[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 68 (Tuesday, June 6, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H3878-H3880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LES ASPIN POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4241) to designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 1818 Milton Avenue in Janesville,
Wisconsin, as the ``Les Aspin Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4241
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LES ASPIN POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 1818 Milton Avenue in Janesville,
Wisconsin, shall be known and designated as the ``Les Aspin
Post Office Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the ``Les Aspin Post Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Former Congressman Les Aspin faithfully served the people of
Wisconsin's First Congressional District for over 20 years as their
elected representative. During his time in Congress, he was a credit to
this institution we now serve in. A former U.S. Army captain, Aspin
served as the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services from 1985 to
1993. When the President called on him, Aspin continued his hard work
to improve our Nation's security by serving as the U.S. Secretary of
Defense from 1993 to 1994. This dedicated public servant passed away,
unfortunately, on May 21, 1995 at the age of 56.
Wisconsinites are very proud of Congressman Aspin and all that he has
done for Wisconsin's First District and the Nation. I believe that it
would be appropriate to honor the late Congressman Aspin by naming the
U.S. Post Office in Janesville, Wisconsin, my own hometown, as the Les
Aspin Post Office Building. Aspin's former Janesville office had been
housed in the old Janesville Post Office downtown, which is now the
Keeley Pharmacy, for over 2 decades.
As the Congressman who currently serves the First Congressional
District, and as a member of the opposite party that Congressman Aspin
served from, I believe that this still would be a fitting tribute to
Congressman Aspin, especially since this marks the 30th anniversary to
the year he was first elected to this congressional seat.
Les Aspin embodied honest public service and his example continues to
inspire Members of Congress today. I thank the gentleman from New York
(Mr. McHugh), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Postal Service, and
the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), the chairman of the Committee
on Government Reform, for their cooperation and leadership in bringing
this bill to the floor today, and I would urge my colleagues to honor a
great American statesman who gave much to this institution and to
support H.R. 4241.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1245
Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4241, joining my colleague,
the gentleman from the great State of Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).
Les Aspin was a leader here in this Congress for many, many years
dealing with issues related to national defense and the Armed Forces,
but moreover, was a public servant who provided an extraordinary level
of leadership to our Nation. He is someone who, as is obvious by the
sponsorship of this bill, who enjoyed respect and support on both sides
of the aisle. I would like to compliment the gentleman for the
introduction.
Madam Speaker, we look forward to favorable, if not unanimous,
support for this bill.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri).
Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from
Wisconsin, for yielding time to me.
I would like to commend him for taking the leadership to bring this
measure before the House today to honor a distinguished son of the
State of Wisconsin and a friend of mine, Les Aspin.
While a member of the Democratic Party, Les was a person who took his
responsibilities as a United States Representative, not as a party
representative, seriously. He often broke party ranks to take actions
that he felt were right, and his leadership influenced many others in
this body, so that it ended up being quite effective.
I can remember myself wondering whether it made sense for us to get
involved in military action in the Gulf at the time of that crisis,
when Kuwait was invaded, or whether we should, as many counseled at the
time, rely on an embargo, which is still in effect, to bring down
Saddam Hussein and roll back the troops.
Les took the well of this House and repeatedly urged us to use
military force, overwhelming military force, and predicted that if we
marshalled that force it would not be effectively resisted, and we
would have, and gasps went from the crowd, if any casualties,
casualties in the hundreds, not the thousands.
At the time, people were predicting a quagmire and tens of thousands
of American troops and allied troops losing their lives. While it did
not seem to many that plausible at the time, Les proved to be
absolutely right. His counsel by a narrow vote was followed, and we did
roll back the invasion of Kuwait, and set an example that we hope will
deter others from taking similar action.
He broke ranks from the military community in opposing the B-2
weapons system. He broke ranks again with party orthodoxy in
supporting, but in a moderate way, the SDI, Strategic Defense
Initiative, feeling that we should not try in Congress to cut it off,
we should not throw money at it, but we should invest in research in
that area, as we could prudently and as the defense community indicated
could be absorbed.
He was well respected, a former educator, an economist at the
Marquette University, and a person who has been honored by Marquette
University; there is the Aspin Institute here in this city, which
trains many young people who come out to learn about government. I have
been pleased to have a number of Aspin Institute scholars in my own
office. Others in Congress I think can say the same.
I really am very, very pleased that my colleague and the worthy
successor of former Defense Secretary and former Representative Les
Aspin, former chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, has chosen
to honor Mr. Aspin in this way.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time
[[Page H3879]]
to me, and for introducing this resolution to name the building for
somebody with whom many of us did serve in this House of
Representatives who truly was a great statesman.
He started off with a great education, certainly, having gone through
the Milwaukee schools, entering higher education, and then he became a
professor, serving very well. He went through the staff positions where
he worked for Senator Proxmire. He also worked for Walter Heller, who
was the chairman of President Kennedy's Council on Economic Advisors.
