[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 110 (Monday, July 23, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H5086-H5087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RENAMING THE JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE VISITOR CONTACT STATION IN 
                       HONOR OF JAMES L. BUCKLEY

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 5958) to name the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge 
Visitor Contact Station of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge unit of 
Gateway National Recreation Area in honor of James L. Buckley.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5958

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

     SECTION 1. NAMING OF JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE VISITOR 
                   CONTACT STATION, JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE 
                   UNIT, GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.

       (a) Naming.--The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor 
     Contact Station of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge unit of 
     Gateway National Recreation Area in the State of New York 
     shall be known and designated as the ``James L. Buckley 
     Visitor Contact Station''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in any statute, rule, 
     regulation, Executive order, publication, map, paper, or 
     other document of the United States to the facility referred 
     to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     James L. Buckley Visitor Contact Station.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana 
Islands (Mr. Sablan) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and add extraneous material to the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5958 was introduced by our colleague from New York 
(Mr. Turner) to honor Senator James L. Buckley for his many 
contributions to America and to the State of New York. The bill 
recognizes, in particular, his role in establishing the Jamaica Bay 
Wildlife Refuge and the Gateway National Recreation Area. Senator 
Buckley was the sponsor of the legislation that created the park and, 
obviously, participated in the floor debate in the Senate.
  Even before his historic election to the Senate as the candidate of 
the New York Conservative Party, Senator Buckley spoke out in favor of 
protecting this natural area in the shadow of New York City and from 
its use as an airport extension.
  Senator Buckley is one of the few Americans to have served in the top 
levels of all three branches of the U.S. Government. In addition to his 
election to the Senate seat once held by Robert Kennedy, Buckley served 
as Under Secretary of State, President of Radio Free Europe and Radio 
Liberty, and judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, 
generally held to be the second-highest court in our judicial system.

                              {time}  1550

  Naming the visitors' center and the wildlife refuge after Senator 
Buckley is a particularly fitting tribute, and he is a lifelong 
naturalist and birder. This is good legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. SABLAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SABLAN. H.R. 5958 renames the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor 
Contact Station to the James L. Buckley Visitor Contact Station. We do 
not object to this legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 4 
minutes to the author of this legislation, the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Turner).
  Mr. TURNER of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
5958, which recognizes Senator James L. Buckley for his service to our 
country and for his efforts to create the Gateway National Recreation 
Center in New York and New Jersey by renaming the visitors' center in 
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge of the Gateway National Recreation Area in 
his honor.
  Senator James L. Buckley has been a true public servant, who served 
at the highest levels of all three branches of government as well as in 
the United States Navy during World War II. Along with his fellow New 
York Senator, Jacob Javits, Senator Buckley had the vision to create a 
national wildlife refuge center in an urban area, accessible to 
millions of people in New York City as well as to millions of other 
residents in the metropolitan area.
  In 1970, during his first days in the Senate, Buckley joined Senator 
Javits

[[Page H5087]]

in introducing legislation to create Gateway, a more than 26,000-acre 
area spanning three boroughs and stretching all the way to Sandy Hook, 
New Jersey. This year, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary, Gateway 
welcomes more than 8 million visitors annually.
  From the historic aircraft at hangar B in Floyd Bennett Field to 
America's oldest lighthouse that was established in 1767 in Sandy Hook, 
New Jersey, Gateway offers a unique piece of history for its visitors. 
Gateway National Park has also provided ornithologists--birders and 
birdwatchers--like Senator Buckley and myself, a glimpse of the more 
than 325 species of birds that stop over as part of the Atlantic 
Flyway, which stretches from the north of Canada to the Caribbean.
  Senator Buckley's environmental interests were not limited to New 
York. He cosponsored the 1972 Clean Water Act, which is the seminal law 
governing water pollution and contamination. He also cosponsored the 
Grand Canyon National Park Enlargement Act, which protected the majesty 
of one of our Nation's greatest national habitats.
  Senator Buckley was also prescient and eloquent by pointing out how 
technology and the environment can evolve together. He stressed that we 
can concentrate on developing environmental programs at achievable 
rates and costs. He said, ``We must learn how modern technology can 
coexist with the natural world.''
  So I hope you will join me in honoring someone who has served to 
protect his State, his country, and the environment. Passing H.R. 5958 
would be a fitting tribute to a man who spent most of his life sharing 
his intellect and talent in the service of others.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. If the 
gentleman has no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. This is a good piece of legislation, Mr. 
Speaker. I urge its adoption.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5958.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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