[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 7, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2120-H2122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PAUL SIMON CHICAGO JOB CORPS CENTER

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 378) to redesignate the Federal building located at 
3348 South Kedzie Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois, as the ``Paul Simon 
Chicago Job Corps Center.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 378

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF PAUL SIMON CHICAGO JOB CORPS 
                   CENTER.

       (a) In General.--The Federal building located at 3348 South 
     Kedzie Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois, and known as the 
     ``Chicago Job Corps Center'' shall be known and designated as 
     the ``Paul Simon Chicago Job Corps Center''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     Federal building referred to in subsection (a) shall be 
     deemed to be a reference to the ``Paul Simon Chicago Job 
     Corps Center''.

  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, S. 378 designates the Federal building in Chicago, 
Illinois, as the Paul Simon Chicago Job Corps Center.
  Senator Paul Simon was born in Eugene, Oregon, on November 29, 1928, 
and attended public schools. He went on to attend the University of 
Oregon, and Dana College in Blair, Nebraska.
  At the age of 19, Senator Simon became the Nation's youngest editor-
publisher by saving the Troy Tribune in Troy, Illinois. He expanded his 
newspaper business to a chain of 14 weeklies in central and southern 
Illinois. Senator Simon used the newspaper to expose a syndicate 
gambling operation in Madison County, and in 1951, at the age of 22, he 
was called to testify before the United States Senate Crime 
Investigating Committee.
  In 1966, he sold his newspaper business to devote full time to 
writing and public service. Senator Simon served in the United States 
Army, and was assigned to the Counterterrorism Corps as a special agent 
along the Iron Curtain in Europe.
  Upon his return from Europe at the age of 25, he was elected to the 
Illinois House of Representatives. He was reelected three times before 
being elected to the State Senate in 1962 for a 4-year term. Voters 
returned him to the State Senate in 1966. Halfway through his second 
Senate State term, he was elected lieutenant governor, and served until 
1973. He was the first lieutenant governor to be elected to that post 
with the governor of another party.
  Senator Simon was elected to the United States House of 
Representatives in 1974, and served for 10 years before being elected 
to the United States Senate in 1984. While in Congress, Senator Simon 
was a leading advocate for education, disability policy, and foreign 
affairs.
  He was the chief sponsor of the Missing Children Act, which 
established the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
  Senator Simon also played a vital role by enacting job training 
education programs, including the National Literacy Act, the School-to-
Work Opportunities Act, the Job Training Partnership Act, and the 
Direct College Loan Program. He was also the chief sponsor of the 
Balanced Budget Amendment of 1986, and initiated legislation to 
designate the first 5 federally-chartered high-speed rail corridors.
  Senator Simon holds 39 honorary degrees and has written 15 books. It 
is appropriate that the Job Corps Center in Chicago be designated on 
behalf of Paul Simon. He was a dedicated public servant who cared 
greatly about advancing job-training opportunities for everyone. I 
support this bill, and ask my colleagues to support it, as well.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly support the Senate bill, S. 378, a bill to 
designate the Job Corps center located at 334 South Kedzie Avenue in 
Chicago as the Paul Simon Chicago Job Corps Center.
  The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello), the ranking member of the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic 
Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, introduced the 
House companion bill, H.R. 2015, to honor the distinguished Senator 
from Illinois, Senator Paul Simon.
  He was born in 1928 in Eugene, Oregon. He attended the University of 
Oregon and Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. As a 19-year-old teenager, 
he became the Nation's youngest editor-publisher when he accepted a 
local Lions Club challenge to save the Troy Tribune in Troy, Illinois. 
Needless to say, he met and exceeded the challenge, and proceeded to 
establish a chain of 13 newspapers in southern and central Illinois.
  In 1954, he was elected to the Illinois House, and in 1962, he was 
elected to the Illinois Senate. During his State legislative career, he 
earned a reputation for political integrity and courage. In 1968, 
Senator Simon was elected lieutenant governor, and was the first person 
in State history to hold that post with the governor of another party.
  In 1974, Senator Simon was elected to the House of Representatives, 
and served for 10 years. His legislative skills were put to use on 
issue areas including education, disability policy, and foreign 
affairs. He played a crucial role in establishing the National Center 
for Missing and Exploited Children.
  In 1984, he upset the three-term incumbent, Senator Charles Percy, to 
win election to the U.S. Senate. Senator Simon was a prodigious worker, 
known for exceptional constituent service. His even-handed and balanced

