Congressional Record, Volume 154 Issue 91 (Wednesday, June 4, 2008)

[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 4, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H4888-H4890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

JAMES M. & THOMAS W.L. ASHLEY CUSTOMS BUILDING AND UNITED STATES
COURTHOUSE

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3712) to designate the Federal
building and United States courthouse located at 1716 Spielbusch Avenue
in Toledo, Ohio, as the ``James M. & Thomas W.L. Ashley Customs
Building and United States Courthouse,'' as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 3712

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 located at 1716 Spielbusch
Avenue in Toledo, Ohio, shall be known and designated as the
``James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley 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 ``James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley
United States Courthouse''.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) and the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Kuhl) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.

General Leave

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise
and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself
such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 3712 as amended is a bill to designate the
Federal building located at 1716 Spielbusch Avenue in Toledo, Ohio, as
the ``James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley United States
Courthouse''.
The late Congressman and Governor James M. Ashley and former
Congressman Thomas W.L. Ashley served their Ohio constituents for over
30 years as Members of Congress and Governor. The Ashley family has
served with distinction in public service for a span of almost 100
years in the state of Ohio.
James Monroe Ashley served five terms as a Republican Congressman
from Ohio. Governor Ashley's best known Congressional achievement was
as the primary sponsor of the resolution which is recognized as the
antecedent of the thirteenth amendment which abolished slavery within
the United States and its territories.
While in Congress, James Ashley also became the chair of the House
Committee on Territories, leading the congressional effort to organize
Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, and Montana.
As chair of the House Committee on Territories, he wrote the enabling
act for Nebraska, Colorado, and Nevada on which he conditioned that a
separate vote be held by these potential member States that would
prevent them from establishing slavery without the consent and approval
of Congress.
With this measure, Ashley, an avowed abolitionist, signaled that no
new slave States would be admitted to the Union. After serving in
Congress, James M. Ashley was appointed Governor of Montana in 1869 by
President Ulysses S. Grant.
Thomas William Ludlow Ashley was the great-grandson of former
Governor and Congressman James M. Ashley. Congressman Thomas Ashley
served in the United States Army during the Second World War. He went
on to graduate first from Yale University in 1948 and from the Ohio
State University Law School in 1951.
Congressman Ashley later held several positions as a private lawyer
and a member of the media. In 1954 Congressman Ashley was elected as a
Democrat to Congress and went on to serve a total of 13 terms in
Congress.
While in Congress, Congressman Ashley served as chairman of the
Select Committee on Energy and the Committee on Merchant Marine and
Fisheries.
Congressman Ashley also served as the assistant majority whip for the
Democratic Party. Congressman Ashley's most prominent legislative
success was PL 89-117 which directed the Federal Government to assist
in the provision of housing for low and moderate income families.
This law was the precursor to the creation of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development which was created later in that same
Congress. After leaving Congress in 1981, Ashley went on to found a
legal and consulting firm in Washington, DC. Congressman Thomas W.L.
Ashley currently resides in the Washington, DC area.
James Monroe Ashley and Thomas William Ludlow Ashley will be
remembered as distinguished public servants to the great State of Ohio.
The Ashley family served as leaders in both the Democratic and
Republican Party in Ohio and each served their party well.

[[Page H4889]]

They will be respected as great Americans whose dedication to public
service was passed down through the generations. As such, it is very
appropriate that the United States Courthouse in Toledo, Ohio, be
designated as the ``James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley United
States Courthouse''.
I recognize the gentlelady from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for as much time as
she may consume.
Ms. KAPTUR. I rise today and ask my colleagues to join me in support
of H.R. 3712, which seeks to name the Federal Courthouse Building
located in Toledo Ohio, the James M. Ashley and Thomas W. Ludlow Ashley
Customs Building and United States Courthouse.

