[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H526-H527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AUTHORIZING FLAGS LOCATED IN THE CAPITOL COMPLEX TO BE FLOWN AT HALF-
  STAFF IN MEMORY OF R. SCOTT BATES, LEGISLATIVE CLERK OF THE UNITED 
                             STATES SENATE

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 6) 
authorizing flags located in the Capitol complex to be flown at half-
staff in memory of R. Scott Bates, Legislative Clerk of the United 
States Senate, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the Senate concurrent 
resolution.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                             S. Con. Res. 6

       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That, as a mark of respect to the memory of R. 
     Scott Bates, Legislative Clerk of the United States Senate, 
     all flags of the United States located on Capitol Buildings 
     or on the Capitol grounds shall be flown at half-staff on the 
     day of his interment.

                              {time}  1800

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, reserving my right to object, obviously I 
will not object, but under my reservation, I am pleased to yield to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), chairman of the House Committee 
on Administration.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), for yielding.
  Obviously, the purpose of the reservation is to let all Members 
understand that, at the request of the Senate, and quite properly so, 
Senate Concurrent Resolution 6 requests that we lower to half mast the 
flags on the Capitol, and it is to recognize the service of Scott Bates 
to the Senate and, as a matter of fact, to the United States of 
America.
  Mr. Bates, at the time of his tragic death, was struck by an 
automobile on February 5th. Incidentally, his wife was also seriously 
injured, but she is expected to recover.
  Scott was 50 at the time that he died, and for 30 years he served the 
United States Senate. The recognition of the service to the Senate over 
those 30 years is indeed not nearly enough but entirely appropriate 
that we lower the flags around the Capitol in memory and in recognition 
of R. Scott Bates.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time under my reservation, I 
certainly join the chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Thomas), in his remarks.
  It is entirely appropriate that the House join the Senate, expressing 
its regrets to the Senate, expressing its profound regret to the family 
of Scott Bates, who, as the chairman indicated, served with distinction 
for over three decades the United States Senate and this country. It is 
a loss not only for the Senate, not only for the Congress, but for our 
country as well.
  Mr. Speaker, reserving my right to object, I am pleased to yield to 
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, the Bateses were constituents of 
mine. They were dedicated to this institution and, most importantly, 
what they knew this institution can do for this country. They were 
terrific people, fully involved in their community. They gave and they 
did not take.

[[Page H527]]

  This is a true tragedy, and I appreciate the fact that it is being 
recognized by the Senate and now by the House. I will not delay it any 
further but to say that there are a great many of us who knew Scott 
Bates and what he stood for and are very proud that he chose to serve 
this institution.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The Senate concurrent resolution was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________