[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 106 (Tuesday, September 12, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H7431-H7440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SORROW OF THE HOUSE AT THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE HERBERT H.
BATEMAN, MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res.
573) and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 573
Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of
the death of the Honorable Herbert H. Bateman, a
Representative from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Resolved, That a committee of such Members of the House as
the Speaker may designate, together with such Members of the
Senate as may be joined, be appointed to attend the funeral.
Resolved, That the Sergeant at Arms of the House be
authorized and directed to take such steps as may be
necessary for carrying out the provisions of these
resolutions and that the necessary expenses in connection
therewith be paid out of applicable accounts of the House.
Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to
the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the
deceased.
Resolved, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn as
a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley) is
recognized for 1 hour.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness we are here today to honor our
late colleague, Representative Herb Bateman of Newport News, Virginia.
Herb represented the First District of Virginia, better known, as he
used to say, as ``America's First District,'' because
[[Page H7432]]
of the important role it has played in our Nation's history.
Herb lived to serve his country and fellow citizens. After receiving
his bachelor of arts from the College of William and Mary in 1949, he
taught at Hampton High School from 1949 to 1951.
Herb answered the call of duty by enlisting in the United States Air
Force during the Korean War, eventually earning the rank of first
lieutenant, and was discharged in 1953.
Herb attended law school and earned a law degree from Georgetown
University Law Center in 1956. After a clerkship with the United States
Court of Appeals in Washington, Herb joined a Newport News law firm,
where he practiced for 25 years.
Prior to coming to Congress, Herb served 15 years in the Virginia
Senate, where he gained a solid reputation for leadership and committee
work on such diverse subjects as agriculture, energy, education, and
the budget.
Herb will be remembered for the lifetime of service he gave to his
country and his constituents. Herb dedicated his life in defense of our
national security, because he realized America was the only true world
superpower. He recognized America had global responsibilities, and he
took America's responsibilities seriously because he worked tirelessly
to ensure the naval superiority of the United States.
Herb's tireless efforts during his 18-year career in Congress helped
preserve America's greatness, in which we all saw communism defeated
and America stand as the last superpower. Herb's efforts behind the
scenes helped to sustain his constituents working at Newport News
Shipbuilding and the local military community.
Herb's long Congressional record included fighting for the
authorization and construction of several aircraft carriers and
submarines, including the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan, the U.S.S. John C.
Stennis, the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, and the Navy's next generation of
aircraft carriers, 12 Los Angeles Class attack submarines and the new
Virginia class submarines.
Herb's loss is truly a national loss. We mourn his loss as a House
and as a Nation. I mourn his loss as a friend.
For Herb's family, we feel the loss his wife, Laura, and his two
children, Bert and Laura, and his three grandchildren are enduring
today.
A Nation is indebted to the unselfish work of Herb Bateman. You are
in our prayers, and may God bless you and your family.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the
Fourth District of Virginia (Mr. Sisisky), a colleague of Herb's on the
Committee on Armed Services.
Mr. SISISKY. Mr. Speaker, I have known Herb Bateman for many, many
years. I served 9 years in the Virginia General Assembly with him, and,
of course, 18 years in Congress. He was a great friend and a great
leader for Virginia.
We will miss his leadership on the House Committee on Armed Services.
He was a staunch advocate for the readiness of our Armed Forces, and he
was a strong supporter of the shipbuilding industry, not only in
Virginia, but throughout the United States.
One of the greatest reasons for his success and achievements was his
bipartisanship. Make no mistake, Herb was a man of his party, but, even
more than that, he was a great patriot, who first and foremost stood
for this country.
He believed in a strong military and a strong Navy. He always
understood the need for adequate training before sending our forces
into harm's way. He was relentless in the pursuit of military
excellence, and he could work with anybody on any side of an issue. He
worked with the Depot Caucus and was fair and evenhanded with private
and public employees. Most importantly, when meeting the challenges
faced by this great country, party really made no difference.
So we, personally, and this country will miss Herb Bateman. He had
such a precise and logical way of thinking that sometimes listening to
him was like hearing someone dictate a legal brief. But, most
important, his sense of humor and the warmth of his friendship are
things for which I will always be grateful.
He was a close friend of mine and, of course, my wife; and we extend
heartfelt condolences to Laura and their family.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the
Tenth District of Northern Virginia, (Mr. Wolf).
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I join the fellow members of the Virginia
delegation in remembering Herb Bateman, a true gentleman and a
dedicated public servant.
I had been planning to come to the floor later this month to pay
tribute to Herb, to talk about his long and distinguished record of
service to Virginia and the Nation, and to wish him Godspeed as he
retired from the Congress at the end of the session. His untimely
passing yesterday reminds us all of our own mortality and how important
it is to live our lives with honor and integrity and to make the most
of every opportunity we have to serve our fellow men.
Herb Bateman lived his life that way. It was a privilege to serve
with him the entire 18 years he was in Congress.
While we grieve today that Herb is no longer with us, we can find
comfort in knowing that at the end of his days, he could hear the voice
of God saying, ``Well done, good and faithful servant.''
Herb loved being a Member of Congress. He was a decent, hard-working,
and likeable man who reached across the aisle to work together for the
best interests of America. He loved representing the people of
Virginia's First Congressional District, and beamed with pride in
calling his district ``America's First District.''
He worked tirelessly for his district. As Chairman of the Committee
on Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Readiness, he was a diligent
champion for the defense interests, not only of the Tidewater area of
Virginia, which he represented, but for a strong defense for our
Nation.
He was a protector of our national defense, and he initiated the
practice of listening to the field commanders of our Armed Forces, the
captains, the colonels, the majors, and not solely relying on the
Pentagon brass to get the real picture of the Nation's defense. He
worked to protect the welfare of the men and women in uniform and their
families, and those who have retired from the service and their
country.
Herb was deeply concerned about the deterioration of our military
readiness; and if we can do anything to honor his memory, it would be
to heed the warnings he gave about the need to invest in improving and
maintaining our nation's defense readiness.
Herb worked for the commuters in the First District. Through a seat
on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, he focused on
improving highways and bridges in Tidewater and in protecting the
Chesapeake Bay.
This Congress, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and this Nation have
lost a faithful servant and wonderful man, but our lives are forever
enriched for having had Herb Bateman as our friend and colleague.
In closing, our deepest sympathies are extended to Congressman
Bateman's family: his wife, Laura Yacobi Bateman; his daughter, Laura
Margaret Bateman; his son, Herbert H. ``Bert'' Bateman, Jr., and his
wife, Mary, and their three children, Emmy, Hank, and Sam; and also to
his Congressional family, his staff here on Capitol Hill and in his
district offices. We all share in your loss.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Newport News, Virginia (Mr. Scott), a member of the
Virginia delegation who has had a long association with Congressman
Bateman, who succeeded Congressman Bateman in the Virginia State
Senate, and who now is with us in the House.
Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in the Virginia
delegation and the House in support of the resolution and to praise
Herb Bateman for his hard work and dedication to the constituents of
the First Congressional District of Virginia, which he always referred
to as ``America's First District.''
Herb and I served neighboring districts in the House, and during my
service in the Virginia Legislature, he was either my State senator or
my congressman, so we had many opportunities to work together to
represent the interests of the residents of the Hampton Roads, Virginia
area.
Having worked side-by-side, I can tell you that Herb Bateman was a
decent, hard-working, and effective legislator.
[[Page H7433]]
During his many years of public service, he conscientiously promoted
the needs of a district with a strong military and Federal presence.
As a Member of the Committee on Armed Services, he made military
readiness and concerns of military families his highest priorities.
Because of his total dedication, America enjoys a strong military, and
school districts with a large military presence receive additional
Federal funding through Impact Aid.
In the Hampton Roads area, we have been particularly grateful for
Herb's leadership because we continue to build aircraft carriers and
submarines. NASA budgets reflect a higher priority for the aeronautics
research proudly done at NASA Langley Research Center, and the Thomas
Jefferson National Accelerator Facility continues to excel.
The Virginia delegation is particularly saddened by Herb's passing.
He was well thought of and highly respected by all of us. The
delegation has always worked cooperatively and in a bipartisan fashion
on issues affecting Virginia, and Herb steadfastly contributed to that
spirit.
I want to extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Laura; his
children, Laura and Bert; and his grandchildren, as well as to his
staff in the Washington, D.C. and Newport News offices.
America's First District and the United States House of
Representatives have lost a friend.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rocky
Mount, Virginia (Mr. Goode).
(Mr. GOODE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute to a valued
friend, a patriot, a veteran Member of this body, a distinguished
Virginian, and a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
When someone dies, floods of thoughts and recollections about that
individual come to mind. Such it was yesterday morning when I learned
of Herb Bateman's passing. I remember vividly how Herb helped me over
the years. When I was elected to the State Senate of Virginia, Herb
gave me valuable insights into how the Senate worked and how I might
work within the Senate to help my district. Four years ago when I came
to this body, Herb was one of the first to extend his knowledge and
guidance to help me on my way.
Herb Bateman loved this country. He enlisted in the Air Force during
the Korean War and was discharged as a lieutenant. In the Senate of
Virginia and the House of Representatives, Herb represented areas that
have significant military installations. He worked tirelessly on behalf
of a strong military and the needs of America's service men and women.
In the Senate of Virginia and in this the Congress of the United
States, Herb always worked for fiscal restraint, making the best use of
money available.
It was he who sponsored legislation in the Senate of Virginia to
establish J-LARC--the Joint, Legislative, Audit and Review Commission.
This commission has served over the years to eliminate waste and abuse
in Virginia government and to uncover overlapping in the work of
agencies. J-LARC is the model upon which other states have created
their own similar commissions.
Throughout his years of public service, Herb has been supported
faithfully by his wife, Laura, and their union was blessed by two
children, both of whom are grown and leading successful lives. And, the
children have given Herb and Laura three grandchildren, who were the
apples of Herb's eyes.
Herb, we will miss you. I will miss you. Be assured that the light of
your legacy will continue to shine through your family and the many
people whose lives you touched and guided.
{time} 1730
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Skelton).
Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, this is a sad moment for me. I know it is a sad moment
for Virginians, and it is a sad moment for Americans who serve in the
Armed Forces of our country. Herb Bateman was a friend. He was a
colleague. We served on the Committee on Armed Services together, and I
saw him through the years apply his considerable knowledge and his
considerable efforts in the pursuit of maintaining a strong national
security. He was the chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Readiness
and took that position quite seriously. We have, as a result,
considerably more readiness; and the men and women of our uniformed
services are all the better for his work.
Herb was a man of integrity, a man of knowledge, a man of ability who
gave his country his best. We have enjoyed serving with him here in the
Congress of the United States. We have enjoyed being his friend. My
wife, Suzie, and I join with Members today in extending our sincere
sympathy to his wife, Laura, and to his family, and to that very, very
fine staff that he has, especially those who are across the hall from
my office in the Rayburn Building. Our sympathy and condolences go out
to them.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Coble).
Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia, my
friend, for yielding me this time.
Just last week, Mr. Speaker, back on the back rail, I said to Herb,
you will be missed, in response to his announced intention to retire
from this body. He said, oh, I will be back. This tells us, Mr.
Speaker, how fragile, how indefinite, how uncertain life can be.
As has been said by other speakers, Herb's congressional legacy will
be formidable and impressive. One of his most salient contributions was
his steadfast advocacy for a strong national defense. His district,
after all, is home to one of the nerve centers of our defense
community. I say to the gentleman from Richmond, Virginia (Mr. Bliley),
my friend, I fondly recall an occasion when I delivered the OCS
graduation address at the Coast Guard Reserve Training Center in
Yorktown, which is in Herb's district. After the ceremony, Herb came to
me and said, I so much enjoy coming to this place. It is beautifully
located on the banks of the York River, and Herb expressed such pride
in that Coast Guard installation; but he was equally proud of all of
the military installations in his district; and as has been indicated
by the other speakers, they are numerous.
Herb was, indeed, proud of our defense family. He was proud of his
district. He was proud of his State. I am not sure the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Bliley) mentioned this, but he was, in fact, born in
North Carolina. He may have said that early on. He was proud of this
House, the people's House. Herb often referred to it in those words,
the people's House, the Chamber closest to the people.
Finally, he was proud of his family. I know that my colleagues will
join me in extending to Laura and Herb's children our expressions of
sympathy during this time of their bereavement. I again thank the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley) for having taken this time out in
honor of Herb.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Alexandria, Virginia (Mr. Moran).
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the very
distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley) for bringing forth
this resolution to pay tribute to our friend and colleague, Herb
Bateman.
Mr. Speaker, Herb was a quintessential Virginia gentleman. He was
unfailingly polite and gracious to the people around him. He always had
a kind word for Members and staff, and he was easy to approach on any
issue that one needed to speak with him about. Herb embodied the spirit
of civility and bipartisanship that we strive for but too seldom
achieve. These personal qualities help to explain why Herb Bateman was
so well liked on both sides of the aisle.
Beyond his simple decency, Herb was a very effective Member of
Congress. He was particularly a champion for the Navy, for its
shipbuilding program, for the men and women who serve in all of our
Armed Forces. As a ranking member of the old House Merchant Marine and
Fisheries Committee, Herb was a forceful advocate for a strong U.S.
merchant fleet and its role in our national security and economic
livelihood. Generations of Virginians will long appreciate his work to
promote economic development throughout our State, both as a Member of
Congress and as a member of the Virginia State Senate.
