[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 120 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H8559-H8561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               OWEN B. PICKETT UNITED STATES CUSTOMHOUSE

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5284) to designate the United States customhouse located at 
101 East Main Street in Norfolk, Virginia, as the ``Owen B. Pickett 
United States Customhouse''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5284

       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 customhouse located at 101 East Main 
     Street in Norfolk, Virginia, shall be known and designated as 
     the ``Owen B. Pickett United States Customhouse''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     customhouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Owen B. Pickett United States 
     Customhouse''.

     SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act shall take effect on January 3, 2001.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5284 designates the United States customhouse, in 
Norfolk, Virginia, as the Owen B. Pickett United States Customhouse.
  Congressman Pickett was born in Richmond, Virginia, and attended 
public schools. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech and the University of 
Richmond School of Law. In addition to being admitted to the Virginia 
and District of Columbia bar, he is also a certified public accountant.
  Congressman Pickett began his distinguished career in public service 
in 1972, when he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. While 
he was in the House of Delegates, Congressman Pickett served on 
numerous boards and committees within the local community.
  After 14 years in the House of Delegates, Congressman Pickett was 
elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1986. 
Representing Virginia's Second District, which consists of the Nation's 
largest military complex of facilities serving commands of the Navy, 
Army, Coast Guard and the NATO Atlantic Command, Congressman Pickett 
has been an ardent supporter of our Nation's military. Accordingly, he 
sits on the Committee on Armed Services and is the ranking member of 
the Subcommittee on Military Research and Development.
  Congressman Pickett is also a member of the Congressional Study Group 
on Germany, as well as the Congressional Study Groups on Japan and the 
Duma-Congress. He participated in the first Congress-Bundestag-Japanese 
Diet Trilateral seminar.
  Owen Pickett is retiring from his lengthy and productive career in 
this body at the conclusion of this 106th Congress. While we will be 
losing a valuable Member, this legislation is a fitting gesture of our 
appreciation of his fine service.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 5284 as a fitting tribute to Owen 
Pickett. His service to the citizens not only of the second district of 
Virginia, but also to the citizens of this Nation, is exemplary. We owe 
a debt of gratitude to Congressman Pickett for his diligence in 
pursuing military matters in particular.
  Since he was first elected to Congress in 1986, Owen Pickett has 
devoted himself to ensuring that the United States military is 
technologically ready and superior to any other military force. He 
supported veterans programs, and a strong U.S. flag merchant fleet.
  In addition to being a dedicated public servant, Owen Pickett is a 
lawyer and a certified public accountant. He is a devoted husband, 
father and grandfather to seven grandchildren. Mr. Pickett is known as 
tenacious, but also as a gentleman, a willing listener and a consensus 
builder.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill has broad bipartisan support, and every member 
of the Virginia delegation supports the bill. It is a most fitting to 
honor Mr. Pickett with this designation.
  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to speak in support of the 
bill H.R. 5284, to name the U.S. Customhouse in Norfolk, Virginia, 
after our colleague, Owen Pickett, who will be retiring at the end of 
this session.
  Mr. Speaker, the Members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation 
pride ourselves on our ability to work together for the common good of 
all who reside within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The fact that the 
Customhouse continues to serve its role in Hampton Roads is a perfect 
example of that, because while this building is physically located in 
the Third Congressional District, which I represent, Owen interceded in 
the effort to preserve this 141 year old structure, which has been 
symbolic of the history of Norfolk and all of Hampton Roads.
  The American flag was first raised over this building during the 
Civil War, and it has seen numerous renovations in its history.
  Norfolk was one of the first ports in the Nation to have a customs 
office, and the Customhouse in Norfolk remains the first Federal 
building constructed in Virginia for business operations. It has been 
designated as one of the 12 most outstanding buildings constructed in 
Virginia since the Revolutionary War, and it is listed on the National 
Register of Historic Places.
  Notwithstanding that history, when the new Federal Building in 
Norfolk was completed, employees of the Customs Service were moved out 
of the Customhouse and it was contemplated that the building would be 
turned into a restaurant or museum. But Owen Pickett demonstrated the 
leadership that makes things happen. He brought together the interested 
parties within the City of Norfolk, the General Services Administration 
and the U.S. Customs Service and secured the necessary funding for the 
renovation. On September 19 of this year, I was proud to participate, 
along with Owen, in a ceremony to reopen the newly refurbished 
Customhouse in Norfolk.
  Mr. Speaker, this is but one example of Owen's record of public 
service. For nearly 29 years, he has worked tirelessly for the 
residents of his district and the Nation. He served 15 years in the 
Virginia General Assembly, and almost 14 years now he has represented 
the Second Congressional District of Virginia in the House of 
Representatives.
  Prior to our service in Congress, Owen Pickett and I both served in 
the Virginia House of Delegates, where he was known as a conscientious 
and dedicated public servant. This reputation has continued with his 
service in Congress.
  Representative Pickett serves on the Committee on Armed Services. He 
is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Military Research and 
Development, and he serves on the Subcommittee on Readiness. Throughout 
his career he has been a staunch advocate of our military and has 
championed the quality of life issues affecting military families. The 
Hampton Roads community has a significant military presence, including 
Oceana Naval Air Station and the Norfolk Naval Base, and I know our 
military community will miss Owen and his steadfast advocacy on their 
behalf.
  In addition to ensuring that our country is prepared to overcome any

