[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 98 (Thursday, July 15, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S8237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CAMPBELL:
  S. 2673. A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1001 Williams Street, Ignacio, Colorado, as the 
``Leonard C. Burch Post Office Building''; to the Committee on 
Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I send to the desk legislation to 
designate the U.S. Post Office located at 1001 Williams Street in 
Ignacio, CO, as the Leonard C. Burch Post Office Building.
  Anyone who ever met the man knew they were in the presence of someone 
special. Leonard Burch had a vision. He had the imagination to look 
beyond a destitute tribe with little hope, and see a people with 
resources, and determination, and a real opportunity to build a better 
future if they would only grasp it. Many people have dreams, but 
Leonard had that rare ability to make other people catch his vision, 
believe in it, and work just as hard for it as he did.
  Leonard C. Burch died August 1, 2003. He was 69 years old. Leonard 
was chairman of the Tribal Council for more than 32 years. Under his 
leadership, the Southern Utes became an economic force in and beyond 
the Four Corners and the largest employer in La Plata County. Those 
thirty-seven years have seen the transformation of a people, the 
transformation of a region, and all of it largely due to his 
extraordinary leadership.
  Burch was credited with bringing his tribe out of poverty. Through 
his efforts, the tribe became a major player in the energy development 
market with assets of $1.5 billion. As part of the Council for Energy 
Resource Tribes, Burch was instrumental in improving energy development 
throughout Indian Country. He advocated for greater tribal control over 
tribal resources.
  Burch's leadership went beyond the tribe. He set an example for young 
people. Burch was invited by five separate U.S. Presidents to 
conferences on American Indian policies at the White House and received 
numerous awards for his commitment to regional water resource 
development.
  We will all miss Leonard's wisdom and inspiration. It is a fitting 
tribute that the postal facility in Ignacio be named after a true 
warrior. I invite anyone who believes that one man can't make a 
difference, to take a drive southeast of Durango, and witness what one 
Leonard Burch can do.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2673

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

     SECTION 1. LEONARD C. BURCH POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1001 Williams Street, Ignacio, Colorado, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Leonard C. Burch Post 
     Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Leonard C. Burch Post Office Building''.
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