Dina Titus

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the sixtieth wedding anniversary of Dwayne and Carol Chesnut, two dear friends, respected community leaders, generous philanthropists, and loyal Democrats. They have three children, Kay, Michelle, and Mark, and two grandchildren, Darrel and Danielle Jobe. Carol and Dwayne met as teenagers in high school when, coming out of class, he held the door open for her. Carol responded, ``It is good to know that there are still gentlemen and scholars left.'' Dwayne was smitten and holds the door for Carol still today. When Carol and Dwayne were courting in Texas in the early fifties, their favorite song was ``Too Young'' by Nat King Cole. Its words were prophetic: ``This love will last though years may go.'' The joy they find in each other spills over into the numerous lives, including my own, which they have touched over the 60 years they have been together. Congratulations. Here's to many more good times and sweet memories to come.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, 2015 was a banner year for the Las Vegas Valley. We broke records by welcoming more than 42 million visitors from around the globe to enjoy all that Las Vegas has to offer, and that is thanks to the hardworking men and women at our hotels, our restaurants, shops, casinos, and the supporting industries and agencies. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Rossi Ralenkotter and his team at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The LVCVA has made Las Vegas not just a great place to live and work and visit, but also a brand that is recognizable worldwide. Last week I had the pleasure of hosting Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in my district for a tour of the Consumer Electronics Show and a roundtable with local government transportation, tourism, and economic development leaders. We discussed the intersection of transportation policy and the tourism industry, and we shared exciting new plans about how to revitalize our aging infrastructure. With the passage of the FAST Act and provisions I helped secure to ensure travel and tourism are part of our transportation planning, we have in place a long-term bill that will help bring this vision to life. Mr. Speaker, 2016 promises to be an even bigger and better year for Las Vegas. Come and see and enjoy it for yourself.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, last week, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which is the largest newspaper in Nevada and is one of the largest in the Southwest, was sold to a group of unknown investors. We know little about the details of the sale except that the paper was purchased for $140 million by a group of financiers, including some who allegedly have ties to Las Vegas. We know nothing about the group, nothing about its business ties, its political positions, or its potential conflicts of interest. Several watchdog and journalistic integrity groups, including the Society of Professional Journalists, have rightly called for the new owners to be transparent and reveal their identities or risk having the quality and value of the information they provide rightly questioned by readers and employees. I applaud the many hard-working reporters, editors, photographers, and columnists at the RJ who have protested this lack of transparency and journalistic ethics. It is time for the new owners to take off their masks and prove they have nothing to hide.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the golden wedding anniversary of Dwayne and Carol Chestnut, two dear friends, respected community leaders, generous philanthropists, and loyal Democrats. They have three children, Kay, Michelle, and Mark, and two grandchildren, Darrel and Danielle Jobe. Carol and Dwayne met as teenagers in high school when, coming out of class, he held the door open for her. Carol responded, ``It is good to know that there are still gentlemen and scholars left.'' Dwayne was smitten and holds the door for Carol still today. When Carol and Dwayne were courting in Texas in the early fifties, their favorite song was ``Too Young'' by Nat King Cole. Its words were prophetic: ``This love will last though years may go.'' The joy they find in each other spills over into the numerous lives, including my own, which they have touched over the fifty years they have been together. Congratulations. Here's to many more good times and sweet memories to come.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, as the Representative from Las Vegas, one of the world's greatest tourist and business travel destinations, I, too, rise in favor of H.R. 158. This bill strengthens the Visa Waiver Program to help ensure that potential terrorists are not able to abuse it to bypass security checks and come to the U.S. to do us harm. We must remain cognizant, however, of the fact that the VWP program is not only a significant aspect of our Homeland Security, but it is also critical to expediting and welcoming tourists and business travelers to the United States. In 2014, more than 20.4 million visitors arrived in the U.S. through the VWP, representing almost 60 percent of all overseas visitors. These travelers stayed an average of 18 nights and spent $4,400 per visit, generating $190 billion, which supported nearly 1 million jobs. In Las Vegas, 20 percent of our visitors come from foreign countries, many of whom use this program. So, in short, yes, we must be cautious. We cannot afford to unnecessarily crush the growing tourism industry or risk retaliatory measures by other countries, which would make it difficult for Americans to travel abroad for business or a holiday. I believe H.R. 158 strikes the right balance between security and accommodation. I urge my colleagues to support it. I also caution against carrying xenophobia too far. Mr. GOODLATTE: Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Like the others you have heard from this morning, I commend those who have worked so hard on this bill. But, like them, I, too, have reservations about the final