[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H2213-H2215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    JAMES V HANSEN FEDERAL BUILDING

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3147) to designate the Federal building located at 324 
Twenty-Fifth Street in Ogden, Utah, as the ``James V Hansen Federal 
Building,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3147

       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 324 Twenty-Fifth Street in 
     Ogden, Utah, shall be known and designated as the ``James V 
     Hansen 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 ``James V Hansen Federal Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).


                             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 and include extraneous materials on H.R. 3147 and S. 2022.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3147 has been introduced by our colleague the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon), and it designates the Federal 
building located at 324 Twenty-Fifth Street in Ogden, Utah, as the 
James V Hansen Federal Building.
  James Vear Hansen was born in Salt Lake City on August 14, 1932. 
After graduating from the public schools of Salt Lake City, he served 
in the U.S. Navy, and upon his discharge attended

[[Page H2214]]

and graduated from the University of Utah.
  Following his graduation, Mr. Hansen began a long and successful 
career, notable in his devotion to serving his community. I have 
already mentioned that he served honorably in the Navy, but he also 
served on the Farmington, Utah, City Council for 12 years and in the 
Utah State House of Representatives for 7. During his final year in 
that body, he served as speaker, and in 1980 was elected to this body. 
He served with distinction in the House of Representatives for 22 
years.
  While serving in the House, James Hansen served on a number of 
committees, including the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
Resources, and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. He also 
served as chairman of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, 
as well as chairman of the Committee on Resources.
  During his time in Congress, he devotedly served his constituents and 
the Nation by preserving key military facilities in his district. He 
fought for the responsible use of public lands and secured key 
investments in Utah's infrastructure in advance of the 2002 winter 
Olympic games, which were some of the most successful in the modern 
history of the games.
  I am honored to support this legislation for a man worthy of such an 
honor, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the balance of our time be 
yielded to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon), the author of this 
bill, and that he be permitted to yield time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3147 is a bill that designates the Federal building 
located at 324 Twenty-Fifth Street in Ogden, Utah, as the James V 
Hansen Federal Building.
  Congressman Hansen began his public career in local government in 
Farmington, Utah, and later served four terms in the Utah House of 
Representatives. He was elected to the United States Congress from 
Utah's 1st Congressional District in 1980 and served 11 terms. He held 
a senior position on the Committee on Armed Services and served as 
chairman of the Committee on Resources where he was actively involved 
in developing sound energy policy. Congressman Hansen also was active 
in passing the first tort reform legislation in over 40 years.

