[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 15, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H6487-H6489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TIMOTHY J. RUSSERT HIGHWAY

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 3145) to designate a portion of United States Route 
20A, located in Orchard Park, New York, as the ``Timothy J. Russert 
Highway''.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

                                S. 3145

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Timothy ``Tim'' John Russert was born on May 7, 1950 in 
     Buffalo, New York, to Elizabeth and Timothy Joseph Russert.
       (2) Tim Russert graduated from Canisius High School in 
     Buffalo, New York, earned his bachelor's degree in political 
     science from John Carroll University in 1972, and his Juris 
     Doctor from Cleveland State University--Marshall School of 
     Law in 1976.
       (3) Tim Russert embarked on a career in public service with 
     United States Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and the 
     Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo, from 1977 to 1984.
       (4) After his career in public service and New York 
     politics, Tim Russert began his career in journalism when he 
     joined NBC in 1984.
       (5) In 1991, Tim Russert became the host of the Sunday 
     morning news program Meet the Press, the longest-running 
     program in the history of television. He would go on to 
     become the longest serving host of the show.
       (6) Throughout his career, Tim Russert received 48 honorary 
     doctorates and several awards for excellence in journalism, 
     including--
       (A) the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio-Television 
     News Directors Association;
       (B) the John Peter Zenger Freedom of the Press Award;
       (C) the American Legion Journalism Award;
       (D) the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award;

[[Page H6488]]

       (E) the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Journalism 
     Award;
       (F) the Allen H. Neuharth Award for Excellence in 
     Journalism;
       (G) the David Brinkley Award for Excellence in 
     Communication;
       (H) the Catholic Academy for Communication's Gabriel Award; 
     and
       (I) an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television 
     Arts and Sciences.
       (7) In 2004, Tim Russert authored the bestselling 
     autobiography, Big Russ and Me, which chronicled his life 
     growing up in South Buffalo and his education at Canisius 
     High School. He is also the author of Wisdom of our Fathers.
       (8) Tim Russert advocated on behalf of abused children and 
     voiced the need to protect our Nation's young people, serving 
     on the board of directors of the Greater Washington Boys and 
     Girls Club and America's Promise--Alliance for Youth.
       (9) Tim Russert sat in the front seat of history, 
     chronicling the political and societal events that have 
     defined our time, and serving as a trusted source of 
     information and analysis for millions of Americans.
       (10) Tim Russert was a tireless booster of Buffalo, a 
     famous fan of his beloved Buffalo Bills, and was always proud 
     of his South Buffalo roots, a source of civic pride in the 
     Western New York community.
       (11) Tim Russert passed away on June 13, 2008. He is 
     survived by his wife, Maureen Orth and their son, Luke 
     Russert.

     SEC. 2. DESIGNATION.

       The portion of United States Route 20A located in Orchard 
     Park, New York, between Abbot Road and California Road shall 
     be known and designated as the ``Timothy J. Russert 
     Highway''.

