Schumer, Clinton, Higgins to Introduce a Resolution Naming Highway Near Ralph Wilson Stadium in Honor of Buffalo Native Tim Russert

Press Release

Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton along with Congressman Brian Higgins announced today that they are pursuing plans to have a portion of U.S. Route 20 that runs near Ralph Wilson Stadium renamed in honor of Tim Russert, the NBC Washington Bureau Chief and moderator of Meet The Press who unexpectedly passed away Friday morning. Russert was a native of Buffalo and an avid sports fan who was devoted to his hometown football team, the Buffalo Bills. The lawmakers will introduce a resolution in Congress on Monday to rename the stretch of U.S. Route 20 that runs past the home of the Buffalo Bills after Russert.

"Tim Russert was in every way, Mr. Buffalo. With his trademark 'Go Bills' sign-off, Tim Russert showed his pride for the city that made him who he was. He always cared about Buffalo, and when I spoke with him just a few weeks ago he said he would do everything he could to keep the Bills in Buffalo," Schumer said. "The kid from South Buffalo and Canisius High, never strayed from the values those places imbued in him: camaraderie, hard work, optimism, intellectual excellence and a deep love of family and country. Even when he was interviewing presidents and heads of state, Western New Yorkers knew that his blue-collar, Buffalo sensibility guided him throughout. We will forever miss Tim Russert's insight and passion, and hope that by naming this road in his honor we are memorializing one of New York's proudest sons."

"Tim will forever be remembered for his intellect, his professionalism and his historic contribution to this nation but he will also be remembered for his love of his family, his hometown and his Buffalo Bills. His passion for politics and love of his country took him to our nation's capital, but his heart never left the city where he was born or the team he grew up rooting for. Anybody who knew Tim Russert found out pretty quickly that he was a Bills fan born and bred. While this is a small gesture to honor an icon who gave us all so much, we hope that when people drive down Route 20 past Ralph Wilson Stadium, they'll remember the man who never forgot his hometown or his beloved Buffalo Bills," said Senator Clinton.

"It was no secret that Tim Russert was one of the Buffalo Bills' biggest fans- true to his Buffalo roots throughout his remarkable career, you could always count on him to close Meet the Press with a hearty, "Go Bills!" The passion for Buffalo that Tim demonstrated on a national stage was a source of pride for our city; it is only fitting that from now on, part of the experience of going to a Bills game will be being reminded of this great Buffalonian," Higgins said.

"The proposal to rename the stretch of U.S. Route 20 that runs next to the stadium in honor of Tim Russert is a wonderful tribute to a great man. I want to thank Senator Clinton, Senator Schumer and Congressman Higgins for their efforts to make this happen. I, like many others, was shocked yesterday when I heard the sad news of Tim's passing. We loved Tim and he loved Buffalo and the Bills," said Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson, Jr.

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