Congressional Record—Senate S1590
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
S1590 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 1, 2006 (3) earned from fans the nickname Boojum, be equally divided between the two like the reason the Senate was created, after the sound that his line drives made leaders or their designees. but the Senator from Wisconsin has when slamming off the fences; and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without been waiting, trying his best to get 15 (4) played on pennant-winning teams as a member of the Baltimore Black Sox, Phila- objection, it is so ordered. minutes, day after day, as the majority delphia Stars, and Homestead Grays; f refuses to give it to him. As I have said repeatedly, I think Whereas those baseball legends will be in- PROGRAM ducted into the National Baseball Hall of there is merit to this PATRIOT Act, as Fame on July 30, 2006, in Cooperstown, New Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today the amended with Senator SUNUNU’s efforts York, joining former Negro Leagues players Senate passed the PATRIOT Act and the efforts of many, including my- Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, amendments bill, and we are now con- self, but I am going to defend the right Larry Doby, Monte Irvin, Roy Campanella, sidering the PATRIOT Act conference of the Senator from Wisconsin to come ‘‘Satchel’’ Paige, Willie Mays, Bill Foster, report. Early today, by a vote of 84 to ‘‘Buck’’ Leonard, ‘‘Bullet’’ Rogan, ‘‘Cool to the floor any time he wants, as a Papa’’ Bell, Hilton Smith, ‘‘Smokey’’ Joe 15, the Senate overwhelmingly invoked Senator representing his State and as a Williams, Josh Gibson, ‘‘Judy’’ Johnson, cloture on the conference report. Under coequal Member of this Chamber, and Leon Day, Martin Dihigo, Oscar Charleston, an agreement just reached, we will be offer an amendment. The majority ‘‘Pop’’ Lloyd, Ray Dandridge, ‘‘Rube’’ Fos- voting on the PATRIOT Act conference should not be so frightened of debate, ter, ‘‘Turkey’’ Stearnes, and Willie Wells, as report tomorrow at 3 p.m. Following not so frightened of a vote that they members of the National Baseball Hall of that vote, we will have a cloture vote would deny the Senator this oppor- Fame; and with respect to the LIHEAP bill. The tunity. Whereas we congratulate the Negro remaining schedule for tomorrow will Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, f Missouri, the only public museum in the Na- depend on the outcome of that vote, tion that exists for the exclusive purpose of and we will alert Members of the sched- HONORING THE LEGENDARY interpreting the experiences of the players in ule following that cloture vote. STARS OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES the Negro Leagues, founded in 1990 by Negro f AND PRE-NEGRO LEAGUES BASE- Leagues legend Buck O’Neil, Horace Peter- BALL son, former Kansas City Monarchs outfielder ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT Al ‘‘Slick’’ Surratt, and other former Negro Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, if there is Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, in the Leagues players, for the tireless efforts of no further business to come before the last few moments, we adopted a resolu- the museum to preserve the evidence of Senate, I ask unanimous consent that tion which is historic in nature. It re- honor, courage, sacrifice, and triumph in the the Senate stand in adjournment under lates to the Negro Leagues and pre- face of segregation of those African Ameri- the previous order following the re- Negro Leagues baseball in America. cans who played in the Negro Leagues Anyone who loves baseball as I do and through its comprehensive collection of his- marks of Senator DURBIN for up to 15 minutes. followed the great documentary pre- torical materials, important artifacts, and pared by Ken Burns on the history of oral histories of the participants in the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Negro Leagues and the impact that segrega- objection? baseball must have been struck by how tion had in the lives of the players and their Mr. FEINGOLD. Reserving the right much the history of baseball is associ- fans: Now, therefore, be it to object, I wish to indicate that I am ated with the resolution of the issue of Resolved, That the Senate— pleased we could work out a time for race in America. (1) congratulates Ray Brown, Willard For too long, baseball, similar to Brown, Andy Cooper, Frank Grant, Pete Hill, the vote tomorrow. I want to be very clear that not only have I not given up much of America, was segregated. Now Biz Mackey, Effa Manley, Joe Mendez, Alex that it has become an integrated sport, Pompez, Cum Posey, Louis Santop, Mule any of my rights under the bill, as I un- Suttles, Ben