January 7, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E33 

The underwater camera, in addition to 

being able to count scallops not caught in 

nets, was also able to count scallops in ocean 

areas that federal regulators had closed to 

scallopers. They found the scallop numbers 

in the closed areas were also greatly underestimated. 

‘‘I’ve always supported the idea of controlling fishing, but I also support the idea of 

the best science,’’ Dr. Rothschild said. 

‘‘What we did was really good science.’’ 

Jean MacCormack, the chancellor of 

UMass Dartmouth, noted the singular nature 

of Brian Rothschild convincing a federal regulatory agency to change its practices. 

‘‘It’s pretty unusual,’’ she said, ‘‘to develop 

a methodology that NMFS accepted.’’ 

‘‘NMFS was saying there were no scallops 

and they proved them wrong,’’ Mr. Avila 

said. ‘‘That was one of the main components 

of the rejuvenation of the scallop industry.’’ 

New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang is unqualified in his praise of Brian Rothschild. 

‘‘I think he’s the difference between the 

scallop industry prospering, as they have in 

the last decade, versus being in the same situation as groundfish,’’ he said. 

The mayor was referring to the fact that 

the New Bedford groundfishing industry has 

suffered from stringent federal fishing regulations. 

New Bedford was the nation’s busiest port 

last year, for the ninth year in a row, with 60 

million pounds of fresh seafood landed, with 

a value of $281 million, principally due to the 

scallop catch. 

Dr. Rothschild stresses that he’s a big supporter of conserving fisheries but, because 

fish live below the surface, they aren’t easily 

measured. He thought that if he could improve the science, he could benefit both the 

fishery and the fishermen. 

‘‘There was some resistance from the fisheries service. And some of the conservation 

groups thought our estimates were in error, 

but it’s a solid scientific process we went 

through,’’ he explains. 

Dr. Rothschild subscribes to a view of 

ocean ecology that the fishermen, and their 

fishing efforts, are themselves an integral 

part of the ocean ecology of a given area. 

‘‘You have to look at a balance between 

the substantial effects that humans have on 

the (fish) populations and the productivity of 

the populations. That’s what conservation is 

in this day and age.’’ 

Because fishing species, under certain conditions and to a certain extent, proliferate in 

the wake of a fishing effort, Dr. Rothschild 

set out to balance the maximum amount of 

fishing effort needed to benefit human beings 

with the maximum amount of fishing effort 

needed to benefit the population of fish species. 

Currently, SMAST is studying counting 

methods for groundfish (which unlike scallops, move around in the ocean). The objective is to obtain more accurate counts of the 

groundfish (haddock, cod, yellowtail flounder) in the New England fishery. 

Because the federal government’s currently accepted methods of counting groundfish counting show the stocks are depressed, 

NMFS intends to further restrict the fishing 

effort—which is already a barely profitable 

industry—next year. 

The failure to find a better method for integrating the effects of fishing and groundfish proliferation has had devastating effects 

on the local industry, Dr. Rothschild said. 

‘‘You can see all this happening in New 

Bedford. The (fish) populations are being 

managed biologically yet there’s a tremendous amount of economic grief,’’ he said. 

‘‘The societal grief won’t be realized until 

these contemplated cuts (in the fishing effort) take place.’’ 

People will be displaced from their jobs 

and end up on government ‘‘welfare,’’ dependent on the taxpayers, he said. 

In addition to his professional fields of expertise, Dr. Rothschild is an active advocate 

for area fisheries and his research on important government and quasi-government 

boards and commissions. He worked for the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the 1970s as a senior policy adviser 

so he well understands how the regulatory 

bureaucracy works. 

Presently, he chairs New Bedford’s Ocean 

and Fisheries Council (an advocacy group for 

the city’s fishing interests), co-directs the 

Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute (a 

research partnership between UMass Dartmouth and the state Division of Marine Fisheries) and chairs the Scientific and Statistical Committee of the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council. 

The goal is to bring fishing regulations 

more into line with statistics that better reflect ocean science, including in the economics of the fisheries, he said. 

