[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 92 (Tuesday, June 25, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H4002-H4006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STAN MUSIAL VETERANS MEMORIAL BRIDGE
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2383) to designate the new Interstate
Route 70 bridge over the Mississippi River connecting St. Louis,
Missouri, and southwestern Illinois as the ``Stan Musial Veterans
Memorial Bridge''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2383
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. STAN MUSIAL VETERANS MEMORIAL BRIDGE.
(a) Designation.--The new Interstate Route 70 bridge over
the Mississippi River that connects St. Louis, Missouri, to
southwestern Illinois shall be known and designated as the
``Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
bridge referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a
reference to the ``Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs.
Bustos) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and
extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 2383.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 2383, to name the new I-70 bridge
that connects St. Louis and southwestern Illinois as the ``Stan Musial
Veterans Memorial Bridge.'' I introduced this legislation, along with
my colleague Bill Enyart, as well as Ann Wagner, John Shimkus, Lacy
Clay, Dan Lipinski, Aaron Schock, Emanuel Cleaver, Sam Graves, Vicky
Hartzler, Randy Hultgren, Adam Kinzinger, Billy Long, Blaine
Luetkemeyer, and Jason Smith.
Today marks a bipartisan opportunity to honor all of America's heroes
as well as a legend of America's national pastime. Nearly 1.3 million
of America's 21 million veterans live in Illinois and Missouri. Naming
this bridge that links these two States is another way we can honor the
brave men and the brave women who have served our country.
Whether it's coming together to pass critical veterans funding
measures, just like 420 of my colleagues and I did earlier this month
on this very floor, or recognizing our veterans by naming this bridge,
this body has shown it can come together in support of our veterans.
This bill would also honor the legacy of Stan Musial. Mr. Speaker,
the St.
[[Page H4003]]
Louis Cardinals are one of the most storied and successful first-rate
franchises in sports history, and the best player to ever don a St.
Louis Cardinals uniform was Stan ``the Man'' Musial.
Born in Donora, Pennsylvania, in 1920, Stan Musial lived an amazing,
inspiring life. On the field, he was a 24-time All-Star, a three-time
World Series champion, three-time National League MVP, and a first-
ballot Hall of Famer. He finished his career as a .331 hitter; and he
was consistent, earning 1,815 hits at home and 1,815 hits on the road.
During his 22-year major league career spanning 3,026 games, he was
never ejected by an umpire. These lessons in consistency and
sportsmanship not only serve as a good reminder to Congress, but they
are also attributes that I try to impart upon my sons and their
teammates as the coach of their Little League baseball team in
Taylorville, Illinois.
Off the field, Stan Musial led by example. In 1945, in the prime of
his career, Stan took a year off from baseball to go serve his country
in World War II. Stan served in the Navy and was based at Pearl Harbor
as part of a ship repair unit.
There was more to Stan Musial than being an outstanding athlete who
also served his country. He and his high school sweetheart, Lillian,
were married more than 70 years and had four children. He also served
as chairman for President Johnson's Council on Physical Fitness and
Sports; and in 2011, Stan was given this country's highest civilian
honor: the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
My first favorite player, Hank Aaron, a Hall of Famer, sums it up
best when he said:
I didn't just like Stan Musial; I wanted to be like Stan
Musial.
As an individual, Stan will be remembered as kind, modest, generous,
and approachable. As an ambassador, Stan meant more to the game of
baseball and St. Louis than he was ever willing to take credit for.
Today, let's honor our veterans and Stan ``the Man'' Musial. I urge
all my colleagues to support H.R. 2383, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. BUSTOS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2383, to designate the
new Interstate 70 bridge over the Mississippi River connecting Illinois
and St. Louis as the ``Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge''--or the
``Stan Span,'' as many affectionately call it.
This bill names the bridge in honor of one of the greatest players in
baseball history, as well as the millions of brave Americans who have
served this country in the Armed Forces. Naming the bridge after Mr.
Musial and saluting the millions of Americans who have served in our
Armed Forces is a fitting tribute to their bravery and sacrifice.
Few players have contributed more to America's pastime than Stan
Musial. In his 22 seasons in major league baseball playing for the St.