[[Page H7434]]
I happened to host the congressional luncheon we had for the
congressional delegation last week, last Thursday. Herb was the first
one there. Every Member that came in, he greeted them warmly; he was
fully cognizant of all of the issues that each of us was concerned
about in our own districts. He was just a warm and terrific guy. He
will be sorely missed, and we extend our condolences to Herb's wife,
Laura, their children, and their many friends.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spence), the chairman of the
Committee on Armed Services, a committee on which Herb served so
faithfully.
Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, it saddens me deeply to speak of the passing
of our good friend and colleague, Herb Bateman. I have known him for a
long time, he and his wife, Laura. We have traveled to many places
together, experienced many things together. He meant a lot to me
personally and to this Nation. Our Nation has lost a respected
legislator and a stalwart defender of the men and women of our Armed
Forces.
During Herb's time in the Congress, he devoted his full time and
energy to addressing the needs of the United States military. Without
exception, his actions always reflected his sense of duty to the United
States and to our Armed Forces.
When I became Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, one of the
first acts on my part was to ask Herb to chair the Subcommittee on
Military Readiness, and also a panel concerning our sea power. Under
his leadership, the Subcommittee on Military Readiness has addressed
countless difficult issues, including the declining state of the United
States military readiness. One of his most enduring efforts as chairman
of that subcommittee was a series of field hearings he held throughout
the world on military readiness that he chaired in an effort to
personally evaluate readiness problems throughout the force.
He went to the source of our problems and got it firsthand and
brought it back to us and to our military and the Pentagon. Thanks
largely to his efforts, the administration and the senior Pentagon
leadership finally admitted to significant readiness problems in 1998.
We owe a lot to Herb for doing that. As a Nation, we owe him thanks for
his role in exposing the truth about our Nation's military.
As his friends and colleagues, we will miss him and mourn the passing
of Herb Bateman. He touched the lives of thousands in his quest to
improve our Nation's Armed Forces. Our country has lost a true patriot;
our Congress and our committee will miss his counsel, and I have lost a
good friend.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Roanoke, Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte).
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of our Virginia
delegation for yielding me this time and for bringing forth this
resolution to pay tribute to my friend, Herb Bateman, who I have known
for 20 years.
I first met Herb when he was a member of the Virginia Senate and
campaigned for the Office of Lieutenant Governor of our State, and I
remember meeting him in Roanoke 20 years ago and being impressed then
with the conviction of his beliefs and his dedication to public
service. Herb did not win that nomination for lieutenant governor; but
shortly thereafter, with the election of Paul Tribble to the U.S.
Senate, Herb ran for and won the election to the first congressional
district seat. He was so honored to represent the people of that
district, which he called not Virginia's First Congressional District,
but because it included Jamestown and Williamsburg and Yorktown, he
called it America's First Congressional District.
He was a man of great courage and convictions. I serve on the whip
team here in the House, and Herb was one of the individuals that I
would go to before every major vote to find out how he planned to vote
and Herb always had a well-founded reason why he was voting for
whatever it was that he was going to vote on, and an independent spirit
and streak that made him more than happy to stand up and disagree with
the majority on an issue if he felt it was straying from the principle
that he felt should be adhered to. He was one that I was proud to go to
for advice on many occasions, and he always took a deep interest in
whatever it was that I was doing or other Members of the House were
doing, and always tried to be helpful.
So I am going to miss my good friend, and I know everyone else here
will as well, someone who stood up for our Nation's defenses, was a
strong supporter of our space program, and a good friend to all of us.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Burton), the chairman of the Committee on Government
Reform.
(Mr. BURTON of Indiana asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Bliley) for bringing forth this resolution for our good
friend, Herb Bateman.
Herb and I were elected to the Congress together back in 1982, and I
can remember right down the hall the night that we had dinner with the
leadership, the candlelight dinner with the Marine Violin Corps playing
for us, and all of us who were elected, 26 Republicans at that time,
how touched we were by being Members of the United States Congress for
the first time in our lives. I remember Herb and Laura were really
touched by the way we were received by the leadership and what a thrill
it was for all of us to be Members of the 98th Congress of the United
States.
Herb was very well aware of history, as has been mentioned by my
colleagues. He was so proud that he represented the ``First District of
America'' where Washington and Monroe and others came from and who
later became President of the United States. He was a man of integrity.
He was a man who, if he gave his word on anything, you could take it to
the bank. Herb was not one of those guys that played both sides of the
fence. He was a man of integrity, impeccable integrity, and one that
all of us respected. He really had a grasp for the law; and when he
came down here to speak in the well, we knew that he knew what he was
talking about because he researched it very, very well and spoke from
the heart.
{time} 1745
He spoke from the heart. He was always patriotic and concerned about
what was best for America first.
One of the things about Herb that I liked was he loved the game of
golf. He was not the best golfer in the world, but he sure did like it.
As a matter of fact, he and Laura and I were together the day before
yesterday down at Leesburg playing golf, and we had a great time
together and had dinner together. He was in good spirits. He went over
to the hotel where we were going to stay for the night, and I can
recall vividly as we checked in, I said, ``Herb, we have to be up early
tomorrow morning because the gentleman from California (Mr. Packard) is
having an event and we have to be there at 8 o'clock.'' He said, ``I
will see you then. I will see you tomorrow.'' But unfortunately, he was
not with us the next morning.
So all I can say in closing is that we have lost not only a great
friend but a great American, a man who was above reproach, a man we all
respected.
I would like to say to his wife and his family, to Laura and his
family, we send our deepest sympathy to her, and we are going to miss
Herb.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman of the Committee on International
Relations.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia
(Chairman Bliley) for arranging this opportunity for us to pay our
respects to our good friend, Herb Bateman.
It is with a great deal of sadness that I join my colleagues this
evening in mourning the passing of a dear friend and a dedicated Member
of the Congress, the gentleman from Virginia, Herb Bateman. Herb was
first elected to Congress in 1982, but very quickly became known to all
of us for his expertise in the field of military expenditures, and
often reminded many of us of the need to do much more in that
direction.
Representing the defense-dependent Tidewater region of Virginia,
Herb's knowledge of the budgetary needs of
[[Page H7435]]
the Pentagon made significant invaluable contributions as chairman of
the Committee on Armed Services' Subcommittee on Military Readiness.
It was Herb Bateman who began the practice of having field commanders
testify directly before House committees, in addition to their Pentagon
superiors, which has had a direct and lasting impact on the manner in
which this body conducts its business.
Herb Bateman was also a senior member of the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, where he accomplished a great deal
to make certain that the future of our Nation's commercial waterways
was going to be attended to. As an Air Force veteran of the Korean War,
Herb was well positioned to assume a leadership role in the field of
military preparedness.
As a graduate of William and Mary College in his own region in
Virginia, and as a graduate of Georgetown University Law School, Herb
brought with him an extensive, impressive background with which to
grapple the issues facing the Congress and our Nation.
Upon his discharge from the Air Force at the conclusion of the Korean
War, Herb worked both as a practicing attorney and as a teacher,
instilling in him both a love for the legal traditions and an
appreciation of the importance of a strong education for our young
people.