‘‘One measure of performance is overfishing, another is optimal yield (of fish), another is minimal angst among the people 

that are regulated,’’ he said. ‘‘I think we 

could do a much better job so we need to increase the dialogue with the agency. (That’s) 

a step that Barney Frank and the mayor and 

I have been involved in.’’ 

Congressman Frank, who along with Sens. 

John Kerry and Edward Kennedy, has long 

advocated for the city’s interests in Washington, said Dr. Rothschild has been very 

helpful in making the scallop industry more 

successful. 

‘‘The beauty of Brian is that he knows the 

scene better than anybody else,’’ he said. 

Dr. Rothschild’s reputation as a scientist 

has given his studies credibility with the federal government, said Mayor Lang. 

A former professor at the state universities 

of Maryland and Washington, Brian Rothschild is the author of nearly 100 papers and 

books and is an acknowledged expert in fish 

population dynamics, biological oceanography, and natural resources policy. Next 

year, in collaboration with several West 

Coast fishery scientists, he will publish a 

book on the future of fisheries science in 

North America. 

Mayor Lang calls him the perfect expert on 

the Magnusson-Stevenson Act that governs 

American fisheries. 

‘‘He understands how it relates to species 

and he understands how it relates to human 

beings,’’ he said. 

Dr. MacCormack noted that even though 

Dr. Rothschild has an international reputation as a scientist, he is completely at home 

with the fishermen and fishing boat owners 

on the New Bedford docks. 

‘‘When you see him present a paper to academics, he speaks their language, but he can 

go to the fish auction and speak their language, too,’’ she said. 

Boat owner Rodney Avila gave a similar 

assessment. 

‘‘He doesn’t talk down to fishermen, he 

talks with them. That’s important,’’ he said. 

‘‘He’s a good, all-around man,’’ said Mr. 

Avila. 

Brian Rothschild has dug deep into New 

Bedford in the 13 years he’s been at UMass 

Dartmouth. 

He and his wife, Susan, have refurbished 

one of the long-neglected Victorian houses in 

the city’s West End and he has a studio in 

the North End where, in his spare time, he 

builds replicas of 18th century furniture. 

He has traded in the sailboat he first came 

to New Bedford in for a 40-foot ‘‘Novi,’’ a recreational fishing boat where he and Susan 

fish for local fish that make good eating: 

stripers, fluke and whatever else in local waters that might taste good. 

His wife, like himself, loves fishing and 

ocean studies so it makes for an interesting 

crew, he said, the dry sense of humor he’s 

well known for coming through. 

Dr. Rothschild said he hopes his New Bedford legacy will be the use of ocean science 

to continue the revival of the fishing industry, and he hopes that SMAST can continue 

to build the quality of its faculty so it becomes one of the nation’s elite marine 

science schools. 

It may be, however, that Dr. Rothschild’s 

biggest legacy will be tied to the people of 

New Bedford themselves. 

He admits that his survey is unscientific 

but he says the city has changed since 1995 

when he first arrived, sailing his own boat 

from Maryland to the city, passing 

Cuttyhunk and then finally coming up a 

foggy Acushnet River. 

‘‘When I moved here, the houses were, in 

general, in a state of disrepair. The economy 

looked bleak,’’ he said. ‘‘As the economy and 

the fish auction developed, the community 

seemed brighter and better furbished and 

more prosperous.’’ 

That’s not a bad legacy, for an ocean scientist who sees local fishermen as part of the 

sea’s ecology. 

f 

INTRODUCTION OF THE MOUNT 

MCKINLEY NAME ACT 

HON. TIM RYAN OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Madam Speaker, Representative BETTY SUTTON and I offer the attached bill, on behalf of the now-retired Congressman Ralph Regula (R–OH). 

January 29th brings the birthday of President William McKinley, a native son of Niles, 

Ohio and a true patriot whose presidency was 

tragically ended by assassination. In order to 

preserve President McKinley’s memory and 

continue to honor him, it is fitting to retain the 

name of North America’s highest point, Mount 

McKinley. Reaching an astounding height of 

20,320 feet, Mount McKinley honors this 

prominent figure who was not only a fallen 

President but also a Union veteran of the Civil 

War. Mount McKinley has borne the name of 

our 25th Commander-in-Chief for over 100 

years. We must retain this national landmark’s 

name in order to honor the monumental legacy of this great President and patriot. 

f 

GAZA 

HON. ELLEN O. TAUSCHER OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 

Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, I am 

observing the violence unfolding in the Middle 

East with great concern. My constituents, like 

many across the nation, are horrified by the 

loss of life that is occurring on top of several 

decades of strife, and yearn for a solution that 

would bring stability to the region. I continue to 

believe that the United States has a central 

part to play and must return to an active and 

engaged role as mediator between Israel and 

the Palestinian people. 

The solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is also a regional one, and it is high time 

that all countries in the neighborhood play an 

active role in supporting a two state solution. 


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E34 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 7, 2009 

The aspirations of the Palestinian people and 

of their Israeli neighbors will continue to be 

undermined if Iran and Syria continue to funnel support for terrorist groups who kill innocent civilians and challenge the aspirations of 

moderates. 

Just like we in our country would and have 

responded to a terrorist attack on our soil, I 

fully support the right of Israel to defend its 

people against rockets launched by Hamas. 

Hamas has fired more than 6,300 rockets and 

mortars at Israeli population centers since 

Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. No country 

can endure such actions. Hamas had an opportunity to govern the Gaza strip and work 

with Israel to meet the needs of the Palestinian people when Israel withdrew from Gaza 

in August 2005. Instead of renouncing its goal 

to eliminate the Israeli state and provide true 

leadership for the Palestinian people, Hamas 

chose violence and most recently broke the 

cease-fire which Egypt had brokered. 

Fatah in the West Bank and Palestinian 

moderates have shown the way by growing 

the economy there. Moderates on both sides 

will find lasting solutions which must then be 

actively supported by our new administration, 

the region and our European allies. Until that 

time when all parties can return to the negotiating table, I urge Israel to keep its operation 

focused on its core goal of eliminating the military threat posed by Hamas while protecting 

the lives of civilians who must be Israel’s partners in the future. 

f 

RECOGNIZING LUCIUS YOUNG OF 

SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 

HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. 

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lucius 

Young of Hernando County, Florida. Lucius 

will do something later this year that all of us 

strive to do, but that very few of us will ever 

accomplish, celebrate his 100th birthday. 

Lucius Young was born May 8, 1909 in Martel, Florida. A native Floridian, Lucius attended 

school at Howard University, Georgetown University and Fessenden Academy. He eventually married Muriel Young and the two did not 

have any children. While one of his proudest 

memories is his high school graduation, he remembers when his brother earned the title 

Professor and he was able to address him as 

such. 

During World War II, Lucius served in the 

Army Infantry, where he met general Douglas 

MacArthur and heard him make the statement, 

‘‘I shall return.’’ He also met President Franklin 

D. Roosevelt when he became a special representative of the president as a commissioned officer. Lucius said he was also happy 

to meet Mrs. Roosevelt. Lucius retired from 

the military as a commissioned officer. In fact, 

Lucius’s proudest moment was when his 

mother said that he made her proud when he 

became a commissioned officer. 

Lucius moved to Hernando County when he 

married his wife Muriel. Today Lucius says 

that just eating, sleeping and reading give him 

all the pleasures he needs to be content. He 

likes it here in Hernando County because it’s 

clean and quiet. Lucius’ advice for young people is to study hard in school including subjects you don’t like. 

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join me in 

honoring Lucius Young for reaching his 100th 

birthday. I hope we all have the good fortune 

to live as long as him. 

f 

INTRODUCING THE CRITICAL 

ELECTION INFRASTRUCTURE 

ACT OF 2008 

HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS 

OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, 

I rise today to introduce the Critical Election 

Infrastructure Act of 2009. 

This legislation is a necessary and vital investment in our citizens and the future of our 

democracy. This bill authorizes $1 billion to 

states and local governments over the next 

four years for the acquisition of additional voting systems and equipment, improving training 

of election administration officials, upgrading 

existing election equipment, and allocating additional election administration officials to polling places serving greater numbers of voters. 

This funding is essential to improve efficiency 

and fairness in the operation of polling places 

in federal elections. 