Louis Cardinals, Stan the Man was selected to the All-Star game a
record 24 times, named the National League's Most Valuable Player three
times, and played on three World Series championship title teams.
Musial was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 on the first
ballot.
Moreover, Stan Musial's contributions go well beyond the baseball
diamond. Like many of his generation, Mr. Musial served our country
during World War II. During his tour of duty in the Navy, Musial joined
with more than 16 million other Americans to serve our Nation as
members of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. In retirement,
Stan Musial contributed his time to causes such as the USO, the Senior
Olympics, and the Boy Scouts, and served as chairman of the President's
Council on Physical Fitness from 1964 to 1967.
Stan Musial received the Navy Memorial's Lone Sailor Award in 2007.
It honors Navy veterans who excel in their civilian careers while
exemplifying the Navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment.
In February 2011, President Obama presented Stan Musial with the
Presidential Medal of Honor. That's the highest honor bestowed on a
civilian in America.
My personal appreciation of Stan Musial goes way back to my
childhood, growing up in Springfield, Illinois. Our family would make
regular car trips every summer to Busch Stadium to cheer on our beloved
Cardinals. When we weren't able to make it to games in person, we would
listen to them on KMOX radio back home. I still remember the voices of
Jack Buck and Harry Caray, who then would go on to announce for the
Cubs.
I also fondly remember waiting around Busch Stadium after the games
with my brother, my sister, and my mom and dad just to catch a glimpse
of some of the Cardinal greats like Curt Flood. We loved watching Lou
Brock run the bases. We loved watching Bob Gibson pitch.
And we just loved baseball so much that, later in his life, my dad
would go on to work for Major League Baseball. I'm proud to say that my
brother, Dan Callahan, would be the head coach of Southern Illinois
University baseball for 16 seasons, until he passed away a couple of
years ago from cancer. As you see, my family's bond with greater St.
Louis, the Cardinals, and baseball is a strong one.
This bill does not just recognize the contributions of one man, but,
rather, it salutes the service of all our veterans. Stan Musial was a
hero to many, not just for the way he played baseball, but for how he
lived his life. Like so many of the heroes who have served this Nation
in our military, he lived his life with integrity and with honor.
Naming this bridge in honor of Stan Musial and all veterans is a symbol
of our gratitude for the sacrifices they made to protect our freedoms.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2383, to dedicate
this bridge in honor of Stan the Man Musial and all the men and women
who have served our Nation in the Armed Forces. We are proud to
remember and honor all they endured for our democracy and to safeguard
our democracy.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1710
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I'd first like to thank my
colleague and my good friend from Illinois (Mrs. Bustos) for her kind
comments, and also for honoring her father's service to Major League
Baseball and her brother's service to the youth and to the students at
Southern Illinois University during his time there as a head baseball
coach.
I now wish to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs.
Wagner).
Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of veterans, and one veteran in
particular, one of St. Louis' all-time heroes, Stan Musial.
Stan the Man Musial is best known as the greatest player in St. Louis
Cardinals history, winner of three World Series as a player and one
more as general manager, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and as
one of the greatest players to ever play our beloved national pastime.
However, Stan Musial was also a great patriot. He temporarily left
the St. Louis Cardinals during the Second World War to serve his
country in the Navy. Stan and the Cardinals had just won the 1944 World
Series when Stan left to serve during the war. And after the war, he
returned to his beloved St. Louis Cardinals to bring home yet another
World Series Championship in 1946.
His athleticism and his greatness as a player are self-evident. His
3,630 hits are the fourth-highest in baseball history. Stan is also one
of only seven players to hit 400 home runs and have over 3,000 hits.
A model of consistency, Stan Musial could hit a baseball anywhere he
was, home or away, finishing his career with 1,815 hits at home and
1,815 hits on the road. A former teammate described Stan's tremendous
talent like this: ``He could have hit 300 with a fountain pen.''
Those who had the privilege to see Stan Musial play baseball swear
that he was the greatest player they ever saw put on a St. Louis
Cardinals uniform. Yet Stan the Man stood for something more than his
two decades of sustained excellence in baseball--he was an exemplary
human being.
