[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 42 (Wednesday, April 5, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S2915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Obama):
  S. 2555. A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 2633 11th Street in Rock Island, Illinois, as the 
``Lane Evans Post Office Building''; to the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce 
legislation to designate the U.S. Post Office at 2633 11th Street in 
Rock Island, Illinois, as the ``Lane Evans Post Office Building.''
  This legislation honors my friend and fellow Illinoisan Lane Evans 
who has decided to retire instead of seeking re-election to the House 
of Representatives in November. Congressman Lane Evans, born and raised 
in Rock Island, represents Illinois' 17th Congressional District. He 
was first elected in 1982 and is serving his eleventh term in the U.S. 
House of Representatives. From the Quad Cities to Quincy, from 
Springfield to Decatur and Carlinville, in cities and towns throughout 
his district, Lane Evans is deeply respected. His service will be 
greatly missed.
  Congressman Evans was a Vietnam-era veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps 
and rose to the position of Ranking Democratic Member of the House 
Veterans' Affairs Committee. He is recognized as a leading advocate of 
veterans in Congress. He successfully led legislative efforts to pass 
Agent Orange compensation and health and compensation benefits for 
children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange who were born with spina 
bifida, a crippling birth defect. Congressman Evans also led the effort 
to secure benefits for Persian Gulf veterans and to provide full 
disclosure about their possible exposure to toxins during their 
service. He has also worked to expand services to women veterans, 
pushed for increased help for veterans suffering from post-traumatic 
stress disorder, and established important new programs to assist in 
the rehabilitation and health care treatment of thousands of homeless 
veterans.
  Congressman Evans is also a member of the House Armed Services 
Committee and is Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans in Congress Caucus. 
He is also Co-Chairman of the Alcohol Fuels Caucus, the Congressional 
Working Group on Parkinson's Disease, and the International Workers 
Rights Caucus. Congressman Evans has been named an ``Environmental 
Hero'' for his pro-environment voting record by the League of 
Conservation Voters and awarded the Conservationist of the Year Award 
for 1995 by the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club, the first time the 
organization gave the honor to a non-volunteer.
  Congressman Evans was born in Rock Island on August 4, 1951. He 
attended grade school and high school in Rock Island. Following 
graduation from high school, he joined the Marine Corps and was 
stationed in Okinawa. He received an honorable discharge in 1971. 
Congressman Evans received a B.A. (magna cum laude) in 1974 from 
Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. He also attended Black Hawk 
College in Moline, Illinois. He is a 1978 graduate of Georgetown 
University Law Center in Washington, D.C. Following his graduation from 
law school, he practiced law in Rock Island where he served children, 
the poor and working families.
  For over 20 years, Lane Evans has been my closest friend in the 
Illinois Congressional Delegation. We came to the House of 
Representatives together and he proved to be an indomitable force. Time 
and again, Lane Evans has shown extraordinary political courage 
fighting for the values that brought him to public service. But his 
greatest show of courage has been over the last 10 years as he battled 
Parkinson's disease and those who tried to exploit his physical 
weakness. His determination to serve the 17th Congressional District he 
loves pushed him to work harder as Parkinson's became a heavier burden 
each day. His dignity and perseverance in the face of this relentless 
and cruel disease is an inspiration to everyone who knows Lane Evans.
  I am pleased to offer this legislation to permanently and publicly 
recognize Lane Evans and his service to his Congressional District, our 
State of Illinois, and the entire United States by naming the Rock 
Island Post Office in his honor. It would be a most appropriate way for 
us to express our appreciation to Congressman Evans and to commemorate 
his public life and work.
  Mr. President, 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. 2555

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

     SECTION 1. LANE EVANS POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 2633 11th Street in Rock Island, Illinois, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Lane Evans 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 ``Lane Evans Post Office Building''.

                          ____________________