A bill to designate a portion of United States Route 20A, located in Orchard Park, New York, as the "Timothy J. Russert Highway".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 3145) to designate a portion of United States Route 20A, located in Orchard Park, New York, as the ``Timothy J. Russert Highway''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 3145.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on June 13 the Nation lost one of its premier political journalists, and my home neighborhood of South Buffalo lost a favorite son.

Tim Russert was born in Buffalo on May 7, 1950. Hailing from a proud, working class family, Tim worked his way through Canisius High School and John Carroll University. After graduating from the Cleveland- Marshall College of Law, Tim Russert entered public service, working for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and New York Governor Mario Cuomo.

In 1984 Tim began his celebrated career in journalism at NBC, where he stood out by, among other accomplishments, arranging the first live appearance on American television by Pope John Paul II. In 1991 NBC named Tim Russert the moderator of ``Meet the Press,'' a landmark decision that would leave a lasting impact not only on the Sunday morning talk shows but on all journalism.

Tim served masterfully as anchor and political analyst. He earned a reputation as a tenacious yet fair interviewer of his guests. His preparation and performance on ``Meet the Press'' set a new standard for political journalists: that they should ask, and demand answers to, the pressing questions of the day. No one did that better than Tim Russert.

Russert was also an accomplished author. His moving books, ``Big Russ and Me'' and ``Wisdom of Our Fathers,'' became New York Times best sellers. They also provided insight into the top priority Tim Russert placed on his family, his community, and the tradition of that community.

It was well noted in public remembrances of Tim Russert's life that he was proud of his Buffalo roots. What most people do not know is how proud Buffalo was of Tim Russert. We remember Tim as one of our greatest ambassadors, a kid from the neighborhood who never forgot his roots and continually made us proud. In many ways he defined how we in Buffalo see ourselves: tough, loyal, and hard working, not easily fooled. Tim Russert embodied these characteristics, and he never forget where he came from because that helped ultimately make who he was.

Tim's pride in his hometown was never more evident than when he would go on ``Meet the Press'' and use that pulpit to issue his ``Go Bills!'' before a big game. With Tim's love of the Buffalo Bills in mind, the legislation before the House today will author a fitting and lasting tribute to one of Buffalo's favorite sons.

S. 3145 would designate a portion of Route 20A in the town of Orchard Park, New York, the road leading to the Buffalo Bills' Ralph Wilson Stadium, as the ``Timothy J. Russert Highway.'' It will serve as a lasting celebration of Tim's life and provide Western New Yorkers and visitors alike the opportunity to take pride in Tim's contributions while on their way to see his beloved Bills win another game.

S. 3145 was agreed to in the Senate by unanimous consent on June 25. Passage today would send the bill to the White House and enable our community to honor Tim in what for all we hope will be another winning season for the Buffalo Bills.

Lastly, I would like to thank Chairman Jim Oberstar, Ward McCarragher, and Jim Kolb of the committee staff for their assistance with this legislation, and I urge its adoption today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3145, a bill to designate a portion of the United States Route 20A to be named the ``Timothy J. Russert Highway.''

On June 13, 2008, the Nation was shocked to learn of the sudden loss of Tim Russert, NBC News' Washington bureau chief and moderator of ``Meet the Press'' and one of our most popular television analysts.

Tim Russert was known across the country as moderator for ``Meet the Press'' where he interviewed high-profile guests, bringing Washington politics into American living rooms. He was recognized for his on-the- air tenacity as a moderator and his intense passion for politics. It is no wonder that Time Magazine named Mr. Russert one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Despite his success, Tim Russert never lost sight or forgot his roots in Buffalo, New York.

S. 3145 designates a portion of U.S. Route 20A located near Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, ``Timothy J. Russert Highway.''

Mr. Speaker, one story. Every year the Tennessee Valley A&I Fair has a couple hundred thousand people attend, and for 20 years I have continued a tradition begun by my father and have had a very large booth giving away ice water, compliments of your congressman. Several years ago Tim Russert came in to speak to a Chamber of Commerce luncheon, and I shared the head table with him with approximately 600 people in the audience. At the very first of his speech, he started out and he said, ``Congressman, I had a chance to spend a little time in Knoxville yesterday after I got into town,'' and he said, ``I went around town and I saw this big booth that said ``Free ice water compliments of your congressman.'' He said, ``I've got to hand it to you. Anybody who could gain political capital by giving away water, that's about the best political gimmick I've ever heard of.'' And he had a big laugh about that and mentioned that every time he saw me after he had been to Knoxville.

S. 3145 is a deserving tribute to Tim Russert's great achievements in the field of political journalism and a reminder that he never forgot his hometown or his beloved Buffalo Bills.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of passage of S. 3145, which designates a portion of U.S. Route 20A in Orchard Park, New York, as the ``Timothy J. Russert Highway''.

This highway, which leads to Ralph Wilson Stadium--home of the Buffalo Bills, is a fitting tribute after Tim Russert.

A native of Buffalo, Mr. Russert will be best remembered for his integrity and his tenacious yet fair approach to his interviews as moderator on NBC's ``Meet the Press''.

Tim Russert began his career in 1977 as a key advisor for two of the leading elected officials and policymakers of their time, United

States Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and New York Governor Mario Cuomo.

In 1984, Russert joined NBC and quickly became one of the Nation's leading journalists and political analysts, serving as NBC's Washington Bureau Chief and host of ``Meet the Press''.

Throughout his career in journalism, Russert received 48 honorary doctorates and several awards for excellence in journalism, including an Emmy Award, the Radio and Television Correspondents' Joan S. Barone Award, the Annenberg Center's Walter Cronkite Award, and the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in Television Journalism.

Tim Russert also became a bestselling author, with the publication of his autobiography, Big Russ and Me, which chronicled his life growing up in South Buffalo and the lessons that he learned from his father. He also authored The Wisdom of Our Fathers.

What many may not know about Tim Russert is the work he did on behalf of numerous charities, which included serving on the board of directors for the Greater Washington Boys and Girls Club and America's Promise- Alliance for Youth.

Tim Russert will also be remembered as a proud native son of Buffalo, New York, and his passion for his hometown football team the Buffalo Bills is legendary.

It is a fitting tribute to Tim Russert that Buffalo Bills' fans will drive down the ``Timothy J. Russert Highway'' as they approach Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins) for bringing this legislation before the House and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 3145.

Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the EPW Committee be discharged and the Senate immediately proceed to the following naming bills en bloc: H.R. 430, H.R. 2728, H.R. 3712, S. 3145.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read a third time and passed, all en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 3145, and that it then be referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.