product. It continues to underfund our Nation's infrastructure and it relies on unsustainable revenue sources and budgetary musical chairs; yet, it does include some policy provisions that I believe will result in better project development and delivery. I represent the heart of the Las Vegas Valley, a region that is home to over 2 million people. We receive and enjoy the visits of over 43 million people from around the world annually. Having a transportation system to safely and efficiently move these people and products around is vital to our economic success. That is why I am thankful that this final report includes a number of provisions that I advocated for, including language to ensure our States and MPOs consider the needs of the traveling public when developing their long-term transportation plans. The bill will also create a national travel and tourism advisory committee comprised of stakeholders from across the industry to develop a plan to identify and invest in infrastructure and operational improvements along the most important travel corridors. In addition, the final bill includes language I submitted that will extend the authorization for the development of Interstate 11, a major regional project in the Southwest. Lastly, the conference report includes provisions I advocated for in the committee to make our roadways safer for all users, not just cars and trucks, but pedestrians and cyclists who have seen increased accidents and fatalities in recent years. For these reasons that affect my district and the rest of the country and for others that have been mentioned, I think the bill deserves support. While it is not perfect, it is a step in the right direction. For that reason, I will vote for it. I urge others to do so as well.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, on December 3, 2015, the Clark County Commissioners and Department of Aviation are hosting the grand opening of a 20-acre park near McCarran International Airport, appropriately named for Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn. What began as a simple magic act aboard a cruise ship in 1957, Siegfried and Roy's show became one of the most successful extravaganzas in Las Vegas history. Ten years later, Siegfried and Roy began performing in Las Vegas at the Tropicana. The duo went on to perform around the world until 1989 when their act found a permanent home at The Mirage in Las Vegas. Siegfried and Roy entertained in Las Vegas and internationally for over 30 years to sold-out audiences, delighting more than 25 million fans with their amazing magic while showcasing the beauty and majesty of wild animals. Their passion and talent made a lasting impression on everyone who met them, knew them, or just saw their show. Siegfried and Roy's act came to an end in 2003, but their spirit lives on at the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat exhibits at The Mirage Hotel and Casino, and through their charitable work with the SARMOTI Foundation. For the past 25 years, Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat have encouraged better stewardship of the environment by teaching visitors, students, and scholars about the incredible creatures housed there and about why conservation efforts are so important for maintaining a robust ecosystem and preserving the amazing species that share the earth with us. Every day at the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, visitors can experience firsthand the enchanting world of bottlenose dolphins, white tigers, white lions, and leopards. In August, the Secret Garden welcomed four tiger cubs to the family, continuing a legacy of commitment to conservation. The SARMOTI Foundation works to conserve and protect endangered and threatened animals around the world, including tigers, lions, cheetahs, panthers, and leopards. How appropriate that a park which stands at the gateway to Las Vegas, and District One, should bear their name. Thank you, Siegfried and Roy, for your service to our community.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, had I been present on the following roll call votes, my votes would have been: 631 (HR 1694)--NO 632 (HR 3114)--YES 633 (HR 511)--NO

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my friend William C. Waggoner, a legendary union leader and a tireless advocate for the hardworking men and women who have built this country. Mr. Waggoner first joined the Operating Engineers in 1951, and he rose through the ranks to occupy the highest office in the local union, business manager, which is the position he held for 40 years. While there, he established the cutting-edge Crane Operators Training program, which became the model nationwide. Mr. Waggoner is known as a fighter for workers and their families. He believes in fairness above all and has consistently pushed for safety in the workplace, for fair wages and benefits, and for the right to collectively bargain. Away from the union hall, he remains devoted to his wife, Patty, and his family, and he is committed to his community of Long Beach, California. Many Little League Baseball players and children with special needs have greatly benefited from his generosity. I humbly thank him for his tireless service, congratulate him on a career well spent, and wish him the best in retirement. Now, don't be a stranger, Wag. You are welcome anytime in Las Vegas-- a proud union town. