William A. Steiger

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William Albert "Bill" Steiger (May 15, 1938 - December 4, 1978) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1967 until his death in 1978. He served as a Republican from Wisconsin.

Steiger was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In 1960, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. After college, Steiger entered the business world, becoming a part owner of the Oshkosh Motor Lodge. Later, he became the president of Steiger-Ratke Development. In 1960, the young Steiger made his first run for elected office and became a member of Wisconsin State Assembly from 1961 to 1965. His wife was Janet Dempsey Steiger; they were married on August 10, 1963.

In 1967, Steiger was elected to Congress. While in the House, he was a strong supporter of tax cuts as a way to stimulate the economy. He sponsored legislation reducing capital gains tax, establishing OSHA, and securing environmental protection for the Great Lakes. The bills he authored on these topics include the Williams-Steiger Bill establishing OSHA in 1970, the Clear Lakes Bill establishing environmental protection for the Great Lakes, the Older Americans Act of 1965, the Elementary and Secondary School Act, the Manpower Act, and the Steiger Amendment of 1978 reducing the capital gains tax. A rising star in politics, he died at the age of 40 from a heart attack just weeks after winning reelection.

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) annually hands out the William Steiger Memorial Award, which honors individuals from the social/political sphere whose efforts have contributed to advancements in occupational safety and health.

While a Congressman, in 1969 he employed the future Vice President Dick Cheney as an intern.^[1]

His son, William R. Steiger, worked for Governor Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin, and most recently as the Director of the Office of Global Health Affairs and Special Assistant to the Secretary for International Affairs, in the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, where he has been the subject of controversy for his role in the politicization of science.

The congressman was honored in his hometown of Oshkosh, WI with the naming of the William A. Steiger Park, which is located on the south shore of the Fox River, east and west of the Wisconsin Street Bridge. A new bridge is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2008. There is a movement within the community to have the new bridge named after him as well.

[edit] Sources & External Links

• U.S. Congress biography
• Wisconsin Historical Society
• Wisconsin Historical Society Archives
• Findagrave.com entry
• ACGIH - William Steiger Memorial Award

[edit] References

Preceded by John Abner Race (D)

United States Representative from Wisconsin's 6th congressional district William Albert "Bill" Steiger (R) 1967–1978

Succeeded by Tom Petri (R)