[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 114 (Friday, September 22, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THE PORT OF GALVESTON, AND CARNIVAL 
                              CRUISE LINES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NICK LAMPSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 22, 2000

  Mr. LAMPSON Mr. Speaker, today I honor the City of Galveston, the 
Port of Galveston, and Carnival Cruise Lines on a very historic 
occasion. On September 27, 2000, the Texas Cruise Ship terminal at Pier 
25 on Galveston Island will be rededicated. This $10.6 million 
renovation and refurbishment of the historic 73-year-old terminal will 
equip the facility to serve as a home port for Carnival Cruise Line's 
1,486-passenger vessel Celebration.
  From the end of World War I until the late 1930s, luxury passenger 
ships owned by the Mallory Lines regularly sailed twice a week between 
Galveston and New York. A commitment was made in the mid-1980's by City 
of Galveston officials to develop a cruise terminal on Galveston Island 
and market the city to major cruise lines once again. The Celebration 
will result in 20 ship port-o-calls in 2000 and 79 in 2001. It is 
estimated that the local economic impact will amount to approximately 
$40 million annually from ship and passenger spending.
  Mister Speaker, this is an exciting time to be a Galvestonian. I 
would like to applaud everyone throughout the community who made this 
dream a reality. When the first ship sets sail on September 30, it will 
usher in a new era of Gulf Coast cruise operations out of the Port of 
Galveston.

                          ____________________