[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 102 (Wednesday, September 6, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H7225-H7227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
JAMES T. BROYHILL POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4534) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 114 Ridge Street in Lenoir, North Carolina, as the
``James T. Broyhill Post Office Building,'' as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4534
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. JAMES T. BROYHILL POST OFFICE BUILDING
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 114 Ridge Street, N.W. in Lenoir, North
Carolina, shall be known and designated as the ``James T.
Broyhill 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 ``James T. Broyhill Post Office
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Maryland (Mrs. Morella) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
General Leave
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on H.R. 4534, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Maryland?
There was no objection.
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mrs. MORELLA asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I want to commend the sponsor of this
legislation, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Burr), for
introducing H.R. 4534. The bill was introduced on July 19 of this year
and is cosponsored by each member of the House delegation from the
State of North Carolina.
This legislation, as amended, will designate the facility of the
United States Postal Service located at 114 Ridge Street, Northwest, in
Lenoir, North Carolina, as the James T. Broyhill Post Office Building.
James Thomas Broyhill was born in Lenoir, North Carolina, in 1927. He
attended public schools and graduated from the University of North
Carolina in 1950 with a BS degree in business administration. Later, he
was elected to the 88th Congress and served until January 3, 1986.
Mr. Broyhill was elected to the House of Representatives to represent
the 10th District of North Carolina in 1962 and was reelected to 11
succeeding Congresses. During this period, he served as the ranking
member on the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Mr. Broyhill resigned
his House seat in July 1986 when he was appointed to the United States
Senate to fill the unexpired term of Senator James East of North
Carolina who died unexpectedly.
Senator Broyhill was respected by both Houses on both sides of the
aisle as a level-headed and open-minded legislator.
Madam Speaker, I commend our colleague, the gentleman from North
Carolina (Mr. Burr), for sponsorship of this legislation. I urge
support of H.R. 4534 by all of our colleagues.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 4534, which names a post office after James T.
Broyhill, was introduced by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Burr) on May 24, 2000.
James T. Broyhill was born in Lenoir, North Carolina in 1927. He
graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1950.
He served as vice president of Broyhill Furniture Industries and was a
member of the Lenoir Chamber of Commerce where he served as president
for 2 years.
In 1962, James Broyhill was elected to the United States House of
Representatives where he served until 1986. He was the ranking member
of the House Energy and Committee on Commerce for a number of years.
Upon the death of Senator John East, Congressman Broyhill was
appointed to the United States Senate by the governor. He subsequently
lost in his election bid for the Senate seat and was appointed to serve
as the chairman of the North Carolina Economic Development Board. He is
currently retired and living in Winston Salem, North Carolina. I urge
the swift adoption of this measure.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Burr), the author of this legislation.
(Mr. BURR of North Carolina asked and was given permission to revise
and extend his remarks.)
Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman
from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) for yielding the time to me.
Madam Speaker, it is indeed an honor to be here today to ask my
colleagues to support H.R. 4534, which was cosponsored by every member
of the North Carolina delegation.
[[Page H7226]]
Jim Broyhill, along with his entire family, has always had a sincere
dedication to serving the community and helping wherever there was a
need. His parents instilled in him the importance of giving of oneself
and time to help make a better place for all to live. It was because of
this desire that in 1962 Jim Broyhill first ran for the United States
Congress in the old eighth district of North Carolina.
There is a story that is told on Jim; it is still told today about
that first campaign. Old timers in Alexander County remember the first
speech that Jim Broyhill gave as a candidate. They said it was one of
the worst speeches they ever heard a political candidate ever give, but
thank goodness Jim Broyhill got better as that campaign went on.
In time, he rose to the position of ranking member of the Committee
on Commerce; and with this, his influence grew and his reputation for
honesty, for hard work grew with that. Jim Broyhill was a workhorse
when serving in the Congress, and while he may not have been seen on
the Sunday talk shows, everyone in Washington knew the value of what he
was doing.
In 1985, Jim announced he would run for the United States Senate; but
before he could, Senator East died and he was appointed to that
position.
{time} 1500
For the remainder of the year after losing that Senate race, Jim
could have gone into retirement, but he did not do it. He continued to
serve and was appointed in 1987 as the chairman of North Carolina
Economic Development Board, the chief advisory board for the North
Carolina Department of Commerce. From this post, he assisted the
State's efforts to recruit new business and expand existing industries
in North Carolina.
Then in 1989, at the request of Governor Martin, Jim took on the
full-time responsibility of serving as the Secretary of the Department
of Commerce, a position he held until 1991. It should be noted that in
the years in which he was affiliated with the Department of Commerce,
they saw some of the greatest gains in economic expansion in North
Carolina's history.
