[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 132 (Tuesday, October 18, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8874-H8876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              WILLIAM F. CLINGER, JR. POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3549) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 210 West 3rd Avenue in Warren, Pennsylvania, as the 
``William F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3549

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

     SECTION 1. WILLIAM F. CLINGER, JR. POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 210 West 3rd Avenue in Warren, 
     Pennsylvania, shall be known and designated as the ``William 
     F. Clinger, Jr. 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 ``William F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office 
     Building''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill now under 
consideration, H.R. 3549.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3549, authored by the 
distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English). This bill 
would designate the post office in Warren, Pennsylvania, as the William 
F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office Building. All Members of the Pennsylvania 
delegation have cosponsored this legislation.
  Former Representative Bill Clinger was born and raised in Warren, 
Pennsylvania, where he attended local public schools and graduated from 
Hill High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Bill Clinger was admitted 
to the Pennsylvania bar in 1965, and then enjoyed a career in private 
law practice. On January 3, 1979, Bill Clinger was elected to the 96th 
Congress and was reelected to eight succeeding Congresses.
  During this time, Mr. Clinger showed his perseverance in serving the 
citizens of Warren, Pennsylvania, by working towards accountability in 
government during his time as a member of the Committee on Government 
Reform. As a distinguished long-time member of the committee, Clinger 
served as the ranking member during the 103rd Congress as well as the 
chairman during the 104th Congress. One of his many accomplishments in 
Congress was the passage of the Clinger-Cohen Act, which transformed 
the way the Federal Government plans for, acquires, and manages 
information technology.
  When Chairman Clinger left Congress, he continued contributing to his 
community. He is a senior fellow at the Center For the Study of 
American Government at Johns Hopkins University where he lectures 
frequently and works with students on their master's theses. Further, 
he spends his summers in Chautauqua, New York, where he is the chair of 
the Board of Trustees of the Chautauqua Institution. William Clinger 
was an example and an inspiration to all as he demonstrated his strong 
and respected leadership abilities during his time in the U.S. House of 
Representatives.
  I join the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English) in recognizing 
the accomplishments of former Representative Clinger and I urge all 
Members to do the same.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 
3549, legislation naming a postal facility in Warren, Pennsylvania, 
after William F. Clinger, Jr. This measure, which was introduced by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English) on July 28, 2005, and 
unanimously reported by our committee on September 29, 2005, enjoys the 
support and cosponsorship of the entire Pennsylvania delegation.
  A native of Warren County, Pennsylvania, Mr. Clinger graduated from 
Johns Hopkins University, served in the United States Navy, and 
obtained a law degree from the University of Virginia before practicing 
law. He was elected to represent Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional 
District in 1979,

[[Page H8875]]