[[Page H8560]]

threats to our national security, Owen has been on the front line of 
protecting our Nation's environment. As a member of the Committee on 
Resources, he has fought hard to remind his colleagues in Congress of 
the importance of a balanced approach to the protection of our natural 
resources and the environment.
  As we head into the final weeks of this legislative session, 
Congressman Pickett will no doubt continue to demonstrate his 
leadership in the House. By passing the bill, H.R. 5284, the Owen B. 
Pickett U.S. Customhouse will serve as a lasting reminder of his 
leadership and his dedication to the Second District of Virginia and to 
our Nation.

                              {time}  2000

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. SCOTT. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. I thank my friend for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to add to the gentleman's comments. I could not 
agree more with everything that the gentleman from Virginia said. I 
have had the pleasure of serving as the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Military Research and Development and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Pickett) is the ranking member. There is probably no finer gentleman in 
this Congress in either party someone who is dedicated, hard-working, 
conscientious and someone who I have the highest respect for.
  Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to add my comments to that of the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) and will associate everything that 
he said about the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Pickett), applaud him 
for his positive note of the leadership of the gentleman from Virginia 
(Mr. Pickett), and hope that our colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
will join in supporting the legislation the gentleman referred to.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5284, designating 
the Owen B. Pickett U.S. Customhouse.
  I want to commend the House for considering this legislation today 
because our colleague who is retiring shortly is indeed worthy of such 
an honor. I have worked with Owen for the entire time I have served in 
the U.S. House of Representatives and he is a man who epitomizes the 
sort of public servant whose service is dedicated to his community.
  I have traveled all over the world with Owen in the pursuit of 
understanding the evolving needs of our uniformed military service 
members. You learn much about your colleagues when you travel together.
  In Washington, Owen is a hard-working member of the House Armed 
Services Committee and the Resources Committee. When you see him on the 
House floor, you might never know that this easy-going guy is wild at 
heart. He is a Harley-rider. He is also a surfer. None of these 
pastimes seemed even remotely consistent with the things I knew about 
Owen from our work together in the House.
  Also, for the last Congress, Owen has been my across-the-hall 
neighbor in the Rayburn building. He is a generous host for me when I 
seek a change of scenery and we visit in his office until we get 
interrupted.
  Designating a customhouse for Owen Pickett is a fitting tribute for a 
man who understands the importance of international trade to the 
economic development and well-being of his Tidewater constituents in 
Virginia.
  If there is one thing that I would want to make sure everyone knows 
about Owen, it is this: he is a tireless advocate for the constituents 
in his congressional district and for the men and women who serve the 
United States in our military's uniform.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the House for considering this legislation, 
and I urge its passage.
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today 
to honor our colleague, Owen Pickett of Virginia's 2nd Congressional 
District. After 29 years of serving the citizens of Virginia Beach and 
Norfolk, as well as the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, Mr. Pickett 
has decided to retire from the United States House of Representatives.
  My colleague, Mr. Pickett, is a member of the Armed Services 
Committee and is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military 
Research and Development and serves on the Readiness Subcommittee and 
the MWR Panel. The 2nd Congressional District is heavily dependent on 
the massive concentration of naval installations, shipbuilders and 
shipping firms in the Hampton Roads harbor area, which ranks first in 
export tonnage among the nation's Atlantic ports.
  The United States Navy Atlantic Fleet berthed in its home port of 
Norfolk is one of the greatest awe-inspiring sights in America, or 
anywhere. The aggregation of destructive power in the line of towering 
gray ships is probably greater than that of any single port in history. 
Over 100 ships are based here, with some 100,000 sailors and Marines, 
some $2 billion in annual spending. For these reasons, Congressman 
Pickett has been an outspoken advocate for a strong, technologically 
superior military and has been tenacious in supporting military bases 
in his district. Mr. Pickett, together with Senator John Warner and the 
late Congressman Herbert H. Bateman, have provided tremendous 