Also, he served as a captain in the United States Army. He was an
economic adviser to the Secretary of Defense. Then he was elected to
the House of Representatives in the 92nd Congress. Then he was
reelected to the 11 succeeding Congresses, serving, therefore, from
1971 in January until he resigned in January of 1993.
While serving here in Congress, he was a member of the Committee on
Armed Forces, and he was its chairman from the 99th through the 102nd
Congresses. We then know he became Secretary of Defense until his
resignation in 1994.
Additionally, from August, 1994, until his death at the age of 57 in
1995, he was professor of international policy, Washington Center for
Government, Marquette University. He was also chair of the Foreign
Intelligence Advisory Board and of the Commission on the Roles and
Capabilities of the United States Intelligence Community.
I want to point out, Madam Speaker, that here is a man who, from the
beginning of his career until the very end at age 57, devoted himself
in so many ways to the greatness of our country. He was indeed a
patriot and a public servant.
I want to congratulate our colleague, the gentleman from Wisconsin
(Mr. Ryan), sponsor of the legislation, having introduced it in
recognition of his predecessor, Les Aspin, who served this Nation and
his constituency for many years with great ability, dedication, and
finesse. I think he is indeed deserving of having the Post Office
located on 1818 Milton Avenue in Janesville, Wisconsin, named after
him. I urge all our colleagues to support this measure.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Just to briefly reiterate, Madam Speaker, Les Aspin served the First
Congressional District for 22 years; served as Secretary of Defense,
was a scholar, was a professor and academic. He was known as a good
statesman, as an honest man.
Whether we agreed or disagreed on a given issue with Les Aspin, we
always knew that he thought issues through, and that he was going to
give good service to the First Congressional District of Wisconsin. He
was a gifted statesman. His memory will live on for quite a while.
We thought it would be especially fitting that the Janesville,
Wisconsin, Post Office be renamed after Les Aspin, given the fact that
his own office was housed in the old Janesville Post Office for a good
20 years. I might add, Madam Speaker, that the Janesville City Council
has passed a resolution affirming the designation of this Post Office.
Madam Speaker, I ask passage of this measure.
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4241,
legislation designating the United States Post Office in Janesville,
Wisconsin as the ``Les Aspin Post Office Building.''
Les Aspin was a larger-than-life political icon who represented
Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of
Representatives from 1971 to 1993. After being successfully reelected
in 1992, Les was appointed by President Bill Clinton to become this
nation's 18th Secretary of Defense, a position he held until February
3, 1994.
Les accomplished much in his nearly 57 years. Born in Milwaukee, Les
received a B.A. from Yale University in 1960, an M.A. from Oxford
University in 1962 where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and earned a Ph.D. in
economics from MIT in 1965. As an officer in the U.S. Army from 1966 to
1968, Les served as a systems analyst in the Pentagon under Secretary
of Defense Robert McNamara. In 1970, after first contemplating running
for other state offices, Les was elected to the House of
Representatives, where he served for the next 22 years.
Once in the House, Les soon developed a special interest and
expertise in defense matters. In 1985, as a junior member of the House
Committee on Armed Services, Les leap-frogged Members much more senior
to become chair of this powerful committee. As chair, Les proved to be
a straight shooter, not one to always toe his party's political line.
Les was a strong early supporter of the Persian Gulf War, predicting in
advance that the U.S.'s military force would drive the Iraqis from
Kuwait. In a paper written prior to the war, Les stated that the United
States could win a quick military victory with light casualties. The
accuracy of his prediction lent credence to his already strong
reputation. As chair, Les' sentinel work on reshaping the Armed Forces
after the demise of the Soviet Union was instrumental in the formation
of post-Cold War strategies and policies for this nation.
In turn, Presidential candidate Bill Clinton relied on Les for his
wisdom and once elected named him as his first defense secretary.
During his tenure at the Pentagon, Les dealt with such weighty issues
as base closures, a shrinking Pentagon budget, and the growing threat
of regional conflicts. As Secretary, Les will always be remembered for
instituting the ``bottom-up'' review which took the first hard look at
the organizational structure of the military in a post-Cold War world.
After leaving the Pentagon in early 1994, Les joined the faculty of
Marquette University's international affairs program in Washington,
D.C. In March 1995, be became a member of the Commission on Roles and
Missions. In May, President Clinton chose him as chairman of the
President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. In March 1995, he
began work as chairman of still another study group, this on the Roles
and Capabilities of the Intelligence Community. Shortly thereafter, on
May 21, 1995, he died of a stroke.
Les was a brilliant man who, through his tremendous energy and work
ethic, worked tirelessly to shape this nation's vision for defense
policy and armed forces to meet the changing demands of the 21st
century. His intellect and perspective are sorely missed.
