[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 25, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1686-H1687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TO MEMORIALIZE AND HONOR THE CONTRIBUTION OF CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM H. 
                               REHNQUIST

  Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 83) to memorialize and honor the 
contribution of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 83

       Whereas President Richard M. Nixon nominated William H. 
     Rehnquist to replace Associate Justice John Marshall Harlan 
     on the Supreme Court on October 21, 1971, he was confirmed by 
     the United States Senate on December 10, 1971, and served as 
     an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United 
     States from January 1972 through September 1986;
       Whereas President Ronald W. Reagan nominated Associate 
     Justice William H. Rehnquist to replace Chief Justice Warren 
     E. Burger as the Sixteenth Chief Justice of the United States 
     on June 20, 1986, and he was confirmed by the United States 
     Senate on September 17, 1986;
       Whereas William Rehnquist presided as Chief Justice from 
     September 1986 until September 2005 for a total of 19 years, 
     making him the fourth-longest-serving Chief Justice after 
     Melville W. Fuller, Roger B. Taney, and John Marshall, and 
     the longest-serving Chief Justice who had previously served 
     as an Associate Justice;
       Whereas Chief Justice Rehnquist ably presided as chief 
     administrator of the United States courts to insure the due 
     administration of justice during times of rising caseloads 
     and fiscal constraints;
       Whereas Chief Justice Rehnquist was respected for his 
     intellect, fairness, and humor by his fellow Justices and by 
     members of the other branches of government; and
       Whereas despite the debilitating effects of thyroid cancer, 
     Chief Justice Rehnquist continued his service to the court 
     and the country, and administered the oath of office to 
     President George W. Bush at his second inauguration on 
     January 20, 2005: Now, therefore, it is
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,


                        acknowledgment and honor

       Section 1. The United States, acting through Congress, 
     authorizes and directs the Curator of the Supreme Court, 
     subject to the direction and approval of the Chief Justice of 
     the United States, to procure a marble bust, including 
     pedestal, of the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, and 
     to cause them to be placed in the Supreme Court building to 
     honor his memory and legacy to the Supreme Court of the 
     United States.


                    authorization of appropriations

       Sec. 2. There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000 to 
     carry out this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Renzi) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  House Joint Resolution 83, introduced by Congressman Richard Pombo, 
chairman of the House Resources Committee, is offered to honor the 
contributions of former Chief Justice William Rehnquist by authorizing 
and directing the Curator of the Supreme Court to produce a marble 
bust, including a pedestal, of the late Chief Justice and have it 
placed in the Supreme Court Building.
  Madam Speaker, Chief Justice Rehnquist served the people of this 
country and the court that he loved for 33 years. He was, in fact, the 
fourth longest serving Chief Justice. I believe a bust in the Supreme 
Court is but a small token of our deep appreciation for his dedication 
to this country and the rule of law.
  Similar honors have been authorized by Congress for 13 other Chief 
Justices, and I believe Chief Justice Rehnquist is equally deserving. I 
encourage adoption of the bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H1687]]

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, the majority has already explained 
the purpose of House Joint Resolution 83, which was introduced by 
Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo.
  All former Chief Justices of the Supreme Court are currently 
memorialized with their busts placed in the Great Hall of the Supreme 
Court Building. House Joint Resolution 83 will extend this honor to 
former Chief Justice Rehnquist as well, and we support this 
legislation.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 83.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the joint resolution was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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