The Honarable Gene Taylor (D-MS) honored as Salute to Congress Award Recipient for 2008
Press Release
The International Propeller Club of the United States is pleased to announce that The Honorable Gene Taylor (D-MS) was honored at the twenty-fourth annual and prestigious Salute to Congress Award Recipient for 2008. Congressman Taylor is being honored for his consistent and strong support of the United States maritime industry.
The twenty-fourth annual Salute to Congress dinner was held Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at the Congressional Country Club located in Bethesda, Maryland. 400 maritime and transportation industry leaders consisting of Propeller Club leaders, members of Congress, Department of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor leaders and the Executive and Administrative branches were in attendance to honor Congressman Taylor.
The Honorable Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) introduced Congressman Taylor and described the strong leadership Congressman Taylor consistently provides transportation issues and the humble and strong manner in which Congressman Taylor evaluates and acts upon each issue related to maritime and transportation needs.
Gene Taylor, of Bay St. Louis, is one of only a handful of Members of Congress with hands-on experience in the United States Coast Guard. Serving in the Coast Guard Reserve from 1971-1984 as the skipper of a search and rescue boat, he received the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation for fire fighting and a letter of Commendation for saving the life of a crewmember.
Prior to his election to Congress in 1989, he served as a member of the Bay St. Louis City Council and the Mississippi State Senate. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Taylor serves on two major committees, the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
As a member of the Armed Services Committee, he is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces. He also sits on the Readiness Subcommittee. On the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee he serves on the Water Resources and Environment and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.
In addition, Taylor serves as co-chair of the following Congressional member organizations: Shipbuilding Caucus, National Guard and Reserve Caucus, and Coast Guard Caucus. He is also a member of the Conservative Democrats’ Blue Dog Coalition.
Taylor and his wife, the former Margaret Gordon of Bay St. Louis, have three children, Sarah, Emily, and Gary.
The first Salute to Congress Award was presented to Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill in 1984. Recent recipients have included Congressman Jim Oberstar, (D-MN), then Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Duncan Hunter, (R-CA) former Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Senator Ernest Hollings (D-SC), then Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee and Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The International Propeller Club of the United States is a grassroots, non-profit organization, whose membership resides throughout the United States and the world. It is dedicated to the enhancement and well-being of all interests of the maritime community on a national and international basis. The Propeller Club aggressively promotes the maritime industry through many of its programs and partnering with other similar organizations.
For additional information or to buy tickets or secure congratulatory ad space in the event program, please call The International Propeller Club of the United States at 703-691-2777 or visit our web site at www.propellerclubhq.com
