[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 161 (Tuesday, November 27, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H8377-H8378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
JAMES A. McCLURE FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
Senate Bill (S. 1459) to designate the Federal building and United
States courthouse located at 550 West Fort Street in Boise, Idaho, as
the ``James A. McClure Federal Building and United States Courthouse.''
The Clerk read as follows:
S. 1459
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF JAMES A. MCCLURE FEDERAL BUILDING
AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE.
The Federal building and United States courthouse located
at 550 West Fort Street in Boise, Idaho, shall be known and
designated as the ``James A. McClure Federal Building and
United States Courthouse''.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper,
or other record of the United States to the Federal building
and United States courthouse referred to in section 1 shall
be deemed to be a reference to the James A. McClure Federal
Building and United States Courthouse.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson) 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, S. 1459 designates the Federal building and United
States courthouse located at 550 West Fort Street in Boise, Idaho, as
the James A. McClure Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
I would like to commend my colleague the gentleman from Idaho (Mr.
Otter), a colleague on the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, for introducing H.R. 2972, which was the House
companion naming bill that we are considering today. With the hard work
and diligence of the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter), the committee
reported H.R. 2972. We are considering the Senate version today to
clear the way to get this piece of legislation to the President's desk
for his signature.
James A. McClure was born in Payette, Idaho, on December 27, 1924. He
attended public schools in Payette and went on to serve in the United
States Navy from 1942 to 1946. Following his tour with the Navy, he
earned his J.D. degree from the University of Idaho College of law in
1950 and was admitted to the Idaho bar that same year.
He commenced private practice in Payette before serving as
prosecuting attorney of Payette County in 1956. During that time, he
served as City Attorney from 1953 until 1966 and in the Idaho State
Senate from 1961 until 1966, as well as being a member of the Payette
County Central Committee for 15 years.
Senator McClure was elected to the United States House of
Representatives to serve in the 90th Congress. He served for three
succeeding terms until being elected to the United States Senate in
1972. Senator McClure served succeeding terms in the Senate until his
retirement in 1991.
While in the Senate, Senator McClure was Chairman of the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources from 1981 until 1987 and also the Chairman
of the Senate Republican Conference from 1981 until 1985.
This bill naming the Federal building and courthouse in Boise, Idaho,
honors a dedicated public servant. I urge my colleagues to support this
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 1459 is a bill to designate the Federal building and
United States courthouse located at 550 West Fort Street in Boise,
Idaho, as the James A. McClure Federal Building and United States
Courthouse.
{time} 1715
Jim McClure served the citizens of Idaho as both a United States
Representative and as a Senator. He was born in Payette, Idaho, in
1924. He attended public schools and the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1950 he
graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law.
He began his public service as the prosecuting attorney of Payette
from 1950 until 1956. For the next 13 years he served as the city
attorney for Payette and as a State senator from 1961 to 1966. In 1966
he was elected to the United States Congress and was reelected in 1968
and 1970. In 1972, McClure was elected to the U.S. Senate and served
three terms until 1990. His work in both the House and the Senate
reflected the interests of his constituents.
Senator McClure focused on the uses of public lands and other natural
resource issues. In fact, over 25 years ago, Senator McClure predicted
much of the energy questions and debates that we just had this past
summer. His focus on energy issues as Chairman of the Senate Energy
Committee from 1981 to 1987 helped to begin the debate on crafting a
national energy strategy. He was one of the first policymakers to focus
our attention on our growing demand for energy.
Senator McClure's integrity, intelligence, and fair mindedness led to
an appointment to the Senate Select Committee on the Iran-Contra
Affair. Senator McClure has had an active retirement. At the age of 77,
he is in phenomenal health. He serves on the boards of several
corporations. It is both fitting and proper to honor the outstanding
public service of our former colleague, Jim McClure, with this
designation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as
he might consume to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), the other
outstanding Representative from that State. Along with the gentleman
from Idaho (Mr. Otter), they provide able and wonderful service for the
citizens of Idaho.
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
LaTourette) for yielding the time. I will tell my colleagues that
Senator McClure has often told me of his admiration for Ohio, and if he
could not be from Idaho, he would be from Ohio.
[[Page H8378]]
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues
in the House of Representatives for honoring one of Idaho's finest
public servants, former Representative and U.S. Senator James A.