{time} 1115

This deserved recognition of two well-known lawmakers from the Ashley
family, whose roots run deep in America and our community, pays tribute
to the lives of late Congressman and Governor James M. Ashley who
served here in the 19th century, as well as his great-grandson, former
Congressman Thomas W. Ludlow Ashley, who served here during the 20th
century.
These visionary Americans who lived in three different centuries
advanced America's promise and the cause of social justice as they made
immeasurable public service contributions to both define and direct the
course of our Nation, one in the abolitionist fight to eliminate
slavery in our Nation, and the other to bind up America's wounds in the
civil rights era to help our Nation gain its idealistic foothold again.
Congressman James Ashley, who served in our U.S. House of
Representatives from December 1859 to March 1869, was an active
abolitionist credited with introducing the first bill for the 13th
Amendment to our constitution to abolish the practice of slavery. He
also drafted a bill to abolish slavery in Washington, DC. These
extraordinarily brave actions in his era are illustrative of Ashley's
courageous leadership. They reflect the Ashley family's place in
history on the scales of justice and equality for all people.
During his tenure in Congress, James Ashley served as chairman of the
Committee on Territories, and he was later appointed Governor of
Montana. Congressman Thomas Ludlow Ashley, great-grandson of James
Ashley from Lucas County, Toledo, Ohio, served a quarter century, 13
terms, from January 1955 to January 1981. During his tenure, he served
as the chairman of the Select Committee on Energy where he was chosen
by then-Speaker Thomas Tip O'Neill to prepare comprehensive legislative
proposals across congressional committees to regain America's energy
independence.
During that era of the 1970s, that landmark legislation, the Energy
Conservation Act of 1976, and subsequent Carter administration energy
independence proposals became America's first step on an arduous
journey into a new energy age.
He also served as chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marines and
Fisheries and as assistant majority whip for the Democrats in the
House.
Lud was an outstanding leader in both community development and
energy policy. As Chair of the Housing and Community Development
Subcommittee for the Banking Committee, he, like his great-grandfather
before him, championed social justice. He wrote and gained passage of
the Demonstration City Act and the Housing and Community Development
Act of 1974 and 1977 to rebuild America's cities and communities in the
wake of the civil rights era.
Indeed, the very establishment of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development during the Lyndon Johnson administration was made possible
by Lud's effective and dogged congressional leadership. Housing for the
less fortunate and more sustainable communities across our country were
made possible through his unyielding and creative efforts. A banker's
banker, he also gained passage of the Bank Merger Act of 1966, the
Export Development Administration Act of 1969, the Export Expansion and
Finance Act of 1971.
A World War II hero, Congressman Ashley also served in the U.S. Army
prior to his service in the U.S. House. Subsequent to his career in
Congress, Congressman Ashley founded a consulting firm in Washington,
DC, and now resides in Traverse City, Michigan.
I would ask my colleagues to please join me in supporting this bill
in honor of two centuries of a family's service to America by the
Ashley family and their two outstanding sons whose commitment to
America is historic. Ohio is proud to claim these two favorite sons,
men of principle, as people who changed America for the better.
I thank my dear colleague from Texas, Congresswoman Johnson for
yielding to me. I thank Congressman Kuhl, and I thank the leadership
here for allowing us from the proud Buckeye State of Ohio to place the
Ashley family's name on our revered Federal courthouse in perpetuity.
Mr. KUHL of New York. I yield myself such time as I might consume.
I rise in support of the resolution offered by the gentlewoman from
Ohio, Representative Kaptur.
H.R. 3712 designates the Federal building and United States
courthouse located in Toledo, Ohio as the ``James M. Ashley and Thomas
W. L. Ashley Customs Building and United States Courthouse.''
James Mitchell Ashley was an Ohio congressman who served five terms
in the United States Congress where he served for 8 years as the
chairman on the Committee of Territories. Representative Ashley had a
prominent role in the passage of the 13th amendment, which abolished
slavery. Following his service in Congress, James Ashley served as the
Governor of the Territory of Montana, as you have previously heard, and
helped to construct the Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern Railroad.
His great grandson, Thomas William Ludlow Ashley, also served as a
congressman from Ohio from 1955 to 1981, some 26 years. Representative
Thomas Ashley served 13 terms in Congress, and was chairman of the
Select Committee on Energy in the 95th Congress. Prior to his service,
he served in the Pacific theater during World War II as a corporal in
the United States Army.
This bill is a fitting tribute to their service and to their country.
I support this measure, and urge my colleagues to do the same.
While this legislation will name a courthouse in Ohio, it is not on
the issue or not on the minds of people across the country as they
travel to work. They are more worried about the cost of filling up
their gas tanks than they are the managerial actions of Congress'
naming a building after some very honorable people. The American people
are really feeling the pain at the pump, and this Congress has ignored
their calls for help. It seems that, every night, the news media
proclaims that the gas prices have hit another record high. As Congress
idles and as prices soar, the problem is being ignored. This is
something that Congress must act on immediately.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I have no further
requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I would encourage my colleagues
to support this resolution as it is a fine, honorable, memorable
tribute to a wonderful family from Ohio.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 3712, a bill to
designate the U.S. courthouse located at 1716 Spielbusch Avenue in
Toledo, Ohio, as the ``James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley United
States Courthouse.'' This bill was introduced by the gentlewoman from
Ohio, Ms. Kaptur, to honor two members of the Ashley family, James M.
Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley.
The Ashley family has a distinguished record in public service dating
back to the mid 1800s. Various members of this family have served in
the U.S. House of Representatives since 1858.
James Monroe Ashley, 1824-1896, served five terms as a Representative
from Ohio. During the American Civil War, Congressman Ashley was the
first Representative to call for an amendment to the United States
Constitution to outlaw slavery. The amendment he sponsored served as
the antecedent to the thirteenth amendment of the Constitution, which
abolished slavery.
Thomas William Ludlow Ashley is the great-grandson of former Governor
and Congressman, James M. Ashley. In 1954, Thomas William Ludlow Ashley
was elected to Congress served a total of 13 terms in Congress. While
in Congress, Representative ``Lud'' Ashley served as chairman of the
Select Committee on Energy and the Committee on Merchant Marine and
Fisheries. In 1977, Speaker Thomas P. ``Tip'' O'Neill established a
Select Committee on Energy and appointed Congressman

[[Page H4890]]

Ashley to chair the Committee, which compiled energy legislation based
on bills reported by several House committees in response to President
Jimmy Carter's legislative proposal.
This bill is a fitting tribute to two distinguished public servants.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill.
Mr. KUHL of New York. I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move that we
support this resolution for a very deserving family.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3712, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to designate the United
States courthouse located at 1716 Spielbusch Avenue in Toledo, Ohio, as
the `James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley United States
Courthouse'.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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