Herb brought with him to the Congress 15 years of experience in the
Virginia State Senate. Legislative experience is an important aspect of
congressional life today, as we all know. We are fortunate that Herb
Bateman brought with him that kind of an insight into the legislative
process.
My spouse, Georgia, joins with me in extending our heartfelt
condolences to Herb's widow, Laura, with whom we traveled, both Herb
and Laura, on many trips; to their daughter, Laura; to their son, Herb,
Junior; to their daughter-in-law, Mary; and to the grandchildren, Emmy,
Hank, and Sam. The Bateman family can console itself with the knowledge
that many of us here in the House share their sense of loss, and that
Herb Bateman was a true gentleman, an outstanding public servant who is
going to long be missed.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest).
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, we rise here today to say good-bye to
Congressman Herb Bateman, and to extend the depths of our condolences
to Mrs. Bateman and to his family.
Mr. Bateman was known around here, the House floor, simply as Herb.
He was a quiet statesman. I served on the Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment with Herb, and also on the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, and I can tell the Members that Herb
was very generous with his opinions. In fact, I can tell the Members
that there are few people who are more pleasantly opinionated than Herb
Bateman, and we endured and enjoyed each other's company through the
legislative process.
But Herb was also generous with something else. This is what I will
always remember him by. That is, his smile and his greeting on the
House floor. When we came up to Herb, he would smile, put his hand on
our shoulder, and say good morning, and then use our name. Then we
would say good morning back.
Herb was, and will always be, a quiet statesman who has done great
things for America.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Fairfax County, Virginia (Mr. Davis).
Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a
great friend, statesman, and colleague from Virginia, Herb Bateman, who
served this body with dignity, honor, and dedication since his election
in 1982.
I first met Herb Bateman in the 1970s when he was a Democratic State
Senator from Newport News and I was a young legislative aide in
Richmond. I met him at a meeting where I was on staff and we were
revising the Juvenile Code of Virginia.
I will never forget the first meeting. He said, ``I don't know
anything about this subject. They put me on it.'' Everybody else was
instant experts in the room. At the end of the study, Herb Bateman
wrote most of the revisions of the Code. He was a doer. He was a
detailed legislator. He wanted to understand all the ramifications of
what happened.
Many times when we would have tough votes here on the floor and we
would go to Herb, he would talk about how things were being
implemented, how the bill would affect different people, how it would
play out, how it would work. Never did I hear him say, what are the
politics of this? This was a man who rose above the politics of the
moment. This body could use a few more people like him, who never
engaged in the harsh partisanship that sometimes characterizes this
body, particularly now that it is so closely divided.
Herb was a gentleman always, a great patriot. I will never forget his
kind and valuable tutelage when I first came here to the House, his
leadership on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and
of course, his leadership on military affairs, something many of my
colleagues have spoken about here, and his undying support for the
Newport News shipyard, where he was just a staunch defender here in the
House of Representatives, and the teamwork with Senator Warner I think
has saved that institution and made it much of what it is today,
through some very trying times.
On a political and ideological level there was much to learn from
Herb: his fiscal conservatism, his commitment to restraining big
government and protecting the taxpayers' interests. I will never
forget, one year the national taxpayer groups came out with a rating of
what Member of Congress, not just in their votes but in the bills that
they cosponsored, what was the total cost, and Herb Bateman was the
frugalest of all of the Members.
Never one for fanfare, to put his name on a bill to get him votes
here and there, he was always conscious this was the people's money,
not his own money to spend. His record bore that out. It did in subtle
ways, never with a big press release, but the groups that came in and
examined this could confirm Herb's commitment to the taxpayer.
His unwavering support of a strong military and the men and women who
dedicate their lives to protecting our Nation seemed to be a part of
everything he did here. He was very concerned about what has happened
to our military over the last decade. Always first and foremost in his
mind is what can we do for defense.
There was his dedication to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, his
leadership on these issues, and so much more.
I mourn his loss as a friend and colleague, but in truth, the loss of
Herb Bateman is a loss to the national landscape. This body could use
more legislators like Herb Bateman. More than just a Member of
Congress, he will be remembered as a father, a husband, a teacher, an
attorney, an Air Force lieutenant, defender of freedom around the
world.
I want to extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Laura, and their
children. One of his sons is a Newport News city councilman today. I
cannot tell the Members how very much I will miss this great man.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Riley).
Mr. RILEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to
me, and for organizing this.
Mr. Speaker, when I first heard of Herb Bateman's death, it reminded
me again never to put off things that we need to do today.
I have had the privilege of serving on Herb Bateman's subcommittee
for the last 4 years. The one thing that I wanted to do before his
retirement was have the opportunity to take Herb to lunch and thank him
for all he has meant to me personally over the last 4 years.
Herb is one of those really unique people that I have met in life
that I really think made me a better person, and I know made me a
better Congressman. Herb had a way about him on our subcommittee. He
had a way of working with new Members to make us feel comfortable, but
to also teach us about dedication, teach us about patriotism.
Herb has been a great influence on my life and on the lives of so
many other Congressmen here. I only wish that I had had the opportunity
to take Herb and specifically tell him how much he has meant to me in
my 4 years here.
I will miss Herb Bateman. Virginia has lost a great son. America has
lost
[[Page H7436]]
a great patriot. I have lost a great friend. I want to tell Laura and
the children and all of his family that we will continue to remember
them in our prayers, and we thank them for the opportunity of knowing
him.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Jacksonville, Florida (Mrs. Fowler).
Mrs. FOWLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to
me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to join my colleagues in
paying tribute to an accomplished legislator, a genuine patriot, a true
gentleman, and a valued friend. Representative Herb Bateman of Virginia
departed this world yesterday, but his legacy will endure for many
years to come.
Herb's life was one of distinguished public service. Upon graduation
from the College of William and Mary, he enlisted in the Air Force and
served during the Korean War. He went on to receive a law degree from
Georgetown University, and served as a clerk with the United States
Court of Appeals.
After returning to his hometown of Newport News, Virginia, to
practice law, he ran for and secured a seat in the Virginia Senate,
where he served for 15 years, and subsequently he ran for this great
U.S. House of Representatives, serving for 9 successive terms.
During that time, Herb emerged as a leading supporter of our men and
women in uniform, and a staunch defender of America's national security
interests. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Readiness of the
Committee on Armed Services, on which I served, his judicious approach,
his gentlemanly demeanor, his careful attention to detail, and his
strong hand helped that subcommittee navigate often rocky shoals.
His chairmanship of the subcommittee in the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure was marked by a similar focus and
dedication. Herb's unshakable commitment to our Nation's servicemen and
women, ensuring their readiness, enhancing their working conditions,
and improving their quality of life, was a lodestar for our committee.
Much public discussion of late has focused on the readiness
challenges facing our military personnel, and this Congress has been
moved to augment the resources available to our military to address
those woes. Much of the credit for that belongs to Herb Bateman.