McClure, by renaming the Federal building and United States courthouse
in Boise after him. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Idaho
(Mr. Otter), from the First Congressional District, for working with me
and leading this effort to recognize Senator McClure, and Idaho
Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo for their efforts in the Senate.
Jim McClure served the people of Idaho in the United States Congress
for 24 years, including 6 years right here in this Chamber as a Member
of the House of Representatives. Before coming to Washington in 1967,
Senator McClure had a distinguished career in Idaho. He graduated from
the University of Idaho Law School in 1950 and was immediately hired as
the prosecuting attorney of Payette County, Idaho, where he worked for
6 years. In 1953 he became the city attorney for Payette and served in
that capacity until 1966.
In 1961, Senator McClure began his long and distinguished political
career by seeking and obtaining a seat in the Idaho State Senate where
he served until his election to this House of Representatives. In 1972,
after 6 years in the House of Representatives, he was elected to the
United States Senate where he served three terms and established
himself as one of Idaho's political giants.
Senator McClure came to Washington and immediately made a name for
himself as one of the foremost experts on the issues most important to
the people of Idaho. His experience and expertise in energy and natural
resource issues were unmatched in Idaho's history, and his leadership
was vital in the passage of many important legislative initiatives,
including the creation of Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area and
the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in my home State.
As a Member of Congress, Senator McClure was also known for his
steadfast advocacy of rural Idaho and the rugged individuals who built
and still inhabit the western United States. He fought to improve the
rural economy and ensure those who want to live in rural America will
always find opportunities in rural communities. He strove to enact
policies that balanced the public's interest in natural resource
protection and natural resource enjoyment and always understood that no
American should have to see their job eliminated and family uprooted
through ill conceived Federal forest, mining, or grazing policies. Like
most Idahoans, he staunchly believed in an individual's right to keep
and bear arms; and as a veterans of the United States Navy during World
War II, he was an ardent advocate of a strong military to protect our
Nation's most treasured possession: our freedom.
Today, Senator McClure remains an advocate of the issues that matter
most to many Idahoans. He continues to work with Congress and those of
us in the Idaho delegation on natural resource and energy issues, and
he serves as a trustee for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Senator McClure remains a trusted leader for Idaho and a true friend to
those of us who know him well.
Senator McClure would be the first to acknowledge that none of his
accomplishments would have been possible without the unwavering support
of his gracious and lovely wife, Louise. Mr. Speaker, I know of no one
who is more deserving of the recognition we approve today in the House
of Representatives. I will always be proud to have played a role in the
establishment of a James A. McClure Federal building and United States
courthouse and grateful to have known and worked with a man as
respected, trusted, and revered as Senator McClure.
Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the
remarks that have been stated earlier by my colleagues, especially the
chairman of the Subcommittee on Infrastructure, as well as my good
friend from Utah, and especially my friend and colleague from Idaho.
Those of us from the islands just want to share with my colleagues
that we do have a sense of real appreciation and a real sense of
gratitude for what this Senator has done for those of us who come from
the insular areas. I do want to also pay a very special tribute to the
Senator from Idaho, Senator McClure. Many of my colleagues may not
know, but his name is well known in the islands. For his tremendous
sense of compassion and sensitivity to the issues affecting the needs
of those of us who come from the insular areas, I want to pay special
homage and honor to Senator McClure for all that he has done.
Some of my colleagues may not be aware, but Senator McClure was also
one of the instrumental leaders that assisted greatly in the passage of
the Compact of Free Association which was very, very important,
especially for the security needs of our country.
I remember also the strong working association Senator McClure had
with the late Congressman Phil Burton and the efforts that they made to
help those of us who come from the insular areas of the United States.
I want to again thank our friends here for bringing this resolution to
the floor. I could not think of a better person to have the Federal
building named after than this great man, and I sincerely hope that
maybe my good friend from Idaho will come and visit us so we can let
him know that we have not forgotten this good man from Idaho, Senator
McClure, for all that he has done for the territories.
Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of our time
on this side.
This is a good and appropriate piece of legislation. I did want to
remark that I have had the pleasure of serving in this body now for 7
years, and I always marveled at how tough the legislators were from the
State of Idaho, and now I understand that when they have recreation
areas named Hell's Canyon and River of No Return, it must be a very
tough place to live, indeed.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whitfield). 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. 1459.
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.
General Leave
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on S. 1459 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 82, the measures
just considered by the House.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
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