[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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