[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 103 (Monday, July 23, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H4401-H4402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    JAMES C. CORMAN FEDERAL BUILDING

  Mr. COOKSEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 468) to designate the Federal building located at 6230 
Van Nuys Boulevard in Van Nuys, California, as the ``James C. Corman 
Federal Building.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 468

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF JAMES C. CORMAN FEDERAL BUILDING.

       The Federal building located at 6230 Van Nuys Boulevard in 
     Van Nuys, California, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``James C. Corman Federal Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the Federal building 
     referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the ``James C. Corman Federal Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Cooksey) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cooksey).
  Mr. COOKSEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, S. 468 designates the Federal building in Van Nuys, 
California, as the James C. Corman Federal Building. The House passed 
H.R. 621, the House version of the bill, on February 28, earlier this 
year.
  Congressman Corman was born in Galena, Kansas, and was a graduate of 
Belmont High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA, his 
JD from USC, and his LL.D from the University of San Fernando Valley 
School of Law. He was admitted to the California bar in 1949.
  Congressman Corman first served his country in the United States 
Marine Corps during World War II and later as a colonel in the Marine 
Corps Reserves. In 1957, Congressman Corman was elected to the Los 
Angeles City Council. He served on the Council until being elected to 
the 87th Congress in 1960 and was reelected to the House of 
Representatives for 10 succeeding terms.
  He served on the Committee on the Judiciary, where he was 
instrumental in fighting for passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and 
on the Committee on Ways and Means, where he was the leading advocate 
for the poor and disadvantaged working on tax and welfare reform. 
Congressman Corman was also proud to serve on President Johnson's 
National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders to investigate the 
causes of multi-city rioting in 1967.
  As many of my colleagues are aware, former Congressman Corman passed 
away at the age of 80 in January. I support this bill and encourage my 
colleagues to support it as well.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this Senate bill 468, a 
bill to designate the Federal building located at 6230 Van Nuys 
Boulevard in Van Nuys, California, as the James C. Corman Federal 
Building. In February, 2001, the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman) 
introduced similar legislation, H.R. 621, in the House.
  Congressman Jim Corman represented the 21st Congressional District in 
California for 20 years, from 1961 until 1981, years which saw the 
Vietnam War, urban riots, Watergate, and the first manned flight to the 
moon.
  Jim Corman was born on October 20, 1920, in Galena, Kansas, and in 
1933, after his father died, he and his mother moved to the Los Angeles 
area. During World War II, Mr. Corman served in the Marines. After the 
war, he worked his way through UCLA and the University of Southern 
California law school.
  He began his public career in 1957, when he was elected to serve in 
the Los Angeles City Council, and in 1961, he was elected to Congress 
and was named to the Committee on the Judiciary. In addition, he served 
on the House Committee on Ways and Means.
  President Johnson named Congressman Corman as one of the 10 people 
named by the President to the National Advisory Commission on Civil 
Disorders. It was informally known as the Kerner Commission. During his 
tenure on the commission, he was optimistic about finding the causes 
and developing solutions for racism in America.
  In 1978, he became President Johnson's point man for welfare reform.

[[Page H4402]]

 Having suffered the indignities and trappings of poverty as he was 
growing up, Mr. Corman displayed a particular energy and devotion to 
solving welfare problems. During his 20 years of service, his concern 
for senior citizens and the poorest members of our society became his 
trademark and part of his legacy.
  Jim Corman saw the fruition of his efforts in the enactment of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964, which he considered the greatest 
accomplishment of his political career.
  Jim was well-liked. He was a hard worker and a first-rate legislator. 
It is fitting and proper to honor Congressman James Corman with this 
designation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COOKSEY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 468, 
designating the James C. Corman Federal Building.
  Jim Corman was a true statesman who served his constituents in 
California, and indeed, the people of the United States, with great 
distinction. Jim cared passionately for the poor and worked to see that 
their interests were heard in Washington. He was one of the great 
leaders in the Congress seeking health insurance for all and he worked 
hard to enact a decent, humane social policy for the disadvantaged.
  Jim rejected the voices in Congress who seek to help those already 
blessed with wealth while neglecting those who cannot put food on their 
tables. ``I don't think there is anything uplifting about hunger,'' he 
once said. Jim was a tireless advocate for the uninsured and he passed 
on his sense of passion to his colleagues, including me. When I was 
first assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee, Jim taught me 
``how things were done.'' I am grateful to have served with Jim Corman 
and I know his constituents were grateful for his service.
  Naming this federal building after Jim Corman is a proper tribute to 
a man who dedicated his life to public service. Jim will be best 
remembered, however, for his tireless work on behalf of those who are 
less fortunate.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. COOKSEY. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 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 Louisiana (Mr. Cooksey) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 468.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. COOKSEY. 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.

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