[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3145 Referred in House (RFH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3145


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 25, 2008

     Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To designate a portion of United States Route 20A, located in Orchard 
         Park, New York, as the ``Timothy J. Russert Highway''.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Timothy ``Tim'' John Russert was born on May 7, 1950 in 
        Buffalo, New York, to Elizabeth and Timothy Joseph Russert.
            (2) Tim Russert graduated from Canisius High School in 
        Buffalo, New York, earned his bachelor's degree in political 
        science from John Carroll University in 1972, and his Juris 
        Doctor from Cleveland State University--Marshall School of Law 
        in 1976.
            (3) Tim Russert embarked on a career in public service with 
        United States Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and the Governor 
        of New York, Mario Cuomo, from 1977 to 1984.
            (4) After his career in public service and New York 
        politics, Tim Russert began his career in journalism when he 
        joined NBC in 1984.
            (5) In 1991, Tim Russert became the host of the Sunday 
        morning news program Meet the Press, the longest-running 
        program in the history of television. He would go on to become 
        the longest serving host of the show.
            (6) Throughout his career, Tim Russert received 48 honorary 
        doctorates and several awards for excellence in journalism, 
        including--
                    (A) the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio-
                Television News Directors Association;
                    (B) the John Peter Zenger Freedom of the Press 
                Award;
                    (C) the American Legion Journalism Award;
                    (D) the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award;
                    (E) the Congressional Medal of Honor Society 
                Journalism Award;
                    (F) the Allen H. Neuharth Award for Excellence in 
                Journalism;
                    (G) the David Brinkley Award for Excellence in 
                Communication;
                    (H) the Catholic Academy for Communication's 
                Gabriel Award; and
                    (I) an Emmy Award from the National Academy of 
                Television Arts and Sciences.
            (7) In 2004, Tim Russert authored the bestselling 
        autobiography, Big Russ and Me, which chronicled his life 
        growing up in South Buffalo and his education at Canisius High 
        School. He is also the author of Wisdom of our Fathers.
            (8) Tim Russert advocated on behalf of abused children and 
        voiced the need to protect our Nation's young people, serving 
        on the board of directors of the Greater Washington Boys and 
        Girls Club and America's Promise--Alliance for Youth.
            (9) Tim Russert sat in the front seat of history, 
        chronicling the political and societal events that have defined 
        our time, and serving as a trusted source of information and 
        analysis for millions of Americans.
            (10) Tim Russert was a tireless booster of Buffalo, a 
        famous fan of his beloved Buffalo Bills, and was always proud 
        of his South Buffalo roots, a source of civic pride in the 
        Western New York community.
            (11) Tim Russert passed away on June 13, 2008. He is 
        survived by his wife, Maureen Orth and their son, Luke Russert.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION.

    The portion of United States Route 20A located in Orchard Park, New 
York, between Abbot Road and California Road shall be known and 
designated as the ``Timothy J. Russert Highway''.

SEC. 3. REFERENCES.

    Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other 
record of the United States to the portion of United States Route 20A 
referred to in section 2 shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
Timothy J. Russert Highway.

            Passed the Senate June 24 (legislative day, June 23), 2008.

            Attest:

                                                NANCY ERICKSON,

                                                             Secretary.