                              {time}  1115

  In addition, he authored and passed legislation that revised the 
Private Mortgage Insurance program to benefit American homeowners.
  It is both fitting and proper to honor the distinguished career of 
Jim Hansen with this designation. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3147 and 
urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise today in support of H.R. 3147. It is my pleasure to sponsor 
a bill that would designate the Federal building located at 324 25th 
Street in Ogden, Utah, as the James V Hansen Federal Building.
  Almost all Members of this body will fondly remember our colleague 
Jim Hansen. I had the privilege of working with Jim during the first 6 
years of my service in Utah's Third Congressional District, and during 
that time I looked to Jim for advice, guidance and leadership on 
countless occasions, and he never let me down.
  Jim Hansen will be remembered for many things during his 22 years in 
Congress. He was a champion for multiple use and access to public 
lands. He fought numerous battles to protect the rights and interests 
of rural Utahns, and he never tired of fighting to preserve Hill Air 
Force Base.
  When Jim was the dean of the Utah delegation, he dedicated his career 
to protecting the interests of his constituents. Not only did he 
represent Utahns and their values in Congress, he has impressed his 
colleagues by living those values. During his tenure as chairman of the 
Committee on Resources, Jim went to great efforts to bring together 
both sides of the aisle on contentious and complex resource issues. It 
was truly my pleasure to serve with him during that time on that 
committee.
  Jim Hansen never lost an election. I credit that to his ability to 
listen and understand the people he represented. Jim never forgot the 
concerns of his constituents. I have learned from his example, and I 
appreciate the service he has given on behalf of Utah.
  Above and beyond all his personal accomplishments, the most important 
thing I can say about Jim Hansen is that he made a difference. He made 
a difference in our national policies. He showed us that by acting 
honorably and with mutual respect we can get things done here in 
Congress. Over the course of his 42 years of public service, Jim Hansen 
has shown what it means to be a true statesman and a man of the people.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to sponsor this bill, but more 
importantly it is my pleasure to call Jim Hansen my friend; and I urge 
my colleagues to support H.R. 3147.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop).
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I had the opportunity of 
sitting on a stand with Jim Hansen in Tuelo speaking at a political 
event. When I informed him that if he spoke well of me today in Utah I 
would speak well of him today here in Washington, he told me these type 
of events simply turn into a funeral for the living. So with apologies 
to Shakespeare, I wish to join that group and praise Jim Hansen, not 
bury him yet.
  This designation for the State of Utah, I think, is extremely 
deserving because of the unique character that Jim Hansen has and what 
he has meant for the history of politics in Utah, and especially in the 
first district. No Utahn has served longer in the House of 
Representatives than Jim Hansen, with 11 terms. He is the only Utah 
Congressman that has ever actually served as chairman of a full 
committee, and you can count on one hand the number of subcommittee 
chairmen we have. My colleague, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon), 
and Jim Hansen are the only two who have ever served as subcommittee 
chairmen from my State.
  In the State of Utah, since Congressman Hansen's retirement, he has 
had a highway in Davis County named for him, the Migratory Bird Refuge 
visitor's center in my hometown named for him, and now this Federal 
building. But I think it most fitting that the one element that has 
been named for Jim Hansen that he appreciates the most is the duck 
blind at the Bear River Bird Refuge which was especially built and 
dedicated in his name. Because he was always in touch with the common 
man, he understood that element and he had a great love for the 
outdoors. Even though the wilderness debate rages on in this country, 
it is still Jim Hansen who is the only one who has actually created a 
wilderness area in the State of Utah.
  Born during post-World War II Salt Lake City into a family not awash 
in earthly wealth, he graduated from a high school class that also 
produced two U.S. Senators from Utah, a fact that should not denigrate 
the academic standards of that particular high school.
  He then joined the Navy, served in the Korean conflict, and as a 
young man moved up to Farmington, Utah. As an insurance man, he decided 
to join the Farmington City Council to try to fix their water system, 
where he served for 12 years, then moved on to the State legislature 
for 8 years, and then Congress for 22 years.
  During the first term Jim Hansen served in the Utah House of 
Representatives, I was an intern; and Jim Hansen actually happened to 
be the representative in my family's district. My first term in the 
Utah House of Representatives Jim Hansen was the Speaker, and he set 
the standard of excellence that I tried to emulate when I became 
Speaker several years later. When he retired from this position in 
Congress, I once again followed in his footsteps. I feel like he has 
cast a long shadow. He has big shoes to fill. Whatever cliche you want 
to use about Jim Hansen, the bottom line is he did a good job for his 
constituents, and he did a good job for the State of Utah.

[[Page H2215]]

  He was known for his integrity, twice serving as chairman of the 
Committee on Standards and Official Conduct. He was known for his 
common sense and for his frugality. The building in Ogden, which will 
be named for him, is a place where he served for 22 years. I have 
followed him, so my office is in the same spot that his office was, and 
I and my staff are going to be proud that we are now serving in the Jim 
Hansen Federal Building in Ogden, Utah.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
to urge passage of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, we had many people who wanted to come speak today, but I 
think the calendar has precluded them from coming. So I would like to 
urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill that honors our 
colleague, who I want to assure everyone is in vital health and still 
alive, despite all of the honors he has received recently.
  Mr. Speaker, Jim Hansen was a man of great good humor, great 
political insight, great integrity, and a man of principle. I am 
honored to sponsor this bill on his behalf.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to rise to today 
in support of H.R. 3147, To Designate a Federal Building in Ogden, Utah 
as the ``James V Hansen Federal Building''.
  Chairman Hansen and I served together in this House for 14 years. As 
Chairman of the House Resources Committee, Jim Hansen was instrumental 
in securing passage of several pieces of legislation crucial to the 
needs of my constituents in American Samoa.
  Jim was a champion of good causes, an exemplary leader, and more 
importantly, my friend. At this time I urge all my colleagues to 
support this legislation which recognizes and honors Chairman Hansen's 
legacy of service.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bass). 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. 3147, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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