Blatnik, John Anton, 1911-1991

John Anton Blatnik (August 17, 1911 – December 17, 1991) was a United States Congressman from Minnesota. He was a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), which is affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Blatnik graduated from Winona State College in 1935 after which he became an educational advisor for the Superior National Forest Civilian Conservation Corps (1935-1937), taught chemistry at Chisholm High School (1937-1939), and served as Saint Louis County Assistant Superintendent of Schools (1939-1941). During 1941 and August 1942 he did graduate work in public administration at the University of Minnesota. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1942, spending three and one-half years in the Army Air Corps Intelligence and Office of Strategic Services, including eighteen months of service in Yugoslavia and Italy. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Captain. For his military service, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal.

In 1940, Blatnik was elected to the Minnesota state senate from the sixtieth district (northeastern Saint Louis County) and authored the senate version of the Minnesota taconite tax law of 1941. He retained his senate seat until his election as U.S. Representative (Democratic-Farmer-Labor party) from Minnesota's eighth district in 1946.

During his tenure in Congress, he served twenty years on the House Committee on Public Works, acting as chairman from 1971-1974. He also served on the House Committee on Government Operations, as chairman of the 1973 Conference of Great Lakes Congressmen, and on the fifteen-member study committee that created the 1972 Water Pollution Control Act. Blatnik was especially active in legislation dealing with water pollution control, flood control, disaster relief, community facilities, community development, education and vocational training, and regional economic development. He authored or co-authored many major bills in these areas, including the Water Pollution Control Act of 1956 (and its 1961 and 1972 amendments); Accelerated Public Works Program, 1962; Water Quality Act of 1956; Area Development Act of 1961; and the Public Works and Economic Act of 1965. Blatnik retired from Congress in 1974.