To baseball fans around the country, Stan Musial represented
perfection as a ballplayer and as a gentleman. But to those of us from
St. Louis, he represented so much more; he was our neighbor and he was
our friend.
[[Page H4004]]
There has never been a better representative of the Cardinals or
baseball--or, for that matter, humanity--than Stan Musial. Carrying
himself with dignity, Stan was always willing to sign an autograph and
meet fans, or do anything to help a friend in need.
I recently asked constituents to share some of their Stan Musial
memories with me. And while many of them remember watching him play
baseball, it was his kindness and his humility that set him apart. One
constituent told me that as a child he lived in the same neighborhood
as Stan Musial. Stan would play baseball with him and other
neighborhood kids during the off-season.
Many from St. Louis remember Stan going out of his way to sign
autographs for young fans or lend his good name to charitable and civic
events. Others remember his visits to St. Louis hospitals and the joy
that he brought to both the patients and the staff. But all remember
that he was a happy and a joyful person who made you feel better and
made you want to be a better person just by being in his presence.
After he retired from baseball, Stan Musial came to nearly every
Cardinals Opening Day because he felt it was his duty to be there for
the city and the team that gave so much to him. And each year at the
induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Stan would play ``Take Me Out
to the Ball Game'' on his harmonica. The new inductees would often
mention Stan playing the harmonica as one of their favorite moments
during the induction weekend.
The best description of Stan was rendered by former baseball
commissioner, Ford C. Frick: ``Here stands baseball's perfect warrior.
Here stands baseball's perfect knight.'' These words adorn the statue
of Stan Musial that sits outside Busch Stadium in St. Louis city.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be a part of this bill that names the I-
70 bridge after Stan Musial and our veterans. I urge my colleagues to
support this bill as a lasting tribute to Stan the Man and all those
who have served our country so honorably.
Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Enyart).
Mr. ENYART. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2383, a compromise measure to
name an extraordinary structure in honor of extraordinary heroes.
Today, I'm proud to join my colleagues in bridging a great divide--
not the aisle here in the House dividing Democrats from Republicans,
but a divide that is sometimes even wider, the mighty Mississippi River
between Illinois and Missouri.
Today, in the spirit of compromise, we come together to honor people
we hold dear and to recognize the values that make them special to us
in both Illinois and Missouri, regardless of our politics or which side
of the river we call home.
For millions of baseball fans in mid-America, Stan Musial is a hero.
Stan spent a career accumulating Major League records and World Series
rings while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. But he was much more
than one of the best baseball players to have ever played the game. No,
to us in the region, he epitomized what it meant to be a resident of
mid-America. He worked hard; he achieved success with humility; he was
always a gentleman.
In a time when society too often glorifies all that is loud, showy
and brash, Stan was the opposite. Quiet and humble, he was the textbook
of integrity in all that he did.
Stan the Man was a hero for another reason. That's because he wore
only two uniforms: one for the baseball team he loved and one for the
country he loved. I'm proud to support this bill today because it
recognizes not only Stan Musial, but all of our Nation's veterans.
As a veteran of two of our Nation's Armed Forces, this is a
commitment that is very personal to me. I represent Scott Air Force
Base, just 15 minutes from the new bridge, and I'm proud to represent a
district that has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the
United States.
The people of southern Illinois have answered each and every time our
country has called. The service and the sacrifice of our veterans and
their families can't be taken for granted, nor can their service be
remembered only 1 or 2 days a year. Our Nation remains a beacon of
freedom and liberty because of that dedication and sacrifice.
So today, I'm proud to rise in support of this measure to designate
the new Interstate 70 bridge linking East St. Louis, Illinois, to St.
Louis, Missouri, the ``Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.''
On my way to Washington, D.C., today I passed this new bridge still
under construction. The bridge cables were gleaming in the sunlight. I
looked out and saw dozens of my constituents hard at work on this
structure. It's a much-needed infrastructure investment for our region
and the country, a partnership between our States and the Federal
Government. It's my hope that every traveler who crosses over this
striking structure will not only read the name of that bridge, but will
remember the values we honor with that name: hard work, integrity,
humility, service and sacrifice. These are fitting ideals for all of
us. And they are a fitting reason to name this bridge in honor of Stan
Musial and in honor of all our veterans.