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute, and to revise and extend my remarks. I rise to honor my friend, William C. Waggoner, a legendary union leader and tireless advocate for the hard working men and women who built this country. Bill first joined the International Union of Operating Engineers in 1951 and immediately rose through the ranks, starting as a bulldozer operator before becoming a Foreman, Steward, Advisory Board Member, Business Representative, and District Representative for Southern Nevada and Orange County. In 1970 he was elected as President of IUOE Local 12, and in 1976 he was named to the highest office in the local union, Business Manager, a position he held for 40 years. As Business Manager, Mr. Waggoner served as Trustee for Local 12's Pension, Health & Welfare, Vacation-Holiday, and Apprenticeship Trusts, and established state-of-the-art training centers, including the cutting-edge Crane Operators Training Program, which has become the model for all crane training in the nation. In addition to his work with IUOP Local 12, Bill served as a Vice President of the California Federation of Labor, General Vice President of the International Operating Engineers, and President of the Western Conference of Operating Engineers. Bill is known far and wide as a fighter for workers and their families. He believes in fairness above all. As his adversaries will tell you, he is an outstanding negotiator, always keeping the concerns and rights of his members at the forefront. He has consistently pushed for safety in the workplace, fair wages and benefits, and the right to collectively bargain. Away from the union hall, Bill remains devoted to his wife Patty and his family and committed to his local community of Long Beach, California. Many Little League Baseball players and children with special needs have greatly benefited from his generosity. His awards are too numerous to mention but I know he is especially proud of being named ``Man of the Year'' by the Kern-Inyo Mono Counties Building Trades Council. Jack Henning, retired Secretary Treasurer of the California Labor Federation, said Bill ``represents the finest traditions of the American Labor Movement.'' I could not agree more. He has been there for me throughout my political career and for the working families I proudly represent. I humbly thank him for his tireless service; congratulate him on a career well spent; and wish him the best in his retirement. Don't be a stranger, Wag. You're always welcome in Las Vegas, a strong union town.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, when the new Speaker took the gavel last week, he promised us that the House would run differently in that Members on both sides of the aisle would get a chance to bring forth amendments and that the House would debate the merits of those. Today, I am reminded of the saying, ``Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.'' Like the gentleman admonished and as the chairman said, I worked across the aisle and brought a bipartisan amendment with my friend, Mr. Davis from Illinois. It made a small change about the local use of transportation dollars. Despite overwhelming support, we were denied the opportunity to bring that amendment to the floor. In the middle of the night, in the backroom here in the Capitol, the majority decided that the will of the people simply didn't have to be heard on this important transportation issue; yet they have allowed 10 amendments to be heard on the Export-Import Bank, which have nothing to do with transportation, and the issue of which was resolved a week ago. Indeed, I say, the more things change, the more they stay the same. So, despite all the fancy rhetoric you are hearing, I would urge you to remember that and to vote ``no'' on this rule.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for yielding. I rise in support of the Brown-Titus-Rice amendment to establish a national travel infrastructure strategy and advisory committee, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same. I represent the heart of the Las Vegas Valley, where more than 42 million travelers board planes, buses, and cars to come and enjoy some holiday time and bask in the sun and the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip. Others come to attend some of the largest professional and business meetings in the country. Like so many places, our economy is built on the hospitality industry, and its success depends on a strong transportation network to bring and move those millions of visitors around, as well as the freight needed to serve those visitors. That is why I was proud to work with my colleague from Florida (Mr. Webster) on an amendment just referenced to ensure that State and local planning processes would consider the needs of the traveler as part of the long-term planning process. This amendment was approved by voice vote just 2 weeks ago in the committee. Today, we are here with a similar bipartisan amendment that ensures that travel and tourism are part of our national policy for transportation. Our policies are enhanced when we consult and collaborate with leaders who rely on our transportation networks. Their guidance and experience can ensure that our DOT decisionmakers are aware of the changing needs and trends in travel and tourism, and can tailor investments and strategies to meet those needs. We often hear people in this very body rail against Washington bureaucrats not knowing what is going on back home. This amendment would address that. I urge your support.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, without congressional action, Medicare premiums and deductibles will increase in 2016 by 52 percent for an estimated 7.5 million American seniors and people with disabilities. Because these folks will not be receiving a Social Security cost of living adjustment for 2016, 30 percent of beneficiaries will not be held harmless, and their premiums will increase from $104 to $159 per month. To stop rates from increasing, I have introduced the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, which will protect seniors and people with disabilities by capping premiums at 2015 levels for a year. I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. Seniors in our communities worked hard all their lives and saw our country through a war, Depression, and dramatic social change. At a time when every dollar counts, this critical legislation will ensure that seniors can put food on the table and buy lifesaving medication. So let's stand up for America's seniors.