[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 7, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2117-H2120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              ALFONSE M. D'AMATO UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4006) to designate the United States courthouse located at 
100 Federal Plaza in Central Islip, New York, as the ``Alfonse M. 
D'Amato United States Courthouse.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4006

       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 courthouse located at 100 Federal Plaza 
     in Central Islip, New York, shall be known and designated as 
     the ``Alfonse M. D'Amato United States Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Alfonse M. D'Amato United States 
     Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) and the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4006 designates the United States courthouse 
located at 100 Federal Plaza in Central Islip, New York, as the Alfonse 
M. D'Amato United States Courthouse.
  Al D'Amato was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 1, 1937 and he 
has retained those New York roots ever since. A graduate of Chaminade 
High School on Long Island, Senator D'Amato worked his way through 
Syracuse University, earning an undergraduate degree in business 
administration in 1959 and a law degree in 1962. Also, in 1962, Senator 
D'Amato was admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York.
  Throughout his adult life, Senator D'Amato has dedicated himself to 
public service. He served as Administrator of Nassau County, New York 
from 1965 until 1968; Tax Assessor for Hempstead, New York in 1969; 
Town Supervisor of Hempstead, New York from 1971 until 1977; and as 
Chairman of the Nassau County Board of Supervisors from 1977 until his 
election to the United States Senate in 1980.
  During his 18-year tenure in the United States Senate, Al D'Amato 
supported middle class tax cuts, small business loans, increased trade, 
and free and open markets for U.S. products abroad. As chairman of the 
Senate Banking and Housing Committee, Senator D'Amato was a leading 
advocate of legislation that would channel private sector funds into 
inner cities and other economically distressed areas. The Senator also 
realized the importance of investing America's assets by supporting 
sound transportation policy and the creation of infrastructure not only 
for New York, but also for the Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, this naming is a fitting tribute to a dedicated public 
servant. I support this legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to 
do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4006 is a bill to designate the new Federal 
courthouse in Central Islip, New York in honor of former Senator 
Alfonse D'Amato. Alfonse D'Amato was born in Brooklyn, New York in 
1937. He graduated from Syracuse University and Syracuse Law School in 
1961 and 1962 and was admitted to the New York Bar. From 1965 to 1968, 
he served the public as the Public Administrator in Nassau County. His 
public service also included positions as Town Supervisor, Tax 
Assessor, and the Nassau County Board of Supervisors. In 1980, he was 
elected to the United States Senate and served until 1998.
  While in the Senate, Senator D'Amato was a tireless advocate for New 
York and the State's vital interests. He championed inner city economic 
redevelopment, transit funding, and small business programs. As a 
member of the Senate Finance Committee, he worked on tax relief 
initiatives for working and middle class families. He also championed 
the fight to restore assets from Swiss banks to holocaust survivors and 
victim heirs.
  It is fitting and proper to honor this public servant with this 
designation.

