Congressional Record—Senate S1727
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March 11, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1727 country’s outstanding military leaders, holding the core values of the U.S. Air nation and without compromising na- Colonel Robert S. Hart, Commander, Force—Integrity First, Service Before tional security. 403d Operations Group. Unfortunately, Self, and Excellence In All We Do. He Last Congress, the Senate passed an Colonel Hart’s service to his country was a true Citizen Soldier, always almost identical version of this bill by ended on February 16, 2002 when he un- ready to answer his nation’s call. On unanimous consent. Unfortunately, in expectedly passed away. behalf of a grateful nation, I ask you to my opinion, the bill was not passed by Colonel Hart entered the Air Force in join me, my colleagues in the senate the House of Representatives under the 1973 through the Air Force Reserve Of- and Colonel Hart’s many friends and expedited procedures of suspension of ficer’s Training Corps program. His family in saluting this distinguished the rules, because it did not pass with early assignments included Williams officer’s many years of selfless service a two-thirds majority, although a ma- Air Force Base, AZ, and Charleston Air to the United States of America. I jority supported the measure, 232–158. Force Base, SC, where he finished his know our Nation, his wife Karen, and Last February, the Senate again ap- active duty career in October 1979. He his family are extremely proud of his proved this bipartisan legislation, yet entered the Air Force as a pilot and accomplishments. It is fitting that the we are still awaiting action by the continued to fly throughout his career. U.S. Senate honor him today. House on this measure. Today, we are He joined the Air Force Reserve in f offering this legislation as an amend- July 1980. In 1981 he was the Chief of ment to S. 517 in an effort to focus at- Standardization for the 300th Military LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT tention on this important safety mat- Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force OF 2001 ter and work toward reconciling our Base, SC. From 1992 to 1998 he was the Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Madam Presi- legislation with the House of Rep- Aircraft Operations Officer for the dent, I rise today to speak about hate resentatives. I hope that we can con- 701st Airlift Squadron at Charleston crimes legislation I introduced with tinue to work with all of the interested Air Force Base. For the first half of Senator KENNEDY in March of last parties as the legislation moves though 1998 he was the Airlift Operations Offi- year. The Local Law Enforcement Act the legislative process. cer for the 707th Airlift Squadron also of 2001 would add new categories to Over the past few years, we have ex- at Charleston Air Force Base; the re- current hate crimes legislation sending perienced two major pipeline accidents, mainder of 1998 to December 1999, he a signal that violence of any kind is one in Bellingham, WA, and the other was the Commander of the 707th Airlift unacceptable in our society. near Carlsbad, NM. While these tragic Squadron. He joined the 403d Wing in I would like to describe a terrible accidents happened, we need to take all December 1999, where he was the com- crime that occurred February 24, 2002 necessary steps to ensure that other mander of the 403d Operations Group. in Santa Barbara, CA. A gay man, accidents are not waiting to happen. I As the commander of the 403d Oper- Clint Scott Risetter, 37, was doused in think that this legislation will increase ations Group, he was responsible for gasoline and set on fire while he was the tools available to OPS to ensure the training and mission execution of sleeping. The assailant, Martin Thomas that our pipeline system is as safe as the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Hartman, 38, confessed to the murder, possible. I would ask that OPS use the Squadron, the 815th Airlift Squadron, and said that the victim ‘‘deserved to tools that we provide to ensure the ap- and the 41st Aerial Port Squadron at die’’ for being gay. Hartman is being propriate level of oversight of pipeline Keesler Air Force Base, MS; and, the charged with murder, arson, and a hate safety practices. 