President Dwight Eisenhower once said, 

‘‘The future of this republic is in the hands of 

the American voter.’’ In the 2008 Presidential 

election, an astounding 130 million people 

voted and, even more exciting, an unprecedented number of youth and minorities lined 

up at the polls to participate in the electoral 

process, many for the first time. While this increased turnout is emblematic of our nation’s 

commitment to our future, in some parts of the 

country it caused undue difficulties. 

For example, throughout South Florida and 

elsewhere in the country, hundreds of thousands of voters found themselves waiting on 

interminable lines, sometimes for over five 

hours. Five hours! Forced to stand in the heat 

and during Florida’s famous afternoon thunderstorms with little food and water, voters are 

to be commended for their civic commitment. 

But American citizens should not have to face 

such difficulties when exercising their sacred 

right to vote. 

Elections officials simply did not have 

enough equipment and trained personnel on 

the ground to speedily and effectively handle 

such large numbers of voters. Clearly what is 

needed is more: more polling booths, more 

trained workers, more equipment, and more 

polling locations and facilities to handle increasing numbers of voters. 

Madam Speaker, voting should not be a 

right granted only to those who can stand in 

line the longest or can go the longest without 

food or a bathroom break. Voting is the sacred 

right of all eligible citizens. We have a solemn 

responsibility to ensure the greatest possible 

access to exercise that right. Authorizing funding for the necessary equipment and personnel is an essential first step in that process. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. 

HONORING RANDALL JOHNSON 

HON. LYNN A. WESTMORELAND OF GEORGIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, at 

the end of 2008, a great Georgia lawman 

turned in his badge to retire after a long, distinguished career. 

Randall Johnson worked for Fayette County 

as sheriff for 32 years. At his retirement, he 

was one of the longest serving sheriffs in the 

state of Georgia. But more important, he was 

one of the most distinguished sheriffs in Georgia. 

Sheriff Johnson oversaw the department 

during three decades of incredible growth. In 

the 1970s when Johnson first won election to 

the post, the Fayette Sheriff’s Department has 

less than a dozen employees in a county then 

considered a rural outpost. By the time he left, 

the department had transformed into a modern 

law enforcement operation that protected a 

large suburban county in the booming metropolitan Atlanta region. Sheriff Johnson acted 

as a constant, a steady hand and a voice of 

leadership throughout those times of change. 

The sheriff’s post fulfilled Johnson’s lifelong 

dream. He said at his graduation from Fayette 

County High School in 1960 that he was going 

to be sheriff one day. He got his start in law 

enforcement working for the state of Georgia, 

busting moonshine operations along the multitude of Georgia’s creaks and streams. As 

testament to the depth of respect he holds in 

the community, some of those moonshiners 

he arrested decades ago showed up at his retirement party to wish him well. 

During my two decades in politics, I’ve seen 

a lot of politicians come and go. Most are 

quickly forgotten. It is the rare public official 

who holds the job for three decades. It is even 

rarer that one constantly maintains the integrity, dignity and honesty that Sheriff Johnson 

demonstrated in office. 

I’m well aware that, as I enter my third term 

in the U.S. House of Representatives, I owe a 

large debt to Sheriff Johnson. I got my start in 

politics in Fayette County as a state representative. No one in the county back then won office without the express consent of Sheriff 

Johnson. His support was the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for any local campaign. He carried great weight not because he 

carried the proverbial big stick but because he 

had earned the people’s trust and respect. His 

loyalty and backing through all these years 

humbles me. 

In Fayette County, ‘‘sheriff and -Randall 

Johnson’’ are synonymous. When he entered 

a room, everybody knew the sheriff had arrived—even if he wasn’t wearing his uniform. 

His presence was a statement in itself The 

county will sorely miss one of the greatest 

leaders in its history, but the department that 

he has built up will carry on, and its continued 

success will serve as part of Sheriff Johnson’s 

legacy. 

On behalf of the people of Georgia’s 3rd 

Congressional District, I want to thank Sheriff 

Johnson for his lifetime of service to the people of Georgia and to Fayette County. He is a 

great American and an inspiration to us all. 

Best wishes to Sheriff Johnson and his wife 

Kaye as they enter a new phase of life in retirement, a reward that’s richly deserved. 


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