[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H10313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 JUSTICE JOHN McKINLEY FEDERAL BUILDING

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1298) to designate a Federal building located in 
Florence, Alabama, as the ``Justice John McKinley Federal Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1298

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF JUSTICE JOHN MCKINLEY FEDERAL 
                   BUILDING.

       The Federal building located at 210 North Seminary Street 
     in Florence, Alabama, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Justice John McKinley Federal Building''.

     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 ``Justice John McKinley Federal Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sununu). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentlewoman from Florida 
(Mrs. Meek) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh).


                             General Leave

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1298 was introduced by Senator Shelby on October 20, 
1997, and the bill passed the Senate without amendment by unanimous 
consent on June 2 of this year, and a message on Senate action was sent 
to the House on June 3.
  John McKinley was a U.S. Senator and the first United States Supreme 
Court Justice from the State of Alabama. A Virginian by birth, he 
practiced law in Kentucky. He was a self-taught lawyer. He moved to 
Alabama in 1818, becoming a member of the Cypress Land Company, which 
was then the largest single purchaser of land in north Alabama, along 
with a gentleman by the name of Andrew Jackson.
  In 1820, Mr. McKinley was elected to the Alabama State legislature. 
He then proceeded to have a long, historic and extremely distinguished 
public career. The State legislature elected Mr. McKinley to the U.S. 
Senate in 1826, where he served until 1831. He was appointed to the 
Supreme Court by voice vote of the Senate in September of 1837.
  Mr. Speaker, our colleague, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Cramer), 
introduced a similar bill, H.R. 1804, also honoring Justice McKinley, 
which was cosponsored by the entire delegation from the great State of 
Alabama, and I want to thank him and that delegation for working with 
the other body, working with Senator Shelby, and bringing us not just a 
deserving individual, obviously, but one who represents a great period 
in the history of this country, obviously a great period that continues 
to this day in the history of the great State of Alabama. I thank him 
for his efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Senate bill 1298 introduced by Senator Richard Shelby, 
Republican of Alabama, names a United States post office located at 210 
North Seminary Street in Florence, Alabama, as the Justice John 
McKinley Federal Building.
  Senate bill 1298 enjoys the support of a House companion bill, House 
Resolution 1804, sponsored by the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Robert 
``Bud'' Cramer). Mr. McKinley served in the Alabama State Legislature, 
was one of the founding trustees of the University of Alabama, and 
served as the first United States Supreme Court Justice from Alabama.
  The Alabama State congressional delegation is proud to name a post 
office after John McKinley.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Bud Cramer), the author of the House version.
  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from 
Florida, for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the chairman and say that we in 
Alabama appreciate the attention this issue has been given here in what 
we hope are the last few days of this session to make sure that the 
House bill, H.R. 1804, is merged with S. 1298 to make sure this 
legislation is passed and gets to the President.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation would designate the United States 
Courthouse and Post Office Building in Florence, Alabama, which happens 
to be in my district, as the Justice John McKinley Federal Building. 
The chairman and ranking member have done an excellent job in making 
sure is that Justice John McKinley's background and legacy is well 
known.
  In my district, this particular piece of legislation enjoys a wide 
range of support within the State, the Lauderdale County Bar 
Association, the Florence Historical Board, the Tennessee Valley 
Historical Society, the Alabama State Bar, and Governor Fob James, in 
addition to the entire Alabama delegation. We have looked forward to 
this day for some time; and, Mr. Speaker, designating the United States 
Post Office after Justice John McKinley would be an honor befitting his 
contribution to Alabama, and, frankly, to this country. Mr. Speaker, I 
urge the passage of S. 1298.
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, with a closing thanks to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Cramer) for his leadership on this issue, I would highly recommend all 
of our colleagues support us in this very meritorious renaming bill.
  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 New York (Mr. McHugh) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 1298.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof), the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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