serving until 1997. While in Congress, Representative Clinger served as 
chairman of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, vice 
chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and 
ranking member on the Subcommittee on Aviation.
  Since retiring from Congress, former Representative Clinger has 
served on a number of boards and been involved with Johns Hopkins 
University as a senior fellow with the Political Science Department and 
Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. I commend my 
colleagues for naming a post office after former Representative William 
Clinger, and I urge swift passage of this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Mr. 
English).
  Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the 
gentleman for yielding me this time and giving me the opportunity to 
rise here today to advocate a piece of legislation that is symbolic, 
but it is important symbolism; and it is particularly important to the 
residents of a community of mine, Warren County, that I have acquired 
since the last reapportionment. I share that area with my colleague 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson) who is with us here today and who has 
cosponsored this bill.
  We rise to honor the distinguished former chairman of the Committee 
on Government Reform, Congressman Bill Clinger. You have heard from 
some of our other colleagues how Bill Clinger has been a major leader 
in the House of Representatives, how he served nine terms, how he came 
to Congress with a background in economic development and became a very 
powerful advocate of rural concerns, how he was born and raised in 
Warren, Pennsylvania, and it is our intention to name the post office 
in Warren after him.
  For a generation of political leaders in northwestern Pennsylvania, 
Bill Clinger has been an inspiration to us, someone who has brought a 
profound sense of civic responsibility to everything he has done, prior 
to coming to Congress, in Congress, and since he left Congress, 
particularly with his service to the Chautauqua Institution.
  His chairmanship of the House Committee on Government Reform allowed 
him to help establish concrete reforms to ensure government 
accountability, gaining the respect of Members from both sides of the 
aisle. Chairman Clinger helped usher through historic legislation, such 
as a measured curb on Federally funded mandates, line item veto 
authority, and a bill to reduce the paperwork burden that the Federal 
Government imposes on governments, individuals, and private businesses.
  For those of us who had the privilege of working with Bill Clinger, 
he has always been an inspiration to us, and we thought it was 
appropriate to take perhaps the signal Federal building in the 
community in which he grew up and name it after him, so that everyone 
in Warren could remember how Warren and northwestern Pennsylvania has 
produced leadership of the first order in Congress.
  It is my privilege to submit the bulk of my remarks for the Record, 
but I am proud to be here with my colleague from Pennsylvania, with the 
gentleman from Nevada, and the gentleman from the other side of the 
aisle to provide a manifestation of how much Bill Clinger has meant to 
this institution, to the community that he grew up in, and how it is 
worth our while to take a few minutes out in the House business to 
acknowledge those who have really made a difference.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished former 
Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, Congressman Bill Clinger.
  Chairman Clinger was a major leader in the House of Representatives, 
having acquired the reputation as a strong voice for government reform 
during his nine illustrious terms. Clinger represented what is now 
Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional District from 1979 to 1997--the seat 
now held by my distinguished colleague John Peterson.
  Chairman Clinger was born and raised in Warren, Pennsylvania, where 
he attended the local public schools and graduated from the Hill High 
School in Pottstown.
  After being admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1965, Clinger ran a 
private law practice in Warren before being elected to the 96th 
Congress in 1978.
  An inspiration to many in the House, he exemplified excellence in 
civic duty, championing rural interests and rural economic development.
  After ascending to Chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, 
he helped establish concrete reforms to ensure government 
accountability, gaining the respect of members from both sides of the 
aisle. Chairman Clinger helped usher through historic legislation such 
as a measure to curb unfunded Federal mandates, line-item veto 
authority and a bill to reduce the paperwork burden that the Federal 
Government imposes on governments, individuals, and private businesses.
  I had the honor of serving with Chairman Clinger during my freshman 
term in Congress. He was an important figure in my early political 
career, providing an example of dignified leadership throughout a 
demanding and tumultuous period of Congressional oversight.
  Since his retirement from the House, Chairman Clinger has continued 
his dedication to public service. He has shared his expertise in 
oversight through his teachings at Johns Hopkins University and while 
serving on boards for organizations such as Council on Excellence in 
Government, Citizens Against Government Waste and many others.
  One of Chairman Clinger's most notable accomplishments in recent 
years has been his service as Chairman of the Board of Trustees to the 
renowned Chautauqua Institution, located in southwestern New York 
State. The historic Chautauqua Institution is a tremendously valuable 
organization, providing a national forum for open discussions that 
probe contemporary political, religious and community issues.
  I believe this undertaking is reflective of my good friend's 
character--displaying his commitment to the competent and thoughtful 
pursuit of understanding. He has shown a continued dedication to 
excellence and integrity at all levels of government and tirelessly 
fights on behalf of representative accountability. His decorated 
service to the community is held in high regard by many.
  I believe that naming the post office at 210 West 3rd Avenue in 
Warren, Pennsylvania is a modest tribute to a true public servant. I 
urge the support of my colleagues and the swift passage of this 
legislation.
  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Peterson).
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman 
for yielding me this time, and I rise today with affection for my 
knowledge and memory of Bill Clinger and working with Bill Clinger. I 
want to thank my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. English) for his 
leadership in putting this together and which I am just so glad to 
cosponsor.
  I have known Bill Clinger for a long time. I was thinking back on 
Memory Lane this morning of when I first met him. I got to know him in 
Warren. And I remember when I first ran for the State House in 1977, I 
went to his office and sat down, and he was one of the first to reach 
in his drawer and pull out a check and help me with my campaign and 
wished me well and said he hoped in another year or two I would help 
him because he was planning to run for Congress, and so we worked 
together the whole time.
  I also remember Bill Clinger and his lovely wife, Judy. Judy was a 
great attribute to him. She was someone who everybody loved and just 
served him so wonderfully as his closest friend and helper. Also, his 
great love of his family, Vijou, Willie, Jimmy, and Julia. His first 
love was his family. Everybody knew that from his weekends and time 
with them.
  Also his love of the Chautauqua Institution. Fortunately for Bill, I 
believe he is chairman of the board there, at least he was last year, 
that is running the institution. That is a bright spot in southern New 
York State that serves Pennsylvania and New York as well, bringing 
culture and entertainment and all kinds of wonderful things to a rural 
area that does not always have those luxuries.
  I remember back vividly that Bill put together a wonderful staff. It 
was just a great group of young men. Ric Peltz was my best friend. Out 
in the field we worked together nearly every day. He was the field guy. 
Most of his Washington staff went on and were leaders in the Ridge 
administration in Pennsylvania, and many are running associations here 
in Washington now. They were just a bright young group that