[[Page H2121]]

approach to topics and controversial issues earned him friends on both 
sides of the aisle. His colleagues appreciated his personal warmth and 
sense of humor.
  Paul Simon currently teaches political science and journalism at 
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale campus, and heads up the 
public policy institute that he founded.
  Those of us who know Paul and his many talents are particularly 
delighted at this very fitting honor. It is just that, a fitting and 
proper tribute to an outstanding public career. I support S. 378, and 
urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation, named for 
Senator Paul Simon.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
  Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
time.
  Madam Speaker, I guess one aspect of serving for over 2 decades in 
the House you get to know some extraordinary people, some extraordinary 
people who have been sent here from around the United States to 
represent them in the House and in the Senate. Paul Simon is one of the 
most decent people with whom I have served either in the 12 years I was 
in the Maryland Senate or the 21 years I have been here. Paul Simon and 
his wife, Jean, who passed away some years ago, were two people who 
loved this country, who loved Illinois, and who loved this House. I am 
sure they loved the Senate as well. But Paul Simon was someone who 
brought great credit to democracy in his honesty, his integrity, and as 
the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) has pointed 
out, his hard work on behalf of his constituents.
  Americans were made prouder by this House of Representatives by 
knowing Paul Simon. Senator Simon, of course, became a candidate for 
President. He did not win the nomination, but he won the hearts and 
minds of literally millions of people around this Nation for his 
honesty and his deep sense of pride in this country and his deep 
concern for its people. I am proud to rise on this floor to pay tribute 
to Paul Simon and to say what an appropriate thing it is to name a Job 
Corps center for someone who cared so deeply about young people and 
about education, and about opportunities, and about hope.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, in closing I cannot stand simply as a member of the 
subcommittee and offer the subcommittee's views on Paul Simon, because 
anyone who had the great pleasure and honor of knowing Senator Paul 
Simon, as I did, would have to inform this House that this was a man of 
the House and of the Senate who not only deserves this honor but who 
still resides in the hearts of many of us who remain here.
  I was not in the House when Senator Simon served in the House. I got 
to know him when he came to the House and he was a Senator living in 
Southwest Washington. Here was a Senator who managed to be, of course, 
deeply involved in matters pertaining to his own State, but because he 
lived in Southwest Washington felt he had to become a citizen of 
Southwest as well. And he and his wife engaged in activities to help 
improve the District of Columbia. It was not only through the District 
of Columbia's affairs that I got to admire Senator Simon. I have 
particular admiration for his extraordinary intellect, for his gifts as 
a writer and as a journalist. There are any number of different 
institutions that can be named for Paul Simon because his talents are 
spread so evenly across so many different fields.
  I want to particularly thank this Senator for the generosity he 
showed the people of the District of Columbia. He supported statehood. 
He supported full voting rights and full citizenship for the residents 
of the District. So it is not only a member of the committee, and I 
think speaking for all of us in the House and Senate that I stand to 
honor him today, speaking also with special warmth and meaning on 
behalf of residents of the District of Columbia.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to support S. 378, a 
bill to honor our former House and Senate colleague, Paul Simon.
  Paul Simon and I were both elected to the House in the same year--
1974. He came to the House after a distinguished career in the Illinois 
State Legislature. Mr. Simon was elected to the Illinois House of 
Representatives in 1954 and then to the Illinois Senate in 1962. During 
his 14 years in the State legislature, he won the Independent Voters of 
Illinois ``Best Legislator Award'' in every session. In 1968, Mr. Simon 
was elected as Illinois' Lieutenant Governor. After teaching at 
Sangamon State University in Springfield, Illinois, and the John F. 
Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, he returned to 
public service in 1974 with his election to the House.
  While we served in the House together, I was consistently impressed 
by Mr. Simon's energy and creativity. He was not only an effective 
legislator, but was also a prolific author. One of his books, The 
Tongue Tied American, which he wrote while serving in the House, 
explored the lack of foreign language skills in this country and its 
detrimental impact on foreign affairs. It was an issue that he and I 
joined forces on to stimulate the study of foreign languages and 
international affairs in U.S. colleges and universities.
  In 1984, Paul Simon upset Senator Percy to win a seat in the U.S. 
Senate. In 1990, he won re-election to the Senate by defeating his 
opponent with 65 percent of the vote and by nearly a million votes--the 
largest plurality of any contested candidate for senator of either 
party that year.
  While in the Senate, he become the champion of new, direct college 
loan programs, and was the chief democratic sponsor of the balanced 
budget amendment. He was active in addressing violence in television 
programming, and a primary author of the National Literacy Act, the Job 
Training partnership amendments, and several provisions of the 1994 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
  Most recently, Senator Simon has returned to teaching and currently 
teaches political science and journalism at Southern Illinois 
University--Carbondale campus.
  Paul Simon is a true gentleman, thoughtful and courteous. The people 
of Illinois and the American public benefited greatly from his service 
both in the House and Senate.
  Paul Simon's contributions, particularly in the area of education and 
job training, set a standard for us all. The designation of the job 
corps center in Chicago in his honor is a fitting tribute to his 
exemplary public service.
  I urge my colleagues to support S. 378.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I strongly support Senate bill S. 378, a 
bill to designate the job corps center located at 3348 South Kedzie 
Ave. in Chicago as the Paul Simon Chicago Job Corps Center. I am 
honored and pleased to introduce the House companion bill, H.R. 2015, 
to honor the distinguished Senator from Illinois, Senator Paul Simon.
  Paul Simon was born in 1928 in Eugene Oregon. He attended the 
University of Oregon and Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. As a 19 year 
old teenager he became the Nation's youngest editor-publisher when he 
accepted a local Lion's Club challenge to save the Troy Tribune in 
Troy, Illinois. Needless to say he met and exceeded the challenge and 
proceeded to establish a chain of 13 newspapers in southern and central 
Illinois.
  In 1954 he was elected to the Illinois House, and in 1962 he was 
elected to the Illinois Senate. During his state legislative career he 
earned a reputation for political integrity and courage. In 1968 Simon 
was elected lieutenant governor, and was the first person in state 
history to hold that post with the governor of another party.
  In 1974 Simon was elected to the House for Representatives and served 
for 10 years. His legislative skills were put to use on issue areas 
including education, disability policy, and foreign affairs. He played 
a crucial role in establishing the National Center for Missing and 
Exploited Children. In 1984 he upset three-term incumbent Senator 
Charles Percy to win election to the U.S. Senate. Senator Simon was a 
prodigious worker, known for exception constituent service. His 
evenhanded, balanced approach to topics and controversial issues earned 
him friends on both sides of the aisle. His colleagues appreciated his 
personal warmth and sense of humor.
  Paul Simon currently teaches political science and journalism at 
Southern Illinois University--Carbondale campus and heads up the public 
policy institute that he founded. It is truly fitting and proper we 
honor the outstanding public career of Senator Simon with this 
designation. I support S. 378 and urge my colleagues to join me in 
support of this legislation.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 
378, a bill to name the building located at 3348 S. Kedzie the Paul 
Simon Chicago Job Corps Center. I want to commend our senior Senator 
Dick Durbin for his sponsorship of this bill.
  Former Senator Paul Simon really epitomizes the virtues of work and 
what the Job

