Bill Now Awaits President’s Signature
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) announced today that the U.S. Senate passed his legislation to honor Bob Hope. Reps. Schiff and Howard Berman (D-Van Nuys) introduced a bill in early September to name the post office located at 135 E. Olive Avenue in Burbank, California for Bob Hope. The full House of Representatives passed the legislation on September 30, 2003 and the bill now awaits the President’s signature.
"A testament to Bob Hope’s many contributions to veterans, active duty troops and the field of entertainment, our legislation to honor him has now passed both Houses of Congress," Rep. Schiff said today.
"When I was in Iraq in August, I visited a commissary named after Bob Hope and saw first hand how much his visits to the troops meant to them. An honorary veteran, Bob Hope's legacy will be that of a wartime and peacetime soldier, always fighting to bring a smile and a piece of home to U.S. troops around the world. I urge the President to quickly sign this legislation into law and join us in honoring Bob Hope’s numerous contributions to our country," Schiff added.
Born in 1903, Bob Hope started his entertainment career early in California with a radio show at the NBC Studios in Burbank. In 1938, Bob Hope's weekly radio show - the "Bob Hope Pepsodent Show" - made Hope a national celebrity and the show ran for ten years until 1948. In 1941, Hope performed for U.S. troops at March Field in California, beginning a long tradition of military performances. For decades, Hope entertained troops at military bases bringing laughter and a bit of home to U.S. servicemen and women overseas.
Hope has been honored both as a goodwill ambassador and entertainer over the years. In May 1993, NBC named its studios for the entertainer and in 1997, he was named an honorary U.S. veteran by Congress for his 50 years of entertaining troops around the world. On his 100th birthday - May 29, 2003 -- President Bush established the Bob Hope American Patriot Award, and a famous Hollywood intersection was named for him.
The City of Burbank has a history of honoring Bob Hope. In 1989, the city of Burbank renamed a portion of Catalina Street near NBC studios Bob Hope Drive. Bob Hope and his wife have been long-time residents of the Toluca Lake neighborhood of the Burbank/Los Angeles area.