In 1991, Jim finally did enter retirement; and it is fortunate for
Winston-Salem that he chose to be there, with his wife, Louise Robbins
Broyhill, who is one of the most gracious ladies and has always been
supportive of Jim's ventures. They are the parents of three children
and several grandchildren.
I commend Jim today, because Jim Broyhill is a true example of what a
public servant should be, a man more concerned with doing his duty and
serving his country than with personal gain. He has built a reputation
of dedication and devotion to his State, his country, and, even in
retirement, Jim Broyhill finds time to work with the local food bank
and the other organizations where he gives his time and his expertise.
Jim Broyhill never went in for negative campaigning. That is the type
of individual Jim Broyhill was, a very optimistic person.
Jim Broyhill's years of service deserve some form of recognition, and
the naming of a post office in his hometown is a small way in which we
can honor the work that he has already done before us.
I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 4534, to rename the
Lenoir Post Office as the ``James T. Broyhill Post Office Building.''
Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, in listening to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Burr), and I want to thank him for sponsoring the legislation, but he
talked about Mr. Broyhill not engaging in negative campaigning. I think
it was Mother Teresa who said something so profound, she said always be
for something, not against things.
I think that that says a lot for him. He was for himself and for
making sure that his community was well represented and well served,
and is still doing it. So I think it is quite appropriate that we take
this action today, and again I want to thank the gentleman.
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble).
Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland and
the gentleman from Maryland for having brought this bill to the floor.
Madam Speaker, about 25 years ago I had the pleasure of visiting my
uncle on his Watauga County farm in the shadow of the Tennessee border.
It was late April, and there was a nip in the air, because summertime
comes late in the Blue Ridge.
He and I were walking across the cow pasture, and I said to him,
``Have you seen Jim Broyhill lately?'' He instinctively opened the
pocket of his overalls and removed a rumpled, worn letter and proudly
extended it to me. It was a letter from Jim Broyhill addressed the
previous Christmas, 4 months earlier, to him and his wife, to my uncle
and his wife, wishing them a happy Christmas. I bet he had shown that
letter to 125 people, and he proudly put it back into his overall
pocket when I returned it to him.
That testimony, that rumpled letter, testified to me how Jim
Broyhill's constituents felt about him. He was revered by all who knew
him, because, Madam Speaker, he, unlike some elected officials, was not
a stealth representative. He did not all of a sudden become accessible
5 weeks before the next election. He was consistently accessible,
consistently providing outstanding constituency service. He is a good
man, and was an exceptional Member of Congress.
Madam Speaker, I say to the gentlewoman from Maryland and the
gentleman from Maryland, when I next drive through Lenoir on my way to
the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I will feel just a little better
as I drive through that little mountain town, knowing that its Post
Office bears the name of Jim Broyhill, an outstanding American, an
outstanding public servant. I know that my colleagues in the House,
here in the people's House, join me in extending our best wishes to Jim
and Louise Broyhill and their family.
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North
Carolina for his very heartfelt comments.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Ballenger).
Mr. BALLENGER. Madam Speaker, I would like, first of all, to thank
the gentlewoman from Maryland for yielding me time, and also thank the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Burr) for allowing me to be one of
the cosponsors to bring this bill to the floor to name a post office
after Jim Broyhill.
Jim and I have been friends for years. He was in Congress, from 1962
to 1986, and during those times he was sometimes unopposed. I can
remember one time, because he was so strong in the Republican Party,
when things got bad, we needed somebody to run against Jim Broyhill so
that he would campaign. I do not say I did this, but I was accused of
it, in fact he was unopposed until about 3 weeks before the election,
and some strange, kind of a, I want to say some sort of a nut from
Western North Carolina, filed against him. Jim Broyhill called me up on
the telephone and said, ``Cass, you paid that guy to run against me.''
I would like to tell Jim right here and now I did not do that, but I
thought it was a wonderful idea for whoever did do it.
Another thing about Jim Broyhill, it was his unbelievable memory of
people. I have campaigned with him many times, and he would walk up to
what I would consider a complete stranger and say, ``Madam, how is your
husband after his operation?'' First of all, he knew her name, and,
second of all, there was an operation, and, third, two years before is
when this all happened. Yet he remembered all these things.
He was the most exceptional politician I ever saw in the fact that he
was close to the people and they knew it, and he did a wonderful job.
Madam Speaker, everybody said how he was a ranking member on the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the present ranking member, a
Democrat, we will not mention names, has said to me many times that he
was probably the most reasonable Republican he ever saw to work with.
That was Jim's way of doing things. He was just a person more dedicated
to getting something done than playing politics.
As one might gather, I have a special reason to honor Jim Broyhill,
for it was Jim's appointment to the Senate
[[Page H7227]]
which first allowed me to run for Congress representing the people of
the 10th District of North Carolina. Many of you may know Jim Broyhill
for his distinguished record of public service. He is a great friend of
mine and has helped me in every election since 1986.
