Marine officers and [[noncommissioned officer]]s.<ref name="about"/>

He served on the staff of Minnesota's 8th District U.S. Representative [[John Blatnik]] for 12&nbsp;years, from 1963 to 1974,<ref name="cong bio"/> rising to chief of staff. He was also the administrator of the Committee on Public Works for the U.S. House of Representatives from 1971 to 1974.<ref name="cong bio"/>

==U.S. House of Representatives==
Oberstar was an internationally recognized expert on [[aviation]] and [[Air safety|aviation safety]]. He served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee during his entire time in the House. (His predecessor Blatnik had chaired the committee, then known as the Public Works Committee, during his last two terms in Congress, with Oberstar as staff administrator.) He was also a member of the [[President's commission on aviation security and terrorism|President's Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism]].

In 1965, Oberstar helped create the [[Economic Development Administration]], the only federal agency devoted to the creation and retention of jobs in economically distressed American communities.<ref name="agency that creates"/>
[[File:Congressman James L. Oberstar of Minnesota, 1991.png|left|thumb|upright|Oberstar in 1991]]
Oberstar was a strong supporter of the Duluth-based aircraft manufacturer [[Cirrus Aircraft]] and even helped bring the company to Minnesota in 1994 from its first home in Baraboo, Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/local/117076333.html |title=Cirrus to be acquired by Chinese firm |publisher=Star Tribune |date=2011-02-28 |access-date=2014-05-05}}</ref><ref name=WDIO/> That same year, he assisted in passing the [[General Aviation Revitalization Act]], which was said to have reinvigorated the [[general aviation]] industry nationwide.<ref name=WDIO>{{cite web|url=http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/s3424088.shtml |title=Oberstar Legacy Soars with Twin Ports Aviation|date=5 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111417/http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/s3424088.shtml|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Congressman_Don_Young_hands_over_the_gavel_to_incoming_Transportation_Chairman_Jim_Oberstar.jpg|thumb|right|Congressman [[Don Young]] hands over the gavel to incoming Transportation Chairman Jim Oberstar on December 6, 2006.]]
An avid [[bicycle|cyclist]], Oberstar championed the creation of trails for cycling and hiking to promote active lifestyles. In 2005, he authored, co-sponsored, and helped to pass the [[SAFETEA-LU|SAFETEA-LU act]], a $295&nbsp;billion program<ref name="safe routes"/> that funded transportation infrastructure, including highways, bridges, and public transportation, such as subways, buses, and passenger ferries and which includes the Safe Routes to Schools program. At the 2007 BikeWalk California conference and other bicycling conferences, Oberstar advocated converting the U.S.'s transportation system "from a hydrocarbon-based system to a carbohydrate-based system."

He was rated the third most liberal member of the Minnesota delegation in the [[109th United States Congress|109th Congress]], scored at 13% by a [[Conservatism|conservative]] group<ref name="scorecard"/> and 86% [[Progressivism|progressive]] by a liberal group.<ref name="leading"/>

[[File:Oberstar2010.JPG|thumb|upright|left|Oberstar in 2010]]

Along with [[John Conyers]], in April 2006, Oberstar brought an action against [[George W. Bush]] and others alleging violations of the [[United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]] in the passage of the [[Deficit Reduction Act of 2005]].<ref name="to sue"/> The case, (''[[Conyers v. Bush]]''), was ultimately dismissed.<ref name="judge dismisses"/>

Within days after the collapse of the [[I-35W Mississippi River bridge]], Oberstar introduced and succeeded in passing legislation to appropriate $250&nbsp;million to the [[Minnesota Department of Transportation]] to quickly build a [[St. Anthony Falls (35W) Bridge|replacement bridge]].<ref name="panel approves"/>

In 2004, Oberstar led the opposition to the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004, a bill that established a regulatory framework for [[private spaceflight|private suborbital spaceflight]], arguing that the bill did not sufficiently safeguard passenger and crew safety. "I do not want to see people dead from a space experiment, and then the federal government comes in to regulate".<ref name="space tourism"/>

During his tenure in Congress, Oberstar held leadership positions on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was House Democratic At-Large Whip, and was a member of the executive committee of the Democratic Study Group. He also served on the International Relations Committee. He was co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force and was a member of the Upper Mississippi Task Force and the Democratic Homeland Security Task Force. He co-chaired the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus and was a member of the following caucuses: the Bike Caucus; the Caucus for Sustainable Development; the [[Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety]]; the [[Congressional Human Rights Caucus]]; the Congressional Steel Caucus; the Medical Technology Caucus; the Mississippi River Caucus; the Native American Caucus; and the Renewable Energy Caucus.

