[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8268-H8269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 LEONARD C. BURCH POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5051) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1001 Williams Street in Ignacio, Colorado, as the 
``Leonard C. Burch Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5051

       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 in 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.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. DUNCAN. 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 material on H.R. 5051, the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the distinguished gentleman from Colorado, 
the sponsor of H.R. 5051, I rise in support of the Leonard C. Burch 
Post Office Designation Act.
  Leonard Burch was chairman of the Southern Ute Tribal Council for 
more than 32 years. He was the first elected tribal chairman in 1966, 
making him the youngest ever at age 32. Chairman Burch was an 
effective, ambitious leader for the Southern Utes and helped to 
economically develop this tribe based in the Rocky Mountains.
  Mr. Speaker, Leonard Burch died in August 2003 after suffering a 
heart attack. This post office will be a deserved honor for Leonard 
Burch, and I know it will make his family very proud.
  I thank the sponsor, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis), for 
bringing this bill to the floor today. I am pleased to urge passage of 
H.R. 5051.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, 
I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 5051, 
legislation naming a U.S. postal facility in Ignacio, Colorado, as the 
``Leonard C. Burch Post Office.''
  The gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis), a Republican, introduced 
this measure which enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire 
Colorado delegation on September 9, 2004.
  Leonard C. Burch was the long-time leader of the Southern Ute tribe 
of Colorado. He is credited with bringing his tribe from the brink of 
bankruptcy and into solvency. Through his efforts, the tribe became a 
major player in the energy development market with assets of $1.5 
billion.

                              {time}  1715

  As part of the Council For Energy Resource Tribes, Burch was 
instrumental in improving energy development in tribes throughout the 
country. Mr. Burch was also regarded as a skilled diplomat and 
testified before Congress on numerous occasions advocating for greater 
tribal control over its own resources.
  Mr. Burch passed away last year after suffering a heart attack at the 
age of 69. We join the Southern Ute Tribe in their loss, for not only 
have they lost a great leader, but also the United States has lost a 
truly great man. I urge swift passage of this resolution.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
5051, the Leonard C. Burch Post Office Building Designation Act.
  Leonard Burch served as chairman of the Southern Ute Tribe for 30 
years. He became the youngest chairman of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe 
in south-western Colorado in 1966. Although it was criticized at the 
time, his decision to reinvest tribal royalties back into the tribal 
corporations has proved to be far sighted. Through this reinvestment 
the Southern Ute Indian Tribe is one of the wealthiest Indian tribe in 
the country.
  In an effort to regain the rights to the resources on their land, 
Chairman Burch taught himself the intricacies of the oil and gas 
business. As a result, he was instrumental in the Southern Ute Tribe 
becoming the primary beneficiary of their own mineral rights. Under his 
leadership the tribe was able to acquire several commercial buildings, 
multiple energy companies, including the largest natural gas company in 
the state of Colorado, a real estate company, and a casino.
  Chairman Burch championed the cause of tribal sovereignty. He was 
able to bring the Southern Ute Indian Tribe from relative obscurity 
into one of the most prominent and wealthy tribes in the country. The 
Southern Ute Tribe's business success can be used as a positive example 
for Native American tribes throughout the country. Chairman Burch was 
the driving force behind this success story.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and the Colorado 
delegation in honoring the life and accomplishments of Chairman Leonard 
Burch and support the designation of the Ignacio Main Post Office as 
the Leonard C. Burch Post Office Building.
  For more information about the life of Chairman Burch, I am attaching 
an obituary published in The Durango Herald on August 2, 2003.

                          Leonard Cloud Burch

       Leonard Cloud Burch, the longtime leader of the Southern 
     Ute Indian Tribe who advocated economic self-sufficiency, 
     died Friday, Aug. 1, 2003, at Mercy Medical Center.
       Mr. Burch, 69 who died after suffering a heart attack on 
     Thursday, served as chairman of the Southern Ute Indian 
     Tribal Council for more than 32 years. He was first elected 
     tribal chairman in 1966.
       Under his leadership the Southern Utes became an economic 
     force in the Four Corners and the largest employers in the 
     country.
       Starting with interests in natural-gas wells, the Utes used 
     revenues from businesses to fund improvements in tribal 
     education, health and social services. He was invited by five 
     separate U.S. presidents to conferences on American Indian 
     policies at the White House.
       He received numerous awards, including: the Durango Citizen 
     of the Year Award (1997), the 15th annual Martin Luther King 
     Humanitarian Award (2000) and the Council of Energy Resources 
     Tribes' Achievement Award (2002). He was also recognized for 
     his commitment to regional water resources development.
       To settle various water claims by regional tribes, 
     including the Southern Utes, Mr. Burch advocated development 
     of the Animas-La Plata Project, a water-storage project now 
     under construction south of Durango.
       He was born on Dec. 24, 1933, to Sam and Clara (Cloud) 
     Burch. Upon graduation from Ute Vocational High School in 
     Ignacio, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and he served 
     four years. After his return from service, Mr. Burch worked 
     for five years with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He married 
     Irene Coolidge, who had also attended school in Ignacio.
       He is survived by his wife; seven daughters, Leonora Bravo 
     of Ignacio, Leona Burch of Ignacio, Lena Mae Burch of 
     Missoula, Mont., Lisa Burch-Watts of Ignacio, Leora Lucero of 
     Ignacio. Laurena Burch of Albuquerque, and Lynnette Sage of 
     Ignacio; 14 grandchildren; a brother, Anthony Burch of Two 
     Rivers, Alaska; a sister, Bertha Grove of Bayfield; a half-
     brother, Everett Burch of Bayfield; and a half-sister, Judy 
     Lansing-Burch of Ignacio.
       A viewing and a visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. 
     Monday at Hood Mortuary. A

[[Page H8269]]

     public memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the 
     SunUte Recreation Center in Ignacio.
       Donations honoring Mr. Burch should be made to the Leonard 
     Burch Scholarship Fund, PO Box 2717, Durango CO 81302 or to 
     the American Heart Association.

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I urge 
passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5051.
  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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