As one who served with Herb on both the Committee on Armed Services
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and who was
fortunate to get to travel with Herb and his wife, Laura, on several
occasions and get to know them really well personally, I am truly going
to miss him deeply.
Our Nation, the commonwealth of Virginia, and his constituents in the
First District have lost a true statesman and a strong champion. I
extend my most heartfelt sympathies to Laura, to his children, Herbert
Junior, and to Laura, and his beloved grandchildren, whom I know he
cherished most of all.
Herb, we will truly miss you.
{time} 1800
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Pickett).
Mr. PICKETT. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness and grief that I rise in
this Chamber today. Herb Bateman was a long-time friend, and someone I
enjoyed working with. We began working together when he was in the
State Senate and I was in the House of Delegates in the General
Assembly of Virginia. I also had the occasion to work with him in the
practice of law.
Herb was a talented, thoughtful person who believed that the public's
business should be conducted in an open and an objective forum with
dignity and respect, both for the process and the individuals
participating in it.
He was a thoughtful and articulate man who presented his views with
eloquence in a logical, persuasive, and convincing way. But he was not
only a knowledgeable and effective advocate, he loved his family and
was generous and firm in his support.
He and his wife, Laura, were an entertaining and engaging couple.
They were great companions and loved to travel and played golf. They
were both genteel and understanding in their friendship and in their
willingness to support and help others in times of adversity.
Herb Bateman was a man of character and stature who earned our
respect and left a record of hard work and accomplishment. He will be
missed by his friends, but he will also be missed by his community, his
State, and his Nation.
Herb was a man of ideas and vision. For more than 25 years it was my
pleasure to work with him on legislative issues in the General Assembly
of Virginia and in the House of Representatives of the United States. I
will miss his comfortable friendship, his wise counsel, and his
dedicated leadership.
I extend my profound sympathies and condolences to his family with
the knowledge that God's grace will see them through this difficult
period.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the Chief Deputy Whip.
Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for
yielding to me and for taking time to recognize the great service today
of our friend, Herb Bateman. Herb, in so many ways, served our country
so well, as a Member of the General Assembly, as a Member of the
Congress, as a serviceman during the Korean War, and felt so strongly
about our country and felt so strongly about his State and felt so
strongly about our institutions.
When Herb Bateman talked about the First District, he did not like to
talk about Virginia's First District, he liked to talk about America's
First District, as he really enjoyed the tremendous heritage of Newport
News and Williamsburg and the great foundation building of our country.
I was able to work with Herb as we worked hard to make some
arrangements that helped preserve the original, the boyhood home of
George Washington, Ferry Farm, in his district.
Recently we were talking about what we could do to more appropriately
honor the memory of James Monroe whose law office was in Fredricksburg
in his district.
I had a chance to be part of the delegation to the NATO Parliament
with Herb Bateman, a group that is headed by the gentleman from
Virginia (Chairman Bliley) as the president of that group. Herb's
support of our country was always so strong and so well presented in
those forums where people from other countries came together. He was a
man of gentle persuasion, but a man of strong feelings; and he was a
man who enjoyed life.
As we talk at my house about our good friends, Herb Bateman and Laura
Bateman, we always talk about the superlatives he was able to use to
describe almost every event or every day or every happening or every
friendship. I do not know that I was ever around anybody who would more
frequently use words like magnificent and fantastic and splendid to
describe what we have as Americans or to describe his opportunities.
I am glad to be able to join with those here today who remember him
as we will continue to work for civil aviation and research and the
military in his memory in the remainder of this Congress and the years
ahead.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Bliley) for yielding me the time and for introducing a resolution on a
very special man.
Herb Bateman represented the First District of Virginia. Well, he is
first in the hearts of the people of this Congress and the people of
his district and the people of his Nation.
Herb served for 30 years in elective office and then very
reluctantly, because of his health, said this would be his last term.
Little did he realize it would be his last opportunity to be with his
family, with his wonderful wife, Laura, and all of his family and
friends, to just relax and not worry about schedules.
He was, in the truest sense, a gentleman who was a patriot. He served
in the military. He, in Congress, paid attention to those issues. He
was also a gentleman in terms of how he treated others. He was always
very fair and compassionate with a sense of humor, the kind of thing
that we need, as Lincoln said, to bring out the better angels of our
nature; and Herb Bateman did that.
[[Page H7437]]
We will all miss him. I hope that we will all look to him as a role
model, particularly when we deliberate issues and recognize that there
are issues that really require us to all come together.
So to Laura and to his family, he will live on in love. We will miss
him.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Packard).
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, I did not come here to the floor with the intention of
speaking, but I could not help but participate in this discussion to
honor Herb Bateman and his wife and family. They came to Congress with
me. We were classmates together. We quickly became very close friends.
My wife, Jean, and Laura Bateman became close friends quickly. I have
been into his district many, many times, at least once a year, and saw
the love and the appreciation that his constituency had for him and the
work that he was doing.
But he was one of those who I would consider one of the real
gentleman of the Congress. He got along with both sides of the aisle.
He worked with all people. He was gentle in his approach. He was my
kind of a gentleman in the Congress. He was a statesman. I learned to
love him a great deal and appreciate the work he has done and his
commitment and loyalty to America and the principles that we stand for.
He will be sorely missed.
I was shocked yesterday to find that he was scheduled to be involved
in an event that I was sponsoring only to find that he was taken to the
hospital and later died. I want to pay tribute to him as a gentleman, a
man of conviction, as a great American, and one that I love dearly.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Buyer).
Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, while it deeply saddens me to stand in the
well here to pay tribute to my dear friend and former colleague, Mr.
Bateman, I can do so with fond memories, as I pass the love and
thoughts and prayers from Joni and my family to Laura and Herb's
family.
It is individuals like Herb Bateman that give the American system of
government, indeed this legislative body, honor, dignity and respect.
His character embodied by faith, hard work, discipline and commitment
serve as an example to us all.
He distinguished himself with a sense of justice and sound judgment.
He was known for his superior knowledge, ethics, and both physical and
moral courage. Above else, he was a man of integrity.
As a Member of Congress, he possessed the political prowess and
saviness that is necessary in the legislative process. But he did it to
help ensure this Nation's military readiness was the best in the world.
As a young veteran in Korea, in the war, he demonstrated the
unselfish commitment and sacrifice, like many of our great forefathers
that have come before us.
As a colleague, he was a mentor and confidant and a true inspiration
as I served with him, junior, on the Committee on Armed Services. Most
importantly, though, he was a friend; and he will be missed.
Many of us shared Herb's values and beliefs of duty, honor, and
courage; commitments to God, country, and family and our fellow man. He
will be greatly missed but his legacy will live on.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Ortiz).
(Mr. ORTIZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, with a heavy heart, I rise and support this
resolution before the House today to commemorate the life and service
of our colleague, Herb Bateman and, at this time, would like to offer
my condolences to his lovely wife, Laura; his children; and his
grandchildren.