==Political positions==

=== Social Issues ===
Oberstar was an [[Pro-life Democrats|anti-abortion Democrat]], and believed it should only be allowed if the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, or if the life of the mother was endangered.<ref name="additional issues" /><ref name="votesmart abortion" /> He sponsored multiple [[Amending the United States Constitution|constitutional amendments]] to enshrine a [[right to life]] provision, and to prohibit abortion services unless the mother's life was in danger.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 23, 1999 |title=H.J.Res.31 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect to the right to life. |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/house-joint-resolution/31?s=9&r=104 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=United States Congress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 4, 1982 |title=Congress rife with abortion bills |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/183552933/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjE4MzU1MjkzMywiaWF0IjoxNzIwNTc0OTY5LCJleHAiOjE3MjA2NjEzNjl9.is2Kg13mozll8m7WVOaWO5KMIh70DNHdD-RXhd_qzPo&terms=oberstar&match=1 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=[[The Clarion Ledger]] |page=11A}}</ref>

One of his first congressional achievements was the passage of an amendment in 1976 to prohibit federal funding of the [[Abortion|procedure]]. While the amendment, known as the [[Hyde Amendment]], was officially introduced by fellow freshman member [[Henry Hyde|Henry Hyde (R-IL)]], Oberstar formulated the text himself, handwriting it on a slip of paper; due to the appeal of a Republican co-sponsor, and Hyde's seat on the [[House Judiciary committee|House Judiciary Committee]], it was determined the amendment would have an easier chance of passing if Hyde introduced it.{{Sfn|Day|2006|pp=95–96}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pattison |first=Mark |date=2016-10-10 |title=Hyde Amendment has bipartisan past but cloudy future |url=https://cruxnow.com/cns/2016/10/hyde-amendment-bipartisan-past-cloudy-future/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=[[Crux]] |language=en}}</ref> Prohibition of federal funding of abortion services, through the amendment, was one of the first legislative gains made by the [[United States anti-abortion movement|anti-abortion movement]] after the [[Roe v. Wade]] decision, which legalized abortion nationwide.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Karrer |first=Robert N. |year=2011 |title=The Pro-Life Movement and Its First Years under "Roe" |url=https://cruxnow.com/cns/2016/10/hyde-amendment-bipartisan-past-cloudy-future |journal=[[American Catholic Studies]] |volume=122 |issue=3 |pages=63–64 |doi=10.1353/acs.2011.a465870 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>[[File:PBAsigning.jpg|thumb|Oberstar (second from right), watching President [[George W. Bush]] sign the [[Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act]] in 2003.]]

He voted in 2003 to ban [[intact dilation and extraction]], also known as "partial-birth abortion", and was present at the bill's signing by President George W. Bush.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2003 |title=Roll Call 530 {{!}} Bill Number: S. 3 |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2003530 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 5, 2003 |title=Remarks on Signing the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 {{!}} The American Presidency Project |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-signing-the-partial-birth-abortion-ban-act-2003 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=The American Presidency Project |publisher=[[UC Santa Barbara]]}}</ref> He showed his full support in 2005–2006 to the [[National Right to Life Committee|National Right to Life Committee (NRLC)]].<ref name="votesmart" /> Oberstar voted against [[Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act|legislation]] in 2005 to require the [[United States Department of Health and Human Services|Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)]] to [[Stem cell research policy|research embryonic stem cells]], and again in 2007, one of the only 14 and 16 Democratic members respectively to do so.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 25, 2005 |title=Roll Call 204 {{!}} Bill Number: H. R. 810 |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2005204 |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2007 |title=Roll Call 443 {{!}} Bill Number: S. 5 |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2007443 |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives}}</ref> He co-chaired the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, along with Republican [[Chris Smith (New Jersey politician)|Chris Smith]] of [[New Jersey]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saletan |first=William |date=September 30, 2006 |title=Where the Rubber Meets Roe |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2006/10/01/where-the-rubber-meets-roe/142cb712-1175-434c-bb55-37dfff16b221/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709150854/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2006/10/01/where-the-rubber-meets-roe/142cb712-1175-434c-bb55-37dfff16b221/ |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

