[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 103 (Monday, June 25, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H7015-H7017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GEORGE HOWARD, JR. FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2011) to designate the Federal building and United States
courthouse located at 100 East 8th Avenue in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as
the ``George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and United States
Courthouse''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2011
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. GEORGE HOWARD, JR. FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED
STATES COURTHOUSE.
(a) Designation.--The Federal building and United States
courthouse located at 100 East 8th Avenue in Pine Bluff,
Arkansas, shall be known and designated as the ``George
Howard, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other
[[Page H7016]]
record of the United States to the Federal building and
United States courthouse referred to in subsection (a) shall
be deemed to be a reference to the ``George Howard, Jr.
Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Louisiana
(Mr. Boustany) 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 include extraneous material on H.R. 2011.
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, H.R. 2011 is a bill to designate the Federal building
and United States courthouse at 100 East 8th Avenue in Pine Bluff,
Arkansas as the George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and United States
Courthouse.
Judge Howard, who recently died at age 82, was an icon of the
judicial community in Arkansas. He had a lifetime filled with
accomplishments, first African American Federal judge in Arkansas,
distinguished legal career, Navy veteran, and dedicated family man. He
served with distinction on the Arkansas Supreme Court, the Arkansas
Court of Appeals, and the Arkansas State Claims Commission.
After graduating from the University of Arkansas Law School, George
Howard, Jr. began a long illustrious, trailblazing legal career in his
home State of Arkansas. After initially working as an attorney in
private practice, Judge Howard received his first appointment in 1967
to the Arkansas State Claims Commission. He was then appointed to the
Arkansas State Supreme Court as an Arkansas State Supreme Court
Justice, and was later appointed by then Governor Bill Clinton as State
Court of Appeals judge in 1979. Judge Howard later began his Federal
service in 1980, when President Jimmy Carter appointed him a Federal
District Judge in Arkansas.
The bill has bipartisan support from the Arkansas delegation. It is
both fitting and appropriate that we honor Judge Howard's legacy with
this designation. I support H.R. 2011 and urge its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 2011 designates the Federal building and United States
courthouse located at 100 East 8th Avenue in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as
the George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
The bill honors Judge Howard, who was the first African American
appointed to the Federal bench in Arkansas.
Judge Howard served in the United States Navy during World War II.
And after receiving his law degree from the University of Arkansas at
Fayetteville, he engaged in the private practice of law in Pine Bluff,
Arkansas.
His career in public service included serving on the Arkansas State
Claims Commission, the Arkansas Supreme Court, and the Arkansas Court
of Appeals, and culminated in his appointment to the Federal bench.
In 1980, President Carter appointed Judge Howard to the United States
District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. Judge
Howard's tenure on the bench ended with his passing at the age of 82 on
April 21, 2007.
Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues
to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may
consume to the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Ross of Arkansas.
Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2011, a bill
to dedicate the Federal building and United States courthouse in Pine
Bluff, Arkansas as the George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and United
States Courthouse.
{time} 1430
First I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar and Chairwoman Norton,
Congressman Boustany, and others for their support and assistance in
moving this bill from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
in a bipartisan manner to the floor of the United States House of
Representatives. I am also pleased that the entire Arkansas
congressional delegation, Congressmen Marion Berry, Vic Snyder, and
John Boozman, are supporting and cosponsoring this very important bill
with me in a bipartisan way.
Judge George Howard, Jr., was a great American who served his country
in the State of Arkansas with great dignity. He was born in Pine Bluff,
Arkansas, where he practiced law and actively served in the community
for over 40 years. He attended Lincoln University in Missouri and the
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he received his law
degree in 1954, among the first African Americans to graduate from the
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Law School.
During World War II, he chose to serve his country by enlisting in
the Navy. Judge Howard was known to be a pioneer throughout his career
as he became the first African American in the State of Arkansas to
serve on the State Claims Commission, State Supreme Court, the court of
appeals, and eventually rising to become the first African American
Federal judge for the U.S. District Court in Arkansas.