[[Page H2118]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. King).
  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  I am proud to stand here today as the sponsor of this legislation to 
name the Federal courthouse in Suffolk County, New York in honor of 
Alfonse D'Amato.
  The gentleman from Arkansas and the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia have detailed the specific accomplishments of Senator D'Amato 
from his days in Nassau County, in the town of Hempstead, to his 3 
terms in the United States Senate culminating, of course, in his 
service as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. But Senator 
D'Amato was much more than that. Senator D'Amato was the quintessential 
New Yorker.
  I had the privilege of knowing Al D'Amato and still knowing him for 
more than 30 years. During that time I also had the privilege of 
serving with him on the Hempstead Town Board when I was a Hempstead 
Councilman and he was the presiding Supervisor, and then during my 
first 6 years in the United States Congress that overlapped with 
Senator D'Amato's time in the United States Senate.
  I never knew a tougher advocate for the people of New York. I never 
knew a person who was more loyal to his friends. I never knew a man who 
was more willing to stand up and do what was right than Senator 
D'Amato.
  I think what was very interesting to me when I was going around 
trying to get cosponsors for this bill, it was probably the easiest job 
I ever had, not just Republicans, but from Democrats as well. We have 
30 Members of the New York delegation that have signed on to this bill. 
The reason for that is that they know that whether one is Republican or 
Democrat, Senator D'Amato would fight for you and your behalf if what 
you were doing was right and if your constituents needed it. That to me 
is the real measure of the man, a man who is willing to cross party 
lines and do whatever has to be done to get the job done.
  It is interesting, for instance, that some of Senator D'Amato's 
closest friends and allies were members of the Democratic Party. Mayor 
Ed Koch of New York is a close personal friend and colleague of Senator 
D'Amato. Senator Pat Moynihan, who was Senator D'Amato's colleague in 
the Senate, is also a very close friend and a colleague and an advocate 
for Senator D'Amato.
  But the reality is that Senator D'Amato also had enemies, and you 
never know when those enemies are going to come out from the woodwork 
or out from under their rocks, but the reality is that they could never 
face up to the fact that Senator D'Amato did not fit their image of 
what a United States Senator should be. Senator D'Amato was a tough kid 
from the neighborhood who fought his way up, who was not willing to 
defer to his elders if that meant sacrificing the good for the common 
man. He fought hard for what he believed in and, in doing that, he 
broke some china, he crashed some furniture, but the bottom line was he 
got the job done.
  To me it is interesting to see how Senator D'Amato's enemies react 
against him when I see the way he reacted against his political 
opponents. For instance, when Senator D'Amato lost his election to 
Senator Schumer in 1998, I was actually with Senator D'Amato the night 
he lost. I can tell my colleagues that from that night until today, 
Senator D'Amato has had nothing but the highest praise for Senator 
Schumer. He never complained about the campaign, he never begrudged 
Senator Schumer his victory, and he works with Senator Schumer and 
Senator Clinton today doing what he can to help them do their job, to 
serve the people of New York.
  That really was to me the essence of Senator D'Amato, fighting for 
New York, putting partisanship aside, and doing what was right.
  I guess the best way to describe it is that like Frank Sinatra, Al 
D'Amato did it his way. It was not always the way that appealed to the 
elite or it was not always the way that appealed to the intelligentsia, 
but it was the way that it appealed to real people, real people who 
knew what he stood for, knew he stood for them, and knew that he 
always, always put the people of the State of New York first.
  So I am privileged to stand here today as an advocate for Senator 
D'Amato as he was an advocate for so many millions of millions of 
people during his years in public life.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this resolution.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to yield such time as 
he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce).
  (Mr. LaFALCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4006, a bill to 
designate the courthouse in Central Islip, New York as the Alfonse M. 
D'Amato United States Courthouse.
  As a New Yorker, a former colleague, and a good friend of Al 
D'Amato's, I am very proud to be a cosponsor of this bipartisan bill 
and to join with the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) and with so 
many of my colleagues in the New York delegation in honoring him for 
his many contributions to both our State and our Nation.
  It is a fitting tribute to Al D'Amato to name a courthouse in his 
native Long Island after him. Senator D'Amato was known as a fighter 
for the great State of New York. Some called him ``Battling Al''; 
others called him ``Senator Pothole.'' Al D'Amato always wore such 
monikers proudly, as badges of honor, and he deserved them, in the best 
sense in which they were meant. His top priority was always to bring to 
New York the public services and funding it needed, and no one was more 
effective.
  Throughout his career in public service, Al D'Amato fought for 
economic and social justice, to help the little guy, the underdog, and 
to fight for unpopular causes, often against long odds and powerful 
forces, and sometimes within his own party.
  For example, he was an early proponent of Federal funding of breast 
cancer research. As Senator Pothole, he was relentless in assuring that 
New York received a fair share of the Federal dollar for New York's 
vast housing transportation and community development needs. As a 
longtime member of the Helsinki Commission, he fought against religious 
persecution, here and abroad. He was outspoken against discrimination 
based on sexual orientation in the military. These positions were not 
always popular, but Al D'Amato was not one to run away from a fight. To 
the contrary, he was one who ran head-first into fights. The Alfonse 
D'Amato United States Courthouse will serve as a testimonial to his 
commitment and a tribute to his remarkable record of accomplishments.
  He was also a New Yorker in every respect. He shared not only with 
me, but with so many New Yorkers across the State, values and views 
that transcended political parties, that transcended religious or 
ethnic origins. His identification with and enthusiasm for worthy 
causes and his penchant for representing the little guy and the 
underdog, the taxpayer, the aging and infirm holocaust survivor, the 
consumer, the elderly enabled him to get elected and reelected 
statewide as a Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic State.
  I know firsthand about Al D'Amato's energetic style and his pragmatic 
approach to solving public sector problems in a political arena. 
Because of my own long tenure on the House Committee on Financial 
Services, and formerly the Committee on Banking and Financial Services, 
I was privileged to work very closely with him, especially from the 
time of his appointment to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and 
Urban Affairs where he eventually rose to become ranking member in 1993 
and then chairman in 1994, until his term ended in 1998. So I can speak 
with personal experience of his accomplishments, and with great pride 
in the fact that in so many of these worthy causes, we fought side by 
side.

