[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4826-H4827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING JAMES M. BERNHARD, JR.

  (Mr. Carter of Louisiana was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, James M. Bernhard, Jr., was a 
legend in Louisiana. The headlines called him an icon, a titan, a giant 
of a man. Those who knew him understood why. He was a builder, a 
problem solver, and, at his core, a man of faith.
  Jim was a proud LSU Tiger, graduating in construction management. He 
loved to tell the story of realizing at the last minute that he was 3 
hours short of the credits he needed to graduate. Facing that problem, 
he decided to test out of a bowling class by scoring a 200, despite 
barely ever bowling before. In true Jim fashion, with determination and 
a high tolerance for risk, he figured out how to make it work and to 
graduate.
  After LSU, he went to work for the family business, where every new 
employee had to start by installing toilets and air-conditioners. As 
the family's first college graduate and someone who had already done 
that work since high school, the rule didn't sit right with him. He 
turned down the offer to join and joined Southeast Fabricators as their 
first salesman.
  On his first day, he picked up the Yellow Pages and got to work. He 
quickly discovered the company's prices were far too high to compete in 
south Louisiana. With no formal authority, he restructured the 
company's operations. By age 26, he was a corporate vice president and 
member of the board.
  In 1986, he faced another challenge. Health insurance premiums were 
raised on workers, including two employees

[[Page H4827]]

whose wives were pregnant. Jim wanted to raise their pay to cover the 
cost. His boss said no, so Jim handed in his resignation, partnered 
with two colleagues, and founded National Fabricators with just 
$50,000.
  That company grew into The Shaw Group, a Fortune 500 global 
engineering powerhouse headquartered in Baton Rouge, at the time, the 
only non-utility Fortune 500 company in Louisiana. His success brought 
offers from other States to relocate. With millions of dollars on the 
table, he refused every one of them.
  Jim was Louisiana through and through. His love for the State fueled 
his political engagement. After years of resisting pressure to get 
involved in politics, he finally told his board of directors that he 
was a proud Democrat, to their surprise, and devoted himself to pushing 
leaders to feed and educate children of all backgrounds, expand 
healthcare, and lift Louisiana forward.
  Jim helped elect two Governors, the first Black mayor of Baton Rouge, 
and dozens of others across the State. He proudly served as the 
chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party.
  For years, many waited for Jim to run for Governor or the Senate. His 
son, one of my most trusted advisers, Tres--you know Tres--told me a 
secret. He said he was never going to run. He preferred challenging the 
rest of us to do better. His door was open to Democrats and Republicans 
alike who wanted to improve the lives of people.
  When he retired from Shaw, he faced another problem: what to do next. 
He founded Bernhard Capital Partners, now one of the largest employers 
in my district. Remembering that family's business whose terms he once 
rejected, he joined his brother and transformed it into the largest 
energy-as-a-service provider in the United States.
  Jim's impact stretches far beyond business. Louisianans will tell you 
Jim pumped the water out of New Orleans after Katrina. He helped build 
Category 5-strength levees that now protect the city. He built power 
plants that power America, paid living wages to tens of thousands of 
workers, expanded broadband for children in Baton Rouge during the 
pandemic and, with his beloved wife, Dana, founded the Every Kid a King 
Foundation to serve the children of Louisiana.
  None of that compares to what he cherished most: his family. Dana was 
the great love of his life, his partner, protector, and companion until 
his last breath. His pride in his children, Tres, Kathryn, Patrick, 
Michael, and Benjamin, was immeasurable, even if he did joke about two 
of them going to Ole Miss. He taught them that determination, work 
ethic, and comfort were risks and that they should continue to live and 
do the right thing.
  He adored his grandchildren, Ainsley, Jack, Remi, Sloane, Blake, 
Violet, IV, and Ella, and carried bottomless hopes for each of them.
  Louisiana has lost one of its greatest champions. Jim Bernhard 
dedicated his life to improving this State and the lives of people.
  Now, when we face a problem, big or small, we honor him by doing what 
he always did. He solved it.

                          ____________________