[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 84 (Monday, June 10, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H6050-H6051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ROMAN L. HRUSKA UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3400) to designate the U.S. courthouse to be constructed at 
a site on 18th Street between Dodge and Douglas Streets in Omaha, NE, 
as the Roman L. Hruska United States Courthouse, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3400

       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 to be 
     constructed at a site on 18th Street between Dodge and 
     Douglas Streets in Omaha, Nebraska, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``Roman L. Hruska 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 ``Roman L. Hruska 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, Roman Hruska was born in David City, NE in 1903. He 
attended local schools, and was graduated from the University of 
Nebraska Omaha campus, and Creighton Law School. He commenced the 
practice of law in Omaha, and for 8 years served on the Douglas County 
Board of Commissioners. In 1952 he was elected to the 83d Congress, and 
in 1954 was elected to the U.S. Senate to serve the unexpired term of 
Senator Hugh Butler. Senator Hruska served with distinction in the 
Senate until his retirement in 1976. During his service in the Senate, 
he rose to be ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, where he 
reviewed more than 300 nominees for the Federal bench, including 
nominees to the Supreme Court.
  Following his retirement from the Senate, Senator Hruska continued 
his public service on educational, and civic boards, including service 
as regent at the University of Omaha. He honors his Czech heritage as 
vice president and general counsel of the Western Bohemian Fraternal 
Association, and continues to serve as counsel to the law firm of 
Kutak, Rock, in Omaha.
  This bill has the support of the city of Omaha, and the congressional 
delegation. Congressman Barrett, a cosponsor of the bill, appeared 
before the subcommittee on Public Buildings and Economic Development in 
support of the bill, and brought statements from other members, and 
former members Charles Thone and Hal Daub, the current Mayor of Omaha.
  I support this bill and I 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, it is fitting and proper to honor the career and public 
service of Senator Roman L. Hruska by designating the Federal building 
and courthouse under construction in Omaha, NE as the Roman L. Hruska 
Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
  Senator Hruska's distinguished career spanned 24 years, including 2 
years of service, from 1952-54, in the House of Representatives where 
he was known for his steady, unpretentious style and diligent hard 
work.
  While on the Senate Judiciary Committee Senator Hruska became an 
early advocate of examining the causes and prevention of violence in 
American society. Determination and attention to detail became the 
hallmarks of his legislative work.
  H.R. 3400 deserves our support and I urge passage of this bill.
  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 compliment Chairman Gilchrest and our 
ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Traficant, on bringing this 
legislation forward to bring tribute to a former colleague of ours in 
the House and a former U.S. Senator, Roman Hruska, who had a truly 
distinguished career both here and in the other body. He was a person 
most respected for his public integrity and for the great dignity that 
he brought to the office of U.S. Senator.
  It has already been mentioned in the course of previous debate, his 
unpretentious style, his diligent hard work, his focus on causes and 
prevention of violence in American society, but he did it all with 
great dignity and great seriousness of purpose. Not a show horse as we 
say, but a workhorse, and a very serious workhorse who can be a model 
for others coming after him and those now serving in both the House and 
the Senate.
  It is entirely fitting and appropriate to designate this Federal 
building and courthouse now under construction in Omaha, NE, in honor 
of Senator Roman L. Hruska.

[[Page H6051]]

  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the diligence 
and hard work of the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] and the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant], our ranking member, both of whom 
who have been in assistance to me in my new assignment to the 
Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Economic Develop.
  Mr. Speaker, having no further requests for time, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Barrett].

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today 
to support H.R. 3400, a bill a name the new U.S. courthouse in Omaha, 
NE, after Roman Hruska--a great Nebraskan, public servant, and personal 
friend.
  Roman Hruska got his start in public service in his local county's 
board of commissioners. He then served in the House of Representatives, 
representing Nebraska's second district. And after serving only 1 year 
in the House, he was elected to fill a vacancy in the Senate. Senator 
Hruska served in the Senate from 1954 to 1976, 22 years.
  It was during Senator Hruska's tenure in the Senate that he 
influenced the Nation's judiciary system. As the ranking member on the 
Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Hruska had the opportunity to serve 
on special commissions to revise the Federal appellate court system, 
reform the Federal criminal code, and to study the causes and 
prevention of violence.
  On a personal level, it was Roman Hruska who encouraged me to enter 
public service. He was influential in my decision to seek the 
chairmanship of the Nebraska Republican Party, and later to represent a 
district in the Nebraska legislature. And after 12 years in the State 
legislature, I was ready to go home. However, Roman was there, once 
again, to urge me to run for my current seat in the House of 
Representatives. He has been a mentor to me, not only by his words, but 
also by his actions. His reputation for hard work and integrity was 
earned, and is widely recognized by many Nebraskans.
  Senator Hruska, through his work and dedication to an effective 
judiciary has influenced many Nebraskans in all walks of life. And in 
the words of Omaha's current mayor, ``There is an abundance of 
Nebraskan legal professionals whose lives have been profoundly affected 
by Senator Hruska, and whose career choices have been inspired by 
him.''
  Realizing Congress does not lightly select names to designate Federal 
buildings, I think H.R. 3400 would honor an influential Nebraskan and 
inspire us all to seek the same goals of integrity and honesty in our 
lives. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from 
Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant], and 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Mascara] for their able assistance 
in naming this Federal building and courthouse after such a 
distinguished jurist and fine American. I want to thank the gentleman 
from Nebraska [Mr. Barrett] for his contribution to this legislation.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member is pleased to be an original 
cosponsor of H.R. 3400, legislation to designate the new courthouse in 
Omaha as the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Courthouse and urges his colleagues 
to support this bill.
  It is most appropriate that the new Omaha courthouse be named after 
Senator Hruska since he is highly respected for his expertise in 
judicial policy matters. During his long and distinguished career he 
served his State and his country in several capacities. While he is a 
native of David City in the First Congressional District, he began his 
public service career in Omaha on the Douglas County Board of 
Commissioners--serving as its chairman. Later he was elected to the 
House of Representatives in 1952, and then to the Senate where he 
served from 1954 to 1976. He was the ranking Republican on the Senate 
Judiciary Committee. He also was the chairman of a Presidential 
commission to revise the Federal appellate court system. Additionally, 
he served on commissions to reform the Federal criminal code and to 
study the causes and prevention of violence.
  Mr. Speaker, for the foregoing reasons and many others, naming the 
new courthouse after Senator Roman Hruska would serve as a continuing 
tribute to his lifetime of service to Nebraska and his devotion to 
improving the judicial system. This Member strongly urges the passage 
of H.R. 3400.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for the 
bill, 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. 3400, 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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