I will never forget the special memories I made with Herb when we
were in Europe just a few weeks ago. We were of the legislative
delegation visiting our troops in Scotland, Italy, and Germany. As
always, Herb was investigating whether the people in the field were
getting the equipment which we had paid for.
In Herb's service, one of the things that always impressed me was the
attitude towards the soldier in the field.
This institution can be rightly proud that the Chairman of our
Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Readiness, of
which I was his ranking man, was led by a man so completely immersed in
the needs of the everyday soldier and sailor in the military.
He was an effective advocate for the interests of his district, to be
sure, but that quiet advocacy was always applied to seeing to the basic
needs of those who wear our military's uniform.
Herb was a real gentleman. Again, to his friends and family, Laura, I
offer my condolences.
Herb was a real gentleman, and he treated people with great respect--
from presidents to generals to Capitol Hill staffers to new recruits in
the field.
While he was a Republican and I am a Democrat, our partisan
affiliations never affected how we went about our work.
One of the things that I loved most about Herb was the way he
conducted his business without partisan rife.
When the defense authorization bill was in conference, he was always
careful to tend to the needs of individual members on the committee--
which I appreciated very much.
We did business the same way that way--the national defense of the
United States is not a partisan endeavor.
Neither of us are strident partisans, and working toward a larger
purpose on our national defense was our common goal.
When we were in the field, he was dogged about seeing that the
taxpayer's money was well spent.
Tonight, I am thinking about my friend, Herb Bateman, but my
sympathies are with his beautiful family, particularly his lovely wife
Laura.
Laura always traveled with Herb and I got to know them as a couple,
away from the rigors of Capitol Hill and the legislative grind we face
each day.
There will be one legacy that should be forever associated with Herb
Bateman--his passion and his commitment to keeping the troops who wear
the uniform of the United States ready for war.
Together, we tackled a host of issues that affected the readiness of
the U.S. military.
I hope that in Herb's memory, this chamber can celebrate the non-
partisan patriotism that his example brought to us.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) who leads our delegation to the North Atlantic
Assembly, with whom Herb traveled frequently.
(Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, when the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Bliley) called my office yesterday to inform me of the passing from
this life of our colleague Herbert Bateman, my wife Louise and I were
shocked and profoundly saddened by his departure from this life, and we
want to convey to Laura Bateman and to the family of the Batemans and
their close friends our most sincere condolences.
Herbert Bateman is one of those colleagues that I had great pleasure
to serve with. He was, in the modern sense of the word, a patriot. He
took great pride in representing the people of the First Congressional
District of Virginia. So much profound historical importance, so many
important personalities came from that part of Virginia that our friend
Herb never tired of citing the examples for us to live up to as a
result of the heritage of the District that he represented.
It is true, as mentioned by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley)
that, in fact, Herbert Bateman was a very active, a very involved
Member of the delegation that met with the North Atlantic Assembly, now
called the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. He represented the House very
well in that capacity, as I am sure he did in all of his activities,
especially the Committee on Armed Services, which was very important to
Herb, very important to his District.
I admired Herb Bateman for many, many reasons, but among them is the
fact that he would, after examining an issue, be true to his
commitments. Herb could be the only person voting for an issue if he
felt that was the right way to vote.
When one says integrity, when one says conviction, with respect to
Herb Bateman, that is not an exaggeration. He provided great service to
his District. He provided an example for all of
[[Page H7438]]
us to live up to in the course of our service here in the U.S. House of
Representatives.
We will miss greatly Herb Bateman. I wish he had had a chance to
enjoy his retirement which was upcoming. I know he thought he spent his
time well here, and so did all of us.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Rogers).
Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, when they write the book on the model
congressman, I think Herb Bateman should be chapter one. Here is a
gentleman who, although soft spoken most of the time, when he saw a
wrong-headed position being taken or he saw the Nation's interest being
flaunted, there could be no more forceful speaker than Herb Bateman. We
have all seen him in our caucus and on this very floor. He would take
the floor infrequently, but when he did, we knew something was on his
mind, and he spoke it very, very well; and he was forceful.
He was a man, a Representative who I think, in the truest sense of
that word, represented his people extremely well here in this body. He
paid attention to the needs of his people back home. He knew their
problems. He worked their problems. He tended to his people's business
here in a most efficient way. He truly was a representative of his
people.
{time} 1815
Then on national issues, Herb was one of the House's experts on
military matters, of course a very forceful advocate for a strong
national defense in the Committee on Armed Services and on the floor of
this body, and indeed, as the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter)
has said, in places like the NATO Council and the international bodies
that he attended overseas, representing this House and representing our
country in a most effective and heartfelt way.
There is no more reasonable person than Herb Bateman. There can also
be a Herb Bateman that could let you know exactly how he felt from the
tip of his toes all the way up. This body will miss this great
statesman. We will miss this personal friend. We wish for Laura and the
family all the very best.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Hastings).
(Mr. HASTINGS of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for
yielding me the time.
Mr. Speaker, when I came to Congress in 1992, among the first
committees that I had the pleasure of serving on was the Merchant
Marine Committee; and at that time Herb Bateman was the ranking member.
I knew very little about the process, and it may come as a surprise
to some that a person like Herb would take time to walk me through a
number of the issues that were critical both to Virginia and the State
of Florida.
I join our colleagues in offering condolences to his family. I got to
know him in the way that he is, a quietly effective person who,
obviously, is a tremendous patriot and statesman and will be missed by
all of us here in this Congress.
I am grateful that I had the pleasure of getting to know such a
distinguished gentleman as Herbert Bateman.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Reyes).
(Mr. REYES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for
yielding me the time.
Mr. Speaker, during these difficult times where we truly understand
the relationship that we have with each other, whether or not we agree
politically, whether or not we sit on the same side of the aisle, I had
the opportunity to learn from Herb Bateman, an individual who served
this country in so many different ways.
Earlier when I found out that he was in fact going to be retiring at
the end of this term, I asked him, I said, Herb, how do you know when
it is time to retire? He said, ``Every individual knows individually
when it is time to go. For me, I want to go home and I want to spend
time with my family and with Laura.''
This evening, as we pay tribute to Herb, I want Laura and his two
children and his grandchildren to know that Herb was a man that we all
deeply respected, a man that we loved, and that, although at times we
might have disagreed with him politically, we are truly all in this
together, and we feel your loss every bit as much as you do.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon), a member of the Committee on Armed Services.
(Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to revise
and extend his remarks.)
Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for
yielding me the time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in shock and disbelief. I never would have
imagined last Wednesday and Thursday as we sat on the conference
committee between the House and the Senate working out the differences
between our two bills on defense sitting next to Herb Bateman, where
Herb was aggressively vocal on issues that were important to our
military personnel, important to the readiness of our troops, that we
would be eulogizing today Herb on the floor.