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank my
colleague, Mrs. Wagner, for her comments and support for this bill. I'd
also like to thank my colleague, Mr. Enyart, for his support, and also
for his service to our country. Thank you, sir.
At this time, Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer).
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a truly great
man, a great baseball player, and a decorated veteran, Stan the Man
Musial.
Growing up a Cardinals fan, I recall watching Stan Musial from the
stands of Sportsman's Park as a boy as well as sneaking my transistor
radio into my bedroom late at night so I could listen to Cardinals
games and my mom and dad wouldn't know I was up late.
In 1938, Musial was signed by the Cardinals as a free agent at the
age of 20. He led the Cardinals to a World Series victory the following
season. In May of 1944, during the midst of World War II, Musial put
down his bat to serve his country for 2 years in the Navy--a service
for which he would later receive the Navy Memorial's Lone Sailor Award.
{time} 1720
After serving his country, Musial went on to play for 20 more seasons
as a Cardinal. After his 22 seasons, Musial was ranked number one in
singles, doubles, and triples among records with a single team--all
records he still holds to this day. He was selected to a record 24 All-
Star games and was named the National League's Most Valuable Player
three times, winning three World Series championships with the
Cardinals. One of Musial's most famous feats was hitting five home runs
in 1 day during a double header. Musial was a first-ballot inductee to
the baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. But not only was Musial a great
Cardinal, the greatest to ever play the game in St. Louis, he was also
a great philanthropist, an integral and valuable member of the St.
Louis community. And for this humanitarian commitment and his athletic
achievements, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in May
of 2011 by President Obama.
Though he passed away in January of 2013, Musial is remembered dearly
in the hearts and minds of not only Cardinals fans, but also in the
entire baseball community.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise in support of naming the I-70
bridge after Stan the Man and in honor of all of our veterans. I urge
Members of this House to stand with me in unwavering support of the
Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Clay).
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bipartisan
legislation that I am pleased to cosponsor with my colleague and
friend, Mr. Davis, to designate the new Interstate 70 bridge over the
Mississippi River connecting the city of St. Louis and southwestern
Illinois as the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.
As the U.S. Representative who has the honor of representing the St.
Louis Cardinals, it is a special privilege for me to speak about Stan
Musial from the perspective of a Member of Congress, and also from the
memory of a
[[Page H4005]]
young boy at Old Sportsman's Park with my dad, former Congressman Bill
Clay, as we watched Stan play near the end of his remarkable career.
Stan Musial was simply one of the greatest baseball players of all
time. As was noted earlier, he was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame
on the first ballot, and that much is known to the world. Mr. Speaker,
what is less known is that as good a player as he was on the field,
Stan Musial was even a better man off of the field. In his own quiet
way, Stan Musial was also on the vanguard of fighting discrimination
and changing America.
Stan was born in the small town of Donora, Pennsylvania, the fifth of
five children. Donora is also the hometown of baseball's famous Griffey
family.
As a young man, Stan was no stranger to the challenges of African
Americans and the evils of segregation. Years before the desegregation
of baseball in 1947, Stan, a gifted athlete, was playing basketball
with Buddy Griffey, the father of the great Ken Griffey, Sr., and the
grandfather of the great Ken Griffey, Jr. When their high school team
was supposed to have dinner in a segregated hotel, Stan and the rest of
the team walked out.
In 1947, 6 years after Stan was called up to the Cardinals, Jackie
Robinson broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Many more
great Black and Latino players would follow. They faced racial taunts
and threats on an almost daily basis, sometimes from the fans in the
stands, sometimes from the opposing team, and sadly, sometimes from
their own teammates. When some White players on the St. Louis Cardinals
threatened to boycott the game if they were forced to play with Blacks,
Musial stood tall for justice and stopped the boycott before it
started.
When Stan died, stories from those difficult days were told with
great reverence and respect. Upon hearing of his death, Hall of Famer
Willie Mays recalled a story from an All-Star game in the 1950s. Before
the game, in one corner of the National League clubhouse, sat Mays,
Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, and Frank Robinson, playing cards all by
themselves. The White ballplayers on the National League roster either
ignored them or were openly hostile. So Stan Musial, who by then was
one of the biggest stars in the game, simply walked over, sat down, and
said, ``Deal me in.'' That was his way of saying, ``Fellows, you belong
here, it's gonna get better, and I'm glad to have you on my team.''
