[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 8634]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO NBC NEWS REPORTER DAVID BLOOM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a son of 
Minnesota who died tragically this weekend while embedded with the 3rd 
Army Infantry Division in Iraq.
  NBC news reporter David Bloom was a native of Edina, Minnesota, in 
the Third Congressional District which I am privileged to represent. 
David's parents, Harold and Laura Bloom, and his brother, John Bloom, 
are residents of Edina.
  David distinguished himself at an early age as a champion debater and 
hockey player at Edina West High School. David was also an avid fan of 
his beloved Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins, and he often touted 
his hometown teams on national television.
  David Bloom's meteoric rise as a journalist was nothing short of 
spectacular. As his NBC colleague, Katie Couric, said, ``David was 
always there for the story and not the glory. He was a reporter's 
reporter.'' Another NBC colleague, Matt Lauer, said, ``David 
personified energy, passion, compassion, and balance.''
  With his engaging personality, sound intellect, high level of energy, 
and great sense of humor, David Bloom's 10-year career at NBC News 
always drew rave reviews. From his early years at the network in 
Chicago and Los Angeles to his years as White House correspondent and 
co-anchor of Weekend Today, David Bloom always got the story.
  As NBC Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert said, ``David was first 
and foremost a competitor. He was very resourceful, stretching every 
deadline he ever met. One marvels at how much he did and how well he 
did it.''
  Mr. Russert and many other close friends and colleagues also have 
said that David loved his wife, Melanie, and his three daughters more 
than anything. When Russert gave him the nickname ``Bloomster'', David 
readily told them it was his second favorite nickname. His favorite 
nickname was ``Dad.''
  Madam Speaker, David Bloom was well-liked and respected by everyone 
who knew him. That was evidenced by the lofty praise that has filled 
the airwaves and the newspapers across America since his tragic and 
untimely death at age 39.
  David Bloom was a great credit to his native Minnesota, his beloved 
family and friends, and his profession. As his co-anchor, Soledad 
O'Brien, put it, there was not a dry eye anywhere at NBC. I know my 
colleagues here in the House of Representatives feel the same profound 
sadness at the loss of David Bloom. Our thoughts and prayers go out to 
David Bloom's family, his wife, Melanie, and daughters Nicole, 
Christine, and Ava, as well as David's parents, Harold and Laura, and 
his brothers, John and Jim.

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