[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H2598-H2600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        JOSE V. TOLEDO UNITED STATES POST OFFICE AND COURTHOUSE

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 560) to designate the Federal building located 
at 300 Recinto Sur Street in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, as the ``Jose 
V. Toledo United States Post Office and Courthouse,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 560

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

[[Page H2599]]

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The Federal building and United States courthouse located 
     at the intersection of Comercio and San Justo Streets, in San 
     Juan, Puerto Rico, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Jose V. Toledo Federal Building and United States 
     Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the Federal building 
     and United States courthouse referred to in section 1 shall 
     be deemed to be a reference to the ``Jose V. Toledo Federal 
     Building and United States Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Franks) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks).
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 560, as amended, designates the Federal Building 
and United States Courthouse in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, as the 
``Jose V. Toledo Federal Building and United States Courthouse.''
  Jose Toledo was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. He received a Bachelor 
of Arts degree from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor in law 
from the University of Puerto Rico Law School. Judge Toledo served on 
the Federal bench in the United States District Court, District of 
Puerto Rico, from December 1, 1970 until February 1980, when he died in 
office at the age of 49. At the time of his death, Judge Toledo was the 
chief judge for the Puerto Rico District.
  Prior to his appointment to the Federal bench, Judge Toledo served as 
an Assistant United States Attorney, as a lawyer in local government in 
Puerto Rico, as a partner in private law practice, and served in the 
United States Army as a member of the Judge Advocate Corps. This 
legislation is a fitting tribute to honor the career and judicial 
contributions of the late Judge Jose V. Toledo.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I encourage my colleagues to 
support it as well.
  Mr. Speaker I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 560 is a bill to name the Federal facility in Old 
San Juan as the ``Jose V. Toledo United States Post Office and 
Courthouse.'' The gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo) 
introduced this bill in February of 1999 and is to be commended for his 
diligence in ensuring its passage.
  Judge Toledo served the District of Puerto Rico with great 
distinction from 1970 to February 1980, when he died an untimely death 
at the age of 49 years.
  Integrity, loyalty, patience, fairness, keen intellect and 
perseverance are words used by Judge Toledo's friends and colleagues to 
describe him. Judge Toledo was born in Puerto Rico in 1931. He received 
his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Florida and his law degree 
from the University of Puerto Rico Law School.
  In addition to private practice, Judge Toledo served as an Assistant 
United States Attorney and in the local government of Puerto Rico. 
Judge Toledo also served in the U.S. Army as a member of the Judge 
Advocate Corps.
  The building in old San Juan to bear Judge Toledo's name is an 
imposing structure, signifying solidarity and safety, and has guarded 
the entrance to Old San Juan for more than 300 years. It is fitting and 
proper this building then bear the name of Judge Jose V. Toledo, and I 
am proud and pleased to support this legislation.
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo), the sponsor of H.R. 
560.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Franks), and the ranking member, the gentleman 
from West Virginia (Mr. Wise), as well as the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the ranking member, the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for pushing this bill through the committee 
and getting it on the floor for consideration today, and I would like 
to commend the clerk for his excellent Spanish accent. Very few people 
here pronounce those words the same.
  Mr. Speaker, in recognition of the outstanding service of the late 
Judge Jose V. Toledo, today I am asking all of my colleagues to support 
this bill to designate the United States Post Office and the Courthouse 
in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, as the ``Jose V. Toledo United States 
Post Office and Courthouse.'' Judge Toledo served on the United States 
District Court for the District of Puerto Rico from December of 1970 to 
February 1980, when he died at the early age of 49. He rose to the 
position of Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, and he served with 
great distinction in that capacity until the moment of his untimely 
death.
  Pepe Toledo, as he was known to his family and friends, was regarded 
as a man of paramount integrity and a loyal public servant. He was born 
on August 14, 1931, in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and he received his 
Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida in 1952. In 
1956, he received his Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico 
Law School, where I had the good fortune and the privilege of studying 
and graduating with him. During our law school years we became very 
close friends and studied together for our bar exams, and that close 
friendship lasted until his premature death.
  Prior to his appointment to the Federal bench, Judge Toledo served as 
the Assistant United States Attorney. He was a partner in several law 
firms, one of which he and I and another fellow started, and an 
attorney within the local government of Puerto Rico. He also served in 
the U.S. Army as a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps. Judge 
Toledo was also a distinguished leader of the Exchange Clubs of Puerto 
Rico. He demonstrated his value to the organization through his 
involvement and commitment at both the local and the national levels.
  As expressed by the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court in Puerto 
Rico, the Honorable Carmen Consuelo Cerezo, on behalf of the judges of 
the Federal Court of Puerto Rico, Judge Jose V. Toledo earned the 
respect of the public, the bar and the bench for his patience, 
impartiality, fairness and decorum in the adjudication of the 
controversies brought before him. Judge Toledo set high standards for 
himself, yet he had a refreshing humility and capacity to understand 
the problems of others. His hallmarks were learning and wisdom, 
tempered by a tremendous feeling for people.
  The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Old San Juan, built in 1914, 
stands above the foundations of the ancient city wall that has guarded 
the harbor entrance to the city for more than 300 years. As a matter of 
fact, San Juan is the oldest city under the American flag.
  Built only 15 years after Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory, it is 
listed in the National Register with the U.S. Department of Interior's 
National Park Service. The site represents the eclecticism of American 
architecture of the late 19th and early 20th century as it integrates 
American-Spanish Revival architecture, Sullivanesque and Beaux Arts 
Neoclassical Revival styles. It has a 6-story annex which was built in 
1940. It also demonstrates influences from the Vienna School and the 
Avant Garde movement. The Correo, as it has been known to generations 
of Puerto Ricans, is an imposing and beautiful structure which has 
stood magnificently within the old city walls as a symbol of greatness 
in times past with the importance of the U.S. Postal Service in Puerto 
Rico.
  It is fitting that this structure so dear to us should carry the name 
of Judge Jose V. Toledo. The judges of the United States District 
Court, District of Puerto Rico, voted unanimously to recommend the 
naming of the Federal Courthouse in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, in honor 
of Jose V. Toledo, referred to the late judge as a learned jurist, 
outstanding citizen and an excellent human being.
  Mr. Speaker, I am immensely proud to honor his memory and with this 
bill to designate the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Old San Juan, 
Puerto Rico, as the ``Jose V. Toledo United States Post Office and 
Courthouse.''
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H2600]]

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. 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 Jersey (Mr. Franks) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 560, 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 
Federal building and United States courthouse located at the 
intersection of Comercio and San Justo Streets, in San Juan, Puerto 
Rico, as the `Jose V. Toledo Federal Building and United States 
Courthouse'.''.

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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