[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 108 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H7072-H7073]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   JAMES F. BATTIN FEDERAL COURTHOUSE

  Mr. KIM. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3696) to designate the Federal Courthouse located at 316 North 
26th Street in Billings, Montana, as the ``James F. Battin Federal 
Courthouse,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3696

       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 316 North 26th 
     Street in Billings, Montana, shall be known and designated as 
     the ``James F. Battin 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 ``James F. Battin United States 
     Courthouse''.


[[Page H7073]]


  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. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 3696, as amended, designates the United States 
Courthouse located in Billings, Montana, as the ``James F. Battin 
United States Courthouse.''
  Judge Battin was a Federal District Judge for the United States 
District Court of Montana, and he was also a former Member of this 
Congress, having served in the House of Representatives for the 87th 
through the 91st Congress. He was appointed to the Federal bench by 
President Nixon in 1969 and served as Chief Judge from 1978 until he 
elected to take a senior status in 1990.
  From the bench he diligently served the District of Montana, as well 
as additional assignments in the United States District Courts for 
Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Hawaii, and Georgia.
  During his tenure in Congress, he served on the Committee on 
Committees, the Executive Committee, the Judiciary Committee, Foreign 
Affairs Committee, and the Committee on Ways and Means.
  This certainly is a fitting tribute to a distinguished judge and 
dedicated public servant. I support the bill, as amended, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to support this bill. While in Congress, 
Judge Battin served on the Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Ways and Means.
  It is interesting to note that Judge Battin's son, Jim, currently 
serves in the California Assembly representing the 80th District. I 
think it is proper to honor those contributions. And I want to 
compliment the sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from Montana (Mr. 
Hill) for his contribution. I am proud to support the legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIM. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Montana (Mr. Hill).
  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, I am pleased today to present to the House 
H.R. 3696, legislation to designate the Federal courthouse in downtown 
Billings, Montana, as the ``James F. Battin Federal Courthouse.''
  While there are a few Members in and around this Chamber who will 
probably remember Jim Battin as Montana's Eastern District congressman, 
and others who remember him as a distinguished member of the Federal 
bench, I want to take just a few moments today to give my colleagues 
some reflections on the life of the man that we will honor today.
  James Battin earned a reputation for effectiveness and integrity 
during five terms in the Congress and 27 years on the Federal bench.

                              {time}  1330

  His accomplishments range from building new protections for the 
environment and wilderness preserves, to rulings on streamlining 
Federal judiciary proceedings. He created the precedent for the now 
universally accepted six-man Federal jury in civil cases.
  After high school, James Battin served in the U.S. Navy during World 
War II. After the war he began his career in public service as a city 
attorney in Billings, Montana. In 1958 he was elected to the Montana 
State legislature, and successfully ran for a seat in the U.S. House of 
Representatives in 1960.
  During his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, James 
Battin was chosen by his fellow freshman legislators to sit on the 
House Committee on Committees. As a member of this critical House 
overseer, he secured a seat for himself on the Committee on Ways and 
Means. Monitoring the federal purse strings from this vantage point, 
Battin solidified the respect of his colleagues, exerting great 
influence on behalf of his large home State.
  In his second term, Battin was appointed to the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee. An assignment to the House Judiciary Committee followed soon 
thereafter. With a growing list of congressional responsibilities and 
influence, he came to play an instrumental role in a host of 
legislation, among these the law creating the Montana Bob Marshall 
Wilderness Area, at the time the largest wildlife area in the United 
States. Throughout the 1960s he would serve Montana for five terms in 
the U.S. House, each time winning reelection by an ever-larger 
landslide margin.
  In addition to his duties in Washington, James Battin would go on to 
serve as one of the two U.S. congressional representatives to the 
Intergovernmental Committee on European Migration which met in Geneva. 
This group helped persons forced from behind the Iron Curtain to 
reestablish in other countries in useful occupations. As an emissary of 
his Nation he brought the assistance and stewardship of our government 
to people forming businesses abroad.
  In 1968 Battin was selected to serve as President Nixon's 
representative to the Platform Committee at the Republican National 
Convention. Amid a time of change and upheaval and war abroad, he 
helped articulate his party's vision for America. With a congressional 
career moving at full pace and his influence increasing each year, 
Battin welcomed new representatives and he took them under his wing.
  In 1969 James Battin was asked by President Nixon to serve as a 
Federal district judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San 
Francisco. The new post appealed to the five-term Congressman and 
represented a huge stepping stone in his career. However, Battin 
declined because, while he aspired to be a Federal judge, he also 
wanted to raise his family in the quiet beauty of Montana, a life 
unlike what he would have expected in San Francisco.
  Soon after, a Federal judgeship became available in his home State 
and in Billings. His judicial home became the Billings Federal 
Building, which we are redesignating today.
  James Battin became the first judicial appointment of the new Nixon 
administration. He went on to serve and excel in that post for 27 
years, becoming the District of Montana's chief judge in 1978. During 
the time Battin issued key rulings affecting the lives of Montana 
citizens, among them preserving access to the Bighorn River for all 
people. A dedicated and hard working man, he remained on the bench 
until his passing in the autumn of 1996.
  James Battin is best remembered as a dedicated husband and father 
whose first priority was always his family. While he preceded us here 
by more than 30 years, he stood for the enduring values that bring so 
many of us to Congress today, the importance of family, a better 
government and the desire to serve our fellow man.
  H.R. 3696 is a tribute to a great person. His accomplishments are 
numerous, and his contribution to the lives of his neighbors is echoed 
by the wide support he enjoyed among Montana residents for decades.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to offer this legislation as a token of 
Montana's and the Nation's deep gratitude for a lifetime of dedicated 
service. I urge Members' support of H.R. 3696.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Madam Speaker, I support the legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. KIM. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). 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. 3696, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
designate the United States courthouse located at 316 North 26th Street 
in Billings, Montana, as the `James F. Battin United States 
Courthouse'.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.




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