Oberstar supported the bill to move the [[Terri Schiavo case]] to federal court, and appeared at a press conference with then-House Majority leader [[Tom DeLay]] to urge its passage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-03-21 |title='Grotesque' or life-saving drama at the Capitol? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7243574 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203141101/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7243574 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

During his congressional tenure, Oberstar had a generally supportive record on [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]]. The [[Defense of Marriage Act]] passed in 1996 with the support of 118 House Democratic members, including Oberstar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 12, 1996 |title=Roll Call 316 {{!}} Bill Number: H. R. 3396 |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/1996316 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives}}</ref> However, after that vote he started to vote more in line with LGBT advocacy groups, such as the [[Human Rights Campaign|Human Rights Campaign (HRC)]], which gave him ratings of 86%, 88%, 69%, and 88% for the 108-111th Congress'.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Jacques |first1=Cheryl A. |url=https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files/documents/2004ScoreCard.pdf |title=Congressional Scorecard {{!}} Human Rights Campaign {{!}} 108th United States Congress |last2=Statchelberg |first2=Winnie |publisher=[[Human Rights Campaign]] |year=2004 |pages=18 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Solomonese |first=Joe |url=https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files/documents/111thCongressional_Scorecard.pdf |title=Congressional Scorecard {{!}} Human Rights Campaign {{!}} 111th United States Congress |publisher=[[Human Rights Campaign]] |year=2010 |pages=22 |language=English}}</ref> He voted in favor of [[Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act|making crimes motivated by discrimination against sexual orientation or gender identity a federal hate crime]] in 2009, and cosponsored [[Employment Non-Discrimination Act|a bill]] in 2003 to prohibit [[employment discrimination]] on the basis of sexual orientation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 8, 2003 |title=H.R.3285 - Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2003 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/3285/cosponsors |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=United States Congress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2009 |title=Roll Call 223 {{!}} Bill Number: H. R. 1913 |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2009223 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives}}</ref>

=== Economic Issues ===
Oberstar was a strong supporter of the [[Head Start Program]], a national program from to promote school readiness by enhancing social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services.<ref name="about head start"/> He considered it to be one of the most successful federal [[Poverty reduction|anti-poverty]] programs ever created.<ref name="education"/> Oberstar also supported the [[American Association of University Women]] (AAUW), which has been a leading voice promoting education and equality for women and girls nationwide;<ref name="aauw"/> he fully supported the AAUW in 2007 and 2008.<ref name="votesmart1"/> Interest groups, like the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), scored him at 100/100.<ref name="votesmart2"/> In the early 1980s, Oberstar gave federal aid to the establishment of the [[Natural Resources Research Institute]] at the University of Minnesota Duluth to provide applied research and technology development to Minnesota's natural resource-based economy.

Oberstar was rated 100 by Environment America and the League of Conservation Voters in 2009.<ref name="projectvotesmart.org">-Representative James L. 'Jim' Oberstar - Interest Group Ratings.</ref> The [[American Wind Energy Association]] also gave him a rating of 100 in 2006.<ref name="projectvotesmart.org"/> He voted to pass the Energy and Environmental Law Amendments, which aimed to establish a program to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in 2009.<ref name="projectvotesmart.org"/> He also voted to pass a bill, Trade-in Vouchers for Fuel-Efficient Cars, in 2009, which granted a $3,500 voucher for trading in an old vehicle for one that got least 4 miles per gallon more, to increase the purchase of fuel-efficient cars.<ref name="projectvotesmart.org"/> However, Oberstar went against most Democrats and voted in favor of allowing drilling in [[ANWR]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll317.xml|title=Final vote results for roll call 317|website=clerk.house.gov|access-date=29 November 2023}}</ref>

Oberstar was a strong supporter of [[Labor unions in the United States|organized labor]]. He was given an 100% rating by the [[AFL-CIO]].<ref name="projectvotesmart.org" /> Oberstar was also rated 92 by the American Federation of Government Employees in 2009 and 90 by Federally Employed Women in 2009.<ref name="projectvotesmart.org" /> He voted for three unemployment benefits extension bills in 2010 and three Employment Discrimination Law Amendments in 2009.<ref name="projectvotesmart.org" />

