[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 23 (Thursday, February 5, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S1684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN:
  S. 387. A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 
211 South Court Street, Rockford, Illinois, as the ``Stanley J. 
Roszkowski United States Courthouse''; to the Committee on Environment 
and Public Works.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce 
legislation to designate the United States Courthouse at 211 South 
Court Street, Rockford, IL, as the ``Stanley J. Roszkowski United 
States Courthouse.''
  Stanley Roszkowski was raised in Royalton in southern Illinois, one 
of fifteen children. During World War II, he volunteered as a nose 
gunner on a B26 bomber, flying over 25 missions in Italy and Germany. 
After the war he went on to earn his B.A. from the University of 
Illinois and then his law degree, working as an appliance salesman to 
pay for school and meeting his wife Catherine along the way.
  When he moved to Rockford, he opened up a successful law practice and 
became involved in his community. He gave up this practice when 
President Carter appointed him to the bench, serving for the next 20 
years as a Federal Judge in the Northern District of Illinois. He 
became known for running a business-like but relaxed courtroom, and was 
praised by his peers for being extremely knowledgeable, fair and 
objective, and a gentleman at all times, with a wide breadth of 
experience and an uncommon sense of decency. As one lawyer put it: 
``You couldn't ask for a better trial judge.''
  Nobody worked harder than Stanley Roszkowski to make the United 
States Courthouse in Rockford a reality. He spent 6 years commuting 
between Rockford and Chicago building up the case load at Rockford and 
becoming Rockford's first full time Federal judge. As far back as 1992, 
he was writing countless letters and paying numerous visits to federal 
officials in Washington, DC, to make his case. It took many years but 
he never gave up on his belief that if the Federal courts had a 
physical presence in Rockford, it would be welcomed and frequently used 
by the lawyers there. He turned out to be right, and I am pleased that 
Representative Manzullo and I could work together to help secure the 
funding for it.
  Whether in a bomber or on the bench, Stanley Roszkowski has dedicated 
his life to serving his country. I can think of no better way to honor 
his commitment than by naming this Federal courthouse, which he worked 
so tirelessly to see built, after him. I hope my colleagues will join 
me in enacting this tribute to him.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
placed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 387

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. STANLEY J. ROSZKOWSKI UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE.

       (a) Designation.--The United States courthouse, located at 
     211 South Court Street, Rockford, Illinois, shall be known 
     and designated as the ``Stanley J. Roszkowski United States 
     Courthouse''.
       (b) 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 subsection (a) shall 
     be deemed to be a reference to the ``Stanley J. Roszkowski 
     United States Courthouse''.
                                 ______