                              {time}  1445

  Let me select just a few causes and accomplishments from his long and 
successful career to demonstrate why Senator D'Amato deserves the honor 
that will be bestowed upon him with the enactment of this bill:

[[Page H2119]]

  Counterterrorism. As chairman of the Committee on Security and 
Cooperation in Europe, Senator D'Amato authored the Libya Sanctions 
Act, to combat efforts by renegade nations to finance international 
terrorism through oil field development.
  Consumer protection. Throughout his tenure, Al D'Amato worked 
diligently to protect consumers. He deserves particular credit for his 
efforts in passing the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 
1993, which is the foundation of our ongoing effort to curtail and 
outlaw predatory lending practices. In addition, he used his 
chairmanship in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to stop banks from 
charging consumers for use of automated teller machines. But his 
resolve certainly caused banks to restrain the high fees and charges 
that had become all too prevalent in the marketplace.
  Of course, he was the principal force in the Senate behind passage of 
a law to allow consumers to cancel unnecessary and costly private 
mortgage insurance.
  Holocaust survivors. As chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Al 
courageously led the fight to restore to Holocaust survivors and their 
heirs the assets they deposited in Swiss banks prior to World War II, 
eventually resulting in the payment of over $1 billion in restitution 
to survivors' groups.
  Solvency of Federal deposit insurance funds. As Committee on Banking 
and Financial Services chairman, Al spearheaded the successful effort 
in 1995 to stabilize the Federal deposit insurance funds, the BIF and 
the SAIF, at no cost to the Federal taxpayer, in the final chapter of 
the huge savings and loan scandal. I was proud to have worked with him 
in the House on this important effort.
  Financial modernization. From his very first years in the Senate, 
Senator D'Amato was interested in modernizing the laws governing the 
various financial industries, from banks to credit unions. He was an 
early advocate for interstate banking, and for his entire career fought 
for the repeal of older laws which impeded competition and innovation 
by financial service providers.
  He worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and soundness of all 
financial intermediaries, and to protect the Federal taxpayer against a 
repeat of the savings and loan bailout of the late 1980s, which cost 
taxpayers over $100 billion.
  Mr. Speaker, during his service to New York and to the United States, 
Senator D'Amato was an important and influential figure. His 
achievements can justly be said to reach around the globe, to extend 
from past generations to reach well into the future.
  While he has now left public service, his indelible imprint will be 
felt for some time. By placing his name on this important courthouse, a 
uniquely American symbol of justice and fairness, the House tonight can 
acknowledge the significant and important contributions Senator D'Amato 
has made to our State and our country.
  I urge the passage of H.R. 4006.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. McCarthy).
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation that 
recognizes the years of public service by former New York Senator Al 
D'Amato.
  As a freshman in Congress, I looked to many of my colleagues for 
advice and guidance when it came to legislating. Senator D'Amato was an 
invaluable source of knowledge that I relied upon whenever a question 
or concern arose, by the way, which was quite often in my first 2 
years.
  Senator D'Amato was able to work with Democrats and Republicans 
alike, which allowed him to pass legislation beneficial not only to New 
York, but to the country as a whole.
  One of the things about Senator D'Amato, he did work with both sides 
of the aisle to get something done. I think that is important. We 
sometimes lose that here. I experienced this firsthand when we worked 
together on legislation addressing the alarming number of breast cancer 
cases on Long Island. I was amazed over his ability to obtain so much 
attention and exposure to a problem that impacts thousands of women 
across the country. His support for a particular cause went beyond a 
one-time press conference or a photo opportunity; it was genuine.
  In a town where one is known for one's word, we always knew where we 
stood with Senator D'Amato. His vigorous support for legislation was 
equaled only to his rigorous opposition, which was always expressed in 
a proud New York fashion.
  Although Senator D'Amato no longer walks the halls of the Senate, he 
continues to draw attention to problems confronting this country. 
Renaming a courthouse in his honor is a fitting tribute to someone who 
served New York as a public servant in the United States Congress for 
18 years. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Again, I will stress, Senator Al D'Amato was a man of his word. I 
think that is important. When one gives one's word and stays with it, I 
think that is truly a real tribute to someone.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I did not know this resolution or this bill was on the 
floor, but the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) mentioned the 
Helsinki Commission. I had the opportunity to co-chair the Helsinki 
Commission. I chaired the House side while Senator D'Amato chaired the 
Senate side of the Helsinki Commission for a number of years.
  I rise simply to observe that Al D'Amato was, of course, a vigorous 
partisan and proponent of his party, but at the same time, he was a 
supporter of making sure that we did the business in the Senate and the 
House in a way that did credit to America and to its principles.
  I say that because he was the Chair of the Helsinki Commission when 
the Senate was taken over by the Republicans in the 1980s; 
specifically, in 1985 and 1986. There was a real effort, frankly, to 
change a nonpartisan professional staff to a staff that reflected party 
affiliation more than professional ability.
  Senator D'Amato, as I said, was chair of the Commission. Because it 
goes between the House and Senate, it was the Senate's opportunity. 
Senator D'Amato, I know, received many suggestions about changes in 
staff. The staff to this day remains a professional staff, unrelated to 
partisan politics, serving not only this country's interests but the 
interests of so many citizens around the world who look to the Helsinki 
Commission to raise issues of human rights and political rights. For 
that alone, I would have great respect for Senator D'Amato.
  I wanted to make that observation, that he saved, frankly, the 
Helsinki Commission's professional staff from being politicized at a 
time when that could very well have happened.
  I am pleased to rise in support of the legislation, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4006, 
which designates the new federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York 
in honor of former New York Senator Alfonse D'Amato. Senator D'Amato's 
career in public service spanned nearly three decades, starting in 1965 
with his service as administrator of Nassau County, New York. In 1980, 
he was elected to the first of three terms in the United States Senate. 
While in the Senate, Mr. D'Amato served as Chairman of the Senate 
Banking Committee and was a senior member of the Senate Finance 
Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee.
  A life-long New Yorker, Mr. D'Amato was born in Brooklyn, New York in 
1937, and attended New York public schools on Long Island. He graduated 
from Chaminade High School before working his way through Syracuse 
University. He attended Syracuse Law School and was admitted to the bar 
in 1962.
  I first came to know Alphonse D'Amato in 1989 when we were both 
appointed to serve on the Presidential Commission on Aviation Security 
and Terrorism, commonly known as the Pan Am 103 Commission. Senator 
D'Amato was a strong advocate for rigorous aviation security laws and 
we worked hard on the Commission to ensure that we investigated the 
cause of not only the Pan Am tragedy, but of other aviation incidents 
as well. We made recommendations to significantly toughen our aviation 
security policies and when it came time to pass legislation to 
implement our