According to the Minnesota Congressional Election 2008 [[Political Courage Test]], Oberstar supported having taxation of corporate earnings, gasoline, and cigarettes.<ref name="political courage test" /> In 2008, [[Americans For Fair Taxation]] (AFFT) gave Oberstar their lowest possible rating,<ref name="votesmart1" /><ref name="fair taxation" /> and the [[National Taxpayers Union]] gave Oberstar an "F".<ref name="votesmart1" /><ref name="ntu.org" /> He supported a tax plan containing tax relief for working families, investment tax credits for small businesses, and support for the states, including incentives for transportation construction projects that would immediately put people back to work.<ref name="house1" /> Oberstar did not support [[free trade agreement]]s, such as [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA) or the [[Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement|Central American Free Trade Agreement]] (CAFTA).<ref name="house1" /> He believed that free trade under NAFTA and CAFTA offered little or no economic opportunity for American workers and producers due to inadequate provisions in the agreements.<ref name="votesmart3" />

==Political campaigns==
When John Blatnik opted not to run for a 15th&nbsp;term in 1974, he endorsed Oberstar as his successor. Oberstar won and was reelected 16&nbsp;times without serious difficulty. Democrats Blatnik and Oberstar held the seat from 1947 until 2011. Oberstar's lowest winning percentage was 59&nbsp;percent in 1992, but after that, until 2010, he did not earn less than 60&nbsp;percent of the vote. He is the longest-serving member of either house of Congress in Minnesota's history, having served in the 94th through the 111th Congresses from January 3, 1975, to January 3, 2011.

During the 2006 elections, Oberstar's Republican opponent was former [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] [[Rod Grams]], whose lived in the southwestern corner of the 8th. Grams was the first reasonably well-funded Republican to run in the 8th in decades. Although some polls showed Oberstar only ahead by two points, in the end, he won by over 30 points and did not lose a single county in his district.

During the 2008 elections, Oberstar's Republican opponent was political neophyte and businessman Michael Cummins. Cummins campaigned throughout the district but did not drum up enough support to pose a serious challenge to the veteran Democratic incumbent. Oberstar won with more than 67 percent of the vote. During the 2008 campaign, Oberstar appeared alongside other public officials in a TV ad<ref name="youtube in Spanish"/> supporting the reelection of Puerto Rico Governor [[Aníbal Acevedo Vilá]], a fellow Democrat.

During the 2010 elections, Oberstar lost a close race to political newcomer and Tea Party favorite [[Chip Cravaack]], who won a plurality of 48 percent of the vote. The race was seen nationwide as a major upset for Democrats.

==Electoral history==
;2010
{{main|U.S. House elections, 2010}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title=2010 Eighth Congressional District of Minnesota Elections
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (US)
 |candidate = [[Chip Cravaack]]
 |votes = 133,474
 |percentage = 48.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
 |candidate = James Oberstar
 |votes = 129,067
 |percentage = 46.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Independence Party of Minnesota
 |candidate = Timothy Olson
 |votes = 11,876
 |percentage = 4.3
}}
{{Election box end
}}

;2008
{{main|U.S. House elections, 2008}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title=2008 Eighth Congressional District of Minnesota Elections
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
 |candidate = James Oberstar
 |votes = 240,586
 |percentage = 67.6
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (US)
 |candidate = Michael Cummins
 |votes = 114,588
 |percentage = 32.2
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|party=
|candidate = others
|votes = 573
|percentage=0.2
}}
{{Election box end
}}

;2006
{{main|U.S. House elections, 2006}}
{{main|Minnesota 8th congressional district election, 2006}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title=2006 Eighth Congressional District of Minnesota Elections
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
 |candidate = James Oberstar
 |votes = 194,677
 |percentage = 64
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (US)
 |candidate = [[Rod Grams]]
 |votes = 101,744
 |percentage = 34
 }}
{{Election box candidate no change
 |party = Unaffiliated
 |candidate = [[Harry Welty]]
 |votes = 6,535
 |percentage = 2
}}
{{Election box end
}}

;2004
{{main|U.S. House elections, 2004}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title=2004 Eighth Congressional District of Minnesota Elections}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
 |candidate = James Oberstar
 |votes = 228,509
 |percentage = 65
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (US)
 |candidate = Mark Groettum
 |votes = 112,657
 |percentage = 32
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
 |party = [[Green Party of Minnesota|Green]]
 |candidate = Van Presley
 |votes = 8,931
 |percentage = 3
 }}
{{Election box end}}