96th Aerial Port Squadron at Little crime in connection with the incident. While there were many who worked Rock Air Force Base, AR. I believe that Government’s first with Senators MCCAIN and HOLLINGS on Colonel Hart was born in Abilene, duty is to defend its citizens, to defend the Commerce Committee to ensure TX. His father and mother, John and them against the harms that come out passage of pipeline safety legislation, I Mary Hart, reside in Eastland, TX. of hate. The Local Law Enforcement would like to recognize, in particular, Colonel Hart earned a Bachelor of Art’s Enhancement Act of 2001 is now a sym- the efforts of Senators MURRAY and degree in business and administration bol that can become substance. I be- BINGAMAN. Senator MURRAY doggedly management at Texas Tech University. lieve that by passing this legislation, pursued changes to increase the level He is a graduate of Squadron Officer we can change hearts and minds as of safety and public participation in School, Air Command and Staff Col- well. pipeline safety, and she worked closely lege, and Air War College. He held the f with other Commerce Committee mem- rating of command pilot with more bers to ensure a reasonable and fair than 8,850 flight hours. He has flown THE PIPELINE SAFETY compromise. Senator BINGAMAN was in- the following aircraft: T–37B, T–38A, C– IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2002 strumental in helping bolster the bill’s 141A/B and C–130. His military decora- Mr. BREAUX. Madam President, I provisions on research and develop- tions include the Meritorious Service rise in support of amendment No. 2979 ment, in fact, he authored provisions Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the to S. 517, the Pipeline Safety Improve- to focus our research on progressive Aerial Achievement Medal; the Air ment Act of 2002, which will enhance areas that will help us develop better Force Commendation Medal with one the safety of our interstate pipeline systems of early detection, and to en- oak leaf cluster; the Joint Meritorious systems. As you may recall, the Senate sure that we can avoid accidents such Unit Award; the Air Force Outstanding passed this legislation last February as as those that occurred in Bellingham, Unit Award with five devices; the Com- one of the first orders of business of the WA, and near Carlsbad, NM. bat Readiness Medal with eight de- 107th Congress. This bill is the product A floor amendment which was ac- vices; the National Defense Service of over 3 years of work and recent com- cepted during consideration of S. 235 Medal with one device; the Armed promise and I urge my colleagues to last February mandates a 5-year integ- Forces Expeditionary Medal with one join me in support. rity inspection period for pipelines. device; the Southwest Asia Service The aim of the bill is to ensure the Since passage of the S. 235 last Feb- Medal with three devices; the Armed safety and security of natural gas and ruary, I understand that studies, con- Forces Service Medal; the Humani- hazardous liquid pipelines. I appreciate ducted by Batelle and Energy and En- tarian Service Medal with three oak the considerable number of hours that vironmental Analysis, Inc., indicate leaf clusters; the Air Force Longevity went into creating this bill by all of that a 5-year period for integrity in- Service Award with five devices; the the parties. I also am satisfied by the spections will cause significant im- Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two spirit of compromise that infused the pacts on natural gas consumers as a re- devices; the Air Force Training Ribbon; parties’ diligent efforts. As a result of sult of pipeline capacity reductions re- the Kuwait Liberation (Saudi Govern- their cooperative work we have a bill sulting from such a short inspection ment) Medal; and, the Kuwait Libera- that reaffirms our efforts to oversee period. I want to bring these studies to tion (Kuwait) Medal for his service in the safety of gas and hazardous liquid the attention of my colleagues as we Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM. pipelines effectively without inter- prepare to move this important piece Colonel Hart served his nation for 29 fering with the pipeline operators and of pipeline safety legislation to con- years distinguishing himself while up- owners ability to provide service to our ference. S1728 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2002 Lastly, I would like to address one Friar’s friar, firefighter, warrior for the Lord with aids in a small Chelsea studio apart- change to the legislation since Senate and New Yorker—I can’t help believing that ment. Or arm in arm with our missing hero passage last year. Since September 11, Erin and Dymphna, your beloved Emmet, Patty Brown, comforting the family of hero who wanted to be a priest at the age of four, firefighters like the late Captain John we have all recognized that the way our beloved Mychal—in the swirling and Drennan in a New York Hospital burn unit, the Government has done business may fiery wind tunnel of the majestic twin tow- Mychal was equally at home in the brown change due to security concerns. In the ers, helmet off in respect to our creator, lift- robe and sandals of a friar or the uniform of past, we have made efforts to expand ed his lovely tenor voice and uttered a final a New York City fire officer and always in an the amounts of information made Alleluia as he rode the winds aloft, smiling encouraging and positive way motivating us available to the public, including en- broadly as he shot one final mortal glance at to do bigger and better things.