[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 38 (Tuesday, April 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           EDWARD J. SCHWARTZ COURTHOUSE AND FEDERAL BUILDING

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3770) to designate the U.S. courthouse located at 940 Front 
Street in San Diego, CA, and the Federal building attached to the 
courthouse as the ``Edward J. Schwartz Courthouse and Federal 
Building.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3770

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The United States courthouse located at 940 Front Street in 
     San Diego, California, and the Federal building attached to 
     the courthouse shall be known and designated as the ``Edward 
     J. Schwartz Courthouse and Federal Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the courthouse and 
     Federal building referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to 
     be a reference to the ``Edward J. Schwartz Courthouse and 
     Federal Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio [Mr. Traficant] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant].
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, This legislation will honor Judge Edward J. Schwartz for 
his long and distinguished judicial career. He began his legal career 
as a jurist in 1959 with an appointment to the municipal bench by 
Governor Pat Brown. Judge Schwartz was appointed to the Federal bench 
in 1968 by President Johnson, becoming the first judge in the newly 
created District of Southern California. He was the district's chief 
judge for 13 years and now even at age 81, Judge Schwartz still tries 
cases.
  Judge Schwartz is beloved by the San Diego legal community, having 
served for decades with dignity and distinction. I urge adoption of 
H.R. 3770 and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the naming of the U.S. 
courthouse in San Diego, CA, in honor of Federal District Judge Edward 
J. Schwartz.
  Judge Schwartz was appointed Federal district judge in 1968 and 
served with great distinction as chief judge for the southern district 
of California from 1969 to 1982.
  Judge Schwartz received his law degree from San Francisco Law School. 
Judge Schwartz has received numerous awards in recognition of his 
distinguished legal career.
  At age 81, Judge Schwartz still carries a full case load, in one of 
the busiest judicial districts in the United States.
  It is fitting that this courthouse be named after Judge Schwartz 
since many regard him as the primary force behind the building of this 
facility.
  I am proud to join the sponsor of this legislation, Congresswoman 
Schenk urging the passage of H.R. 3770.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Schenk] who is the sponsor of this 
naming bill.
  Ms. SCHENK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to take a moment to thank Chairman Traficant 
and Chairman Mineta for their efforts to move this bill expeditiously.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my great privilege to rise in support of H.R. 
3770, which will name the San Diego Federal Courthouse, the ``Edward J. 
Schwartz Courthouse and Federal Building.''
  Judge Schwartz is truly a legend in the San Diego legal community. He 
began his long and distinguished career as a jurist in 1959 when one of 
California's greatest Governors, Pat Brown, appointed him to the 
municipal court bench.
  In 1968, when the U.S. Senate confirmed President Johnson's 
nomination of Judge Schwartz to the Federal bench, he became the first 
judge appointed to the district court for the southern district of 
California.
  From 1969 until 1982, Judge Schwartz served as chief judge for the 
southern district. At the time he was appointed chief judge, the 
district court occupied a very old and dilapidated post office building 
where I was sworn in as a new lawyer many years ago. Judge Schwartz led 
the campaign to build an appropriate Federal courthouse and Federal 
building in San Diego.

  But his involvement with the new courthouse did not end securing 
Federal funding. Judge Schwartz was so committed to this project that 
he actually supervised the planning and construction of the building. 
Many in the San Diego legal community believe that the current 
courthouse is a testament to the initiative, dedication, and tenacity 
of Judge Schwartz.
  For 13 years, Judge Schwartz guided the district court with dignity, 
grace, loyalty to the court and loyalty to the judicial branch of 
government. Under his leadership, the southern district grew from a 
small satellite of Los Angeles to one of the busiest judicial districts 
in the country.
  Judge Schwartz has devoted his life to the court, to San Diego, and 
to his country. Remarkably, at age 81 he still continues to try cases. 
He is a fair, thoughtful and respected jurist and I believe that naming 
the courthouse after him would be a very fitting way to honor his many 
years of distinguished public service. My efforts to name the 
courthouse after Judge Schwartz are supported by the San Diego Federal 
Bench, by the San Diego Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and 
indeed by the entire legal community.
  Once again, I thank the gentleman for helping bring this bill to the 
floor.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
good friend, the gentleman from California [Mr. Cunningham].
  (Mr. CUNNINGHAM asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong support 
of H.R. 3770. This legislation designates the U.S. courthouse and 
Federal building in San Diego as the ``Edward J. Schwartz Courthouse 
and Federal Building.'' This designation honors a pillar of the San 
Diego community and recognizes the important contributions that Judge 
Schwartz has made to the legal community in the State of California.
  Judge Schwartz began his distinguished career on the bench in 1959, 
when the Governor of California, Pat Brown, first appointed him to the 
municipal court bench. Judge Schwartz is revered by members in legal 
community for his commanding knowledge of the law. In 1968, he was 
nominated by President Johnson to the Federal bench. Following his 
confirmation by the U.S. Senate, he has continued to serve the 
California legal community.
  In fact, Judge Schwartz, who recently celebrated his 81st birthday, 
still tries cases today. He has selflessly served both the citizens of 
California and the Federal Government for over 35 years.
  H.R. 3770 is a most appropriate way to recognize the contributions of 
an outstanding jurist.
  Mr. Speaker, again I rise in support of this legislation, and I 
strongly urge my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
significant contributions of Judge Edward J. Schwartz to San Diego, CA, 
and the legal profession.
  Mr. MINETA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3770 to designate 
the U.S. courthouse at 940 Front Street in San Diego, CA and the 
Federal building attached to the courthouse as the ``Edward J. Schwartz 
Courthouse and Federal Building.''
  Edward Schwartz was raised in San Diego, graduated from University of 
California at Berkeley and San Francisco Law School. He served as a 
lieutenant commander in the Second World War and graduated from the 
Naval War College in 1943.
  In 1968 President Lyndon Johnson appointed him to the U.S. District 
Court for the Southern District of California. Judge Schwartz served as 
chief judge on the court from 1969 to 1982. At that time, he assumed 
senior status and, at the age of 81, continues to hear cases.
  Because of Edward Schwartz's distinguished career as a Federal judge, 
I urge adoption of H.R. 3770 to designate the U.S. courthouse and 
attached Federal building in San Diego as the ``Edward J. Schwartz 
Courthouse and Federal Building.''

                              {time}  1310

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 3770, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Mazzoli). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] that the House 
suspend the rules and press the bill, H.R. 3770.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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