;2002
{{main|U.S. House elections, 2002}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title=2002 Eighth Congressional District of Minnesota Elections
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
 |candidate = James Oberstar
 |votes = 193,959
 |percentage = 69
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (US)
 |candidate = Bob Lemen
 |votes = 88,423
 |percentage = 31
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Personal life==
Oberstar and his first wife, the former Jo Garlick, had four children; she died in 1991. He later married Jean Kurth. The couple lived in [[Potomac, Maryland]], and also maintained Oberstar's boyhood home in [[Chisholm, Minnesota]]. Oberstar died at his home in Potomac on May 3, 2014, at the age of 79.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/05/03/jim-oberstar-dies/8656803/|title=Former U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar dies at 79|website=usatoday.com|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/05/us/politics/james-l-oberstar-79-minnesota-lawmaker-dies.html|title=James Oberstar, 79, Congressman Ousted in Tea Party Tide, Dies|first=Ashley|last=Southall|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 4, 2014|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
[[File:OberstarStatue.jpg|thumb|upright|Bust of Oberstar located in the [[Duluth International Airport]], now known as the "James L. Oberstar Terminal"]]
In 2009, Oberstar received the [[Tony Jannus Award]] for distinguished leadership in commercial aviation.<ref name="award" />

In May 2011, a [[Lake freighter|Great Lakes ore carrier]], of the [[Interlake Steamship Company]], which typically transports [[taconite]] pellets from [[Duluth]], [[Silver Bay, Minnesota|Silver Bay]] and [[Marquette, Michigan|Marquette]] to [[steel mill]]s near [[Detroit]], [[Cleveland]], and [[Chicago]], was renamed after him, dubbed the ''MV Honorable James L. Oberstar''.<ref name="ore boat" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Hon. James L. Oberstar |url=http://duluthshippingnews.com/ship0383 |access-date=2014-05-04}}/</ref>

On June 19, 2012, Oberstar was made Commander in the French ''[[Ordre national du Mérite]]''.

In October 2015, the new passenger terminal of the [[Duluth International Airport]] was named in honor of Oberstar, who helped secure funding for the facility before its 2013 opening. A sculpture of him was also unveiled during the renamed terminal's introduction.<ref>{{cite web |title=news |url=http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/politics/3872814-duluth-airport-terminal-now-honors-oberstar |access-date=April 11, 2018 |website=Duluth News Tribune}}</ref>

In 2016, he was posthumously inducted into the [[Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame |url=http://www.mnaviationhalloffame.us/HoFPages/hofO1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001200003/http://www.mnaviationhalloffame.us/HoFPages/hofO1.html |archive-date=October 1, 2016 |access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref>

==Papers==
The [http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/01006.xml Congressional Papers] of James L. Oberstar are available for research use. They include photographs, sound and video recordings, legislative materials, campaign and political activities, committee work, and legislative staff topical files documenting Oberstar's service as a U. S. Representative from Minnesota's 8th Congressional District (1975–2011). The collection emphasizes Oberstar's activities on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, demonstrated by an extensive series of staff office topical files addressing various issues, projects, and legislation related to aviation, highways and bridges, railways, waterways, and bikeways. Additional significant content focuses on economic development in the Iron Range, travel and tourism, trade, and environmental protection of Minnesota's land and water resources.<ref name="James L. Oberstar Congressional Papers"/>

==Boards and other affiliations==
* Board Member, Board of Trustees, [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]], 1995–2014
* Board Member, [[Mineta Transportation Institute|Mineta I.I.STPS Institute]], [[San Jose State University]], 1995–2014

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="aauw">{{cite web|url=http://www.aauw.org/about/index.cfm |title=About |publisher=AAUW |access-date=2010-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721213357/http://www.aauw.org/about/index.cfm |archive-date=July 21, 2010 }}</ref>

<ref name="about">[http://www.oberstar.org/about.php About Jim Oberstar] Accessed August 12, 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629055450/http://www.oberstar.org/about.php |date=June 29, 2006 }}</ref>

<ref name="about head start">{{cite web |url=http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/about/index.html#purpose |title=About the Office of Head Start |publisher=Acf.hhs.gov |access-date=2010-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723142022/http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/about/index.html#purpose |archive-date=July 23, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="additional issues">{{cite web|url=http://www.oberstar.house.gov/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={1BDEE04C-F297-42DE-BCCF-878D6B8A4675}&DE={B44FF6DB-238A-4D67-9A01-A89BD254813C} |title=Congressman James L Oberstar – ADDITIONAL ISSUES |publisher=Oberstar.house.gov |access-date=2010-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707025517/http://www.oberstar.house.gov//index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B1BDEE04C-F297-42DE-BCCF-878D6B8A4675%7D&DE=%7BB44FF6DB-238A-4D67-9A01-A89BD254813C%7D |archive-date=July 7, 2010 }}</ref>