Just 6 short weeks ago, Herb and Laura were guests of ours in
Philadelphia at the convention where we entertained 100 Members of
Congress for the entire week at our former military base. Herb was in
great spirits and looking forward to his retirement so he could spend
more time with his family. He was planning the kinds of things that he
was going to do when he no longer had the pressures that are obvious
here in this body.
Unfortunately, today we have to acknowledge Herb's leadership and his
passing and he never got to enjoy that retirement with his wife and his
family. But what a legacy Herb left for all of us.
He was the ultimate in terms of what a Member of Congress should be.
He had integrity. He was hard working. There was not a dishonest bone
in his body. He was dedicated both to his Virginia district, but he
also was dedicated to the people of America who serve in uniform. He
was always looking for the right way to make sure that our troops who
were serving around the world were properly prepared and trained and
protected to represent this great Nation.
Herb was the consummate Member of Congress. When he got into an
issue, you knew that Herb would stay with that issue because he
believed it to be the right issue and the right side of that position
whether or not our party was for it or against it. Herb had conviction.
Herb was someone you could always count on to be presenting the right
thing in terms of our military but for other groups. He was a strong
supporter of our fire and EMS community, looking for ways to help
support the volunteers and the paid firefighters down in Virginia and
around the country. He was someone who all of us could use as a role
model, as I did for the years that I have served in this body, having
first met Herb as a junior member of both the Merchant Marine Committee
and the Committee on Armed Services.
He will be sadly missed. And to Laura and his family, we say, Laura,
our thoughts and our prayers are with you. Herb has done a great deed,
and he truly is a statesman.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Tanner).
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, when Betty Ann and I came to Congress in
1989, Herb and Laura were some of the first people we met. I was on the
Committee on Armed Services at the time. And he was a good and decent
man. More than that, he was a gentleman and a friend to me, he and
Laura to Betty Ann and I.
We traveled many times on CODELs to the NATO meetings with I see the
gentleman from Nebraska (Chairman Bereuter) over there and the
gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Bliley). And I could just simply go
on and on.
I am going to say this about Herb Bateman: he looked for the best in
others, and he gave us the best he had. He always put his constituents
and his country first. And if there were more Members of Congress like
Herb Bateman, this place would be a better place
[[Page H7439]]
and our country would be the better for it.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
(Mr. EHLERS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to speak about Herb Bateman,
although, there is little I can add to all that has been said already.
I am a junior Member of this body and have not worked with him for
long. But I have been with him on the Committee on Transportation and
the Infrastructure and always appreciated his forthrightness, his
capability, and the attitude with which he attacked the work,
particularly that work dealing with the military.
But, in addition to that, I do have to say that Herb was the
consummate Virginia gentleman. I always found him to be extremely
gentlemanly, very helpful, very thoughtful, very thorough.
My best knowledge of him comes from the trips we have taken to Europe
as part of the NATO parliamentary assembly that has been ably led by
the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter). Herb was a regular on those
trips, along with his wife Laura; and he always had a major
contribution to make.
He was much more diplomatic than I am, because I tend to ask very
direct questions and hope for direct answers; but Herb was at his best
in dealing with individuals from foreign countries. He would ask those
same questions and, hidden underneath the way he asked it, it was still
a very direct question; but asked in a very diplomatic and very
statesman-like way. In his behavior, in his actions, and particularly
in his interaction and questioning with leaders from foreign countries.
I will never forget the lessons that I have learned from him. I
deeply appreciated Herb in all aspects of his life that I dealt with
him. It is with great sorrow that I learned about his demise this past
week.
I certainly wish his family, and especially Laura, God's blessings
and comfort at this sad time; and I can only say that Herb was a
wonderful man and you can be proud of him as a husband, father, and
grandfather.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives suffered an
enormous loss yesterday with the death of our colleague Herb Bateman.
Herb was the consummate gentleman and a fine American. I had the honor
to serve with him for the past fifteen years and have never known a
more caring and capable Member.
Herb's list of accomplishments is seemingly never ending. Here are
just a few examples of Herb's contribution to this body and this
country. As a member of the Military Readiness Subcommittee and the
House Merchant Marine Panel, Herb was a leader in helping America make
the right decisions in regard to commercial and defense related
maritime issues. He was instrumental in the clean-up of the Chesapeake
Bay, bringing more than $200 million from the federal government to
preserve the Bay. Finally, Herb always held steadfast in his fiscal
discipline and I have long admired his work on behalf of the nation's
taxpayers.
America also lost one of its cherished veterans yesterday. Herb
enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War and for his service, we
owe him a debt of gratitude.
My heart and my prayers go out today to Herb's wife Laura, his two
children and his extended family. My thoughts also go out to the
citizens of the First District of Virginia, to which Herb
affectionately referred as ``America's First District.'' They will
sorely miss his outstanding leadership.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I was saddened yesterday to hear of
the death of my longtime colleague, Herb Bateman. I had the pleasure of
serving with Herb on the former Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
from the beginning of his first term in Congress in 1983 until the
Committee was dissolved in 1995, and since that time on the
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Having seen his work
firsthand on these Committees, I can tell you that the United States
maritime and shipbuilding industries have had no greater friend. He not
only received the Propeller Club of the United States Maritime Industry
Salute to Congress Award in 1995, but after announcing his retirement
earlier this year, he was awarded the first ever Herbert H. Bateman
Award by the American Shipbuilding Association and the Helen Delich
Bentley Award by the Propeller Club of the Port of Washington. In his
own district, he worked hard to see that the port of Hampton Roads
remained competitive, and introduced legislation, which ultimately
became law, to deepen the channels there to 55 feet.
During his tenure on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, he
served as the Ranking Member of the Oceanography and Merchant Marine
Subcommittees. On the Oceanography Subcommittee, he successfully
shepherded through legislation that created the National Oceanographic
and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Office, and
authorized the Sea Grant oyster disease research program. That research
has led to the first small steps that are now being taken to restore
oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay. Much of that work is being
done at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at Gloucester Point.
On the Merchant Marine Subcommittee, he authored legislation that
established the National Shipbuilding Initiative.
During his freshman term, he served on the Science Committee where he
worked to support the interests of the space and aeronautical programs
at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Langley Research
Center in Hampton, Virginia. His wife of 46 years, Laura Yacobi
Bateman, worked at Langley before their marriage. He also used those
two years to assure that the Department of Energy's Continuous Electron
Beam Accelerator Facility would be located in Newport News, Virginia.
He was successful in that effort, and the completed facility is now
conducting cutting edge research that will help us understand the most
basic structure of the physical world. He also led the efforts to
rename the facility for his personal political hero, and it is now the
Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory.