[[Page H2122]]

Corps stand for. Senator Simon at the age of 19 became the nation's 
youngest editor-publisher when he accepted a local Lion's Club 
challenge to save the Troy Tribune in Troy, IL--near St. Louis. He 
built a chain of 15 newspapers in southern and central Illinois, which 
he utilized to expose syndicate gambling connections in Madison County.
  Senator Simon has always been a voice for the disadvantaged and less 
fortunate throughout his career in the Illinois State House and the 
Illinois State Senate. During his 14 years in the state Legislature, he 
won the Independent Voters of Illinois' ``Best Legislator Award'' every 
session. Senator Simon became known throughout the state as a public 
official with high integrity and great political courage. He did what 
was right--even if it was not expedient.
  Senator Simon served as lieutenant governor in 1968, and was the 
first in the state's history to be elected to that post with a governor 
of another party. His work in that office focused on making government 
work more efficiently and effectively for its citizens.
  During his years in the Senate he focused on education, job training, 
transportation and limiting violence on television networks. His 
integrity, exceptional constituent services, openness and willingness 
to listen are all virtues to be admired. He was without question one of 
the best Members to ever serve in the House and the Senate.
  Senator Simon has retired from the Congress, but not from the 
influence of public policy. He is currently teaching at Southern 
Illinois University--where he is helping to shape young minds and 
future leaders.
  The designation of the Job Corps facility at 3348 S. Kedzie is an 
excellent tribute to my friend Senator Simon--and may help to inspire 
all the young people who pass through.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 378.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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