     SEC. 3. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the portion of United 
     States Route 20A referred to in section 2 shall be deemed to 
     be a reference to the Timothy J. Russert Highway.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Higgins) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HIGGINS. 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 S. 3145.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on June 13 the Nation lost one of its premier political 
journalists, and my home neighborhood of South Buffalo lost a favorite 
son.
  Tim Russert was born in Buffalo on May 7, 1950. Hailing from a proud, 
working class family, Tim worked his way through Canisius High School 
and John Carroll University. After graduating from the Cleveland-
Marshall College of Law, Tim Russert entered public service, working 
for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and New York Governor Mario Cuomo.
  In 1984 Tim began his celebrated career in journalism at NBC, where 
he stood out by, among other accomplishments, arranging the first live 
appearance on American television by Pope John Paul II. In 1991 NBC 
named Tim Russert the moderator of ``Meet the Press,'' a landmark 
decision that would leave a lasting impact not only on the Sunday 
morning talk shows but on all journalism.
  Tim served masterfully as anchor and political analyst. He earned a 
reputation as a tenacious yet fair interviewer of his guests. His 
preparation and performance on ``Meet the Press'' set a new standard 
for political journalists: that they should ask, and demand answers to, 
the pressing questions of the day. No one did that better than Tim 
Russert.
  Russert was also an accomplished author. His moving books, ``Big Russ 
and Me'' and ``Wisdom of Our Fathers,'' became New York Times best 
sellers. They also provided insight into the top priority Tim Russert 
placed on his family, his community, and the tradition of that 
community.
  It was well noted in public remembrances of Tim Russert's life that 
he was proud of his Buffalo roots. What most people do not know is how 
proud Buffalo was of Tim Russert. We remember Tim as one of our 
greatest ambassadors, a kid from the neighborhood who never forgot his 
roots and continually made us proud. In many ways he defined how we in 
Buffalo see ourselves: tough, loyal, and hard working, not easily 
fooled. Tim Russert embodied these characteristics, and he never forget 
where he came from because that helped ultimately make who he was.
  Tim's pride in his hometown was never more evident than when he would 
go on ``Meet the Press'' and use that pulpit to issue his ``Go Bills!'' 
before a big game. With Tim's love of the Buffalo Bills in mind, the 
legislation before the House today will author a fitting and lasting 
tribute to one of Buffalo's favorite sons.
  S. 3145 would designate a portion of Route 20A in the town of Orchard 
Park, New York, the road leading to the Buffalo Bills' Ralph Wilson 
Stadium, as the ``Timothy J. Russert Highway.'' It will serve as a 
lasting celebration of Tim's life and provide Western New Yorkers and 
visitors alike the opportunity to take pride in Tim's contributions 
while on their way to see his beloved Bills win another game.
  S. 3145 was agreed to in the Senate by unanimous consent on June 25. 
Passage today would send the bill to the White House and enable our 
community to honor Tim in what for all we hope will be another winning 
season for the Buffalo Bills.
  Lastly, I would like to thank Chairman Jim Oberstar, Ward 
McCarragher, and Jim Kolb of the committee staff for their assistance 
with this legislation, and I urge its adoption today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3145, a bill to designate a 
portion of the United States Route 20A to be named the ``Timothy J. 
Russert Highway.''
  On June 13, 2008, the Nation was shocked to learn of the sudden loss 
of Tim Russert, NBC News' Washington bureau chief and moderator of 
``Meet the Press'' and one of our most popular television analysts.
  Tim Russert was known across the country as moderator for ``Meet the 
Press'' where he interviewed high-profile guests, bringing Washington 
politics into American living rooms. He was recognized for his on-the-
air tenacity as a moderator and his intense passion for politics. It is 
no wonder that Time Magazine named Mr. Russert one of the 100 most 
influential people in the world. Despite his success, Tim Russert never 
lost sight or forgot his roots in Buffalo, New York.
  S. 3145 designates a portion of U.S. Route 20A located near Ralph 
Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, ``Timothy J. Russert 
Highway.''
  Mr. Speaker, one story. Every year the Tennessee Valley A&I Fair has 
a couple hundred thousand people attend, and for 20 years I have 
continued a tradition begun by my father and have had a very large 
booth giving away ice water, compliments of your congressman. Several 
years ago Tim Russert came in to speak to a Chamber of Commerce 
luncheon, and I shared the head table with him with approximately 600 
people in the audience. At the very first of his speech, he started out 
and he said, ``Congressman, I had a chance to spend a little time in 
Knoxville yesterday after I got into town,'' and he said, ``I went 
around town and I saw this big booth that said ``Free ice water 
compliments of your congressman.'' He said, ``I've got to hand it to 
you. Anybody who could gain political capital by giving away water, 
that's about the best political gimmick I've ever heard of.'' And he 
had a big laugh about that and mentioned that every time he saw me 
after he had been to Knoxville.
  S. 3145 is a deserving tribute to Tim Russert's great achievements in 
the field of political journalism and a reminder that he never forgot 
his hometown or his beloved Buffalo Bills.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of passage of S. 
3145, which designates a portion of U.S. Route 20A in Orchard Park, New 
York, as the ``Timothy J. Russert Highway''.
  This highway, which leads to Ralph Wilson Stadium--home of the 
Buffalo Bills, is a fitting tribute after Tim Russert.
  A native of Buffalo, Mr. Russert will be best remembered for his 
integrity and his tenacious yet fair approach to his interviews as 
moderator on NBC's ``Meet the Press''.
  Tim Russert began his career in 1977 as a key advisor for two of the 
leading elected officials and policymakers of their time, United

[[Page H6489]]

States Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and New York Governor Mario 
Cuomo.
  In 1984, Russert joined NBC and quickly became one of the Nation's 
leading journalists and political analysts, serving as NBC's Washington 
Bureau Chief and host of ``Meet the Press''.
  Throughout his career in journalism, Russert received 48 honorary 
doctorates and several awards for excellence in journalism, including 
an Emmy Award, the Radio and Television Correspondents' Joan S. Barone 
Award, the Annenberg Center's Walter Cronkite Award, and the Edward R. 
Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in Television Journalism.
  Tim Russert also became a bestselling author, with the publication of 
his autobiography, Big Russ and Me, which chronicled his life growing 
up in South Buffalo and the lessons that he learned from his father. He 
also authored The Wisdom of Our Fathers.
  What many may not know about Tim Russert is the work he did on behalf 
of numerous charities, which included serving on the board of directors 
for the Greater Washington Boys and Girls Club and America's Promise-
Alliance for Youth.
  Tim Russert will also be remembered as a proud native son of Buffalo, 
New York, and his passion for his hometown football team the Buffalo 
Bills is legendary.
  It is a fitting tribute to Tim Russert that Buffalo Bills' fans will 
drive down the ``Timothy J. Russert Highway'' as they approach Ralph 
Wilson Stadium.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins) for 
bringing this legislation before the House and urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting S. 3145.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 3145.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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