[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 65 (Monday, April 23, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H3740-H3741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GERALD W. HEANEY FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE AND
CUSTOMHOUSE
Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
Senate bill (S. 521) to designate the Federal building and United
States courthouse and customhouse located at 515 West First Street in
Duluth, Minnesota, as the ``Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and
United States Courthouse and Customhouse''.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
The text of the Senate bill is as follows:
S. 521
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.
The Federal building and United States courthouse and
customhouse located at 515 West First Street in Duluth,
Minnesota, shall be known and designated as the ``Gerald W.
Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and
Customhouse''.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper,
or other record of the United States to the Federal building
and United States courthouse and customhouse referred to in
section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Gerald
W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and
Customhouse''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Maine (Mr. Michaud) and the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs.
Capito) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maine.
General Leave
Mr. MICHAUD. 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 S. 521.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Maine?
There was no objection.
Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, S. 521 is a bill to designate the Federal building and
United States courthouse located at 515 West First Street in Duluth,
Minnesota, as Judge Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States
Courthouse and Customhouse.
Gerald Heaney was appointed judge of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on November 3, 1966. He took senior
status on December 31, 1988, and retired on August 31, 2006, after over
40 years of distinguished service to his country and the citizens of
Minnesota. I rise in strong support of this bill.
Judge Heaney was born on January 29, 1918, in Goodhue, a rural
community in the southeastern part of Minnesota. As a child growing up
in a farming community, Judge Heaney learned the value of a close
family, honesty, and hard work. These qualities have marked not only
his personal life but also his life as a public servant.
He was educated at the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul and received
his law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1941.
Gerald Heaney is a decorated World War II veteran and was a member of
the distinguished Army Ranger Battalion and participated in the
historic D-Day landing at Normandy. He was awarded the Silver Star for
extraordinary bravery in the Battle of La Pointe du Hoc in Normandy. He
also received a Bronze Star and five battle stars. At the end of the
war, Judge Heaney returned home and entered private practice in Duluth.
During this time, he was instrumental in improving the State's
education system, and served on the board of regents for the University
of Minnesota.
He was instrumental in helping develop for the Duluth school system
the same pay scale for both men and women. In 1966, he was appointed by
President Johnson to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. In that
capacity, he has been a champion in protecting the rights of the
disadvantaged. He was devoted to making sure that every person had an
equal opportunity for an education, a job, and a home.
He firmly believes the poor and the less educated and the less
advantaged deserve the protection of the Constitution. As a
hardworking, well-prepared and fair-minded jurist, he left his legal
stamp on school desegregation cases, bankruptcy laws, prison treatment,
and Social Security law. His public service is marked by industry,
brilliance, and scholarly excellence. His compassion and dedication to
those most disadvantaged is unparalleled.
Judge Heaney is most deserving of this honor. I ask my colleagues to
join me in supporting this bill.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, S. 521 is a companion bill to H.R. 187 which was
introduced by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar). This bill
designates the Federal building and United States courthouse and
customhouse at 515 West First Street in Duluth, Minnesota, as the
Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and
Customhouse. The bill honors Judge Heaney's dedication to public
service.
As we have heard previously, after serving in the Army during World
War II and acquiring a law degree from the University of Minnesota Law
School, Judge Gerald Heaney entered into the private practice of law
from 1946 to 1966. Judge Heaney's career as a judge began in 1966 with
an appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit by
President Lyndon Johnson.
Judge Heaney had a reputation for championing equal justice for
underprivileged and vulnerable citizens. He retired after 40 years of
service on August 31, 2006.
I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the
same.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H3741]]
Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the Senate bill, S. 521.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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