<ref name="agency that creates">{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-l-oberstar/us-senate-must-act-to-con_b_880708.html|title=U.S. Senate Must Act to Continue Support for Agency That Creates Jobs|author=James L. Oberstar|date=June 20, 2011|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref>

<ref name="award">{{cite news|last=Jackovics|first=Ted|title=Tony Jannus aviation award goes to Minnesota congressman|work=[[The Tampa Tribune]]|date=May 7, 2009}}</ref>

<ref name="cong bio">{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=O000006|title=OBERSTAR, James Louis – Biographical Information|work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=July 8, 2011}}</ref>

<ref name="education">{{cite web|url=http://www.oberstar.house.gov/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={1BDEE04C-F297-42DE-BCCF-878D6B8A4675}&DE={DF931173-A7D7-4CC4-8EDB-34B0D00D6C60} |title=Congressman James L Oberstar – EDUCATION |publisher=Oberstar.house.gov |access-date=2010-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707025409/http://www.oberstar.house.gov//index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B1BDEE04C-F297-42DE-BCCF-878D6B8A4675%7D&DE=%7BDF931173-A7D7-4CC4-8EDB-34B0D00D6C60%7D |archive-date=July 7, 2010 }}</ref>

<ref name="fair taxation">{{cite web|url=http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main |title=Americans For Fair Taxation |publisher=Fairtax.org |access-date=2010-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712205717/http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main |archive-date=July 12, 2010 }}</ref>

<ref name="house1">{{cite web|url=http://www.oberstar.house.gov/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={1BDEE04C-F297-42DE-BCCF-878D6B8A4675}&DE={32A7F513-5EA6-49E4-94F4-CD4A382B10A6} |title=Congressman James L Oberstar – ECONOMY & JOBS |publisher=Oberstar.house.gov |access-date=2010-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707025359/http://www.oberstar.house.gov//index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B1BDEE04C-F297-42DE-BCCF-878D6B8A4675%7D&DE=%7B32A7F513-5EA6-49E4-94F4-CD4A382B10A6%7D |archive-date=July 7, 2010 }}</ref>

<ref name="judge dismisses">{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2633701 |title=Judge Dismisses Budget Bill Lawsuit |date=2006-11-06 |access-date=2006-11-28 |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203215630/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2633701 |archive-date=February 3, 2009 }}</ref>

<ref name="leading">{{cite web|title =Leading with the Left|publisher=Progressive Punch|url=http://www.progressivepunch.org|access-date = 2006-11-02}}</ref>

<ref name="ntu.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.ntu.org/main/misc.php?MiscID=1 |title= About NTU|website=www.ntu.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424014037/http://www.ntu.org/main/misc.php?MiscID=1 |archive-date=April 24, 2009}}</ref>

<ref name="ore boat">{{cite web|url=http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/diary/9263/ore-boat-renamed-after-son-of-iron-ore-miner|title=Ore Boat Renamed After Son Of Iron Ore Miner|work=Minnesota Progressive Project|date=May 25, 2011|access-date=July 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609195119/http://mnprogressiveproject.com/diary/9263/ore-boat-renamed-after-son-of-iron-ore-miner|archive-date=June 9, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="panel approves">{{cite news | url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2007/08/08/oberstarplan| title= Oberstar proposes trust fund for aging bridges| publisher=mprnews.com| date=2007-08-08 | access-date = May 4, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="political courage test">{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=26927#11310 |title=Project Vote Smart – Representative James L. 'Jim' Oberstar – Issue Positions (Political Courage Test) |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref>

<ref name="safe routes">[http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/about Safe Routes to School National Partnership]; see also [https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/safetealu/summary.htm]</ref>

<ref name="scorecard">{{cite web|title=Congressional Voting Scorecard 2005 |work=SBE Council's Congressional Voting Scorecard 2005 |publisher=Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council |date=June 2006 |url=http://www.sbecouncil.org/uploads/Ratings2005Scorecard.pdf |access-date=2006-11-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929121518/http://www.sbecouncil.org/uploads/Ratings2005Scorecard.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2006 }}</ref>