Taylor, Cristobal Torriente, Sol derstand it, given the rules we have seen some tremendous ath- White, J.L. Wilkinson, and Jud Wilson on postcloture, I actually have more time letes—Black Americans, Hispanic being elected to the National Baseball Hall for debate than I otherwise would have Americans, White Americans, those of Fame Class of 2006; to oppose this unwise legislation. In from other countries—coming together (2) commends the National Baseball Hall of terms of convenience for Members, I to make it a more exciting sport than Fame and the Negro Leagues Baseball Mu- it has ever been. seum for their efforts to ensure that these am pleased about that. It will be im- portant to continue the debate tomor- I think we realize now what was lost legends of baseball receive the recognition for so many decades, while those who due to players of their caliber; and row prior to 3 o’clock. I thank the lead- (3) respectfully requests the Enrolling ers for the ability to achieve that. labored in Black baseball, the Negro Clerk of the Senate to transmit an enrolled The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Leagues, were relegated to second-class copy of this resolution to— objection, it is so ordered. status despite the fact their talents (A) the National Baseball Hall of Fame; The Senator from Illinois is recog- were as good or sometimes better than and nized. those who played on all White baseball (B) the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, pursu- teams. f ant to the unanimous consent request, Jerry Izenberg, a sports writer for ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, MARCH I wish to speak to a resolution which the Newark Star Ledger, wrote of the 2, 2006 was just passed, but prior to that time, stars of Negro Leagues Baseball: Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask I would like to commend my colleague They took America’s game and weaved a kind of magic with it that most of America unanimous consent that when the Sen- from the State of Wisconsin for his dogged determination to have the Sen- never bothered to see—not for lack of talent ate completes its business today, it and surely not because of the way they stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m. on ate actually consider an amendment—a played it—with a fire in the belly and joy in Thursday, March 2. I further ask that substantive amendment—to the PA- the skills that motivated them. following the prayer and pledge, the TRIOT Act. He has been more than co- America loved baseball, but segregation morning hour be deemed expired, the operative in suggesting he would limit turned America blind. The psyche of the Journal of proceedings be approved to the time of that debate to 15 minutes, White men who owned Major League Base- date, the time for the two leaders be but he has been stopped every time he ball and most of those who played the game reserved, and the Senate then proceed has come to the floor and made that re- couldn’t get past the matter of skin color. to a period of morning business for up quest by the majority. One of the greatest players ever, the to 30 minutes, with the first 15 minutes I may disagree with the Senator from legendary Satchel Paige, spent most of under the control of the Democratic Wisconsin, but I am going to stand his career in the Negro Leagues. In his leader or his designee, the final 15 min- here and fight for as long as I can that Hall of Fame induction speech in 1971 utes under the control of the majority he have this opportunity. Why is the he said: leader or his designee, and the Senate Senate afraid of debate? Why is the Oh, we had men by the hundreds who could then resume consideration of the con- Senate afraid of deliberation? What is have made the big leagues, by the hundreds, ference report to accompany H.R. 3199, so frightening about having two Sen- not by the fours, twos or threes. the PATRIOT Act; I further ask that ators present a point of view and then ‘‘ ... Ain’t no maybe so about it,’’ the debate until the final passage vote have the Senate vote? It almost sounds Satchel Paige said. VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:23 Mar 02, 2006 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A01MR6.044 S01MRPT1 ycherry on PROD1PC64 with SENATE March 1, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1591 I did have the honor to meet him one Minnie Minoso is to Latin ballplayers what world was excited about whether I was going day. He was in Springfield watching a Jackie Robinson is to Black ballplayers. in the Hall of Fame or not. We’ve come a baseball game. I still remember it. He He paved the way for generations of long, long ways. Before, we never even was seated next to Minnie Minoso, Latin superstars, from Roberto thought about anything like that.