Senate Bill sb1550

    Florida Senate - 2004        (NP)                      SR 1550

    By Senator Wise





    5-956-04

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____

  2         A resolution recognizing former Congressman

  3         Charles Edward Bennett, who died on September

  4         6, 2003, for outstanding public service.

  5  

  6         WHEREAS, United States Representative Charles E.

  7  Bennett was Florida's longest serving congressman, was first

  8  elected to Congress in 1948, and represented the people of the

  9  Jacksonville area until 1993, serving more than 44 years under

10  nine presidents, and

11         WHEREAS, in 1941 Charles Edward Bennett enlisted in the

12  United States Army where he served with distinction until his

13  discharge as a Captain in 1947 after receiving the Silver

14  Star, the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the

15  Philippine Legion of Honor and Gold Cross, and the French

16  Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur for gallantry in action for

17  wartime service as a leader of Philippine Scouts, and

18         WHEREAS, Congressman Charles E. Bennett served as Dean

19  and Chairman of Florida's Congressional Delegation and

20  supported many initiatives that benefited the State of Florida

21  and its residents, and

22         WHEREAS, known as an early advocate for ethical reform

23  in Congress, Representative Bennett sponsored legislation

24  creating the House Ethics Committee and he served as its first

25  chairman, and

26         WHEREAS, during his tenure in Congress, Charles E.

27  Bennett was the second-ranking Democrat on the House Armed

28  Services Committee, served as Chairman of the Seapower and

29  Strategic Materials Subcommittee, and championed legislation

30  to provide ships for the United States Navy, increase military

31  

                                  1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2004        (NP)                      SR 1550
    5-956-04




 1  pay, improve military housing, and reform military justice,

 2  and,

 3         WHEREAS, in 1954 Congressman Bennett sponsored the bill

 4  that added the words "In God We Trust" to the nation's coins

 5  and currency, and

 6         WHEREAS, a cosponsor of the Americans With Disabilities

 7  Act, Congressman Bennett was himself disabled and used a

 8  wheelchair or cane after contracting polio during World War II

 9  when he was a guerrilla fighter in the Philippines, and

10         WHEREAS, in addition to his legislative service,

11  Congressman Bennett authored numerous books on Florida history

12  which collectively added to the understanding and appreciation

13  of the early history of this state and he was instrumental in

14  creating the Fort Caroline National Memorial and the Timucuan

15  Ecological and Historical Preserve, and

16         WHEREAS, Charles Edward Bennett was a patriot who will

17  long be remembered for his principled representation of his

18  constituents, his impeccable voting record, his uncompromising

19  ethics and advocacy for ethical reforms in Congress, and his

20  leadership in helping to ensure a strong national defense as

21  the cornerstone of national security, NOW, THEREFORE,

22  

23  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

24  

25         That the Florida Senate recognizes and honors former

26  Congressman Charles Edward Bennett for outstanding service to

27  the people of this state and the United States.

28         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution,

29  with the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Dorothy

30  Jean Bennett of Jacksonville, the widow of Congressman Charles

31  E. Bennett.

                                  2

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.