For the last 16 years, he served on the Armed Services Committee. On
that Committee, he served as the ranking member of the Military
Personnel Subcommittee for three terms, and later as the Chairman of
the Military Readiness Subcommittee. He also chaired the Armed Services
Committee panels on Morale, Welfare and Recreation and the Merchant
Marine. In addition to working to assure that U.S. troops were treated
fairly, and that the readiness of U.S. forces was maintained, Herb
fought to secure construction of new nuclear aircraft carriers and new
attack submarines. The construction of these vessels not only meant
jobs for the largest employer in his district, Newport News
Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, but more importantly assured our
ability to project force throughout the world, when needed, and to
protect our shores from attack.
While he served on the Committee, two attack submarines were named
for the two largest cities in his district, Hampton and Newport News.
He was very proud that Laura served as the sponsor of the U.S.S.
Hampton, which was named for her hometown. In keeping with maritime
tradition, she conferred luck on the vessel by christening it on the
first swing of the champagne bottle. The U.S.S. Newport News was named
after Herb's hometown, where he had moved to as a child.
Herb also worked to protect the numerous other military facilities in
his district, and was proud that none were closed during the base
closing process. The facilities in his district included the Army
Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, the Army Transportation
Command at Fort Eustis, the Naval Weapons Center at Dahlgren, the Aegis
Training Center at Wallops Island, on Army training facility at Fort
A.P. Hill, and Langley Air Force Base in Hampton. Not only did he
support military facilities when in Congress, but he also served in the
Armed Forces as an Air Force intelligence officer.
Herb was proud to represent Virginia's First Congressional District,
which he liked to call ``America's First District''. The district
included not only Jamestown, where American representative government
was founded, but also Williamsburg where America's democratic tradition
was nurtured and matured, and Yorktown where our country's freedom was
finally won. During his first term, a resolution that he sponsored was
adopted to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Paris that formally
ended the Revolutionary War. In fact, Herb was honored to represent the
U.S. Congress when he joined the Speaker of the British House of
Commons, the Honorable Betty Boothroyd, in 1994 to celebrate the 375th
Anniversary of the first meeting of an elected representative body in
North America, the Virginia House of Burgesses. The House of Burgesses
was the predecessor of the Virginia State Senate where Herb served from
1968 until he came to Congress.
At different times, his district also included the James River
plantations, the birthplaces of both George Washington and Robert E.
Lee, and many Civil War battlefields. These include sites of the two
Peninsula campaigns, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and the battle
of Fredricksburg. He was successful in gaining Federal assistance for
the privately-owned George Washington childhood home
[[Page H7440]]
site, and funds to acquire additional historic property that was
threatened by inappropriate development at the Fredricksburg and
Spotsylvania National Battlefield Parks, and adjacent to the Colonial
National Parkway.
In addition to the founding of Jamestown, and the defeat of
Cornwallis at Yorktown, another major historic event occurred in the
waters just off the Virginia Peninsula, the battle of the Monitor and
Merrimac, or as the confederates called it, the Virginia. This one-day
battle changed the course of Naval warfare forever. Unfortunately, the
Monitor was lost soon afterward off the coast of North Carolina. The
Monitor was located in 1972, and became the first United States
National Marine Sanctuary. The Sanctuary headquarters is located at
the Mariners' Museum only a few blocks from Herb and Laura's Newport
News home. At Herb's request, Congress required the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to prepare a report on the long-
term conservation of the MONITOR. As a result of that study, a multi-
year project is underway to stabilize the wreck, and recover, conserve,
and display historically significant portions of the vessel. I am sure
Herb will be pleased to know that these important historic artifacts
will be protected and displayed so near his home.
Also near his home is the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel. He
helped secure the funds and permits for this important transportation
project as well as the widening of the Coleman Bridge and I-95
improvements in the rapidly growing northern part of the district.
In addition to its military, historic and scientific research
facilities, Herb's district includes important natural features. He
represented most of Virginia adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay, including
much of the James, York, Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers. His district
also includes the last significant chain of underdeveloped barrier
islands which run along the Atlantic Coast from Chincoteague to Cape
Charles. These islands lie off the Eastern Shore of Virginia, a rural
area of great natural beauty that Herb was particularly proud to serve.
In addition to supporting funding for the federal Chesapeake Bay
Program, he also authored legislation that was adopted by Congress to
create the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge,
supported the creation of the Rappahannock National Wildlife Refuge,
and successfully sought funds to expand the Chincoteague National
Wildlife Refuge. This year, Congress is expected to approve funds he
sought to begin construction of a new education and administrative
center on Chincoteague, one of the most frequently visited refuges in
the country. Herb also authored legislation to ban the use of highly
toxic tributyltin paints in shallow waters. That ban has now been in
effect for over a decade.
Herb was educated and worked in the historic areas he was so proud to
represent. After attending Newport News High School, he, like Thomas
Jefferson, graduated from the College of William and Mary. While in the
Air Force, he completed a law degree at Georgetown University Law
School at night. After leaving the Service, he joined the Newport News,
Virginia, law firm of Jones, Blechman, Woltz and Kelly. He retired from
the firm as a partner when he was elected to Congress. After coming to
Congress, he received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater in
1997. He also received an honorary degree from Christopher Newport
College in 1992 and Mary Washington College in 1999.
This is not a comprehensive list of Herb's work and achievements
during his time in Congress, but it shows you how his life and work
were intertwined with the parts of tidewater Virginia that he so ably
represented for 18 years. I know his constituents will miss him, and it
saddens me to think that he will not be able to enjoy the retirement
that he planned to begin in January. My sympathy goes out to Laura, his
children Bert and Laura, Bert's wife Mary, and Herb's beloved
grandchildren, Emmy, Hank and Sam.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, Herb Bateman was more than an outstanding
Congressman. He was an outstanding American and a fine gentleman. We
contributed mightily to his District, his state and the nation. He
served together on the Transportation and Infrastructure committee
where his wise advice was sought and followed. We travelled together on
several Delegation trips around the world, and he and his wife, Laura,
were a delight to be with.
America is less bright today because of the passing of my friend and
colleague, Herb Bateman. But America is better today because of his
life. May he rest in peace.
Mr. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness and a heavy heart
that I come to the floor to pay tribute to our colleague, Congressman
Herb Bateman of Virginia.
Herb was a great gentleman and an excellent Congressman. Herb spent
much of his life dedicated to the career of public service, serving his
country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War,
representing the people of Virginia in the Virginia State Senate for 15
years, and representing the First Congressional District of Virginia in
the United States Congress for 18 years.
Herb was a man of honor and integrity who was respected by colleagues
on both sides of the aisle. He fought for the principles of the people
he represented, and he never wavered in those efforts. I am honored to
have had the opportunity to work with Herb Bateman over the past four
years. He was a good friend and a great Congressman. The United States
House of Representatives was a better place with the service of Herb
Bateman. I know that I share the entire sentiment of the Congress in
offering the condolences of the Congress to Herb's family and friends.
He will be sorely missed by all of us.
General Leave
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on House Resolution 573.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shaw). Is there objection to the request
of the gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I
move the previous question on the resolution.
The previous question was ordered.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to recommit was laid on the table.
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