[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 141 (Monday, October 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               THURGOOD MARSHALL UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4910) to designate the U.S. courthouse under construction in 
White Plains, NY, as the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4910

       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 under construction at 300 
     Quarropas Street in White Plains, New York, shall be known 
     and designated as the ``Thurgood Marshall United States 
     Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any references in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be 
     reference to the ``Thurgood Marshall United States 
     Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio [Mr. Traficant] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Petri] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant].
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the distinguished gentleman from California, [Mr. Mineta], chairman of 
the full Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
  (Mr. MINETA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. MINETA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to commend both the gentleman from 
Ohio and Tennessee for their hard work and leadership on all these 
important public buildings and grounds measures. I do want to note in 
particular my support for H.R. 4910, a bill to name the U.S. courthouse 
in New York after Thurgood Marshall.
  This is fitting tribute to a great jurist who was a relentless voice 
for minorities and whose six-decade legal career was emblematic of the 
civil rights revolution.
  Thurgood Marshall's roots were unlike those of any Justice before 
him.
  He was born in Baltimore, MD, on July 2, 1908. The son of an 
elementary school teacher and yacht club steward, and the great-
grandson of a slave brought to America from Africa's Congo region, 
Marshall was named after his paternal grandfather, who had chose the 
name ``through good'' for himself when enlisting in the Union Army 
during the Civil War.
  In his youth, Marshall attended Douglas High School in Baltimore, and 
worked as a delivery boy for a women's store. He also attended the all-
black Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and earned money for tuition 
by waiting tables.
  He obtained his law degree from Howard University in 1933, graduating 
first in his class.
  Before he joined the Supreme Court, Marshall distinguished himself as 
our country's first black Solicitor General. He served in that post 
from 1965 to 1967 and took the lead in promoting the Johnson 
administration's civil and constitutional rights agenda.
  He came to national prominence as the chief lawyer for the NAACP 
legal defense and educational fund when he argued a series of 1954 
school desegregation cases known collectively as Brown v. Board of 
Education. The Supreme Court ruled in those cases that segregation in 
public schools was unconstitutional.
  Marshall also spearheaded litigation that ended white-only primary 
elections and explicit racial discrimination in housing contracts.
  In 1967, President Johnson appointed Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme 
Court. During his 24-year tenure, he was the only black Justice.
  Marshall's record on the Supreme Court was consistent: he defended 
individual rights, he sided with minorities and the underprivileged, he 
favored affirmative action, and he always opposed the death penalty.
  A genuine, sincere individual, Marshall said he wanted to be 
remembered this way: ``That he did what he could with what he had.''
  Naming the U.S. courthouse in White Plains, NY, after Thurgood 
Marshall will serve as a lasting memory to one whose commitment to and 
reverence for the American justice system were second to none.
  I urge support for the bill, and again thank the gentleman for 
yielding to me.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
distinguished gentleman from New York, Mr. Hamilton Fish, the ranking 
Republican on the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. FISH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Wisconsin for 
yielding me this time and the committee for bringing this measure 
before us.
  Mr. Speaker, several New Yorkers are cosponsors of this legislation, 
Mrs. Lowey and Congressman Engel, one of the driving forces bringing 
this legislation to the House and Congressman Gilman and myself. Some 
of us represent White Plains, some of us represent areas immediately 
adjacent to White Plains.
  This is very much in response to the wishes of the city council of 
the city of White Plains which encouraged us to name the courthouse 
after the Justice as well as several other authorities, Afro-American 
groups in the county of Westchester which were very much in favor of 
taking this step, and the bar association.
  It was your Committee on the Judiciary which authorized in the late 
1970's the siting of the Federal court in White Plains, and it is only 
now, as was mentioned by the chairman of the full committee, that we 
are in the position of building a Federal courthouse. We look forward 
very much to this courthouse being named after Thurgood Marshall. It is 
very appropriate that after a 17-year effort to build a courthouse in 
White Plains it is coming to fruition. We had the groundbreaking a 
couple of years ago.