Let me just say, Western North Carolina has been greatly rewarded by
both Jim and his family.
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from North Carolina, (Mr. Jones).
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman
for yielding me time, and also the ranking member.
Madam Speaker, I bring a little different perspective, because my
father, who is deceased, served in the United States Congress from 1966
to 1992, and he had the pleasure of serving with Jim Broyhill. At the
time, I was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, a
Democrat at that time, and my father and I would talk on the weekends,
and many times those conversations would deal with his colleagues in
Washington, both the delegation, both Republicans and Democrats.
The reason I wanted to come to the floor was because my father told
me, he said there was not a finer Member of Congress than Jim Broyhill,
because he was a man of quality and a man of integrity.
So I think the fact that my friend, the gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr. Burr), has offered H.R. 4534 and the committee has brought it to
the floor is a special day, not only for Jim Broyhill and his family,
but also the citizens of North Carolina, because I think too many
times, as the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Burr) said in his
comments, too many times the people do not realize there are more
workhorses in the U.S. Congress than show horses, and that is probably
the way it needs to be, because we are doing, as the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Coble) said, the people's business.
I just wanted to come to the floor to say to Jim Broyhill, Senator
Broyhill, and his wife and his children and their grandchildren, that
this is not only a great day for you, but it is a great day for North
Carolina, because you have been and still are one of the finest
citizens, you and your family, and America is a better place because
you served in the United States House and the United States Senate.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, it certainly is appropriate that we honor Senator
Broyhill. The comments that have been made today I am certain will go a
long ways towards letting us know why Senator Broyhill meant so much to
the great State of North Carolina, to this country and to the world. So
we take this moment, Madam Speaker, this moment in time, to salute him
by naming this post office after him.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 4534.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the gentleman
from North Carolina's resolution honoring James T. Broyhill, a good
friend and honorable man with whom I had the privilege of serving in
this body for almost twenty-three years. Moreover, I was pleased to
have had the opportunity to work with Jim Broyhill in his capacity as
Ranking Member of the House Commerce Committee while I was Chairman.
As a Member of the House and Senate, Jim Broyhill was a dedicated and
tireless public servant. He capably and honorably represented his
constituents and they rewarded him time and time again with their
continual support for him as their representative.
Jim Broyhill was also a good friend and true gentleman. I can think
of no more honorable man in this institution and his contributions as
Ranking Member of the Commerce Committee were of the highest quality.
Jim Broyhill was a workhorse, not a show horse. He did not seek the
spotlight, but worked vigorously to ensure that the committee passed
effective legislation for the good of this country.
Jim Broyhill was well respected by both constituents and colleagues
for his integrity, kindness and ability to get things done. Renaming
the Lenoir Post Office in honor Jim Broyhill is a proper tribute to a
good man and public servant who did much for his state and country.
Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to
support H.R. 4534, a bill to designate a facility of the United States
Postal Service as the James T. Broyhill Post Office Building. This
legislation, which was cosponsored by every Member of the North
Carolina Delegation, is a fitting tribute to one of our state's model
public servants.
Jim Broyhill was born on August 19, 1927, in Lenoir, North Carolina
to the late J.E. and Sadie Hunt Broyhill and is a graduate of
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His parents taught him the
value of service and devotion to his community that has guided him
throughout his career in public service. That career began in 1962, in
the old 8th Congressional District of North Carolina, when Broyhill won
his first of eleven elections to the House of Representatives.
Upon his election, Broyhill immediately began to build a reputation
for honesty and integrity that allowed him to wield influence with both
Democrats and Republicans. During his 11 terms in the House, Broyhill
made a name for himself as a member, and later as Ranking Member, of
the Energy and Commerce Committee. Following the untimely death of
Senator John East, then Governor Jim Martin appointed Broyhill to
complete the remaining two years of Senator East's term. In 1986,
Broyhill's 24-year Congressional career ended when he lost his bid to
win his Senate seat outright.
Despite his personally disappointing loss, Broyhill continued to work
on the behalf of the people of North Carolina. Broyhill's public career
continued as he served as the Chairman of the North Carolina Economic
Development Board. In 1989 Governor Martin gave Broyhill the
responsibility of promoting and expanding North Carolina business and
industry by appointing him the Secretary of the Department of Commerce.
Jim Broyhill retired from public service in 1991 to spend more time
with his wife, Louise Robbins, his children, and his grandchildren.
Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to pay tribute to a great
North Carolinian and American by naming a Post Office in Lenoir after
James T. Broyhill. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 4534, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4534, 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 redesignate the
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 114 Ridge
Street, N.W. in Lenoir, North Carolina, as the `James T. Broyhill Post
Office Building' ''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________