When asked about his friend's passing, the great Hank Aaron,
baseball's legitimate all-time home run king, and someone who faced
much hateful racism himself, said this of Stan:
I not only liked Stan Musial, I wanted to be like Stan
Musial.
Two years ago, I was privileged to accompany Stan and his family to
the White House as President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal
of Freedom. The President said this about Stan:
His brilliance could come in blinding bursts--hitting five
home runs in a single doubleheader; leading the league in
singles, doubles, triples, and RBIs over a single season.
Stan Musial made that brilliance burn for two decades, even
as he missed a season in his prime to serve his country in
the U.S. Navy during World War II. Stan remains to this day
an icon untarnished, a beloved pillar of the community, a
gentleman you'd want your kids to emulate.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional minute.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely true. And soon, when
millions of Americans cross the beautiful new bridge that will bear his
name, I hope they will remember that Stan Musial was more than just a
proud veteran and a great ballplayer. His life and legacy truly
symbolize the best of the greatest generation.
I thank my colleagues from Missouri and Illinois for supporting this
bill.
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to
thank my colleague, Mr. Luetkemeyer, and my colleague, Mr. Clay. Thank
you for your service. Thank you for the stories about Stan Musial being
``the man'' when it came to a difficult time in Major League history. I
would also like to thank you for your father's service too.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to address their
remarks to the Chair.
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I wish to
yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus).
(Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of
baseball's greatest heroes of all time, St. Louis' Stan Musial. Stan
the Man was an unblemished icon both on and off the field.
Musial's historic numbers over his 22 seasons with the St. Louis
Cardinals make him one of the greatest to ever play the game. With
3,630 hits, 475 home runs, 1,951 RBIs, and a lifetime .331 batting
average, he was one of the most consistent hitters of his era. Musial's
performance on the field earned him 24 All-Star appearances, three
National League MVP awards, seven National League batting titles, a
rightful place in the Hall of Fame, and three World Series
championships for Cardinals Nation.
{time} 1730
Stan the Man was immortalized in the hearts of Cardinals fans when
his No. 6 was retired and his statue was erected outside Busch Stadium
with a fitting quote from Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick: ``Here
stands baseball's perfect warrior. Here stands baseball's perfect
knight.''
But Stan Musial was more than just an example of baseball excellence;
he epitomized modest Midwestern values and a devout faith rarely found
in today's age of fame and record contracts. When fellow baseball great
Ty Cobb compared Musial to other greats and said he was better than Joe
DiMaggio, Musial humbly replied: ``Cobb is baseball's greatest. I don't
want to contradict him, but I can't say that I was ever as good as Joe
DiMaggio.'' Stan Musial lived his faith through his life as a devout
Catholic, his charitable work and his devotion to his family, with
nearly 72 years of marriage and four children. For his lifetime of work
and service, Stan Musial earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom in
2011, as Lacy so aptly identified.
It is fitting, as we name the I-70 bridge the ``Stan Musial Veterans
Memorial Bridge,'' to remember his service to our Nation as well as
that of countless other veterans in the St. Louis area and Cardinals
Nation. Like so many other young men and women of his generation, Stan
Musial put aside his career when he was drafted into the United States
Navy during World War II.
With the passing of Stan Musial, we lost a beacon of our community
and our team, but this legislation is a fitting tribute to a player who
will always be remembered in the hearts of Cardinals fans as ``the
Man.''
Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. In closing, I would like to thank
Congresswoman Bustos for managing this bill with me today. It has been
an honor. I would also like to thank Congressman Enyart, Congresswoman
Wagner, Congressman Shimkus, Congressman Clay, and Congressman
Luetkemeyer for coming to the floor today in support of H.R. 2383.
I would also be remiss not to thank former Congressman Jerry Costello
for his vision to turn this bridge from an idea into a reality, and I
would like to honor him today, too, for his service to our country as a
Member of Congress.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation so that we
can honor our veterans--and Stan the Man Musial.
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 Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2383.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas
and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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