II 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3145 

To designate a portion of United States Route 20A, located in Orchard 

Park, New York, as the ‘‘Timothy J. Russert Highway’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 18, 2008 

Mr. REID (for Mrs. CLINTON (for herself and Mr. SCHUMER)) introduced the 

following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

JUNE 24 (legislative day, JUNE 23), 2008 

Committee discharged; referred to the Committee on Environment and Public 

Works 

A BILL 

To designate a portion of United States Route 20A, located 

in Orchard Park, New York, as the ‘‘Timothy J. Russert 

Highway’’. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 

4 Congress finds the following: 

5 (1) Timothy ‘‘Tim’’ John Russert was born on 

6 May 7, 1950 in Buffalo, New York, to Elizabeth and 

7 Timothy Joseph Russert. 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
2 

S 3145 RCS 

1 (2) Tim Russert graduated from Canisius High 

2 School in Buffalo, New York, earned his bachelor’s 

3 degree in political science from John Carroll Univer4 sity in 1972, and his Juris Doctor from Cleveland 

5 State University—Marshall School of Law in 1976. 

6 (3) Tim Russert embarked on a career in public 

7 service with United States Senator Daniel Patrick 

8 Moynihan and the Governor of New York, Mario 

9 Cuomo, from 1977 to 1984. 

10 (4) After his career in public service and New 

11 York politics, Tim Russert began his career in jour12 nalism when he joined NBC in 1984. 

13 (5) In 1991, Tim Russert became the host of 

14 the Sunday morning news program Meet the Press, 

15 the longest-running program in the history of tele16 vision. He would go on to become the longest serving 

17 host of the show. 

18 (6) Throughout his career, Tim Russert re19 ceived 48 honorary doctorates and several awards 

20 for excellence in journalism, including— 

21 (A) the Edward R. Murrow Award from 

22 the Radio-Television News Directors Associa23 tion; 

24 (B) the John Peter Zenger Freedom of the 

25 Press Award; 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
3 

S 3145 RCS 

1 (C) the American Legion Journalism 

2 Award; 

3 (D) the Veterans of Foreign Wars News 

4 Media Award; 

5 (E) the Congressional Medal of Honor So6 ciety Journalism Award; 

7 (F) the Allen H. Neuharth Award for Ex8 cellence in Journalism; 

9 (G) the David Brinkley Award for Excel10 lence in Communication; 

11 (H) the Catholic Academy for Communica12 tion’s Gabriel Award; and 

13 (I) an Emmy Award from the National 

14 Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 

15 (7) In 2004, Tim Russert authored the best16 selling autobiography, Big Russ and Me, which 

17 chronicled his life growing up in South Buffalo and 

18 his education at Canisius High School. He is also 

19 the author of Wisdom of our Fathers. 

20 (8) Tim Russert advocated on behalf of abused 

21 children and voiced the need to protect our Nation’s 

22 young people, serving on the board of directors of 

23 the Greater Washington Boys and Girls Club and 

24 America’s Promise—Alliance for Youth. 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
4 

S 3145 RCS 

1 (9) Tim Russert sat in the front seat of history, 

2 chronicling the political and societal events that have 

3 defined our time, and serving as a trusted source of 

4 information and analysis for millions of Americans. 

5 (10) Tim Russert was a tireless booster of Buf6 falo, a famous fan of his beloved Buffalo Bills, and 

7 was always proud of his South Buffalo roots, a 

8 source of civic pride in the Western New York com9 munity. 

10 (11) Tim Russert passed away on June 13, 

11 2008. He is survived by his wife, Maureen Orth and 

12 their son, Luke Russert. 

13 SEC. 2. DESIGNATION. 

14 The portion of United States Route 20A located in 

15 Orchard Park, New York, between Abbot Road and Cali16 fornia Road shall be known and designated as the ‘‘Tim17 othy J. Russert Highway’’. 

18 SEC. 3. REFERENCES. 

19 Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, 

20 paper, or other record of the United States to the portion 

21 of United States Route 20A referred to in section 2 shall 

22 be deemed to be a reference to the Timothy J. Russert 

23 Highway. 

Æ 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS