[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 28, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H67]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RENAMING WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, just when we thought we had heard it all, 
now the effort to rename Washington's National Airport after one of our 
Nation's most respected leaders in the 20th century has met with 
opposition that is purely partisan in nature. Opposing the effort to 
pay tribute to President Ronald Reagan is just the latest example of 
``oh, you are for it? Well, we are against it now'' politics employed 
by my liberal colleagues.
  I understand that the diversity of opinion in this House are often 
vital when setting policies of this Nation. A healthy debate is an 
absolute must if we are to reach sound conclusions on important and 
vital national issues. However, I feel it is an absolute disservice to 
a great man that petty, partisan politics threatens to stain his great 
legacy.
  This is clearly no place for partisan politics. I urge my colleagues 
to support H.R. 2625, a bill to rename Washington's National Airport 
after former President Ronald Reagan.

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