[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6820-S6821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      BILL EMERSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise to tell my colleagues of the death of 
a good friend and colleague, Congressman Bill Emerson, who, until 
Saturday night, represented southeast Missouri's Eighth Congressional 
District. Bill Emerson was, I believe, well known to many in this body, 
certainly to many around this city, and was loved by the people of 
southeast Missouri. He had a long and distinguished history of service 
in the U.S. Congress.
  Bill Emerson was a 15-year-old congressional page in 1954 when a 
Puerto Rican nationalist sprayed gunfire on the House floor. Bill 
helped carry a wounded Member off the House floor on a stretcher. After 
high school and graduation from Westminster College, he served as 
administrative assistant to Representative Bob Ellsworth of Kansas, and 
then to Senator Charles ``Mac" Mathias of Maryland. Subsequently, he 
served in various legislative relations positions with Fairchild 
Industries, Interstate Natural Gas, Federal Elections Commission, and 
TRW.
  In 1980, it was a new day. Bill was elected as a Republican 
Congressman in the Eighth Congressional District, the first Republican 
to win that seat in 52 years. Bill Emerson was from that district. He 
knew the district. He spoke to the hearts and minds and souls of the 
people of that district. They returned him again and again, very 
strongly each time he ran. Bill always served his constituents. He was 
an expert in agriculture affairs. Had he lived, he would have been the 
Republican chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
  He was well known for his work in agriculture, including being a 
strong advocate of food donation programs. He had worked with the late 
Congressman Leland on many of the food programs that they shared a 
common interest in. One of his legislative priorities this session was 
a bill that would make it easier for food unused by restaurants, 
supermarkets, and other private businesses to end up in food pantries 
and shelters, rather than in garbage cans and dumpsters.
  Bill Emerson was also in touch with the needs of his constituents in 
southeast Missouri on transportation and other infrastructure 
improvement issues. He worked for levies, for highways, and most 
recently, a bridge--a bridge which he fought hard to get Federal 
funding from the Federal Highway Administration for. It took several 
years, but Bill's persistence paid off. The groundbreaking for the new 
Cape Girardeau bridge will occur this summer. It is estimated to be 
completed in the year 2000.
  He commanded great respect on both sides of the aisle in both Houses, 
and was well known and well respected by the media. In honor of Bill 
Emerson, I now send to the desk a bill to designate the bridge 
estimated to be completed by the year 2000 as the Bill Emerson Memorial 
Bridge.
  I ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1903) to designate the bridge, estimated to be 
     completed in the year 2000, that replaces the bridge on 
     Missouri highway 74 spanning from East Cape Girardeau, 
     Illinois, to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as the ``Bill Emerson 
     Memorial Bridge,'' and for other purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I point out the mark of respect to Bill 
Emerson is the fact that I introduced this bill on behalf of my 
colleague, Senator Ashcroft, and we just started to work on the bill 
last night, and the cosponsors include Senator Lott, Senator Daschle, 
Senator Inhofe, Senator Jeffords, Senator Smith, Senator Akaka, Senator 
Craig, Senator Coats, Senator DeWine, Senator Dorgan, Senator Thomas, 
Senator Gregg, Senator Simon, Senator Mikulski, Senator Brown, Senator 
Snowe, Senator Mack, Senator Kyl, and Senator Campbell.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the distinguished 
President pro tempore, the distinguished Senator from South Carolina, 
be added as a cosponsor as well.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BOND. I ask unanimous consent that Senator Robb be added as a 
cosponsor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
deemed read the third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be placed 
at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1903) was deemed read the third time, and passed, as 
follows:

                                S. 1903

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF BILL EMERSON BRIDGE.

       The bridge, estimated to be completed in the year 2000, 
     that replaces the bridge on highway 74 spanning from East 
     Cape Girardeau, Illinois, to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, shall 
     be known and designated as the ``Bill Emerson Memorial 
     Bridge''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map regulation, document, paper, or 
     other record of the United States to the bridge referred to 
     in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Bill 
     Emerson Memorial Bridge''.

  Mr. BOND. I thank the Chair and my colleagues. This means a great 
deal to the family of Bill Emerson, to his constituents, and all of his 
good friends. We very much appreciate the expeditious handling of it.
  Mr. THURMOND. Will the Senator yield?
  Mr. BOND. I am happy to yield.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Carolina.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I want to commend the able Senator for 
taking the action that he has. I knew Congressman Emerson. He was an 
outstanding man, a man of integrity, ability and dedication. I think 
the action taken here today categorizes this man for what he is: a man 
who loved this country, who served it well. This action taken is 
altogether taken to honor his memory.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. ROBB addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
  Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I would like to add a word on behalf of Bill 
Emerson. My perspective comes principally from the personal side. All 
of the Members of Congress, of course, represent their districts and 
return to their districts often. But, frequently, they spend time in 
the communities here in or around the Washington area. Bill Emerson and 
his family were members of our church, and were active participants. We 
sat with them. We saw them. We experienced part of this particular 
struggle, and we developed enormous respect for him and for his family.
  I join with and commend the distinguished Senator from Missouri and 
the others who have cosponsored this particular resolution and have 
spoken out on behalf of Bill Emerson. He was a very fine human being. I 
think all of us who had the privilege of knowing him certainly respect 
what he did for his country, for his State, and we will miss him in his 
service in the Congress of the United States.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  Mr. COATS. Mr. President, I came to the Congress in 1980, in the 
class that

[[Page S6821]]

included Bill Emerson. It was a special class, elected at a unique 
time, so we developed a pretty close relationship.
  In addition to serving with Bill in the House of Representatives for 
8 years, we were friends of the family. Bill's daughter, Tori, is the 
same age as my son, Andrew. They went through school together and just 
recently graduated together. We attend the same church as the Emersons, 
and so we have a number of things in common with them.
  I have had the opportunity to observe Bill and his reaction to the 
tragic news of his illness and the way in which he handled that. It was 
an extraordinary demonstration of courage and faith that he so 
magnificently handled what many would view as a tragic situation.
  There are many measures of Bill Emerson. It would be impossible for 
me to list them all--diligent worker, someone who knew Congress inside 
and out, starting here at the age of 15, someone whose life was devoted 
to public service, someone who deeply loved his family and was a man of 
considerable faith. But I think the memory that I share of Bill Emerson 
is one passed on to me by my wife during the graduation ceremony when 
our two children graduated just a week or so ago. I did not see Bill at 
that time. I rushed in from the Senate to the graduation just in time 
for the beginning of the ceremony, but Marsha had met Bill, just 
literally days away from his death, suffering from terminal cancer, 
sitting in a wheelchair, assisted in his breathing with oxygen, with 
two dozen roses in his lap and a big smile on his face, watching as his 
daughter received her high school diploma.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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