[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15494-15495]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SPECIAL THANKS TO A VERY SPECIAL NATIVE SON: A TRIBUTE TO JIMMY BUFFETT 
            FOR HIS SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE GULF COAST

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 10, 2010

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the past few months have been tremendously 
stressful on the people of America's Gulf Coast as our area has been 
overwhelmed with the worst-ever offshore oil-spill in U.S. history.
  Not a day has passed since the April 20th explosion of the Deepwater 
Horizon oil rig--which left 11 dead and many others injured--that 
coastal residents in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida 
haven't had to deal with the economic, ecological and environmental--
fears associated with this tragedy.
  For many, our way of life and everything we have known--and loved--
has been threatened. Even today, as news comes that the well has been 
permanently capped, there continues to be legitimate concerns about 
what the long-term scars will be in communities like Grand Isle, Pass 
Christian and Perdido Key.
  Specifically, Alabama's coastal towns of Bayou La Batre, Dauphin 
Island, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have been especially hard-hit, 
with direct impact on our fisheries community, seafood processors and 
commercial and recreational boaters, not to mention hundreds of small, 
family-owned businesses that dot the Alabama Gulf Coast like seashells 
that wash up with the morning tide.
  While the concern no doubt continues and the challenges, in many 
ways, remain daunting, Gulf Coast residents were recently treated to a 
brief respite from the worry and stress that has been hovering over our 
area like a Category 5 storm out on the Gulf.
  As such, it is with a heartfelt voice of pride and gratitude from 
Parrot Heads all over the country that I rise today to give thanks to 
musical legend--and native son--Jimmy Buffett for his uplifting, 
outstanding performance on the white, sugar sandy beaches of Gulf 
Shores, Alabama, where Jimmy and some of his friends entertained over 
35,000 people with a free concert on July 11.
  Everything that afternoon--from the clear blue skies to the emerald 
green waters (without oil, I might add) led to a truly festive and 
remarkably uplifting performance. Without a doubt, Jimmy and his 
friends provided some much needed tonic for an area that has been in 
bad need of a big boost!
  Jimmy--it's kind of hard to call him ``Mr. Buffett'' when he often 
goes to work barefoot, wearing only shorts and a t-shirt--is truly a 
man of many talents.
  As his fans around the country know, he was born in Pascagoula but 
grew up in Mobile, attending St. Ignatius as a little boy and 
graduating high school from McGill Institute. A few years later, he 
received a history degree from the University of Southern Mississippi 
but long before he left the Mobile City Limits, Jimmy was well on his 
way to making a name for himself as a musical talent.
  Today, Jimmy Buffett is known around the world for hits such as 
``Margaritaville'' and ``Cheeseburger in Paradise.'' Over the years, 
his 30 albums have earned 8 Gold Albums and 9 Platinum or Multi 
Platinum Albums. And in 2003, Jimmy was awarded the Country Music Award 
for his hit single with Alan Jackson, ``It's Five O'clock Somewhere.''
  But not only is Jimmy a great singer and performer, he is also a 
highly successful songwriter, author, businessman, and movie producer. 
He owns or licenses two famous restaurants named after two of his very 
popular songs, ``Margaritaville'' and ``Cheeseburger in Paradise.''
  Outside of his busy work life, Jimmy manages to go above and beyond 
with his charity efforts. In 1981, Jimmy and Bob Graham, former 
governor and senator from Florida, founded the Save the Manatee Club, a 
strong-willed group that is leading the world in preservation efforts 
of the West Indian Manatee.
  In addition, he generously funded The ``Singing for Change'' 
foundation from his 1995 concert tour which provided grants to local 
charities concerning children and family, the environment and also 
disenfranchised groups.
  Madam Speaker, when the chips were down and spirits were mighty low, 
it was our very own ``Son of a Son of a Sailor'' who came home to South 
Alabama to help remind his friends, his family and all who watched the 
concert live on CMT that the Gulf Coast will weather this storm--as we 
have so many others--if we'll just keep the faith and stick together.
  And it is on behalf of a grateful Gulf Coast community that I would 
like to offer my deepest appreciation to Jimmy Buffett for what he did 
on the afternoon of July 11th to remind us all of what it will again be 
like ``When the Coast is Clear.'' Thanks, Jimmy.

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