leadership on behalf of Virginia. Other issues on which he has taken a 
strong position are the U.S.-flag merchant fleet, private property 
rights, public education, veterans programs and a balanced Federal 
budget.
  Mr. Pickett was born in Hanover County, Virginia, outside Richmond on 
August 31, 1930 and was the youngest of three children. He attended the 
public school system and is a graduate of Virginia Tech and the 
University of Richmond School of Law. He was first elected to the 
United States Congress in 1986. With old Virginia roots, he was elected 
to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1971, at the age of 41, where he 
was known as a fiscal conservative and for his hard work restructuring 
the state retirement system.
  By the time Mr. Pickett won the Congressional seat vacated by 
retiring Republican G. William Whitehurst in 1986, Mr. Pickett had 
already served as chairman of the state Democratic Party, headed a 
Democratic presidential campaign in Virginia and served long enough in 
the state House of Delegates to be a senior member of the 
Appropriations Committee.
  In the House, Mr. Pickett showed his political acumen by getting a 
new seat created for him on the National Security Committee and getting 
a seat on the old Merchant Marine Committee as well--two crucial spots 
for any Norfolk congressman. Much of Mr. Pickett's work has been in 
supporting Hampton Roads military bases and defense contractors, and 
revitalizing the shipbuilding industry and merchant marine. That work 
has been successful. Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock has been 
building three Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the 1990s, and has 
effectively ensured that there is no industry monopoly on building 
nuclear submarines. The Norfolk Navy Shipyard under Mr. Pickett's 
guidance has survived four rounds of base-closings and calls for 
privatization.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with my fellow Virginian colleagues in thanking 
Congressman Owen Pickett for his service to the Commonwealth and to our 
nation.
  Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation 
naming a U.S. customhouse in Norfolk in honor of my good friend and 
colleague Owen Pickett.
  During his 14 years in Congress, Owen has been an outspoken advocate 
of a strong military and his commitment to military personnel and their 
families will leave a lasting mark on this nation for years to come.
  His expertise on these matters will always be remembered by a 
grateful nation.
  Along with his commitment to military readiness, Owen has been an 
avid proponent for veterans, better public schools and a balanced 
federal budget.
  He has been a tireless advocate in supporting Hampton Roads military 
bases and revitalizing the shipbuilding industry and merchant marine.
  Upon his retirement, this nation and this Congress will lose a 
conscientious and very able legislator.
  I would like to thank Mr. Scott for introducing this fitting tribute 
to a true gentleman and friend.
  I wish Owen all the best in his retirement.
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
5284, which would name the United States Customhouse in Norfolk, 
Virginia, after our retiring colleague and friend, Owen Pickett. I want 
to commend Mr. Scott for introducing this bill and working with both 
sides to bring it to the floor today.
  Let me just say at the outset how appropriate it is that this 
particular federal building should bear the name of Owen Pickett. As 
the other speakers have said, Owen was extremely instrumental in 
securing the needed funding for the renovation of the Customhouse.
  He worked hard, as he always does, to bring together the General 
Services Administration (GSA), the Customs Service and other interested 
parties to work out the details of this project. It is in large part 
because of his hard work that the renovation of this historic building 
was completed earlier this year. Owen's work on the project constitutes 
a victory for historic preservation in Virginia.
  Beyond this particular project, I want to say what an honor it has 
been to serve with Owen Pickett during the past ten years. Mr. Pickett 
is a true gentleman. Throughout his service, Owen has worked tirelessly 
and effectively not only for people not only in southern Virginia, but 
for our entire Nation. He has championed

[[Page H8561]]

the interests of our Nation's military, and the men and women who wear 
the uniform of the United States. He has been a particularly strong 
advocate for the Navy and for our commercial maritime interests.
  Owen is also uncompromising in his insistence that government be 
fiscally disciplined, a trait which he probably acquired during his 
long service in the Virginia House of Delegates. The fact that he is 
retiring at a time of record surpluses is somehow fitting. It certainly 
wasn't that way when he came to the House in 1987.
  Mr. Speaker, all of us in the House will certainly miss the service 
and dedication of Owen Pickett. I commend the leadership for bringing 
this bill to the floor in such an expeditious manner.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5284.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________