[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 84 (Monday, June 10, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H6047-H6048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  E. BARRETT PRETTYMAN U.S. COURTHOUSE

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3029) to designate the U.S. courthouse in Washington, DC, as 
the ``E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3029

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF COURTHOUSE.

       The United States courthouse located at 3rd Street and 
     Constitution Avenue, Northwest, in Washington, District of 
     Columbia, shall be designated and known as the ``E. Barrett 
     Prettyman 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 ``E. Barrett Prettyman United States 
     Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. 
Mascara] each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3029 is a bill to designate the U.S. courthouse 
located at the intersection of 3rd and Constitution Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC, as the ``E. Barrett Prettyman United States 
Courthouse.'' Judge Prettyman was a native of Virginia, born in 
Lexington in 1896. He was the son of the Chaplain of the U.S. Senate 
during the Wilson administration. He attended Randolph Macon 
University, and Georgetown University Law School. After graduation, he 
worked on newspapers, and practiced law with a District firm. He served 
on the Federal bench for 26 years, from his appointment in 1945 until 
his death in 1971. During that time Judge Prettyman was regarded as one 
of America's leading legal scholars and was a pioneer in the areas of 
judicial reform. He demonstrated an ability to be fair, firm, and 
thorough.
  As a jurist, Judge Prettyman was known for his centrist positions. 
His most notable opinion concluded that the State Department had the 
authority to ban U.S. citizens from entering certain areas of the 
world. His position was upheld by the Supreme Court.
  Judge Prettyman participated widely in local civic matters, and 
served on a Presidential commission inquiry about the U-2 incident.
  I am pleased to note the sponsor of the bill, our colleague, Tom 
Davis, testified before the Subcommittee on Public Buildings and 
Economic Development, as well as a member of the subcommittee, Ms. 
Norton, a cosponsor of the bill.
  I support the bill and urge my colleagues to pass the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Norton and Mr. Davis have introduced legislation to 
honor the distinguished career of Federal judge E. Barrett Prettyman. 
He served the public on the Federal bench for 26 years, and as chief 
judge here in the District from 1953 to 1960. Not only was he regarded 
as an outstanding legal scholar but also he was a leader in judicial 
reform. Judge Prettyman was a strong advocate for increasing attention 
to the juvenile justice system here in the District.
  In addition to focusing on the needs of juvenile offenders, Judge 
Prettyman

[[Page H6048]]

championed the cause of the indigent and founded a program at 
Georgetown Law School to better train lawyers for the indigent.
  This bill honors the life and contributions of an outstanding jurist 
and public servant and deserves our support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton], a cosponsor of the bill.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to introduce the bill to name the U.S. 
District Court in the Circuit Court of Appeals building for the late 
Chief Judge E. Barrett Prettyman. The same bill had earlier been 
introduced by Senator John Warner in the Senate. I am very pleased that 
the chair of the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia was also a 
cosponsor in introducing the bill with me.
  Judge Prettyman, a native of Virginia, graduated from Georgetown 
University Law School, where I still teach a course. He remained 
associated with Georgetown all of his professional life. I assure my 
colleagues that the university takes great pride that he is being put 
forward today to be honored in this manner.
  Judge Prettyman served on the Federal bench for 26 years. He was 
Chief Judge of the United States Circuit Court from 1953 to 1960. Judge 
Prettyman was widely regarded as one of this country's leading legal 
scholars and a pioneer for judicial reform. He is particularly 
remembered for the way he worked to improve the efficiency of the 
Judiciary.
  Judge Prettyman also championed the cause of the indigent and 
Prettyman fellows work to this day on that issue out of Georgetown 
University, where he established a program to better assist indigent 
defendants.
  Naming the courts after Judge Prettyman is considered in this city, 
and I believe by those who know the judge's work, a fitting tribute to 
one of the most outstanding jurists and legal scholars to hold the 
bench in this city. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this 
measure.
  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], the ranking member of the full 
committee.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. Again I want to compliment our subcommittee chairman, the 
gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Gilchrest, for taking the leadership and 
moving this legislation and especially the District delegate, the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, for 
sponsoring this legislation in honor of Judge E. Barrett Prettyman.
  His career and times of service have already been well stated by 
previous speakers. I just want to say that for me this is a very 
touching moment. Judge Prettyman has been an inspiration to generations 
of young attorneys, aspiring young men and women who sought a career in 
the service of the law and in service of the public, and because he was 
such an inspiration himself, it is very appropriate that we dedicate a 
place to carry his name so that as many young people in the future walk 
into that building and see that name, they will be inspired as we are 
by the words of Marshall and Webster that sit above this Chamber.
  There should always be a person who serves as a role model for career 
of public service, for giving of oneself to the needs and the purposes 
of the broad public good as Judge E. Barrett Prettyman did during his 
career of service to the District of Columbia, but in a larger sense to 
the service of the law and of all Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this legislation.
  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
to thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton] for 
her effort in this legislation and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. 
Mascara], and again the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar] for his 
valued words for an esteemed jurist, and I urge my colleagues to vote 
for the legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Coble). 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. 3029.
  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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