The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“REMEMBERING FIRE CHIEF WILLIAM F. GODDARD III” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the in the Extensions of Remarks section section on page E1054 on Sept. 30.
The Department handles nearly all infrastructure crisscrossing the country. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department should be privatized to save money, reduce congestion and spur innovation.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
REMEMBERING FIRE CHIEF WILLIAM F. GODDARD III
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HON. STENY H. HOYER
of maryland
in the house of representatives
Thursday, September 30, 2021
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a Maryland hero and my dear friend, Chief William `Bill' Goddard III of Huntingtown, Maryland, who passed away September 1. I was fortunate to meet Bill many years ago, when he was serving as Deputy Chief at the Prince George's County Fire Department, and it was a privilege to watch him take on so many roles in public service over the years and to work closely with him on matters critical to the safety of Fifth District residents and all Marylanders.
He began his life of contribution at the age of seventeen, serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War. After returning home, Bill became a volunteer firefighter at the Glen Dale Fire Association. From there, he moved on to the Prince George's County Fire Department, where he rose to the rank of Deputy Chief before leaving to serve the people of Maryland as Executive Officer for the State Fire Marshal. In the years that followed, he held various positions in our state government, from Deputy Secretary of State, to Director of the Governor's Board of Public Works, to Chief of Staff at the Maryland Department of Transportation. As we continue to mark the twentieth anniversary of 9/
11, I would be remiss not to acknowledge Bill's key role as a state safety official on that fateful day and in the months that followed, providing guidance and expertise on preventing terrorism and ensuring public safety.
Bill had wanted to be a firefighter since he was fourteen years old, and his commitment to the job and the responsibilities it held never wavered. He said the saddest day of his life was when he retired from the fire service, and he didn't stay away long. When he got the call to serve again in 2009, Bill donned his uniform once more as Fire Chief and Emergency Manager for Howard County. In 2018, after retiring once more, he accepted an appointment as the City Administrator for Laurel, Maryland, returning again to public service.
In each of his roles, Bill was a tireless advocate for others. Wherever there was need, he never hesitated to give of himself and encourage others to do the same. He was a true public servant in every sense of the term, and an irreplaceable community leader.
More than that, Bill was a loving husband and father, and he was a cherished friend to me and so many others. All of us who served Marylanders alongside him and who knew him well share our deepest condolences with his beloved wife Marie, with his children--Kellie, Jordyn, Emily, and Stephen--and with his stepdaughter Brandi. We are grateful that they shared Bill with us all those years. Marie was truly a partner to Bill in public service, and she continues to give so much of her time and energy to their community.
I am grateful to have known and worked with Bill, and I hope that all of my colleagues will join me in paying tribute to his life and legacy. Keeping him in my thoughts, I will continue to fight for the health and safety of firefighters in Maryland and across our country, on whose behalf he advocated so tirelessly and effectively.
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