[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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