[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DAVID W. DYER FEDERAL COURTHOUSE

  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1479) to designate the Federal building and U.S. courthouse 
located at 300 Northeast First Avenue in Miami, FL, as the ``David W. 
Dyer Federal Courthouse,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1479

       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 300 Northeast First Avenue in Miami, Florida, shall be 
     known and designated as the ``David W. Dyer 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 
     referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the ``David W. Dyer Federal Building and 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.
  House Resolution 1479, as amended, designates the Federal building 
and U.S. courthouse in Miami, Florida as the David W. Dyer Federal 
Building and U.S. Courthouse. Judge Dyer served on the Federal bench 
for more than 30 years, establishing himself as one of the most revered 
jurists in the State of Florida.
  Born in Ohio, Judge Dyer attended Ohio State University and received 
his law degree in 1933 from Stetson University. He served in the U.S. 
Army during World War II, rising to the rank of major. Following the 
war, Judge Dyer returned to Florida where he established a law firm in 
Florida.
  In 1961, President Kennedy appointed Judge Dyer to the U.S. District 
Court for the Southern District of Florida. He served as chief judge 
from 1962 to 1966, when President Johnson elevated him to the U.S. 
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. At the time the Fifth 
Circuit was primarily composed of the Southern States and quickly 
became a focal point for civil rights issues. Judge Dyer ruled 
judiciously on the challenges brought before the bench in the 
constitutional battle for racial equality.
  The naming of this Federal complex is a fitting tribute to a 
dedicated public servant and distinguished jurist. I support the bill 
and 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.
  Mr. Speaker, I join in support of H.R. 1479. I want to commend the 
sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Hastings], for 
introducing this bill that will designate the Federal building and 
courthouse at 300 Northeast Avenue in Miami, FL, as the David W. Dyer 
United States Courthouse.
  Judge Dyer is a native Ohioan. He was born in Columbus, OH, in 1910. 
We are proud of him, former Buckeye. After service in World War II, he 
began to practice law and, in 1961, was tapped by President Kennedy, 
who appointed him to the District Court for the Southern District of 
Florida.
  In 1966, President Johnson appointed Judge Dyer to the U.S. Court of 
Appeals and, in 1977, Judge Dyer had assumed senior status. In Judge 
Dyer's 30 years of service to the people of Florida, he had 
participated in many notable cases.
  In the early 1960's, he was on the three judge panel which 
reapportioned the entire State of Florida on the basis of the one-man, 
one-vote principle. That in itself will be a highlight of a career 
distinguished by so many great actions and commonsense decisions.
  Judge Dyer is noted for his fairness, his diligence and personal 
commitment to equality under the law. I am very proud to support the 
bill offered by the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Hastings] and I am very 
proud to be a part of the designation and naming of this facility for 
Judge David W. Dyer, our beloved Buckeye.
  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1479, a 
bill designating the U.S. courthouse in Miami as the ``David W. Dyer 
Federal Building and United States Courthouse.''
  Mr. Speaker, Judge David Dyer was a distinguished jurist in Florida 
for over 30 years. Judge Dyer was born in Ohio in 1910, and moved to 
Florida in the early 1930's to complete his third year of law school at 
Stetson University, my law school alma mater.
  Judge Dyer was a Florida lawyer in private practice from 1933 until 
1961, except for the time he served in the Army during World War II. In 
1961, he was appointed to the Federal bench by President John F. 
Kennedy. Five years later, President Lyndon Johnson elevated Judge Dyer 
to the court of appeals. After a decade serving as an appellate court 
judge, Judge Dyer assumed senior status.
  Mr. Speaker, during his long career on the bench, Judge Dyer wrote 
important legal opinions in a number of areas, but many legal scholars 
believe his greatest impact was in the arena of civil rights. When 
Judge Dyer was appointed to the Federal bench in 1961, Florida was 
still a State not fully desegregated. Thanks in part to Judge Dyer's 
foresight and courage to enforce the law and uphold the Constitution, 
racial discrimination sanctioned by the law was rooted out and 
eliminated in Florida.
  It is fitting to honor Judge Dyer for his long and distinguished 
service by passage of this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to 
support H.R. 1479.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1479, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. KIM. 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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