[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 20, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2422-S2423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JOHNSTON:
  S. 1627. A bill to designate the visitor center at Jean Lafitte 
National Historical Park in New Orleans, Louisiana as the ``Laura C. 
Hudson Visitor Center''; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.


       the laura c. hudson visitor center designation act of 1996

 Mr. JOHNSTON. Mr. President, I am pleased today to introduce a 
measure to designate the visitor center at 419 Rue Decatur in New 
Orleans, LA, as the ``Laura C. Hudson Visitor Center.''
  For almost 24 years I have been privileged to serve in the U.S. 
Senate. For some 20 of those years I have been blessed with the able 
assistance of Laura Hudson, who completed her Senate service last 
August, as my legislative director and indispensable right hand.
  In so many ways, Laura personifies the best tradition of Senate 
service--beginning in one capacity and growing into so many more. The 
young history postgraduate, who took a legislative-

[[Page S2423]]

correspondent position in my office in 1975, quickly grew beyond that 
and has been my invaluable counsel on a variety of legislative 
challenges over the years.
  There are parks and preservation projects, in Louisiana and beyond 
which exist solely because of the personal commitment and legislative 
skill of Laura Hudson, whole regions of the globe, such as Micronesia, 
routinely neglected by many in the Congress, receive a respect and 
recognition in Washington due heavily to Laura's devotion. That 
component closeup program, which brings hundreds of students and 
teachers each year from the former trust territories of Micronesia, is 
but one example of Laura's passion.
  Moreover, I am convinced that the relationship between our country 
and many of the developing and emerging economies, such as China, 
Vietnam, and Indonesia, profit in immeasurable ways from the 
understanding and leadership of staff persons such as Laura.
  This is a woman, Mr. President, who has forsaken many opportunities 
in the private sector because of a deep belief in the merits of public 
service, and a belief in the simple tenet that she could make a 
difference. More often than we acknowledge, it is the Laura Hudsons who 
made a qualitative difference in our daily work product. In honor of 
her unparalleled contributions, I am introducing this legislation 
today.
  I know that Laura will continue to contribute, as only she can, to 
public policy. But I will miss her in a way immediate and direct, as 
will so many of her longtime colleagues in the Senate. But I know they 
join me in expressing appreciation and best wishes as Laura enters an 
exciting new chapter of her life.
  I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the bill appear in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1627

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

     SECTION 1. LAURA C. HUDSON VISITOR CENTER.

       The visitor center at Jean Lafitte National Historical 
     Park, located at 419 Rue Decatur in New Orleans, Louisiana, 
     is hereby designated as the ``Laura C. Hudson Visitor 
     Center.''

     SEC. 2. LEGAL REFERENCES.

       Any reference in any law, regulation, paper, record, map, 
     or any other document of the United States to the visitor 
     center referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Laura C. Hudson Visitor Center''.
                                 ______