[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S287-S288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 2033. 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. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to 
rename the Federal building in Roswell, NM, after my dear friend, 
Representative Joe Skeen. On December 7, 2003, Joe lost his valiant 
battle with Parkinson's Disease. He will be deeply missed.
  I first met Joe more than 40 years ago when I was fresh out of law 
school and Joe was a rising star within the New Mexico Republican 
party. From that moment, I knew that Joe was destined for great things. 
To the great benefit of the people of the State of New Mexico and the 
Nation, Joe chose to dedicate his life to public service.
  For those of us who knew Joe, it came as no surprise when he became 
only the third person in our Nation's history to win a U.S. House seat 
as a write-in candidate in 1980. During his 22 year tenure as New 
Mexico's representative for the 2nd Congressional District, Joe was a 
powerful voice for the people of his district and its rural lifestyle. 
For instance, he was a staunch defender of New Mexico's farming and 
ranching interests.
  Many have described Joe as one of the most powerful members of 
Congress that New Mexico ever sent to Washington, DC. But Joe never 
forgot who he was and where he was from. He was part and parcel of this 
land and its people. Joe truly represented the people of the 2nd 
Congressional District, both politically and in spirit.
  Joe sought committee assignments that would most benefit the largely 
rural district that he represented. During his time in the U.S. 
Congress, Joe served 17 years on the House Appropriations Committee, 
serving as Chairman of both the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee 
and the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.
  In 2002 Joe retired from Congress. After 11 terms in Congress, Joe 
decided to return to his ranch, a place that he described as being ``at 
the center of my upbringing and which shaped my character and 
principles in life.'' I feel truly blessed to have had the honor to

[[Page S288]]

serve with Joe for those 22 years. I know Washington will go on without 
Joe, but it will not be nearly as good a place.
  For all the good that Joe accomplished during his 22 years as a 
Congressman, I know he could not have done it alone. We owe a great 
debt of gratitude to Mary, his wife of 57 years. She and the Skeen 
children deserve great credit for making his life so remarkable.
  Today I introduce legislation that would designate the Federal 
Building in Roswell, NM, the ``Joe Skeen Federal Building.'' I would 
like to thank my distinguished colleague Senator Jeff Bingaman for co-
sponsoring this legislation. Additionally, Representatives Wilson, 
Pearce and Udall will introduce shortly a companion bill honoring Joe 
for his service to his State and Nation.
  Joe was born in Roswell, NM, represented the people of the Second 
Congressional District for 22 years and spent his final days in 
Roswell, NM. It is fitting that the Roswell Federal Building bear his 
name. One of Joe's first actions after he took office in 1981 was to 
introduce legislation to name the Federal Building in Las Cruces after 
the man he replaced, the late Congressman Harold Runnels. I believe 
it's appropriate, 22 years later, to return the favor.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2033

       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, 2005.

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