[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 120 (Wednesday, September 29, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7813-H7814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          F.H. NEWELL BUILDING

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3124) to designate the facility of the United States 
Geological Survey and the United States Bureau of Reclamation located 
at 230 Collins Road, Boise, Idaho, as the ``F.H. Newell Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3124

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

[[Page H7814]]

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The facility of the United States Geological Survey and the 
     United States Bureau of Reclamation located at 230 Collins 
     Road, Boise, Idaho, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``F.H. Newell Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the facility referred 
     to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     ``F.H. Newell Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 3124, introduced by the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter), 
designates the facility of the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. 
Bureau of Reclamation located in Boise, Idaho, as the ``F.H. Newell 
Building.''
  Fredrick Haynes Newell was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania, on March 
5, 1862. He attended MIT where he studied mining engineering. Upon his 
graduation he went to work for the U.S. Geological Service, when he was 
tapped to head an irrigation survey team mapping sites of potential 
dams in the American West.
  While doing his work, F.H. Newell developed several stream-gauging 
techniques and invented the instruments that are still in use today by 
the Geological Survey. Upon passage of the Reclamation Act of 1902, 
F.H. Newell was appointed as the first chief engineer and later the 
second director of what has now become the Bureau of Reclamation.
  In his autobiography, President Teddy Roosevelt praised Newell for 
his ``constructive imagination,'' leadership, and high character. After 
leaving federal service, F.H. Newell became an educator, being named 
head of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of 
Illinois. He was also the author or co-author of seven books and a 
number of articles on engineering techniques.
  This is a fitting tribute to a creative and dedicated public servant. 
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Ms. NORTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3124 is a bill to designate the 
facility of the United States Geological Survey and the United States 
Bureau of Reclamation located at 230 Collins Road, Boise, Idaho, as the 
``F.H. Newell Building.''
  F.H. Newell was the first hydrographic engineer for the U.S. 
Geological Survey and a person who contributed significantly to the 
water development in Idaho and throughout the West. He appreciated the 
need for saving the forest and the soil as well as the need for 
irrigation.
  Mr. Newell was single-mindedly devoted to the task of reclamation and 
protection of natural resources. He is described as having a 
constructive imagination, a forceful drive and dedication. President 
Roosevelt viewed him as the model public servant. It is very 
appropriate to acknowledge the significant career contributions of F.H. 
Newell with this designation. I urge passage of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1900

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bonner). 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. 3124.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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