[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 203 (Monday, December 18, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H14981-H14982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HOWARD H. BAKER, JR. UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2547) to designate the United States courthouse located at 
800 Market Street in Knoxville, TN, as the ``Howard H. Baker, Jr. 
United States Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2547

       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 800 Market Street 
     in Knoxville, Tennessee, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Howard H. Baker, Jr. 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 ``Howard H. Baker, Jr. United States 
     Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, this bill would designate the newly 
acquired building in Knoxville, TN as the ``Howard H. Baker, Jr. United 
States Courthouse''. In the 103d Congress legislation was enacted to 
name the United States courthouse to be built in Knoxville after this 
distinguished former Senator and national leader. However, in an effort 
to save money, a suitable building was purchased at a different 
location in Knoxville. The bill will designate that building in honor 
of Senator Baker. Senator Baker was a pioneer in Republican politics in 
the State of Tennessee. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1966 and 
served until his retirement in 1984. At the time of his retirement he 
was at the pinnacle of his congressional career as majority leader of 
the U.S. Senate. In 1987, Senator Baker served as White House Chief of 
Staff to President Reagan, to bring a steady hand to the White House 
following the Iran/Contra incident. Senator Baker has been honored by 
being awarded the Medal of Freedom, among other prestigious awards. He 
is still active at his law firm and is a most respected former member. 
It is fitting that we name this building in honor of this public 
servant. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I want to join with the gentleman from 
Tennessee [Mr. Duncan] in support of naming this Federal courthouse in 
Knoxville after Howard H. Baker, Jr. I would like to say as now the 
chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation, the gentleman from Tennessee has 
worked tirelessly on this effort. He has also worked very hard in the 
Subcommittee on Aviation, and he has done a great job.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to inform the gentleman from Maryland 
[Mr. Gilchrest] that in the 82d Congress, Howard Baker was a member of 
the Public Works Committee. He was very aware of many of the problems 
of infrastructure and the needs of our country, as evidenced later by 
his distinguished service.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2547, introduced by Mr. Duncan of Tennessee, will 
name the Federal courthouse in Knoxville, TN after Howard H. Baker, 
Jr., a man whose public record almost makes his name a household word 
in the annals of public service. Howard Baker served his country in the 
United States Navy during WW II, the United States Senate, the White 
House, the United Nations, and numerous boards and commissions. It is 
with great admiration for Howard Baker's devotion and dedication to 
public service that I join with Mr. Duncan in supporting H.R. 2547.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. 
Traficant] for that interesting bit of history about a former member of 
the Public Works Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and I urge the adoption of 
the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery], ``The General,'' whose 
name is associated with so many things associated with veterans. The 
gentleman is leaving this Congress, and we love him dearly. This 
Congress will not be the same. I am sure he has an awful lot of 
memories of fine Americans, such as himself and like Howard Baker.
  (Mr. MONTGOMERY asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his 
very kind remarks. I know the gentleman was a very outstanding sheriff 
and law enforcement officer before he came to the Congress, and I 
appreciate what he said.
  Mr. Speaker, but I am here to say that I think it is very appropriate 
designating this United States courthouse to be named the Howard H. 
Baker Courthouse. I have known Senator Baker for a number of years. I 
had the privilege, I was before him, but we went to the same school in 
Tennessee.
  This is well deserved and I congratulate the gentleman from Maryland 
[Mr. Gilchrest] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] for 
bringing this bill to the floor. I fully support it.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote. I commend the 
gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan].
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2547, a bill to 
designate the courthouse at 800 Market Street in Knoxville, TN, the 
Howard H. Baker, Jr. United States Courthouse. I am proud to be the 
sponsor of this bill, along with the other Members of the Tennessee 
delegation, and commend and thank Chairman Gilchrest. This legislation 
is a fitting tribute to Senator Baker's extraordinary career and public 
service.
  As you know, similar legislation to construct a new courthouse became 
public law in the 103d Congress. However, rather than build a new 
courthouse, GSA has decided, at my urging, to save the taxpayers money 
and move into an existing building. Therefore, it is necessary to 
rename the building, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Senator Baker was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1966. He was 
the first Republican 

[[Page H14982]]
ever popularly elected to the U.S. Senate from Tennessee, and he won 
reelection in 1972 and 1978. Senator Baker served as minority leader of 
the Senate from 1977 to 1981 and majority leader from 1981 to 1985 when 
he chose to retire.
  In 1987, then President Reagan asked Senator Baker to serve as Chief 
of Staff to the President, at a time when the administration needed 
steady and seasoned leadership during the Iran-Contra controversy.
  In 1982, Senator Baker received the Jefferson Award for Greatest 
Public Service Performed by an Elected or Appointed Official. In 1984, 
Senator Baker received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  Since leaving Public Service, Senator Baker has been elected to 
numerous boards of directors of U.S. corporations. He is the recipient 
of honorary degrees from Yale, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Bradley, 
Pepperdine, and Centre College. He is currently a partner in the law 
firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman and Caldwell.
  I am sorry to say Senator Baker's wife, Joy, passed away recently 
after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
  Mr. Chairman, I simply would say that Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr. is 
one of the greatest statesmen in the history of the State of Tennessee. 
He has been recognized a great deal here in Washington, having the 
former rooms of the Library of Congress named after him. But he has not 
received that same recognition in Tennessee. Naming this Federal 
building after him will be a very fitting tribute to a very great 
American.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill in honor of my good friend 
and fellow Tennessean, Howard H. Baker, Jr.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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. 2547.
  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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