[[Page H8876]]

has really made a difference. And you have to give Bill the credit for 
picking this kind of talent and giving them an opportunity.
  I also remember he was chief counsel for EDA under the Ford 
administration. That may be where I first met him and where he really 
developed a knowledge of our economic development system. One of his 
legacies was the Clinger-Cohen bill, which put the Government 
Responsibility Act in place, which held government agencies 
responsible.
  During his time and tenure, one of the problems that faced 
Pennsylvania, and I as a Senator and he as a Congressman, was the 
abandonment of railroads. He and his staff just led that fight. 
Pennsylvania now, in my district, has the most regional railroads, and 
it is thanks to Bill Clinger. He saved many of those lines from being 
totally abandoned and helped form the regional railroads. One that I 
remember was the Allegheny Railroad that connected Erie and Emporia, 
Pennsylvania, which the wood industry used exclusively. The Oil Creek, 
Titusville Railroad, which is a scenic railroad through a beautiful 
park, and the oil heritage region that is now there was one of the 
first real successful scenic lines in Pennsylvania. The Nittany and 
Bald Eagle lines, which became part of the Seda Cog Rail System, which 
is now serving that region well. The Tioga County, Wellsville into New 
York line. These were all lines that Bill Clinger and his staff and his 
efforts preserved and are now serving this area well.
  The 219 passing lane was an issue where he got funding numerous times 
to take a crooked road and get passing lanes on the hill. They all 
wanted a four-lane highway, which probably will never happen; but he 
did a lot of improvements to that.
  Another area where he really excelled was bringing the use of our 
waste coal piles in Pennsylvania into making energy. He was the one 
that helped put together the scrubgrass plant in Venango County, and 
the Ringgold plant over in Clarion County, and was very helpful in 
bringing the Allegheny Particle Board plant that makes particle board 
using wastewood into our region.

                              {time}  1400

  He brought the FCI McKean Prison, which now employs hundreds of 
people in my district; and those are legacy issues that he and his 
staff were directly involved in and responsible for.
  He also was one of those who created the revolving loan programs that 
our EDA and Appalachia Regional Commissions use now to help small 
communities with small grants that they continue to use over and over 
by reloaning them to small businesses. Some of those revolving loan 
programs are quite large now and are very much a part of our economic 
development system. In fact, his legacy recently in this 
administration, Ric Peltz, who was the one I worked with, is now the 
co-director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, and has just 
continued the legacy of Bill Clinger back here in Washington. In fact, 
I want to say this before I conclude. I had lunch with Bill this summer 
over at the La Colline, one of his favorite eating places, and he is 
just doing well. He is mentally sharp and in good spirits and happy 
with what his life is allowing him to teach and be a part of the 
leadership of the Chautauqua Institution, and he and Judy are doing 
just fine, and I want to publicly thank them for their friendship to me 
and the legacy they left in Pennsylvania and in Washington.
  One of the toughest issues he worked on was a compromise on 
wilderness. We had a Congressman in Pennsylvania who wanted to make the 
Allegheny National Forest all wilderness, and he cut out a compromise 
and got that passed. Also the wild and scenic rivers, those were a 
little more controversial issues, he took some heat for those, but I 
think they were good decisions. He was wise in how he handled them in 
taking on those tough issues, and I think when he was here he chaired 
the Wednesday Group, which now may be the Tuesday Group or I think may 
even have another name.
  But Bill was a leader. If you knew Bill, you liked him. If you knew 
Bill, you knew he was smart and you respected him. Today, I think it is 
a delight to honor him by naming the Warren post office the William 
Clinger Post Office. I had a Senate office for years right around the 
corner, and great traffic in that part of town. People will see it and 
remember, as they should, that Bill Clinger was their Congressman and 
he served them admirably.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 3549, a bill to designate a post office in Warren, Pennsylvania, 
as the ``William F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office Building.''
  Mr. Clinger was the distinguished chairman of the Government Reform 
and Oversight Committee when I first came to Congress in 1995. I became 
one of his subcommittee chairmen, and I will be forever grateful to him 
for showing me the ropes on this Committee.
  Many of my colleagues are probably familiar with the Clinger-Cohen 
Act, which transformed the way the Federal Government plans for, 
acquires and manages information technology investments.
  I was proud to have worked with Chairman Clinger on this important 
law that will be celebrating its 10th anniversary early next year.
  Anyone who knows Bill Clinger would not be surprised with his 
response upon learning that a post office would be named in his honor. 
He told us he considered it a major success when a dog run in 
Punxatawny and a sewage treatment plant in Dubois, Pennsylvania were 
named for him--having a post office named after him was beyond his 
wildest dreams.
  Mr. Clinger's graciousness and respect for others set an example for 
all Members who served with him.
  I am proud to be here today to express my strong support for H.R. 
3549, a lasting tribute to the life and work of William F. Clinger.
  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage 
of H.R. 3549, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3549.
  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. PORTER. Madam 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.

                          ____________________