[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H8495-H8496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1600
                RICHARD C. LEE UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate 
bill (S. 1355) to designate the United States courthouse located in New 
Haven, Connecticut, as the ``Richard C. Lee United States Courthouse,'' 
as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1355

       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 141 Church Street 
     in New Haven, Connecticut, shall be known and designated as 
     the ``Richard C. Lee 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 ``Richard C. Lee United States Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hansen). 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, Senate 1355, as amended, designates the United States 
courthouse located in New Haven, Connecticut, as the ``Richard C. Lee 
United States Courthouse.''
  Richard Lee was the mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, for eight terms, 
comprising 16 years in office. He was a dedicated public servant who 
played a significant role in American urban history. Celebrated as an 
urban pioneer, under his leadership the City of New Haven became a 
model in urban renewal for cities across the United States.
  Mayor Lee recognized the importance of a thriving downtown area and 
healthy middle-class population to ensure a city's existence. Mayor Lee 
is a credit to his hometown of New Haven.
  This is a fitting tribute to a dedicated public servant, and I 
support the Senate bill, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues 
to support it as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from New Haven, Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the sponsor 
of this legislation in the House.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank both gentlemen for the opportunity 
to be able to speak on this issue this afternoon. I am very, very proud 
to sponsor this bill which will designate the U.S. courthouse in my 
hometown of New Haven, Connecticut, as the ``Richard C. Lee United 
States Courthouse.''
  Richard C. Lee epitomizes all that a mayor can and should be and is 
truly a model mayor of a city for this century.
  Dick Lee's dedication to the City of New Haven is illustrated by a 
lifetime of public service. His career began as a reporter. He became 
editor of the New Haven Journal Courier. He later became editor of the 
Yale News Digest and director of the Yale University News Bureau. He 
went on to a career as a public servant after that.
  After twice running and losing, he became New Haven's youngest mayor 
in 1953. He served for 16 years, longer than any mayor since. There is 
a historic dimension to Dick Lee's administration. During his tenure as 
a mayor, he was deeply involved with and dedicated to issues of urban 
renewal. He initiated an economic revitalization plan marking a turning 
point in New Haven's history.
  He was particularly interested in the human side of urban 
redevelopment. He

[[Page H8496]]

incorporated community outreach into the public school system; added 
staff to the public schools to facilitate relationships between 
faculty, students, and others; he developed job training programs; he 
served as President of the United States Conference of Mayors.
  Because of his success in New Haven, his solid reputation led to his 
becoming principal advisor on urban affairs during the Kennedy and 
Johnson administrations, where he led the way for similar programs 
throughout the country.
  After retiring as mayor, Dick continued to serve his community by 
serving as executive director of the United Way of Greater New Haven 
from 1975 to 1980. His later achievements included an appointment to 
the Committee on Judicial Review in 1976, and chairing the State 
Library Board from 1984 to 1986. In 1987, he was appointed to the 
Judicial Review Council. He later joined Union Trust as the chairman's 
representative in New Haven.
  Let me just say that Dick Lee understood how vibrant and alive cities 
are and what role they can play in making sure that people have the 
kinds of opportunity that they needed economically and what kind of a 
social fabric one needs in order for a people to be able to succeed.
  On a personal and political level, the DeLauro and Lee families have 
been close for years. I witnessed firsthand his knowledge, insight, and 
caring for the New Haven community. My mother, Luisa DeLauro, served on 
the Board of Aldermen under Dick's administration. I fondly remember 
Dick's relationship with my father, Ted DeLauro. They were great 
friends and they worked together on numerous projects for the 
betterment of the New Haven community. Throughout my life, Dick Lee has 
been both a mentor and a friend.
  On September 13th, 1987, Dick was inducted into the Knights of St. 
Gregory, a Papal honor for ``exemplary conduct as a citizen living up 
to his full measure of influence and creativity in the community.'' It 
is exactly this commitment to community that distinguishes the life of 
Richard C. Lee, and it is with great pleasure that I sponsor this 
legislation.
  Dick Lee is now 82 years old. He probably will be angry with me for 
mentioning his age, but he truly epitomizes what a public servant is in 
our country. This courthouse will be a lasting tribute to a man who has 
been one of the most dedicated and effective mayors of this century, 
and I thank the gentlemen for allowing me this time to speak on his 
behalf.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Mayor Richard Lee has become known as the model mayor 
for our country and for this century. Having served in World War II, he 
returned to his hometown of New Haven and he started a lifetime of 
service.
  There is something I would like to mention that perhaps is a little 
unusual as being a former sheriff. Mayor Lee petitioned the Ford 
Foundation and the Federal Government to join him in the fight against 
juvenile delinquency and urban unemployment years ago, being in advance 
of and understanding the unusual dynamics taking place in our country 
and certainly in our urban environment.
  The point I want to mention to this House is during the urban unrest 
of the 1960s, New Haven, Connecticut, did not experience the violence 
which shook other major cities, now chronicled in the history of those 
turbulent years. New Haven, in fact, became the model for law 
enforcement civility without one shot being fired by a policeman during 
that time. Not one shot being fired.
  Some of the adjectives that have been used to describe the great 
mayor were: Commitment, accessibility, involvement, creativity. Mr. 
Speaker, I believe it is prompt and proper for the House to offer 
another one: A great American.
  I am proud to support this bill. I want to commend the two Senators 
from Connecticut and also the great Member here from New Haven for 
their bill. I support it and I urge an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. Speaker, 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 Senate bill, S. 1355, 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, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________