[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 125 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1596-E1597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       THANK YOU, HARRY F. BURROUGHS III, FOR YOUR LOYAL SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 12, 1996

  Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Speaker, it was with mixed emotions that I announced 
last December 11, my decision to retire from the House at the 
conclusion of my current term. As I explained at the time, the decision 
to retire was made more difficult because of the loyalty and dedication 
of my staff, both past and present, and because of the genuine 
friendship I feel for them. Each one of them has served the men and 
women of Texas' Eighth Congressional District in an extraordinary way.
  Today, I want to thank a former member of my staff--Harry F. 
Burroughs III, who worked for me in a variety of capacities for 14 
years--for all he's done for me and my constituents over the years.
  Harry served as my legislative director from 1981 to 1985--the same 
position he held for our former colleague, Richard Schulze of 
Pennsylvania from 1977 to 1980. During my critical first two terms in 
the House, I relied on Harry's experience, advice, and expertise on a 
host of issues and legislative business.
  Beginning in 1985, Harry served as my Counsel on the House Merchant 
Marine and Fisheries Committee--a committee critical to the economic 
well-being of my district. When local residents asked me to work with 
the Army Corps of Engineers to devise a flood control plan for the 
Upper White Oak Bayou and Buffalo Bayou; when funds were needed to 
widen and deepen the Houston Ship Channel; and when Federal assistance 
was needed to solve a serious water pollution problem in Lake Houston, 
I turned to Harry to make sure that these urgent proposals moved 
forward.

  With the start of the 103rd Congress, i was privileged to serve as 
the ranking minority member of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries 
Committee--and, naturally, I asked Harry to serve as the committee's 
minority staff director.
  As my right arm on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, Harry 
played a crucial role in enacting into law the African Elephant 
conservation Act of 1988; the Oil Pollution Act of 1990; the Abandoned 
Barge Act of 1992; the Rhino and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994; and 
other legislation designed to protect our Nation's marine environment, 
strengthen our Nation's merchant fleet, and maintain our country's 
vital commercial waterways.
  With the unfortunate abolition of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries 
Committee in the current 104th Congress, our colleague, Don Young of 
Alaska, chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, asked Harry to 
serve as the staff director of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife 
and Oceans.
  When he is not working, Harry enjoys spending time with his lovely 
wife, Gayle, and their two sons, Rick and Chris. A resident of 
Warrenton, VA, Harry serves as a committee chairman of Boy Scout troop 
175, in which his sons are members. For the past 7 years, Harry has 
volunteered as a Babe Ruth baseball coach, and he is a former member of 
the Fauquier County Youth Baseball Commission.
  Harry Burroughs is one of those hardworking men and women who make 
all of us

[[Page E1597]]

in this institution look better than we deserve. He certainly did that 
for me in the years he served on my personal and my committee staff, 
and I appreciate this opportunity to publicly thank him for the 
dedication, loyalty and professionalism he exhibited over the years I 
have had the opportunity to work with him.
  Mr. Speaker, I know you join with me in saying ``thank you'' to Harry 
F. Burroughs III for his years of loyal service to me, to the men and 
women of Texas' 8th Congressional District, and to this great 
institution. And I know you join with me in wishing him and his family 
many years of happiness and good fortune in the years ahead.

                          ____________________