[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H10557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H10557]]
                    JAMES L. FOREMAN U.S. COURTHOUSE

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1502) to designate the U.S. Courthouse located at 301 West 
Main Street in Benton, IL, as the ``James L. Foreman United States 
Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1502

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The United States Courthouse located at 301 West Main 
     Street in Benton, Illinois, shall be known and designated as 
     the ``James L. Foreman United States Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the building referred 
     to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     ``James L. Foreman United States Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee [Mr. Duncan] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan].
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
H.R. 1502 designates the United States courthouse located in Benton, 
Illinois as the James L. Foreman United States Courthouse.
  Judge Foreman was appointed to the Federal bench in 1972 and became 
Chief Judge in 1978, continuing in this position until 1992, when he 
assumed senior status. As Chief Judge, Judge Foreman initiated the 
efforts to redesignate the judicial districts for the State of 
Illinois. Judge Foreman also was instrumental in instituting a formal 
case management system for the Federal courts and establishing court 
facilities at the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois.
  Additionally, Judge Foreman served on the Judicial Resource Committee 
of the Judicial Conference of the United States. On several occasions 
he has been appointed to sit by designation in cases before the United 
States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and in the United 
States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
  Judge Foreman has served with honor and distinction during his tenure 
on the Federal bench, and this is a fitting tribute for his service. I 
support the bill and urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the hardworking gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Poshard], the sponsor of 
this bill.
  Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. As the sponsor of H.R. 1502, I appreciate the opportunity to pass 
this legislation today before the end of the session. This bill will 
designate the United States courthouse located in Benton, Illinois as 
the James L. Foreman United States Courthouse.
  I introduced identical legislation in both the 103rd and 104th 
Congresses and am pleased to note that they easily passed the House 
both times. Unfortunately, in both cases the Senate adjourned before 
the bills were brought before the Senate for consideration.
  Benton, a southern Illinois town in Franklin County, was once a 
member of the Eastern Judicial District of Illinois. This district 
covered a large area ranging from the outskirts of Chicago south to 
Champagne-Urbana and covered the entire southern section of the State.
  Today Franklin County is one of 38 southern Illinois counties located 
in the renamed Southern District. The boundaries of this district were 
reviewed and adjusted at Judge Foreman's suggestion. Judge Foreman has 
had an outstanding career of service on the Federal bench. Appointed in 
1972 after serving as an assistant attorney general for Illinois and 
Massac County state's attorney during the early 1960s, his hard work 
and dedication did not go unnoticed. He was appointed Chief Judge in 
1978 and continued in this position until 1992, when he was promoted to 
a senior district judge position.
  Long before formal case management systems were mandated for Federal 
courts, Judge Foreman instituted such a system in the Southern Illinois 
District. Judge Foreman was also instrumental in establishing court 
facilities at the maximum security United States Penitentiary in 
Marion, Illinois to accommodate the community's special security 
concerns with the prisoners there.
  Judge Foreman's honored and distinctive term of service on the 
Federal bench accompanies his work with the Judicial Resource Committee 
of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the United States 
Court of Appeals for the Seventh District Circuit, and the U.S. 
District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, as proof of his 
outstanding character and dedication to this great Nation. I believe it 
would be most appropriate to recognize Judge Foreman's many 
contributions by naming the courthouse in Benton, Illinois after him.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent Judge Foreman and the citizens 
of his judicial district. I urge all the Members of the 105th Congress 
to join me in commending his outstanding record of service to our 
country and to pass this bill.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. I want to join with the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Poshard], 
the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan], and the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Kim] in supporting this bill to designate the 
courthouse in Benton, Illinois as the James L. Foreman United States 
Courthouse. In addition to all that has been said, Judge Foreman is 
best known perhaps for his diligence in instituting a formal case 
management system long before that concept was ever mandated for all of 
our Federal courts. He will be remembered for that innovative and 
decisive action. It is absolutely fitting and proper that we honor 
Judge Foreman with this designation. I again want to thank the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Poshard], who has worked hard to salute 
the fine judge that we honor here this evening.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I join with Mr. Poshard, sponsor of H.R. 
1502, in honoring Judge James L. Foreman. H.R. 1502 would designate the 
United States Courthouse located at 301 West Main St., Benton, Illinois 
as the James L. Foreman United States Courthouse.
  Judge Foreman has enjoyed an outstanding career on the Federal bench. 
During the early years of his career he served as the Massac County 
State's attorney from 1960 to 1964. In 1972, he was appointed to the 
Federal bench after serving as the assistant attorney general for the 
State of Illinois. From 1978 to 1992 he served as the chief judge and 
in 1992 he took senior status.
  Judge Foreman was instrumental in instituting formal case management 
long before it became mandatory in the Federal system. His service to 
the legal community is marked with diligence, honor and distinction.
  It is fitting and proper to honor Judge Foreman with this 
designation.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. 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 Tennessee [Mr. Duncan] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1502.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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