[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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