Don Young: “I was saddened yesterday to hear of the death of my longtime colleague, Herb Bateman. I had the pleasure of serving with…”

“I was saddened yesterday to hear of the death of my longtime colleague, Herb Bateman. I had the pleasure of serving with Herb on the former Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee from the beginning of his first term in Congress in 1983 until the Committee was dissolved in 1995, and since that time on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Having seen his work firsthand on these Committees, I can tell you that the United States maritime and shipbuilding industries have had no greater friend. He not only received the Propeller Club of the United States Maritime Industry Salute to Congress Award in 1995, but after announcing his retirement earlier this year, he was awarded the first ever Herbert H. Bateman Award by the American Shipbuilding Association and the Helen Delich Bentley Award by the Propeller Club of the Port of Washington. In his own district, he worked hard to see that the port of Hampton Roads remained competitive, and introduced legislation, which ultimately became law, to deepen the channels there to 55 feet.”