Judge Howard was the first African American member of the State
Supreme Court, appointed by then Governor David Pryor in 1977 before
being appointed to the State court of appeals by then Governor Bill
Clinton in 1979.
As a judge, George Howard, Jr. was admired for his fairness and deep
belief in the fundamental idea of justice for all. Judge Howard will
forever be remembered as a dedicated public servant who cared deeply
about his faith, his family, his work, his State, his country, and the
judicial process.
In respect to Judge Howard's life, career and public service, I felt
that it was appropriate to introduce legislation in Congress to
dedicate the Federal building and courthouse in Pine Bluff, Arkansas,
as the ``George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and United States
Courthouse.''
Mr. Speaker, I can think of no better way to recognize his legacy and
his steadfast commitment to justice and equality than by officially
renaming this Federal building and courthouse in the city he loved and
called home, Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
His life and service have paved the way for so many others who pursue
careers in public service and law. His life and service opened many
doors for African Americans throughout Pine Bluff in southeast
Arkansas.
Judge Howard passed away on April 21, 2007. He will forever be
remembered and his contributions to the State of Arkansas and our
Nation live on. It is my hope that each person who walks through the
doors of the George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and Courthouse in Pine
Bluff, Arkansas, will have an even greater appreciation for the
countless contributions Judge Howard made in the lives of people across
the State of Arkansas. May this courthouse that hopefully will soon
bear his name serve as a reminder to all of us that while he is no
longer with us, the example, the shining example, of community service,
public service, and of being fair to all people can live on.
This recognition will serve as a reminder to young people in Pine
Bluff, Arkansas, and to future generations that committing one's self
to education, hard work, and pursuing a career in public service can be
good and noble.
I am proud to sponsor this bill in Congress, and I urge my fellow
colleagues to vote in favor of it today.
Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr.
Ross) for bringing this legislation to the floor, and I commend the
Arkansas delegation for its consideration of Judge Howard's tenure and
time on the bench.
I support this legislation and urge its adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague from Arkansas for
recognizing a true civil rights and judicial pioneer when that was not
easy at a time when there were few like him.
[[Page H7017]]
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
2011, a bill to designate the Federal building and United States
Courthouse in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as the ``George Howard, Jr. Federal
Building and United States Courthouse''.
Judge George Howard, Jr. was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on May 13,
1924. He began his service to our Nation at the age of 18 when he was
drafted into military service during World War II. Judge Howard served
with distinction in the United States Navy with the Construction
Battalion--or the ``Seabees''--in the South Pacific.
After completing his military service, Judge George Howard, Jr.
returned to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and re-enrolled in high school to
complete his high school education. Upon graduating from high school,
Judge Howard attended the pre-law program at Lincoln University in
Missouri and graduated with honors. Judge Howard subsequently attended
the University of Arkansas School of Law. He was the first African-
American student to live on campus in the newly desegregated campus
dormitories. He earned his law degree in 1954.
After graduating from law school, Judge Howard began a long,
illustrious, and trailblazing legal career in his home State of
Arkansas. In the 1950s, Judge Howard started a private law practice and
devoted his energies to representing those whose voices would not
otherwise be heard. He subsequently served on the Arkansas State Claims
Commission, the Arkansas Court of Appeals, and the Arkansas Supreme
Court. In 1980, President Carter appointed Judge Howard to the U.S.
District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. Judge Howard
was Arkansas' first African-American Federal judge.
Through his pursuit of legal and racial equality, and his exemplary
career in public service, Judge Howard helped to pave the way for other
African-Americans to pursue careers in law and public service. From his
time as a private attorney, to his service as President of the State
Council of Branches of the National Association of Colored People,
NAACP, Judge Brown's judicial ideals were grounded in the fundamental
belief of justice for all.
Judge Howard passed away on April 21, 2007, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas,
at the age of 82. In honor of Judge George Howard, Jr.'s outstanding
contributions to the State of Arkansas, the Federal judiciary, and his
distinguished legal career, it is both fitting and proper to designate
the courthouse located at in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the ``George Howard,
Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2011.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 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. 2011.
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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