[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H8091-H8092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TED WEISS UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 548) to designate the United States courthouse located at 500 
Pearl Street in New York City, New York, as the ``Ted Weiss United 
States Courthouse.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 248

       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 located at 500 Pearl Street in New 
     York City, New York, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Ted Weiss 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 ``Ted Weiss United States Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Kim] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant], each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim].
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 548 designates the new U.S. courthouse in New York 
City as the Ted Weiss U.S. Courthouse.
  Ted Weiss was born in Gava, Hungary, in September 1927. He and his 
family fled eastern Europe to escape Nazi persecution on the last 
passenger ship to leave Hamburg, Germany, arriving in the United States 
in 1938. In 1961, he was elected to the New York City Council, where he 
was influential in writing the city's gun control laws and 
environmental measures. After 15 years of service as a councilman, he 
was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, where he 
served until his untimely death in September 1992.
  Congressman Weiss is remembered as a thoughtful advocate true to his 
causes. The naming of this courthouse

[[Page H8092]]

is a fitting tribute to a respected colleague. I urge my colleagues to 
support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am honored to join with the gentleman from New York [Mr. Nadler], 
sponsor of this legislation, in supporting this bill to designate the 
new courthouse on Pearl Street in lower Manhattan as the Ted Weiss U.S. 
Courthouse.
  Ted was a friend of mine, a colleague. He was fair. He is well known 
for his work in advocating for the funding of AIDS research, well known 
for his efforts in promoting the human rights movement, and well known 
for his efforts in establishing dignity and equality for Vietnam 
veterans who came back and were scorned after having put their lives on 
the line. These were just a few of the causes for which our good 
friend, Ted Weiss, was a tireless advocate and worker.
  As a young refugee from the Holocaust, Ted Weiss became a staunch 
supporter of civil liberties in this country second to none. His 
legislative record was built around his service on the Government 
Operations Committee, where he chaired the Subcommittee on Human 
Resources and Intergovernmental Relations, and everyone knows of his 
fairness and his willingness to include all thoughts and ideas. It is 
absolutely fitting and proper that we honor Ted Weiss by this 
designation.
  I want to commend my colleague, the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
Nadler], for his tireless efforts to ensure that the Congress of the 
United States will not overlook the great contribution of Ted Weiss.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor of this bill, I would like to 
thank Chairman Kim and Ranking Member Traficant as well as Chairman 
Shuster and Ranking Member Oberstar for their support of this 
legislation.
  As one of Ted Weiss's friends, I knew the compassionate, dedicated, 
hard working and loving man that many people never get to see in their 
elected officials. The unique personality that made Ted Weiss was 
crafted by a life that began in eastern Hungary on September 17, 1927. 
He later would arrive in the United States on March 12, 1938, on the 
last passenger ship out of Hamburg, Germany, before the end of World 
War II.
  Ted went on to earn his undergraduate and law degree in 4\1/2\ years 
from Syracuse University. He then worked as an assistant district 
attorney in Manhattan for 4 years. At that time, Ted was elected to the 
New York City Council and so began a lifetime of public service that 
was marked by compassion and principle.
  As one of Ted Weiss's constituents for the 16 years he served in 
Congress, I knew first hand how tirelessly he worked to bring issues 
important to the people whom he served to the forefront. Ted Weiss was 
one of the first elected officials in the Nation to focus attention on 
the need to increase funding for AIDS research, before the epidemic 
dominated discussions worldwide. He was a strong supporter of human 
rights throughout the world and right here at home. He received the 
Vietnam Veterans of America's highest award 2 years in a row for his 
work on behalf of America's veterans. Ted was not afraid to stand up 
for his convictions and make sure we understood why he held them so 
dear to his heart.
  We will be honoring Ted by naming this court house after him. I 
believe this suits the man who fought so hard to create a more just 
world. Being the sponsor of this legislation I hope to, in some small 
way, say thank you to my friend and colleague for bringing prestige and 
honor to the congressional seat that was known as the 17th District, 
now the Eighth District, in New York City.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by 
gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 548.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  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.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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