HONORING JAMES M. BERNHARD, JR.

On 2025-11-20, Representative Troy A. Carter (D-LA-2) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING JAMES M. BERNHARD, JR." in the House.

HONORING JAMES M. BERNHARD, JR.

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025)] [House] [Pages H4826-H4827] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING JAMES M. BERNHARD, JR. (Mr. Carter of Louisiana was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, James M. Bernhard, Jr., was a legend in Louisiana. The headlines called him an icon, a titan, a giant of a man. Those who knew him understood why. He was a builder, a problem solver, and, at his core, a man of faith. Jim was a proud LSU Tiger, graduating in construction management. He loved to tell the story of realizing at the last minute that he was 3 hours short of the credits he needed to graduate. Facing that problem, he decided to test out of a bowling class by scoring a 200, despite barely ever bowling before. In true Jim fashion, with determination and a high tolerance for risk, he figured out how to make it work and to graduate. After LSU, he went to work for the family business, where every new employee had to start by installing toilets and air-conditioners. As the family's first college graduate and someone who had already done that work since high school, the rule didn't sit right with him. He turned down the offer to join and joined Southeast Fabricators as their first salesman. On his first day, he picked up the Yellow Pages and got to work. He quickly discovered the company's prices were far too high to compete in south Louisiana. With no formal authority, he restructured the company's operations. By age 26, he was a corporate vice president and member of the board. In 1986, he faced another challenge. Health insurance premiums were raised on workers, including two employees [[Page H4827]] whose wives were pregnant. Jim wanted to raise their pay to cover the cost. His boss said no, so Jim handed in his resignation, partnered with two colleagues, and founded National Fabricators with just $50,000. That company grew into The Shaw Group, a Fortune 500 global engineering powerhouse headquartered in Baton Rouge, at the time, the only non-utility Fortune 500 company in Louisiana. His success brought offers from other States to relocate. With millions of dollars on the table, he refused every one of them. Jim was Louisiana through and through. His love for the State fueled his political engagement. After years of resisting pressure to get involved in politics, he finally told his board of directors that he was a proud Democrat, to their surprise, and devoted himself to pushing leaders to feed and educate children of all backgrounds, expand healthcare, and lift Louisiana forward. Jim helped elect two Governors, the first Black mayor of Baton Rouge, and dozens of others across the State. He proudly served as the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party. For years, many waited for Jim to run for Governor or the Senate. His son, one of my most trusted advisers, Tres--you know Tres--told me a secret. He said he was never going to run. He preferred challenging the rest of us to do better. His door was open to Democrats and Republicans alike who wanted to improve the lives of people. When he retired from Shaw, he faced another problem: what to do next. He founded Bernhard Capital Partners, now one of the largest employers in my district. Remembering that family's business whose terms he once rejected, he joined his brother and transformed it into the largest energy-as-a-service provider in the United States. Jim's impact stretches far beyond business. Louisianans will tell you Jim pumped the water out of New Orleans after Katrina. He helped build Category 5-strength levees that now protect the city. He built power plants that power America, paid living wages to tens of thousands of workers, expanded broadband for children in Baton Rouge during the pandemic and, with his beloved wife, Dana, founded the Every Kid a King Foundation to serve the children of Louisiana. None of that compares to what he cherished most: his family. Dana was the great love of his life, his partner, protector, and companion until his last breath. His pride in his children, Tres, Kathryn, Patrick, Michael, and Benjamin, was immeasurable, even if he did joke about two of them going to Ole Miss. He taught them that determination, work ethic, and comfort were risks and that they should continue to live and do the right thing. He adored his grandchildren, Ainsley, Jack, Remi, Sloane, Blake, Violet, IV, and Ella, and carried bottomless hopes for each of them. Louisiana has lost one of its greatest champions. Jim Bernhard dedicated his life to improving this State and the lives of people. Now, when we face a problem, big or small, we honor him by doing what he always did. He solved it. ____________________