[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 68 (Friday, May 26, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S5392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 497--RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF EDWARD ROY BECKER, 
        CHIEF JUDGE OF THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE 3RD CIRCUIT

  Mr. SPECTER (for himself, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. Hatch) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 497

       Whereas Edward Roy Becker was born on May 4, 1933, in 
     Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
       Whereas Edward Roy Becker enjoyed an extraordinary career 
     as a leading jurist in the United States;
       Whereas Edward Roy Becker graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the 
     University of Pennsylvania in 1954 and received his law 
     degree from Yale Law School in 1957 with academic 
     distinction;
       Whereas, following his graduation from law school, Edward 
     Roy Becker managed a distinguished law practice at the 
     partnership of Becker, Becker, and Fryman with his father and 
     brother-in-law;
       Whereas Edward Roy Becker was active in politics, and 
     followed his father as a Republican committeeman;
       Whereas, at the age of 37, Edward Roy Becker was appointed 
     to the United States District Court for the Eastern District 
     of Pennsylvania in 1970, was then elevated to the Court of 
     Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in 1982, was Chief Judge of the 
     Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit from February 1998 until 
     May 2003, and served as a Senior Judge until his passing on 
     May 19, 2006;
       Whereas, while serving as Chief Judge of the Court of 
     Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, Edward Roy Becker authored many 
     innovative and important opinions;
       Whereas, in 2002, Edward Roy Becker received the coveted 
     Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award after 
     being selected as the most distinguished Article III Judge in 
     the United States ``whose career has been exemplary, measured 
     by [his] significant contributions to the administration of 
     justice, the advancement of the rule of law, and the 
     improvement of society as a whole'';
       Whereas, among his landmark decisions, the Supreme Court 
     adopted 3 opinions rendered by Edward Roy Becker relating to 
     cutting-edge issues, including the reliability of scientific 
     evidence, the rationale of class action certification, and 
     the standards of review relating to the Employee Retirement 
     Income Security Act;
       Whereas the University of Chicago Law Review has 
     consistently recognized Edward Roy Becker as among the 3 
     circuit judges who are most often cited by the Supreme Court;
       Whereas Edward Roy Becker handed down approximately 2,000 
     judicial opinions;
       Whereas Edward Roy Becker devoted countless hours and a 
     tremendous amount of effort for almost 3 years as an 
     assistant to the Senate in drafting asbestos reform 
     legislation, writing most of S. 852 (109th Congress) 
     (commonly referred to as the ``Fairness in Asbestos Injury 
     Resolution Act of 2005''), and holding over 50 meetings in 
     Washington, D.C., with stakeholders and Senators;
       Whereas President George W. Bush inscribed a tribute to 
     Edward Roy Becker on the face of S. 852 (109th Congress) by 
     designating it as the ``Becker Bill''; and
       Whereas Edward Roy Becker undertook that arduous extra 
     assignment in addition to his judicial duties, all while 
     undergoing treatment for prostate cancer: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
        (a) honors the life and accomplishments of Edward Roy 
     Becker; and
       (b) extends its condolences to the family and friends of 
     Edward Roy Becker.

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