[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 120 (Wednesday, September 29, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       JOE SKEEN FEDERAL BUILDING

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2004

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, last week the House approved H.R. 3734, 
which would designate the federal building located at Fifth and 
Richardson Avenues in Roswell, New Mexico, as the ``Joe Skeen Federal 
Building.'' Naming this building after our late colleague would be a 
tremendous honor to his memory and his family, and I strongly support 
this legislation to accomplish that goal.
  Representative Skeen was a dedicated patriot who answered the call of 
his country by joining the Navy and the Air Force Reserves. He built 
his life on helping people, serving his neighbors and fellow citizens 
in the New Mexico State Senate before being elected to the U.S. House 
of Representatives as a write-in candidate in 1980. He served in this 
venerable body for 22 years, the longest-serving Member of the House 
from New Mexico. He was respected by his colleagues and loved by his 
constituents for being honest, caring, and hard-working.
  I had the privilege of serving with Joe for 20 years in Congress, and 
I am proud to have been his friend. I remember many conversations I had 
with Joe over the years. He spent much of his time on this floor 
sitting in the ``Florida corner,'' delighting us with his wonderful 
sense of humor and thoughtful opinions. He is greatly missed.
  Mr. Speaker, Joe's death from Parkinson's disease in December 2003 
may have closed the book on a life characterized by unfailing public 
service, but it did not extinguish his memory, which lives on in the 
hearts of his family, his friends, and the Members of this body. The 
``Joe Skeen Federal Building'' will stand as a testament to the great 
New Mexican who served his constituents and the people of the United 
States so tirelessly for many decades. I thank my colleagues for 
honoring Joe by approving H.R. 3734.

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