[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 29, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H7174-H7175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
 CHARLES L. BRIEANT, JR. FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6340) to designate the Federal building and United States 
Courthouse located at 300 Quarropas Street in White Plains, New York, 
as the ``Charles L. Brieant, Jr. Federal 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. 6340

       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 located 
     at 300 Quarropas Street in White Plains, New York, shall be 
     known and designated as the ``Charles L. Brieant, Jr., 
     Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.

     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 referred to in section 1 shall 
     be deemed to be a reference to the ``Charles L. Brieant, 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 Arkansas 
(Mr. Boozman) 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 may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to exclude extraneous material on H.R. 6340.
  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 
and I am happy to yield to the gentlewoman from New York, who is the 
author of the bill.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to express my 
appreciation to my good friend and colleague, Eleanor Holmes Norton, 
and I want to thank Chairman Oberstar for his support of this bill and 
for his help bringing it to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, which would 
designate the Federal building and United States Courthouse in White 
Plains, New York, as the ``Charles L. Brieant, Jr. Federal Building and 
United States Courthouse.''
  Federal Judge Charles Brieant, Jr., a graduate of Columbia University 
and Columbia Law School, served in the United States Army Air Force 
during World War II. Appointed to the Federal judiciary by President 
Nixon in 1971, Judge Brieant rose to the high-profile post of Chief 
Judge of the influential U.S. District Court for the Southern District 
of New York, a court well regarded for its legal prowess and well-
reasoned decisions. His thoughtful interpretation of the law often 
earned great praise, and the United States Supreme Court agreed with 
Judge Brieant's rulings six times.
  Additionally, Judge Brieant received many awards and honors, 
including the Servant of Justice Award from the Guild of St. Ives in 
1998 and the Edward Weinfeld Award for Distinguished Contributions to 
the Administration of Justice in 2006.
  Mr. Speaker, Judge Brieant can lay claim to hundreds of court 
decisions, many of which have impacted the lives of ordinary New 
Yorkers in extraordinary ways.
  Judge Brieant is survived by his wife Virginia, their four children, 
nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
  Judge Brieant deserves our admiration and recognition for his 
selfless commitment to the law and public service. In fact, beyond the 
bench, Judge Brieant was instrumental in the construction of the very 
building we seek to name in his honor.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this great American by 
passing this legislation.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 6340 designates the Federal building and United States 
Courthouse located in White Plains, New York, as the ``Charles L. 
Brieant, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse.''
  Charles Brieant served as the Chief Judge of the United States 
District Court for the Southern District of New York from 1986 until 
1993. His original appointment to the bench by President Nixon in 1971 
began a 36-year career with the Southern District Court.
  Prior to his service on the Federal bench, Judge Brieant served 
honorably in the United States Army Air Force during World War II. 
After his service in the Armed Forces, Judge Brieant returned to 
Columbia University, where he had begun his college education before 
being called into the service, and graduated in 1947. He received his 
law degree in 1949 and began a life of public service, working as a 
town justice, assistant district attorney, town supervisor, and a 
county legislator.
  It is fitting that we give Judge Brieant's name to the courthouse 
where he served for so many years. Judge Brieant worked for many years 
to help build the courthouse in White Plains and another in Manhattan. 
He was particularly proud of the White Plains courthouse which opened 
in 1995. His work helped ensure that new courthouses would meet the 
needs of the court for many years.
  As we honor him today by naming this Federal building and courthouse, 
we ensure that Judge Brieant, who passed away just last week, will not 
be forgotten. Judge Brieant leaves behind his wife of 60 years, 
Virginia Brieant, three daughters and a son, nine grand-children and 
two great-grandchildren.
  We hope that the naming of this courthouse will bring comfort to his 
family in their time of loss, and honor his legacy of service to the 
court.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. I thank the gentleman for his statement in support of the 
Judge Brieant bill. The gentlelady and my colleague covered the matter 
extensively. I have only to add that this was a very distinguished 
judge who enjoyed the respect of both sides of the aisle.
  I commend the gentlelady for her bill; this is very well deserved. 
We're very pleased in our subcommittee to be able to bring it forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6340 and commend 
Congresswoman Lowey for her staunch support for this bill, which has 
broad bi-partisan support.
  Federal Judge Charles Brieant, Jr. born in 1923 in Ossining, New York 
and who recently died on July 20, 2008.
  He graduated from Columbia University and Columbia Law School. From 
1943 until 1946 he served in the United States Army Air Force. He began 
his career practicing in White Plains, New York, while serving as Water 
Commissioner for the town of Ossining, New York.
  Judge Brieant was elected Ossining Town Justice in 1952 before 
serving as Village Attorney for Briarcliff Manor, New York. From 1960 
through 1963 he served as Town Supervisor for Ossining.
  In 1970, he was elected to Westchester County legislature and one 
year later was nominated to serve on the District Court for the 
Southern District of New York by President Richard Nixon. He served as 
Chief Judge for the Southern District from 1986 to 1993. Judge Brieant 
took senior status on May 31, 2007. During his distinguished career 
Judge Brieant received many awards and honors including the Servant of 
Justice Award from the Guild of St. Ives in 1998 and the Edward 
Weinfeld Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Administration of 
Justice in 2006.
  It is most fitting and proper that we honor the outstanding public 
career of this imminent jurist.
  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. 6340, as amended.
  The question was taken.

[[Page H7175]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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