[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 4, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1300
                           REV. RANDY ALBANO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Coble). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of May 12, 1995, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Bentsen] is 
recognized during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Reverend 
Randy Albano, who works in my district assisting seafarers throughout 
the world who travel to the Port of Houston, in their personal and 
spiritual needs. Father Albano recently brought to light the vicious 
murder of three Romanian stowaways beaten and thrown overboard from a 
ship off the coast of Spain and, through his contacts, was able to 
assure the safety of the vessel's crew members in bringing the 
responsible parties to justice.
  Father Albano, working out of the Barbours Cut Seafarers' Center in 
LaPorte, TX, intervened with the Canadian Government on behalf of eight 
Filipino seamen who wrote to him that they had witnessed their officers 
murder three Romanian stowaways. Two of the Romanians were set adrift 
on a small makeshift raft after they were discovered, and the raft 
subsequently fell apart in the high seas, and the third Romanian was 
stabbed to death on the deck of the ship and then cast overboard.
  The Filipino crewmen, fearing for their lives, contacted Father 
Albano for guidance. He referred the matter to the Canadian Government, 
which detained the captain in Halifax, NS.
  I have contacted the Canadian Ambassador to express my concern that 
the Filipino seamen be granted refugee status and that the captain and 
officers of the ship be prosecuted for these unspeakable crimes.
  I would especially like to express my deep appreciation for Father 
Albano for the important work that he does and also to the Barbours Cut 
Seafarers' Center and its many civic volunteers from LaPorte, including 
Lou Lawler. Father Albano, and the volunteers at the Seafarers' Center 
in Barbours Cut have done so much to ensure safe travel on the high 
seas and to improve working conditions and the quality of life for 
seafarers.
  Once again, Father Albano has courageously helped to ensure that the 
rule of law and basic respect for humanity are observed on the high 
seas.

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