Congressional Record, Volume 145 Issue 28 (Tuesday, February 23, 1999)

[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 23, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H673-H674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

JAMES F. BATTIN FEDERAL COURTHOUSE

Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 158) 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. 158

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''.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Franks) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Wise)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks).

{time} 1445

Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 158, as amended, designates the United States
Courthouse, located in Billings, Montana, as the James F. Battin United
States Courthouse.
Judge Battin dedicated his life to public service. He was a Federal
District Judge for the United States District Court of Montana, and
also a former Member of Congress, having served in the House of
Representatives from the 87th through the 91st Congress.
After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and
ably served for 3 years in the Pacific. After returning from military
service, Judge Battin attended Eastern Montana College in Billings,
Montana. He relocated to Washington, D.C. and was graduated from George
Washington University Law School. He was later admitted to the D.C.
Bar.
Judge Battin returned to Montana in the mid 1950s and accepted county
and municipal attorney posts. He was elected to the Montana State House
of Representatives and served in the State House until his election to
the United States House of Representatives in the 87th Congress. He
went on to serve four succeeding terms.
During his tenure in Congress he served on the Committee on
Committees, the Executive Committee, the Committee on the Judiciary,
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Ways and Means.
In 1969 President Nixon appointed Judge Battin to the United States
District Court for the District of Montana. He served as Chief Judge
from 1978 and took 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.
Judge Battin passed away in 1996.
This is a fitting tribute to a distinguished jurist and dedicated
public servant. I support the bill, as amended, and urge my colleagues
to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 158, a bill to designate the courthouse in
Billings, Montana as the James F. Battin United States Courthouse.
In 1969 President Nixon appointed James Battin to the Federal bench
in Billings, Montana, where he continued his four decades of public
service to the citizens of Montana. In 1978 James Battin was appointed
Chief Judge and served in that position for 12 years. He remained
active in judicial affairs until his death in September of 1996.
Prior to his judicial appointment, Judge Battin served in the House
of Representatives, representing eastern Montana. In 1960 he was
elected to the Montana House and served until 1969, when he resigned to
receive the judicial appointment.
While in this body, the House of Representatives, Judge Battin served
on the Committee on the Judiciary as well as the Committee on Foreign
Affairs and the Committee on Ways and Means. It is interesting to note
that Judge Battin's son continued that tradition, Jim Battin, and he
currently serves in the California assembly, representing the 80th
District.
It is fitting and proper to honor the extensive contributions Judge
Battin has made to public service with designating the Federal building
in Billings, Montana, as the James F. Battin United States Courthouse.

[[Page H674]]

I support H.R. 158 and urge my colleagues to also support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from Montana (Mr. Hill).
Mr. HILL of Montana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding
me this time, and I am pleased today to present to the House H.R. 158,
legislation that would designate the United States Courthouse in
downtown Billings as the James F. Battin State Courthouse.
While there are a few Members in and around this chamber who remember
Jim Battin as Montana's eastern Congressional District representative,
and others who remember him as a distinguished member of the Federal
bench, I want to take a few minutes today to give my colleagues some
reflections on the life of the man we will honor today.
James Battin earned a reputation for effectiveness and for integrity
during five terms here in the Congress and for 27 years on the Federal
bench. His accomplishments range from building new protections for the
environment and wilderness preserves, to rulings on streamlining the
Federal Judiciary proceedings. He, for example, created the precedent
for the now universally accepted six-man Federal jury in Federal cases.
After high school, James Battin served in the U.S. Navy during World
War II. And 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 in 1960
he successfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives.
During his first term in the U.S. House, James Battin was chosen by
his fellow freshmen legislators to sit on the House Committee of
Committees. And as a member of that critical House overseer, he secured
a seat for himself in his first term on the House 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 Committee on
Foreign Affairs, an assignment soon followed to the House Committee on
the Judiciary.
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
that time the largest wildlife reserve in the United States.
Throughout the 1960s he would serve Montana for five terms in the
U.S. House, each time winning election by a wider and larger landslide
margin.
In addition to his duties in Washington, James Battin would go on to
serve as one of two United States 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 themselves in other countries with useful occupations. And
as an emissary of this Nation, he brought assistance and stewardship of
our government to helping people form new businesses.
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, upheaval and war abroad, he helped
articulate his party's vision for the future of America.
With a congressional career moving at full pace, and his influence
increasing every year, Battin welcomed new representatives and took
them in stride and helped them adjust.
In 1969 Battin was asked by President Nixon to serve as a Federal
District Judge 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 wanted to raise his family in the quiet beauty of his home
State of Montana, a life unlike what he expected would occur in San
Francisco.
Soon after, a Federal judgeship became available in his home State in
Billings. His judicial home became the Billings Federal Courthouse,
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 this post for 27 years, becoming the District of
Montana's Chief Judge in 1978.
During that time, Battin issued key rulings affecting the lives of
Montana citizens, among them, preserving access to the Bighorn River
for all the people across the State.
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 with his family.
While he proceeded 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 his
fellow citizens.
H.R. 158 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 and the Nation's deep gratitude for a lifetime of dedicated
service. I urge my colleagues' support for H.R. 158.
Mrs. BONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 158, that
designates the United States Courthouse located in Billings, Montana,
as the ``James F. Battin Federal Courthouse.''
This honor is certainly a very fitting tribute for Judge Battin. He
is a remarkable example in our recent history of someone who dedicated
himself to public service for the good of our country. After high
school, James Battin served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Following 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 in 1960 successfully ran for a seat in the U.S.
House of Representatives. For five terms, he served in the U.S.
Congress with distinction.
Judge Battin was appointed to the Federal bench by President Nixon in
1969 to serve as a Federal District Judge for the United States
District Court of Montana. He developed a reputation as a fine jurist
and went on to serve as Chief Judge from 1978 until he elected to take
a senior status in 1990.
An even greater monument to this fine man's life is his family. They
were always his priority as a husband and parent. Yet, the humble honor
that this legislation ensures is certainly a fitting tribute to a
distinguished judge and dedicated public servant. I support the bill
and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 158, 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 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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