[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 5, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H13954-H13955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THURGOOD MARSHALL UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 653) 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. 653

       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 reference 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 a 
     reference to the ``Thurgood Marshall United States 
     Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] 
will each be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 653, a bill which 
designates the U.S. courthouse under construction in White Plains, NY, 
as the ``Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse.''

  Thurgood Marshall was born in Baltimore, MD. He graduated cum laude 
from Lincoln University in 1930, and graduated at the top of his class 
from the Howard University School of Law in 1933.
  As a graduate of college and professional school during the Great 
Depression, Thurgood Marshall was a member of the black elite. However, 
he was constrained by a social structure which tended to frustrate the 
aspirations of black people.
  Upon graduation from law school, Justice Marshall began his legal 
career with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People [NAACP]. It was during this tenure, as chief counsel, that he 
organized efforts to end segregation in voting, housing, public 
accommodations, and education. These efforts led to the landmark 
Supreme Court decision of Brown versus Board of Education, which 
declared segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional.
  In 1961, Justice Marshall was appointed to the second circuit court 
of appeals by President John F. Kennedy, and 4 years later was chosen 
by President Lyndon B. Johnson to be the first black Solicitor General. 
Two years later, on June 13, 1967, President Johnson chose Marshall to 
become the first black Justice of the Supreme Court, where he served 
with distinction until his retirement in 1991. He died in 1993.
  It is a fitting tribute to name a courthouse in honor of this 
American who believed in equal justice for all Americans, and devoted 
his life to obtaining the values we all hold dear.
  I strongly urge all Members to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], distinguished ranking 
Member.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, again we bring to the floor a bill that 
passed this body in the 103d Congress but did not make it through the 
other body. I am very appreciative of the efforts of our chairman, the 
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest], and our senior Democrat, the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant], for bringing forward this bill to 
honor Judge Thurgood Marshall. No one, no one deserves our respect and 
appreciation for the work in civil rights more than Justice Marshall.

                              {time}  1530

  His leadership, going back to the famed Board of Education case, all 
through his service on the Supreme Court, is one of the high points, 
one of the storied chapters in American jurisprudence. He is a man, if 
we are going to name a building for anyone, a Federal courthouse for 
any person associated with the law in this country, we should do it for 
Justice Thurgood Marshall.
  We do that today. I hope the other body will act promptly and 
decisively on this legislation. It is appropriate that we have a 
landmark, that there be many in this land to honor Justice Thurgood 
Marshall.
  At the beginning of the 103d Congress a bill was passed to name the 
Judiciary Building here on Capitol hill after Judge Marshall. H.R. 653 
would further acknowledge the contributions of Judge Marshall by 
designating the U.S. courthouse in White Plains, NY, the ``Thurgood 
Marshall U.S. Courthouse.'' He exemplified the highest ideals of 
fairness and equality and his struggle against the evils of intolerance 
and bigotry spanned over five decades.
  Upon graduation from Howard University School of Law, Justice 
Marshall embarked on a legal career with the National Association for 
the Advancement of Colored People [NAACP]. In 1940, he became the head 
of the newly formed NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, a post that 
he held for 20 years. It was during this tenure as chief counsel that 
Justice Marshall organized efforts to end segregation in voting, 
housing, public accommodations, and education. These efforts led to a 
series of cases grouped under the title of Brown versus Board of 
Education, in which Marshall argued and convinced the Supreme Court to 
declare segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
  In 1961, Marshall was appointed to the second circuit court of 
appeals by President John F. Kennedy. Four years after he received 
appointment to the appeals court, President Lyndon B. Johnson chose 
Justice Marshall to be the Nation's first black solicitor general.
  Two years later, on June 13, 1967, President Johnson chose Marshall 
to become the first black Justice of the Supreme Court where he served 
with distinction until his retirement in 1991. He died in 1993.
  This bill enjoys broad, bipartisan support from the New York 
delegation as well as the Westchester County Board of Legislators, the 
Common Council of White Plains, the White Plains-Greenburgh NAACP, the 
African-American Federation of Westchester, and the Westchester County 
Bar Association.
  It is fitting to name a courthouse in honor of this great American 
who believed in equal jsutice for all Americans, and devoted his life 
to obtaining the values which we all hold dear.
  I am proud and honored to support this legislation, and urge its 
passage.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the character and contributions of Judge Thurgood 
Marshall are without equal. Judge Marshall's struggle for equality and 
dignity for all people were absolutely of historical proportions. I 
believe it is an absolute honor to participate in this debate and have 
some little say in the naming of this building.
  Mr. Speaker, with that I urge an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with the sponsor of 
this measure, Mr. Engel to express my strong support for H.R. 653, 
legislation designating the courthouse currently under construction at 
300 Quarropas Street in White Plains, NY, as the Thurgood Marshall 
Federal Courthouse.
  The naming of this courthouse is a fitting tribute to a man who 
dedicated his life and career to the cause of justice for those who 
were victims of bigotry. It was Justice Marshall, who successfully 
argued in the case of Brown versus Board of Education of Topeka, that 
separate schools for black and white students were inherently unequal. 
In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson named Justice Marshall Solicitor 
General, making him the U.S. Government's chief advocate before the 
Supreme Court. Two years later, President Johnson named Thurgood 
Marshall to the Supreme Court, thereby becoming the first African-
American Justice in our Nation's history.
  I cannot think of a more deserving individual for this honor. Justice 
Marshall dedicated his career as director of the NAACP's legal defense 
and educational fund, as a Federal jurist and voice on the Supreme 
Court, to providing equal opportunity for all Americans and ending 
discrimination in voting, housing, public accommodations and education. 
The American people were fortunate to benefit from the sound judgement 
and compassion that Justice Marshall brought to the Supreme Court.
  Mr. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 653, a bill 
designating the Federal courthouse in White Plains, NY, as the 
``Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse.''

[[Page H 13955]]

  Upon completion of his law education, Justice Marshall dedicated 
himself to the civil rights struggle. Whether as head of the legal 
defense and education fund of the NAACP, or as chief council in the 
Brown versus Board of Education case, Justice Marshall never slowed in 
his fight for equal rights for all Americans. He continued this fight 
as the Nation's first black Solicitor General, where he scored numerous 
victories in the areas of civil and constitutional rights. His career 
culminated in an historic appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court in 
1967, where he served with distinction until his retirement in 1991.
  H.R. 653 is a fitting tribute to the life and work of our Nation's 
first African-American Supreme Court Justice, and I am proud to 
represent the district where the Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse will 
be located. It is certainly an appropriate honor for this great 
American. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I, too, strongly urge an aye vote on this 
bill. I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Everett). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 653.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended, and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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