[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3924-S3925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BAYH (for himself and Mr. Lugar):
  S. 774. A bill to designate the Federal building and United States 
courthouse located at 121 West Spring Street in New Albany, Indiana, as 
the ``Lee H. Hamilton Federal Building and United States Courthouse''; 
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, it is with great pride that I rise today to 
pay tribute to a good friend and a great man, former Congressman Lee 
Hamilton. I am honored to introduce legislation designating the Federal 
Building and United States Courthouse located at 121 W. Spring Street 
in New Albany, Indiana, as the ``Lee H. Hamilton Federal Building and 
U.S. Courthouse.''
  Lee Hamilton was born in Daytona Beach, FL, on April 20, 1931, and 
raised in Evansville, IN. He attended Evansville Central High school, 
where he excelled both in the classroom and on the basketball court. As 
a senior, he led his team to the final game of the Indiana state 
basketball tournament, and received the prestigious Tresler award for 
scholarship and athletics.
  After graduation, Congressman Hamilton attended Depauw University, 
and earned his bachelor's degree in 1952. He went on to study for one 
year in post-war Germany at Goethe University, before enrolling in law 
school at Indiana University, where he received his Doctor of 
Jurisprudence Degree in 1956.
  In 1964, Lee Hamilton was first elected to the U.S. House of 
Representatives, where he went on to serve with distinction for 34 
years. During his long tenure in office, he established himself as a 
leader in International Affairs, serving as the chairman of the House 
Foreign Relations committee, Intelligence Committee, and Iran-Contra 
committee. Mr. Hamilton was widely respected for his powerful intellect 
and impressive knowledge of foreign affairs, and remains unquestionably 
one of our nation's foremost experts on foreign policy.
  In addition to his record on foreign affairs, Mr. Hamilton also 
played an important role in reforming the institution of Congress 
itself. He cochaired the Joint Committee on the Organization of 
Congress where he worked to reform the institution by instituting the 
gift-ban, tightening lobbying restrictions, and applying the laws of 
the workplace to Congress.
  Even with all his success in Washington, however, Mr. Hamilton never 
forgot his Hoosier roots. He always remained down-to-earth and 
accessible to his Southern Indiana constituents. Over the years, he was 
presented with a number of opportunities to ascend to other offices, 
including the U.S. Senate, Secretary of State, and the Vice-Presidency 
of the United States. He chose instead to retain his House seat and 
fulfill his commitments to the people of Southern Indiana.
  Today, Congressman Hamilton remains active in foreign policy and 
congressional reform. He currently heads the Woodrow Wilson 
International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC, and serves as the 
director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University.

[[Page S3925]]

  Congressman Hamilton has received numerous public service awards 
including the Paul H. Nitze Award for Distinguished Authority on 
National Security Affairs, the Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished Public 
Service Award, the Phillip C. Habib Award for Distinguished Public 
Service, the Indiana Humanities Council Lifetime Achievement Award and 
the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress' Statesmanship 
Award. It is only fitting that we recognize Congressman Hamilton's many 
years of service to the people of Southern Indiana by naming the New 
Albany Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in his honor.
  It is my hope that the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse located 
at 121 W. Spring Street in New Albany will soon bear the name of my 
friend and fellow Hoosier, Congressman Lee Hamilton.
                                 ______