[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H11336-H11337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ROBERT KURTZ RODIBAUGH UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate 
consideration of the bill (H.R. 3576) to designate the United States 
courthouse located at 401 South Michigan Street in South Bend, Indiana, 
as the ``Robert Kurtz Rodibaugh United States Courthouse'', as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, however, I 
will not object, I would like the gentleman from Maryland to explain 
the bill.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. TRAFICANT. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. 
Traficant] for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3576, as amended, a bill 
designating the United States courthouse located in South Bend, IN, as 
the Robert K. Rodibaugh United States Bankruptcy Courthouse.
  Judge Rodibaugh has served the northern district of Indiana in the 
area of bankruptcy law since his appointment as a bankruptcy judge in 
1960. During his tenure he oversaw the growth of the bankruptcy court 
from one small courtroom with a part-time referee and a clerk's office 
of 4 employees in South Bend, to 4 separate courtrooms located 
throughout northern Indiana. In 1985, Judge Rodibaugh was appointed 
chief bankruptcy judge, and assumed senior status in 1986.
  Judge Rodibaugh has fulfilled his duties as a referee and a judge in 
bankruptcy proceedings with patience, fairness, dedication, and legal 
scholarship which is most worthy of recognition. It is a fitting 
tribute to honor him and his accomplishments in this manner.
  This bill has bipartisan support and I would like to thank my 
colleagues on the both sides of the aisle for their assistance in 
bringing this measure to the floor.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, under my reservation of objection, I 
yield to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar].
  (Mr. OBERSTAR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill to name the U.S. 
Courthouse in South Bend, IN for Judge Robert Rodibaugh.
  Judge Rodibaugh is a native of Goshen, IN and attended grade school 
and high school in South Bend, IN. He is an alumnus of Notre Dame 
University and received his law degree also from Notre Dame. From 1941 
to 1946 during World War II he served in the military.
  Judge Rodibaugh has served the citizens of Indiana for almost 40 
years as a prosecuting attorney, and then as a Federal bankruptcy 
judge. During his service as Chief Bankruptcy Judge the bankruptcy 
court has grown from one courtroom in South Bend to four courtrooms in 
South Bend, Fort Wayne, Gary, and Lafayette, IN.
  Known for his fairness and legal scholarship Judge Rodibaugh has set 
high standards for his law clerks and other judicial personnel.
  It is fitting and proper to honor the judge by designating the U.S. 
courthouse in South Bend, IN as the ``Judge Robert Kurtz Rodibaugh U.S. 
Courthouse.''
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, under my reservation of objection, I 
yield to the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Roemer], the sponsor of the 
bill.
  (Mr. ROEMER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his help 
in getting this bill put before the House today.

[[Page H11337]]