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. I thank the ranking member for yielding and for her leadership on the VA Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant support of this bill, S. 2082, the VA Expiring Authorities Act. As my colleagues have outlined, this legislation will extend the authorization for some very good programs at the VA that provide valuable support and services for our Nation's heroes. I have serious concerns, however, about one provision included in the bill. Title V raises the authorization for the Denver medical facility by more than $600 million. This facility is already $1 billion over budget and years behind schedule. The bill, however, does not explain how we are going to pay for this increase. That will come later today when the House considers a continuing resolution to keep the government running for another 10 weeks. Buried in the CR is a provision that allows the VA to play a shell game within their budget to pay for the Denver project. Now, we all believe that veterans everywhere, including in Denver, should have access to the best health care possible. But the funds for the Denver project should not come at the expense of veterans in Nevada and in other parts of the country. Nonetheless, the VA has identified the $600 million to pay for the Denver facility and has said that these specific cuts are designed to ``minimize the impact on veterans.'' Well, this couldn't be further from the truth, and it ignores reality. It is the epitome of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Let me remind you that, in the summer of 2014, we passed an emergency CHOICE Act of some $15 billion to help the VA with the healthcare backlog. Then the VA came back to us this summer and said they would have to close hospitals if we didn't allow them to move some money out of the CHOICE Act. Then the VA came back and said they needed $200 million just to keep the Denver project going for a while. Now the VA is saying: Oh, no problem. We can just move $600 million out of existing programs so we can help Denver without it hurting veterans. How can they possibly do this? The VA, I can tell you, has proposed cutting IT services, despite the fact that many of their IT systems are 30 years old and need to be replaced. They want to cut funds for a program that helps recruit and retain the best personnel to serve veterans at a time when they are struggling to recruit and retain qualified employees, including specialists and doctors. They want to cut eight construction projects around the country, from operating rooms to a dialysis center. Now, how can you say these cuts won't hurt veterans? Now, we know a thing or two about sure things in Las Vegas. Well, I can tell you it is a sure thing that, soon enough, the VA will be coming back to Congress, proclaiming yet another doomsday if we don't refill these accounts that they are now robbing. So I say to you Congress needs to do its job and actually pay for what we have bought. Wars are expensive. We need to recognize that. We can't keep playing budget games and nickel-and-dime the services that the brave men and women who fought in these wars need and deserve when they come home.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite all of my colleagues to join me tonight in the Cannon Caucus Room to celebrate Las Vegas Night. We will have food and drinks and music and casino games, and it just promises to be a good time. This is what is happening only in District One. It is my pleasure to welcome and thank the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event. It is going to be just a great evening, and I hope you will all join us. Las Vegas is back. Our economy was hard hit by the recession, but now we are doing so much better. We had 315,000 tourists just over Labor Day weekend. We will welcome over 42 million tourists and business travelers this year, and that includes 8 million foreign visitors. That supports 366,000 jobs. I tip my hat to those workers in the tourism industry who have helped us make it through. Please join me tonight, and remember that what happens on Vegas Night stays on Vegas Night.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chairman, as a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1994, the so-called VA Accountability Act of 2015. We all agree on the importance of accountability for those who care for our Nation's heroes, but this is the wrong way to go about it. We are indeed throwing out the baby with the bathwater. My colleagues have outlined a number of reasons to oppose this legislation, including questionable constitutionality, the elimination of longstanding and important due process procedures for employees, and the damage it would do to whistleblower protections; but I would like to focus on the big picture, on the impact this will have on VA employees, many of whom are veterans themselves, and on our efforts to recruit the best employees possible to serve our veterans. This legislation takes VA employees, from janitors who clean the facilities and guards who protect the hospital, to the nurses caring for our Nation's heroes and the doctors providing critical care for our veterans, and moves them into second-class status. If H.R. 1994 passes, we will create a two-tiered Federal system, with VA employees less respected, less rewarded, and less protected than others. The VA already struggles to attract the best and brightest to serve our Nation's heroes. If this legislation passes, we will make it even harder to recruit and retain the most qualified and best trained workforce at the VA. I know this because, in Las Vegas, we face challenges to fully staff our brand-new state-of-the-art hospital, and if the bill passes, we will lose an important recruitment tool, and our veterans will be the ones who are hurt. Let's not fool ourselves here. This is just another piece of the Republican agenda to demonize public employees and privatize government services. Today, it is the VA. Tomorrow, it will be another agency that they don't like--who knows, the EPA, the TSA, the FAA, the USDA. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation. Don't ``Scott Walkerize'' the Federal Government.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Tsongas).

