III 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 497 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 26, 2006 Mr. Specter (for himself, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. Hatch) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Relative to the death of Edward Roy Becker, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.

Whereas Edward Roy Becker was born on May 4, 1933, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Whereas Edward Roy Becker enjoyed an extraordinary career as a leading jurist in the United States; Whereas Edward Roy Becker graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954 and received his law degree from Yale Law School in 1957 with academic distinction; Whereas, following his graduation from law school, Edward Roy Becker managed a distinguished law practice at the partnership of Becker, Becker, and Fryman with his father and brother-in-law; Whereas Edward Roy Becker was active in politics, and followed his father as a Republican committeeman; Whereas, at the age of 37, Edward Roy Becker was appointed to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1970, was then elevated to the Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in 1982, was Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit from February 1998 until May 2003, and served as a Senior Judge until his passing on May 19, 2006; Whereas, while serving as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, Edward Roy Becker authored many innovative and important opinions; Whereas, in 2002, Edward Roy Becker received the coveted Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award after being selected as the most distinguished Article III Judge in the United States whose career has been exemplary, measured by [his] significant contributions to the administration of justice, the advancement of the rule of law, and the improvement of society as a whole; Whereas, among his landmark decisions, the Supreme Court adopted 3 opinions rendered by Edward Roy Becker relating to cutting-edge issues, including the reliability of scientific evidence, the rationale of class action certification, and the standards of review relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; Whereas the University of Chicago Law Review has consistently recognized Edward Roy Becker as among the 3 circuit judges who are most often cited by the Supreme Court; Whereas Edward Roy Becker handed down approximately 2,000 judicial opinions; Whereas Edward Roy Becker devoted countless hours and a tremendous amount of effort for almost 3 years as an assistant to the Senate in drafting asbestos reform legislation, writing most of S. 852 (109th Congress) (commonly referred to as the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005), and holding over 50 meetings in Washington, D.C., with stakeholders and Senators; Whereas President George W. Bush inscribed a tribute to Edward Roy Becker on the face of S. 852 (109th Congress) by designating it as the Becker Bill; and Whereas Edward Roy Becker undertook that arduous extra assignment in addition to his judicial duties, all while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (a)honors the life and accomplishments of Edward Roy Becker; and (b)extends its condolences to the family and friends of Edward Roy Becker.