[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2191-H2192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SANTIAGO E. CAMPOS UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 544) to designate the United States courthouse at South
Federal Place in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the ``Santiago E. Campos
United States Courthouse''.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 544
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.
The United States courthouse at South Federal Place in
Santa Fe, New Mexico, shall be known and designated as the
``Santiago E. Campos United States Courthouse''.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper,
or other record of the United States to the United States
courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a
reference to the ``Santiago E. Campos United States
Courthouse''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Missouri
(Mr. Graves) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.
General Leave
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material concerning H.R. 544.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
There was no objection.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, in the 107th, 108th and 109th Congresses, Congressman
Tom Udall introduced legislation to designate the Federal courthouse in
Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the Santiago E. Campos United States
Courthouse. No action was taken during the past Congress. Therefore, it
is with great pleasure that the 110th Congress finally moves forward
with this bill to honor an outstanding American.
Judge Campos was a life-long resident of the United States and
graduated first in his class from the University of New Mexico. He
served the people of New Mexico and his country with honor and great
distinction. He was a World War II veteran, serving the United States
Navy as a seamen first class from 1944 to 1946. After leaving the Navy,
Judge Campos attended the Central College in Fayette, Missouri, and
received his law degree from the University of New Mexico in 1953,
graduating first in his class again. From 1954 to 1957, he worked as an
assistant attorney general and subsequently as first assistant attorney
general for the State of New Mexico. After 14 years in private
practice, Judge Campos was elected district judge for the First
Judicial District of New Mexico in 1971 and served in that capacity
until 1978.
President Jimmy Carter appointed him to the Federal bench in 1978.
Judge Campos was the first Hispanic appointed to the Federal bench in
New Mexico. He served as chief judge from 1987 until 1989. Known for
his compassion, quick wit and inquisitive mind, Judge Campos was a role
model for students, fellow jurists and professional colleagues. He was
well liked among peers and judicial staff as well.
I strongly support Congressman Udall and his efforts on behalf of
this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join in support of H.R. 544.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I would yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 544, introduced by Representative Udall of New
Mexico, designates the United States courthouse at South Federal Place
in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the Santiago E. Campos United States
Courthouse. The bill honors Judge Campos, who was the first Hispanic to
be appointed to the U.S. District Court of New Mexico.
Judge Campos served in the United States Navy during World War II and
graduated first in his law class at the University of New Mexico. His
career in public service included serving as the assistant and first
assistant attorney general in New Mexico, and serving as a district
court judge in New Mexico's First Judicial District, and culminated in
his appointment to the Federal bench.
Judge Campos was appointed by President Carter in 1978 to the
District Court of New Mexico. He served as chief judge from 1987 to
1989 and became a senior judge on December 26, 1992. He served with
distinction on the bench, and on January 20, 2001, Judge Campos passed
away.
I support this legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to do the
same.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. I thank the gentleman. And I concur and strongly support
this legislation as well.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 544, a
bill to designate the United States Courthouse at South Federal Place,
Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the ``Santiago E. Campos United States
Courthouse''.
I commend the Gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) for his steadfast
support of this bill to honor an outstanding jurist.
Mr. Udall introduced identical legislation in three previous
Congresses--H.R. 5083 in the 107th Congress, H.R. 2274 in the 108th
Congress, and H.R. 984 in the 109th Congress. Regrettably, the House
never considered those bills. I am pleased that we are moving forward
on this legislation today.
Santiago E. Campos was born on December 25, 1926, in Santa Rosa, New
Mexico. He served in the United States Navy as a Seaman 1st Class from
1944 to 1946. After leaving the Navy, Judge Campos attended Central
College in Fayette, Missouri, and received his law degree from the
University of New Mexico in 1953, graduating first in his class.
From 1954 until 1957, he worked as an Assistant Attorney General and
subsequently as First Assistant Attorney General for the State of New
Mexico. After 14 years in private practice, Judge Campos was elected
District Judge for the 1st Judicial District of New Mexico in 1971, and
served in that capacity until 1978. In 1978, Judge Campos was appointed
to the Federal Bench by President Jimmy Carter and began serving on
July 20, 1978.
Judge Campos was the first Hispanic American to serve as a Federal
Judge in the District Court of New Mexico, as well as the first
Hispanic American to serve as its Chief Judge. He held the title of
Chief U.S. District Judge from February 5, 1987, to December 31, 1989,
and took senior status on December 26, 1992. Judge Campos died on
January 20, 2002, after suffering a long bout with cancer.
[[Page H2192]]
During his career, Judge Campos was named an honorary member of the
Order of the Coif. He also received the Distinguished Achievement Award
of the State Bar of New Mexico in 1993, and in the same year the
University of New Mexico honored him with a Distinguished Achievement
Award.
H.R. 544 has received the unanimous endorsement of the Judges of the
10th Circuit Court in New Mexico and the district judges of the
District of New Mexico.
In honor of Judge Campos's trailblazing legal career in New Mexico
and his outstanding contributions to the legal profession, it is both
fitting and proper to designate the courthouse located at South Federal
Place in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the ``Santiago E. Campos United
States Courthouse''.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 544.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 544.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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