[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 18, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H10181-H10183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RICHARD J. GUADAGNO HEADQUARTERS AND VISITORS CENTER DESIGNATION ACT

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3334) to designate the Richard J. Guadagno Headquarters and 
Visitors Center at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3334

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF RICHARD J. GUADAGNO HEADQUARTERS 
                   AND VISITORS CENTER.

       (a) Designation.--The headquarters and visitors center at 
     Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, located at 1020 Ranch 
     Road in Loleta, California, is designated as the Richard J. 
     Guadagno Headquarters and Visitors Center.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to such 
     building is deemed to be a reference to the Richard J. 
     Guadagno Headquarters and Visitors Center.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) and the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) 
each will control 20 minutes.

[[Page H10182]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest).
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3334, a bill to name 
the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center after Mr. 
Richard J. Guadagno.
  Mr. Guadagno was a refuge manager until his life was tragically ended 
on September 11 by terrorists with the crash of United Airlines Flight 
93 in Pennsylvania. Mr. Guadagno was only 38 years old, and spent 17 
years working for the Fish and Wildlife Service.
  During his distinguished career, he was a biologist, wildlife 
inspector, refuge employee at five units of the system, and he became 
the refuge manager for the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge in 
March of last year. As a refuge manager, Mr. Guadagno was a dedicated, 
hard-working, and energetic public servant who made the completion of 
the visitor's center one of his highest priorities.
  According to his colleagues, it was his vision that the American 
people should have an enhanced opportunity to see the natural wonders 
and the wildlife diversity of Humboldt Bay, and gain an appreciation 
for their beauty and importance. This refuge is home to more than 200 
bird species, four endangered species, and hundreds of acres of 
essential wetland habitat.
  This refuge, which is on the northern California coast, is a popular 
attraction for thousands of visitors each year. It is a fitting tribute 
to name the visitor's center for him in recognition of his tireless 
efforts to make this a place of peace, rest and learning.
  Following his untimely death, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton 
wrote to Mr. Guadagno's parents, to tell them that their son was a 
beloved colleague, a model professional, and one of our Nation's 
heroes.
  In addition, the acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Mr. Marshall Jones, wrote a letter to the 8,400 employees of 
the service in which he said that ``Rich was proud to achieve his goal 
of becoming a project leader of a major refuge. He never lacked the 
courage to do the right thing.''
  Finally, his immediate supervisor, Ms. Anne Badgley, a regional 
director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, wrote, ``Rich was one 
of our finest managers in the National Wildlife Refuge System, and he 
will be sorely missed.''
  The Richard J. Guadagno Visitor's Center will be more than brick and 
mortar. It will be an ever-regenerative repository of knowledge and 
hope.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment the author of the bill, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) for his leadership, and I urge 
an aye vote on H.R. 3334.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. UNDERWOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3334 would name the headquarters and 
the new visitor's center of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge 
in California for Richard J. Guadagno, the refuge manager who lost his 
life in the crash of Flight 93 on September 11.
  Introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Thompson), the bill has 135 cosponsors, including the gentleman from 
Utah (Chairman Hansen) and the ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Resources, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall).
  I congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) for his 
efforts to honor a public servant whose life sadly ended much too soon. 
Regrettably, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) is 
unavoidably detained today on important business in his district, and 
consequently he is unable to be here this afternoon to speak on his 
bill. I know that he sincerely appreciates the expedited consideration 
of this legislation, which would honor a remarkable constituent of his.
  Richard Guadagno was only 38 years old, yet he had worked for the 
Fish and Wildlife Service for some 17 years in numerous refuges around 
the country, from Oregon to New Jersey. According to all who knew him 
well, he had a passion for wildlife management and worked tirelessly to 
enhance the habitat of the refuge system. He also was committed to 
providing public access and developing strong partnerships with other 
groups committed to the conservation of the refuge system.
  Appointed as the refuge manager at Humboldt Bay in early 2000, he had 
made the completion of the visitors center there one of his top 
priorities, as it would enable even more people to enjoy the refuge and 
all that it had to offer.
  While there is little we can say to ease the sorrow of the family and 
friends of Richard Guadagno, I am hopeful they will get some comfort 
from knowing that he was such a well-liked and well-respected public 
servant who devoted every day to a job which he clearly loved. That is 
something that they can be very proud of.
  Naming this visitor's center and the headquarters of the Humboldt Bay 
National Wildlife Refuge in honor of Mr. Guadagno will ensure that his 
work on behalf of the wildlife and their habitat will not be forgotten.
  On behalf of the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) and myself, 
I urge the adoption of the pending measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood), 
the staff, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) for this 
legislation. The House salutes Mr. Guadagno and his family in their 
time of sorrow.
  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.R. 3334, the Richard J. Guadagno Headquarters and Visitors 
Center Designation Act. First, let me thank the distinguished gentleman 
from Utah, the Chairman of the Resources Committee, and the 
distinguished gentleman from West Virginia, the Ranking Member of the 
Resources Committee, for their efforts in bringing this bill to the 
floor. I would also like to recognize the distinguished Chairman and 
Ranking Member of the Fisheries, Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans 
Subcommittee for their hard work in moving this important legislation 
forward.
  I introduced this legislation to honor the memory of one of my 
constituents, Richard J. Guadagno, who perished aboard United Flight 
93. Rich was the manager of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge 
and devoted his life to the preservation of wildlife. This legislation 
will designate the Headquarters and Visitors Center of the Humboldt Bay 
National Wildlife Refuge as the Richard J. Guadagno Headquarters and 
Visitors Center.
  As we know, the passengers aboard Flight 93 undoubtedly saved 
hundreds, if not thousands, of lives by thwarting the disastrous intent 
of the terrorists. Rich had a law enforcement background that would 
have aided him in his convictions and his desire to prevent an even 
greater tragedy. All Americans, especially those of us who work at the 
U.S. Capitol, have these brave individuals to thank for preventing 
terror on September 11th, 2001.
  Rich was also a hero to all those who care about wildlife and the 
environment. Rich began a career in public service as a biologist at 
the New Jersey Fish and Game Department and the Great Swamp National 
Wildlife Refuge. Before joining the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife 
Refuge, he worked at the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in 
Delaware, Supawna Meadows National Refuge in New Jersey, and the 
Baskett Slough and Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.
  Colleagues in the Fish and Wildlife Service consistently commended 
his courage and dedication to conservation and protecting biological 
diversity. As refuge manager at the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife 
Refuge, he led with a vision that his colleagues embraced and admired. 
He always kept the best interests of the refuge at heart, and he 
enthusiastically worked to improve the condition of the refuge.
  When Rich, 38, boarded Flight 93, he was leaving Newark, New Jersey 
after visiting his family and his grandmother on her 100th birthday. I 
urge my colleagues to pass this bill today, so that we may be assured 
his memory will live on, especially in the proud hearts and minds of 
his family and friends. All Americans will join his parents Jerry and 
Beatrice Guadagno, his sister Lori Guadagno, and his fiancee Diqui 
LaPenta in remembering Rich as a true hero.
  Mr. Speaker, Richard Guadagno worked his entire life to make the 
world a better place for all of us. He was truly a great American. 
Please join me in passing this legislation, so

[[Page H10183]]

that Rich Guadagno and his tremendous successes in life will always be 
remembered.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3334.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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