<ref name="to sue">{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1898817 |title=11 House Members to Sue Over Budget Bill |date=2006-04-27 |access-date=2007-02-20 |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205095203/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1898817 |archive-date=February 5, 2009 }}</ref>

<ref name="space tourism">{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6540267 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011201110/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6540267/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2013 |title=Space tourism legislation makes comeback |date=2004-11-21 |publisher=NBC News |author=Alan Boyle}}</ref>

<ref name="votesmart">{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?category=2&go.x=9&go.y=19&can_id=26927&type=category |title=Project Vote Smart – Representative James L. 'Jim' Oberstar – Interest Group Ratings |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref>

<ref name="votesmart1">{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?category=10&go.x=10&go.y=21&can_id=26927&type=category |title=Project Vote Smart – Representative James L. 'Jim' Oberstar – Interest Group Ratings |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref>

<ref name="votesmart2">{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?category=27&go.x=14&go.y=13&can_id=26927&type=category |title=Project Vote Smart – Representative James L. 'Jim' Oberstar – Interest Group Ratings |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref>

<ref name="votesmart3">{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=26927&type=category&category=63&go.x=18&go.y=11 |title=Project Vote Smart – Representative James L. 'Jim' Oberstar – Voting Record |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref>

<ref name="votesmart abortion">{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=26927#11301 |title=Project Vote Smart – Representative James L. 'Jim' Oberstar – Issue Positions (Political Courage Test) |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref>

<!--
<ref name="votes">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll020.xml|title=Final vote results for roll call 20|website=clerk.house.gov|access-date=29 November 2023}}</ref>
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<ref name="youtube in Spanish">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BtZkdpAkgc |title=¿A quién recomiendan los congresistas?|date=October 8, 2008 |format=Video|language=es |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref>
<ref name="James L. Oberstar Congressional Papers">{{cite web|url=http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/01006.xml|title=James L. Oberstar Congressional Papers|website=mnhs.org|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>
}}

== Works cited ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Day |first=Kristen |url=https://archive.org/details/democratsforlife00dayk_0/mode/2up |title=Democrats For Life: Pro-Life Politics and the Silenced Majority |publisher=New Leaf Press (AR) |year=2006 |isbn=9780892216376 |location=Green Forest, Arkansas |publication-date=August 1, 2006}}
* {{Refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.interlake-steamship.com/fleet/view/m-v-honorable-james-l-oberstar/ Official M/V Honorable James L. Oberstar Webpage]
{{Commons category}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=O000006 | votesmart= | fec=H6MN08047 | congress= }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/400299 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/400299_James_Oberstar Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00001806 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/402/Rep_James_Louis_Oberstar.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/House/James_Oberstar.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/457 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/james_l_oberstar/index.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
* -->
* {{C-SPAN|457}}
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jim_Oberstar Profile] at [[SourceWatch]]
* [http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/congress/oberstar/ Campaign 2006: Jim Oberstar] profile from ''[[Minnesota Public Radio]]''

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John Blatnik]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Minnesota|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Minnesota's 8th congressional district]]|years=1975–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Chip Cravaack]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Norman Mineta]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Transportation Committee]]|years=1995–2007}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[John Mica]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Don Young]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Transportation Committee]]|years=2007–2011}}
{{s-end}}

{{US House Transportation and Infrastructure chairs}}
{{MNRepresentatives}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=94th–111th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from Minnesota|Minnesota]]}}
{{USCongRep/MN/94}}
{{USCongRep/MN/95}}
{{USCongRep/MN/96}}
{{USCongRep/MN/97}}
{{USCongRep/MN/98}}
{{USCongRep/MN/99}}
{{USCongRep/MN/100}}
{{USCongRep/MN/101}}
{{USCongRep/MN/102}}
{{USCongRep/MN/103}}
{{USCongRep/MN/104}}
{{USCongRep/MN/105}}
{{USCongRep/MN/106}}
{{USCongRep/MN/107}}
{{USCongRep/MN/108}}
{{USCongRep/MN/109}}
{{USCongRep/MN/110}}
{{USCongRep/MN/111}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oberstar, James Louis}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of Slovenian descent]]
[[Category:College of Europe alumni]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota]]
[[Category:People from Chisholm, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Political chiefs of staff]]
[[Category:United States congressional aides]]
[[Category:Université Laval alumni]]
[[Category:University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) alumni]]