  I commend the committee for the expeditious manner in which the 
courthouse is being named this year.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to commend the sponsors of the bill, the gentleman from New 
York, Mr. Eliot Engel, and the gentleman who has just spoken, who has a 
distinguished record, the Honorable Hamilton Fish, ranking member of 
the Committee on the Judiciary, who played an important role in this as 
well.
  Mr. Speaker, Thurgood Marshall of New York was a towering figure in 
American jurisprudence. He had a lifelong commitment to bringing about 
equal treatment before the law for African-Americans and all others in 
this country.
  One of the most important cases he won was the famous 1954 Brown 
versus The Board of Education case which ended ``separate but equal'' 
school systems and would lead to integration of schools across the 
Nation.
  In 1961, President Kennedy appointed Marshall to the U.S. Court of 
Appeals for the Second District. In 1965, President Johnson appointed 
him to the prestigious position of Solicitor General of the United 
States. In this capacity, he was able to win Supreme Court approval of 
the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
  In 1967, President Johnson named Marshall to the Supreme Court making 
him the first African-American to serve on the venerated Court. He 
served on the Court for 24 years.
  Thurgood Marshall will be remembered not only as a brilliant civil 
rights leader, but more importantly, as a great American. It is fitting 
and proper to name this courthouse in White Plains, NY, after him to 
honor his remarkable achievements.
  This bill has my strong support, and the bipartisan support of the 
committee. I urge adoption of H.R. 4910.

                              {time}  1510

  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the coauthor of the bill before 
us.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong support of 
H.R. 4910, legislation designating the U.S. Courthouse in White Plains, 
NY, as the Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse. As a cosponsor of this 
legislation, I am pleased that the House is discussing this measure 
today.
  As the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court, I can 
think of no more fitting manner in which to honor Thurgood Marshall.
  In the struggle for equality and justice, Thurgood Marshall was a 
natural leader. With his keen intellect, and his instinctive gift for 
the law, Thurgood Marshall worked his way through Lincoln University; 
later graduating first in his class from the Howard University Law 
School in 1933.
  As Thurgood Marshall's fine reputation spread, he continued to 
champion the rights of all. He worked, first, as an assistant, and then 
as the chief legal counsel to the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People. Thurgood Marshall went on to create the 
NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. Until his untimely death in 
1993, he continued to be one of the most outspoken advocates of 
equality.
  Perhaps one of Thurgood Marshall's finest moments came in 1954, when 
he successfully argued, Brown versus the Topeka Board of Education, 
before the U.S. Supreme Court. His concise arguments, which continue to 
serve as the foundation for modern students of law, awakened first the 
Court, and finally all Americans, to the simple fact that segregation 
based on the color of one's skin is inherently wrong. In 1967, 
President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Marshall to the Supreme Court. 
During his tenure, Thurgood Marshall worked on behalf of all Americans. 
As the conscience of the Court, Justice Marshall reminded us that the 
law exists to protect the individual. Whether part of the majority, or 
part of the minority, Justice Marshall dedicated himself to protecting 
the liberties that we, as Americans, are fortunate to enjoy.
  It is extremely fitting to honor Thurgood Marshall, and his legacy, 
with the dedication of the U.S. Courthouse in White Plains, NY. I urge 
my colleagues to join me in paying this special tribute to a fine 
American.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support 
the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4910, a bill to designate the 
U.S. courthouse under construction in White Plains, NY, as the 
``Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse.''. I commend my 
colleagues on this side of the aisle, Ben Gilman, and Ham Fish, for 
cosponsoring this bill, and I congratulate them for taking this action 
to name this courthouse under construction in Justice Marshall's honor.
  Justice Marshall was a titan of civil rights law. Born the grandson 
of a slave, he achieved academic excellence, by graduating No. 1 in his 
class in 1933 from Howard Law School. He commenced a legal practice, 
where he founded the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. For the 
next 21 years, Marshall successfully defended the civil rights cases, 
and in 1954 successfully argued the landmark case, Brown versus the 
Board of Education, which had the effect of striking down the concept 
of separate but equal education.
  In 1961, President Kennedy appointed Marshall to the U.S. Court of 
Appeals for the Second District, and in 1965, Marshall was appointed 
Solicitor General of the United States. In 1967, President Johnson 
nominated Marshall to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 
where he served with distinction until his retirement in 1991. He died 
in 1993.
