[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 119 (Thursday, September 19, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S8931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 2973. A bill to designate the Federal building located at Fifth 
and Richardson Avenues in Roswell, New Mexico, as the ``Joe Skeen 
Federal Building''; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, I rise today to introduce a bill to 
rename the Federal courthouse in Roswell, New Mexico for my longtime 
friend and ally, Representative Joe Skeen.
  I have had the highest honor of serving the State of New Mexico with 
this amazing man for more than 20 years. Joe was first elected to the 
House of Representatives in 1980 as a write-in candidate. He is only 
the third man in the history of this country to achieve this feat.
  As great an accomplishment as this was, history will show that it was 
among the least of his great achievements. As I'm sure you can imagine, 
the litany of successes that Joe has had in his work for New Mexico is 
much too long to go into here today. Suffice it to say that New Mexico 
is infinitely better for having had Joe Skeen representing us in 
Congress; this country is better for having had Joe participate in 
making decisions that affect the entire nation.
  Joe will be the first to tell you that he has not done it on his own, 
however. He has had a partner in his great adventure who has walked 
beside him every step of the way. Mary, his wife of 57 years, has been 
a calming influence in the storm that is the life of a Congressman. She 
has made it possible for Joe to continue to be a ranching 
Representative, running the family ranch while Joe has served in 
Washington.
  Joe has decided that it is time to return to that ranch to spend time 
with the family and the land that he loves so much. I know that 
Washington will go on without the Skeens but there is no way that it 
will be as a good a place.
  It is only a small token of the appreciation New Mexico and this 
country have for his many years of service, but I believe that renaming 
the Federal Courthouse in Roswell, New Mexico is a fitting tribute to 
this exceptional public servant.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.

                                S. 2973

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The Federal building located at Fifth and Richardson 
     Avenues in Roswell, New Mexico, shall be known and designated 
     as the ``Joe Skeen 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 Joe Skeen Federal Building.

     SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2003.
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