  I would also like to thank the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. 
Gilchrest] our ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. 
Oberstar], and certainly the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster], 
for their help in putting together bipartisan legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise as the proud sponsor of H.R. 3576, to designate 
the new Federal bankruptcy court located at 401 South Michigan Street 
in South Bend, IN, as the Robert Kurtz Rodibaugh United States 
Bankruptcy Courthouse.
  This bipartisan legislation recognizes the significant legal and 
personal contributions made by Judge Rodibaugh to both the legal 
profession and the American system of justice.
  I will not go into all my remarks, Mr. Speaker. I would say that, 
again, this is supported by Republicans in our delegation and by the 
Democrats in our delegation. We hope to expedite this through today and 
get it passed by the Senate so that we can have this dedication 
ceremony in January 1997.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise as the proud sponsor of H.R. 3576--to designate 
the new Federal bankruptcy court located at 401 South Michigan Street 
in South Bend, IN--as the ``Robert Kurtz Rodibaugh United States 
Bankruptcy Courthouse.''
  This bipartisan legislation recognizes the significant contributions 
made by Judge Rodibaugh to both the legal profession and the American 
system of justice. I am particularly grateful to the Transportation 
Committee for its timely consideration of this legislation in 
preparation for the official dedication of the new courthouse currently 
scheduled for January 1997.
  Mr. Speaker, Judge Rodibaugh is recognized by the community and by 
his peers as an honorable man worthy of such a tribute. He has served 
the citizens and legal community of the northern district of Indiana 
wisely, efficiently, and honorably since his initial appointment as a 
referee in bankruptcy in November 1960 and throughout his legal career 
as a bankruptcy judge.
  Throughout his tenure, Judge Rodibaugh has presided over the growth 
of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Indiana. 
Under Judge Rodibaugh's direction, the bankruptcy court expanded from 
one small courtroom with a part-time referee and a clerk's office of 
four employees in South Bend, IN, to four different courtrooms in the 
cities of South Bend, Fort Wayne, Gary, and Lafayette, IN, with four 
full-time judges and a clerk's office of over 40 employees.
  Mr. Speaker, Judge Rodibaugh has fulfilled his duties as a referee in 
bankruptcy and bankruptcy judge with patience, fairness, dedication, 
and legal scholarship which is most worthy of recognition. His high 
standards have benefited the many law clerks and judicial personnel who 
have served under his tutelage, the lawyers who have practiced before 
the bankruptcy court, as well as the citizens residing in the northern 
district of Indiana.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important for me to indicate that the firm of 
Panzica Development Co. with Western Avenue Properties of South Bend, 
IN, has graciously agreed to support this designation honoring Judge 
Rodibaugh, owing to his unblemished character and numerous professional 
achievements in the bankruptcy field. In addition, the General Services 
Administration supports the designation of the building and has also 
endorsed this legislation.
  I am confident that the ``Robert Kurtz Rodibaugh United States 
Bankruptcy Courthouse'' is an appropriate title for the new bankruptcy 
court facility in South Bend.
  In conclusion, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to 
honor Judge Rodibaugh--a truly remarkable public servant and 
outstanding Hoosier most worthy of this recognition.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, Judge Rodibaugh has served the citizens 
of South Bend, IN, for almost 50 years. He is a native son, a World War 
II veteran, and a skilled jurist. Under his stewardship the bankruptcy 
courts for the northern district of Indiana have grown from one small 
facility into four courts in South Bend, Fort Wayne, Gary, and 
Lafayette.
  So I want to commend the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Roemer] for his 
support of the legislation. I would also like to commend our chairman 
of this subcommittee, the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest], for 
the fine job he has done and for the fairness he and his staff 
displayed throughout this term.
  I do not know if we will have any more business pending before it, 
but there are a couple more naming bills I wish we would do.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. TRAFICANT. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that my term of 
service as chairman of the subcommittee with the gentleman from Ohio 
[Mr. Traficant] has been an exceedingly fine experience for ourselves 
and this institution.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:

                               H.R. 3576

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the Honorable Judge Robert Kurtz Rodibaugh has served 
     the citizens and legal community of the northern district of 
     Indiana wisely, efficiently, and honorably since his initial 
     appointment as a referee in bankruptcy in November 1960 and 
     throughout his lengthy career as a bankruptcy judge;
       (2) during his tenure Judge Rodibaugh has overseen the 
     growth of the bankruptcy court from one small courtroom with 
     a part-time referee and a clerk's office of 4 employees in 
     South Bend, Indiana, to 4 different courtrooms in the cities 
     of South Bend, Fort Wayne, Gary, and Lafayette, Indiana, with 
     4 full-time judges and a clerk's office of over 40 employees;
       (3) Judge Rodibaugh has fulfilled his duties as a referee 
     in bankruptcy and bankruptcy judge with patience, fairness, 
     dedication, and legal scholarship which is most worthy of 
     recognition; and
       (4) Judge Rodibaugh's high standards have benefited the 
     many law clerks and judicial personnel who have served under 
     his tutelage, the lawyers who have practiced before the 
     bankruptcy court, as well as the citizens residing in the 
     northern district of Indiana.

     SEC. 2. ROBERT KURTZ RODIBAUGH UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE.

       (a) Designation.--The United States courthouse located at 
     401 South Michigan Street in South Bend, Indiana, shall be 
     known and designated as the ``Robert Kurtz Rodibaugh United 
     States Courthouse''.
       (b) 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 subsection (a) shall 
     be deemed to be a reference to the ``Robert Kurtz Rodibaugh 
     United States Courthouse''.

  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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