[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 7 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E109-E110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 4, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2625) to 
     redesignate Washington National Airport as ``Ronald Reagan 
     Washington National Airport'':

  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Chairman, I hope someday in the near future to vote 
for a bill designating an appropriate memorial to President Reagan. But 
the proposal before us this week, to rename Washington National 
Airport, is not that proposal. I oppose this renaming of the airport, 
and I want to explain my reasons.
  This bill violates one of President Reagan's most cherished values: 
federalism. The federal government should not carry out 
responsibilities which can be handled by state or local governments. 
The renaming of Washington National Airport would be in direct 
opposition

[[Page E110]]

to the wishes of the local authority which governs the airport, as well 
as the surrounding communities and local governments. The airport is 
not a federal facility, but is run locally and financed by the local 
taxpayers, who ought to have the say in this matter.
  This airport is already named for a great President, George 
Washington. There are other, more appropriate landmarks and facilities 
that can be named for President Reagan. I support the naming of a new 
aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan. And I strongly approve of the 
recent christening of the new federal building in Washington after 
President Reagan. But we should not act, contrary to the principle of 
federalism, to name this airport after President Reagan, over the 
objection of local officials and the people they represent.

                          ____________________