[[Page H2120]]

commission's recommendations, Mr. D'Amato took a leading role in the 
United States Senate.
  Senator D'Amato was also a tireless advocate for transit issues, 
specifically, for ensuring that the people of New York had access to a 
safe and effective public transportation system. We worked very closely 
together to ensure that transit received its fair share in the 
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (``TEA 21''). As a 
result, transit funding has grown from $4.3 billion in fiscal year 1997 
to an expected $7.2 billion this year--a 67 percent increase!
  Senator D'Amato was a vocal advocate for inner cities, particularly 
economically distressed and underserved areas. He was also a forceful 
advocate for human rights and an unwavering supporter of Israel.
  I am pleased that we are honoring Senator D'Amato with this 
designation of the new, state-of-the-art, federal courthouse in New 
York. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4006.
  Ms. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4006, a 
bill to name the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York, as the 
``Alfonse M. D'Amato United States Courthouse.''
  For 18 years, Alfonse D'Amato represented the State of New York with 
strength, determination, and caring. As Chairman of the Banking 
Committee, he led the fight in the Senate to make it easier for 
consumers to cancel unneeded, expensive mortgage insurance. He also 
fought to help Holocaust survivors and victims recovery assets.
  His esteemed nickname, ``Senator Pothole,'' was indicative of his 
willingness to fix New York's problems--small and large, even the 
literal potholes we New Yorkers have become accustomed to. He 
recognized the need to invest in our nation's transportation 
infrastructure.
  Although the former Senator and I did not agree on many issues, I 
applaud and admire his dedication to the great people of New York.
  The Alfonse D'Amato Courthouse would be a lasting tribute to a man 
whose public service lives on in New York.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4006.
  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.

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