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1607, as amended, the Ruth Moore Act of 2015. This very important legislation, which was introduced by my friend, Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine, seeks to improve services for the men and women who have been the victims of military sexual trauma. In particular, this legislation sends a loud and clear message to the VA by requiring the Department to update its regulations to better serve veterans affected by MST. Current VA regulations related to MST are outdated and do not reflect the needs of those who have lived through such awful experiences. The VA's existing policy is to update regulations periodically as they see fit. However, information we have received indicates that the VA needs to do more for these veterans. Recently, the VA revised their regulations in order to do the right thing for veterans exposed to Agent Orange on aircraft, which will result in better health care and benefits for those veterans who are suffering from exposure to the toxin. We now expect the VA to do the same thing for the men and women affected by military sexual trauma. They, too, deserve the proper health care and adequate benefits. They deserve them today, not tomorrow. As we provide for the victims of MST, however, we must also work on ways to both eliminate it from our armed services and change the culture of the military. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time. So I would just simply urge my colleagues to support passage of the Ruth Moore Act of 2015, H.R. 1607, as amended, and to provide support to the victims of MST who have so bravely served our Nation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I simply urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 675, as amended. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I, too, rise in support of H.R. 675, as amended, which serves to provide an increase in the benefit payments for our veterans, as well as for their families and survivors. I thank the chairman and Ranking Member Brown for their help and their work on this important legislation. Since 1976, Congress has consistently increased the rates of basic compensation for disabled veterans and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation, DIC, for their survivors and dependents. This is in order to keep pace with inflation. However, unlike Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, known commonly as COLAs, Congress must act each year to provide veterans with the benefit adjustments they deserve. This legislation will bring COLA increases for veterans to the same level as Social Security recipients for this year. This action is very important in the short term, but I look forward to the House also considering H.R. 677, the American Heroes COLA Act of 2015, which I introduced, along with Chairman Abraham. This would eliminate the possibility of congressional gridlock ensnaring the yearly COLA adjustments by making the increases automatic, just like they are for Social Security. I would like to highlight an additional provision included in H.R. 675 that will also help ensure our veterans receive the benefits they have earned in a more timely fashion. Title 3 of this legislation is the text of H.R. 1414, the Pay As You Rate Act, which I introduced earlier this year. The VA pays veterans when their complete claim has been reviewed and processed. The Pay as You Rate Act would expedite the benefit claims process for veterans by requiring the VA to pay benefits to veterans as individual components of their claims are reviewed, rather than at the completion of the entire claim. The average benefits claim for our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans contained over eight separate components. Each medical condition is individually adjudicated, but the veteran only begins receiving benefits when the entire claim has been processed. The Pay as You Rate Act is a commonsense change that will help reduce the backlog and provide veteran families much-needed financial support. I am pleased it has been included as part of H.R. 675. This legislation also includes H.R. 2139, introduced by Representative O'Rourke, which requires the VA to inform veterans of the expected turnaround for VA's various methods of filing a benefits claim. The intent of this legislation is to aid veterans as they determine the most appropriate manner for filing their benefits claim. Lastly, included in this bill is H.R. 995, introduced by Representative Lynch. This legislation would honor our veterans by formalizing a Veterans Day moment of silence across the Nation. Again, I thank the chairman and subcommittee Chairman Abraham for their work on behalf of our Nation's heroes, and I look forward to continuing to work with them in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that all our Nation's veterans are receiving the benefits they have earned and they deserve. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, we all agree that we should provide veterans the tools they need to successfully transition from Active Duty to civilian life. Yet, far too many servicemen and -women are struggling to provide for themselves and their families once they return home. We can and must do better. That is why I am proud to partner with my Republican colleague, David McKinley, in sponsoring legislation to provide resources to help our veterans pursue higher education and gain the skills and training they need to succeed in STEM careers. The ability to analyze, communicate, and motivate, honed while in the military, makes veterans ideal candidates for the STEM fields. And with growth and demand for STEM experts expected to outpace other professions in the next two decades, this legislation will help meet the need for a highly skilled workforce, enabling us to better compete in the global economy while also creating new employment opportunities for our Nation's heroes. So I urge my colleagues to join Mr. McKinley and me in supporting the GI Bill STEM Extension Act.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Sheriff Ralph Lamb, who passed away on July 3, was one of those larger than life characters who dot the landscape and lore of the Old West. A rancher from humble Mormon beginnings, he embodied the independent cowboy spirit. He was John Wayne, Wyatt Earp, and Dirty Harry all rolled into one. He was a rodeo rider. He inspired a TV series, and he changed the face and future of Las Vegas by cleaning up the streets and reining in the mob. Sheriff Lamb wasn't afraid of the devil because he always had an angel on his shoulder. He cut a wide swath and cast a long shadow over Las Vegas when times were simpler, but the stakes were high. Our community misses him; I miss him personally, and I look forward to reading George Knapp's biography on his amazing life.