[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 84 (Monday, June 10, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H6049-H6050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WILLIAM J. NEALON UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3364), to designate a United States courthouse in Scranton, 
PA, as the ``William J. Nealon United States Courthouse'', as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3364

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The Federal building and United States courthouse located 
     at 235 North Washington Avenue in Scranton, Pennsylvania, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``William J. Nealon 
     Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the Federal building 
     and United States courthouse referred to in section 1 shall 
     be deemed to be a reference to the ``William J. Nealon 
     Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to designate the 
     Federal building and United States courthouse located at 235 
     North Washington Avenue in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as the 
     `William J. Nealon Federal Building and 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].
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3364, as amended, is a bill to designate the 
Federal building and United States Courthouse in Scranton, PA as the 
``William J. Nealon Federal Building and United States Courthouse.'' 
Judge Nealon is a noted jurist, who is a native of Scranton, PA. He was 
born in Scranton, attended local schools, and was graduated from 
Villanova and received his law degree from Catholic University. 
President Kennedy appointed Judge Nealon to the Federal bench in 1962 
after 2 years service on the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. 
He became the youngest Federal judge in the country at that time. Judge 
Nealon has served as chief judge for the Middle District of 
Pennsylvania from 1976 to 1989. In 1983, Judge Nealon was honored as 
the outstanding Federal trial judge in the United States by the 
Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
  Judge Nealon currently serves as a senior judge and remains active in 
civic affairs in Scranton. He and his wife are the proud parents of 10 
children and 26 grandchildren.
  This bill has the support of the community of Scranton, and its able 
Congressman, Congressman Joe McDade, who took the time to appear before 
the Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Economic Development in 
support of this legislation. I support the bill and urge my colleagues 
to support its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Judge William J. Nealon is not only an outstanding 
jurist, a committed community leader, a marine, and devoted father of 
10 children but also he has made significant social contributions to 
local colleges, hospitals, and youth organizations. This bill has 
overwhelming support by various judicial organizations, the local 
newspaper, Senator Specter and Senator Santorum, and the mayor of 
Scranton.
  It is most fitting and proper to honor the distinguished career of 
Judge William J. Nealon by designating the Federal Building and United 
States Courthouse in Scranton, PA, in his honor.
  I urge support for H.R. 3364.
  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, again, I greatly appreciate the Chair of 
our subcommittee moving this legislation to honor Judge William J. 
Nealon and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade] for sponsoring 
the legislation. It has received the strong support on both sides of 
the aisle in our committee because of the person who we are recognizing 
in this very unique way.
  Appointed to the Federal bench by President Kennedy, he was the 
youngest Federal judge in the country at the time, but he comes from an 
absolutely impeccable background which was very well expressed by 
Chairman Gilchrest.
  The bill has overwhelming bipartisan support and has widespread 
endorsement of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Northeastern 
Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, numerous civic and charitable 
organizations. It is wonderful that a person could spend so much time 
on the Federal bench and be so widely and warmly acclaimed.
  It is a very special way in which we can pay tribute to years of 
dedication to the law and to service of the public by dedicating a 
building to the honor of Judge William J. Nealon.
  For me, coming from northern Minnesota, where for years we shipped 
iron ore and taconite to the steel mills of Pennsylvania, Scranton was 
a name

[[Page H6050]]

much revered and respected and beloved. So, I take a very special 
pleasure in participating in moving this legislation through 
subcommittee, full committee and now through the floor linking our two 
regions of the country through this very unique and distinguished 
judge. I urge the passage of the 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 again thank the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Mascara] and the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. 
Oberstar] for their support in this legislation, and I also thank the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade], and I hope this honors the 
people of Scranton, PA, in the most positive way.
  Mr. McDADE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3364, a 
bill to name the U.S. Courthouse and Federal building in Scranton, PA, 
after Senior Judge William J. Nealon.
  I want to express my gratitude to Public Buildings and Economic 
Development Subcommittee Chairman Wayne Gilchrest and ranking Democrat 
Jim Traficant for their leadership in moving this bill through the 
committee and on to the House floor.
  To my colleagues who may not be familiar with Judge Nealon, I want to 
say that I introduced this legislation because Judge Nealon is an 
extraordinary public servant who richly deserves this fitting tribute.
  Judge Nealon has served the middle district of Pennsylvania for the 
past 34 years, longer than any judge in the history of the district 
since its inception in 1901. He currently serves as a senior judge, 
after serving as chief judge of the court from 1976 to 1989. President 
Kennedy appointed Judge Nealon as the U.S. District Judge for the 
middle district of Pennsylvania on December 15, 1962, making him at 
that time the youngest Federal judge in the country.
  Judge Nealon was honored in 1983 by the Association of Trial Lawyers 
of America as the Outstanding Federal Trial Judge in the United States. 
In 1979, he received the Distinguished Judicial Service Award from the 
Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and has been honored as an 
outstanding trial judge by the Pennsylvania Defense Institute.
  The people of northeastern Pennsylvania have been enriched by Judge 
Nealon's long record of community service. He has served as a volunteer 
for numerous educational, medical, youth, and human services 
organizations. He and his wife, Jean, are the parents of 10 children 
and 26 grandchildren.
  Designation of the courthouse and Federal building, which is 
currently undergoing a major expansion and renovation, is an 
appropriate honor for Judge Nealon, a man who has distinguished himself 
in the Federal judiciary and in his community. He is a man who truly 
personifies integrity, fairness, good citizenship, and possesses an 
unyielding commitment to his profession, community, and family.
  I urge passage of H.R. 3364.
  Mr. GILCHREST. 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 Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3364, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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