  I support this bill and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4910, 
to designate the courthouse in White Plains, NY, the ``Thurgood 
Marshall United States courthouse.'' This action implements the 
consensus recommendation of leaders of Westchester County who have 
suggested the designation for Justice Marshall.
  White Plains City Councilman William Brown deserves special credit 
for his work in spearheading the effort to secure this designation. He 
worked Tirelessly to coordinate the broad support throughout 
Westchester County. The White Plains City Council unanimously endorsed 
his resolution of support. Similar resolutions were approved by the 
Westchester County Board of Legislators, the White Plains Council on 
Human Rights, the Pan-Hellenic Council of Westchester, both the Black 
Democrats and Republicans of Westchester, and a number of other 
community organizations. Without a doubt, this legislation has the 
support of a cross section of the Westchester community.
  Indeed, leaders of our community understand the immense contributions 
made to our society by Justice Marshall throughout his life--on the 
Supreme Court and before. His arguments in the case of brown versus 
Board of Education literally reshaped our society in the second half of 
this century. His commitment to principle and reason were a compelling 
force in shaping jurisprudence in America during his years on the 
Nation's highest Court. And, most importantly, Justice Marshall's 
presence on the American scene brought a new day to the cause of 
justice and equality. His life was a testament to the true meaning of 
justice, and his name on this courthouse will serve as a constant 
reminder of the standards of justice to which we should all aspire.
  This legislation honors this exceptional individual in a most fitting 
and appropriate manner, and I am proud to say that it reflects the 
commitment of the Westchester community to recognize the importance of 
Justice Marshall.
  I have been pleased to work closely with my colleagues who also 
represent parts of Westchester County: Congressmen Engel, Fish, and 
Gilman, in introducing this legislation and moving it to the House 
floor. I encourage each and every Member of this House to join us in 
giving H.R. 4910 unanimous approval.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, in conjunction with my colleagues Nita Lowey, 
Ben Gilman, and Ham Fish, I'm proud to rise in support of H.R. 4910 a 
bill which would designate the U.S. Courthouse in White Plains, NY as 
Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse. Since its introduction H.R. 
4910 has enjoyed support from many government and citizen groups in 
Westchester County. These groups, as well as my colleagues and I, all 
believe this to be a modest tribute to an extraordinary defender of 
civil rights.
  Mr. Marshall's career was a distinguished and historic one. Beginning 
in the early thirties as a lawyer for the NAACP he argued numerous 
civil rights cases before the Supreme Court in support of fair voting 
rights, and desegregation. As chief counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense 
and Education Fund, Mr. Marshall successfully argued the historic Brown 
versus Board of Education case which declared racially segregated 
public schools as unconstitutional.
  In 1961, Mr. Marshall accepted and appointment from President John F. 
Kennedy to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which 
includes New York, Vermont, and Connecticut. President Johnson 
appointed Marshall to the position of Solicitor General and in 1967 to 
the Supreme Court--the first African-American to hold that position. 
During his tenure on the Supreme Court he vigilantly continued to 
defend individual rights, protecting minorities and the 
underprivileged, and supporting affirmative action, and abortion 
rights, while opposing the death penalty.
  I would like to thank Ms. Yvonne Jones, the president of the White 
Plains-Greenburgh branch of the National Association of the Advancement 
of Colored People, the board of directors of the Westchester County Bar 
Association, Mr. Fred Campbell, chairman of the African-American 
Federation of Westchester, Mr. Greg Smith, president and CEO of the 
ADF, Mr. William Brown, Jr., member of White Plains Common Council, Mr. 
Leroy Wilson Jr., of White Plains, and all those who have given support 
to this important project.
  This courthouse in White Plains will serve a meaningful purpose to 
the residents of Westchester. To name this building in honor of 
Thurgood Marshall is to recognize the importance of his role in one of 
the most historic movements of this country as well as his role as the 
defender of the rights for which he fought as a Justice of the Supreme 
Court.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4910.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of California). Pursuant to 
clause 5 of rule I and the Chair's prior announcement, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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