Wisconsin has sent a number of nationally known historical leaders to
represent them in Washington. Robert LaFollette, Melvin Laird, Bill
Proxmire and Gaylord Nelson to name just a few. Without question, Les
Aspin's name must be certainly added to this list.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues in paying tribute to
former Congressman, Les Aspin.
Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4241, to
rename the Janesville, Wisconsin, Post Office the Les Aspin Post Office
Building.
I served with Les from 1985 until 1993, when he left to serve the
Clinton Administration as Secretary of Defense. Les was an incredibly
talented public servant with a mind that worked quickly and saw the
complexity of problems, both near-term and long-term. He was an amazing
man who never lost touch with the people he represented. He could talk
to farmers and mechanics as easily as he talked to presidents and prime
ministers, a trait I greatly admire. He never lost a political race and
worked his entire life to make this country a better place to live.
I think he surprised us all when he challenged Mel Price for the
Chairmanship of the House Armed Services Committee, but for the face of
the House Representatives, it was indeed a good thing. Les brought a
new mind-set and new way of thinking to the different problems that we
faced as a country in the aftermath of the Cold War. He served in the
Army for 2 years and understood the nature of the animal.
As the Secretary of Defense, he led the efforts to address the
Quadrennial Defense Review to assess the needs of our military on a
regular basis. From this effort came the philosophy that the United
States may well need to fight two wars in the not-too-distant future
and in the course of that scenario, a rogue state could easily attack
the United States or exercise acts of terrorism against us. Les dubbed
the U.S. strategy scenario in this instance as ``win-hold-win.'' If the
U.S. was indeed in the two-war scenario, Les devised a strategy that
would win one war, hold our ground on a second war, and win the third.
Thankfully, we have not seen this worst-case scenario, fighting on
two fronts and holding a third, but we have seen terrorism against the
U.S. interests around the world, and despotism in Europe (again)
required our military response there. Les Aspin's ideas changed the way
the House Armed Services Committee operated and changed the way the
United States assessed threats and disposed of resources.
Les Aspin made this a better country and was wholly dedicated to
public service. I am proud that we will be naming the Janesville Post
Office after this great American. I hope Les Aspin's name on the
building will inspire pride in the young people in his community who
did not have the opportunity to know this politically savvy,
academically gifted creative thinker.
Mr. KLECZKA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4241,
legislation which will
[[Page H3880]]
rename the post office in Janesville, Wisconsin, as the ``Les Aspin
Post Office Building.''
One of Wisconsin's favorite son's Les Aspin served his home state
with distinction during his eleven terms as Congressman from the First
District. He went on to serve the Clinton Administration as its first
Secretary of Defense. He served his home state and his country with
great honor.
Les began and ended his professional career as a professor at
Marquette University in Milwaukee. The university's Washington program,
which brings students to our Nation's capitol to experience firsthand
the way our government works, was renamed in 1996 the Les Aspin Center
for Government in his honor. I know Les would be proud to know that the
institute which bears his name is building upon his legacy by teaching
future generations of leaders about the values of civic involvement and
public service.
Madam Speaker, throughout Les' service to his country, his love and
commitment to his home state remained deep and unwavering. Today we
have the opportunity to further recognize the outstanding achievements
of one of our former colleagues who left us far too soon. Renaming the
post office in Janesville as the Les Aspin Post Office Building is a
fitting tribute to a man who served Wisconsin so well.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today as an original
cosponsor and strong support of H.R. 4241 which designates the facility
of the U.S. Postal Service located at 1818 Milton Avenue in Janesville,
Wisconsin, as the Les Aspin Post Office Building.
I had the distinguished honor of serving with Mr. Aspin. As a fellow
Wisconsinite, I admired his dedication to public service that was
evident throughout his tenure; not only as a Member of the House of
Representatives, but as Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the
President's Intelligence Advisory Board, to name just a few.
Secretary Aspin did not begin his life's devotion to the public in
the political arena. He served this country in the U.S. Army from 1966
to 1968. He then entered politics and went on to served in this body
from 1971 to 1993. He served as the Chairman of the House Armed
Services Committee from 1985 to 1993. He was then appointed by
President Clinton as his first Secretary of Defense.
Secretary Aspin was known to share his knowledge and passion for
America in many circles. He continued his outreach by serving as a
distinguished professor for Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, and
in Washington, DC. The naming of the Marquette University Washington
program, the Les Aspin Center for Government, recognized his service to
this program.
Secretary Aspin brought his love for his work and his sense of humor
into her personal life as well. As an avid dog lover, my fellow
Wisconsinite named his dog ``Junket,'' and Junket was equally
comfortable and welcome in the office and at home.
I believe that H.R. 4241 is a fitting tribute to a man who gave
tirelessly to the people he represented in Wisconsin during his tenure
as Congressman and the country during his tenure as Secretary of
Defense. I am honored to speak in support of H.R. 4241 and believe that
the recognition it would lend to Secretary Aspin, is well deserved.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4241.
The question was taken.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________