[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3119-H3121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                JAMES A. LEACH UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 887) to designate the United States courthouse 
located at 131 East 4th Street in Davenport, Iowa, as the ``James A. 
Leach United States Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 887

       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 131 East 4th Street 
     in Davenport, Iowa, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``James A. Leach 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 A. Leach United States Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Ms. Edwards) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-
Balart) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. 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 material on H.R. 887.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 887, a bill to designate the 
federal building in Davenport, Iowa, as the James A. Leach United 
States Courthouse.
  Former Representative Leach began his public service career in 1965 
as a staff person to then-Congressman Donald Rumsfeld. In 1968, Jim 
Leach joined the United States Department of State as a Foreign Service 
Officer and subsequently served as a special assistant to director at 
the Office of Economic Opportunity.
  In the 1970s, Representative Leach served in various capacities with 
the United Nations, the United States Advisory Commission on 
International Education and Cultural Affairs, and the Federal Home Loan 
Bank Board.
  Our former colleague, Jim Leach was elected to the Congress in 1977 
from Iowa and served for 14 consecutive Congresses. His contributions 
to, and interests in the House of Representatives, are numerous, 
including his longstanding support for use of HOPE VI HUD funds to help 
smaller cities develop affordable housing.
  Jim Leach was hardworking, highly respected on both sides of the 
aisle, and dedicated to the welfare of his constituents. It is fitting 
and proper to honor his public service with this designation. I support 
H.R. 887, and urge the passage of the bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  This bill names the United States Courthouse located on East 4th 
Street in Davenport, Iowa, as the James A. Leach United States 
Courthouse. As we recall, he was also a former colleague of ours here 
in this distinguished body.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Loebsack).
  Mr. LOEBSACK. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I would like to 
take a few minutes today to honor the many accomplishments of my 
predecessor, former Congressman Jim Leach.
  Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 887, to rename the United States 
Courthouse in Jim's hometown of Davenport, Iowa, as a tribute to his 30 
years of service to Iowa's Second Congressional District. Jim's legacy 
of statesmanship; his leadership in foreign affairs and financial 
services issues; his dedication to public service; and his capable 
representation of his constituents left a lasting impact on the 
district I am now honored to represent.
  As chairman of the Banking and Financial Services Committee, the 
Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs, and the Congressional-
Executive Commission on China, Jim was a leader on some of the most 
important financial and foreign affairs issues of the past 30 years.

[[Page H3120]]

  A native son of Iowa, Jim represented his constituents with grace, 
commitment, and the Iowa values with which he was raised. Indeed, his 
legacy of service has been highlighted through several awards, 
including the Norman Borlaug Award for Public Service.
  Jim is now continuing that legacy as a faculty member at the Woodrow 
Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton 
University, his alma mater. As a former member of the Foreign Service, 
where he served as a delegate to the Geneva Disarmament Conference and 
the United Nations General Assembly, I am confident that Jim brings a 
unique perspective to Princeton that is surely a tremendous asset for 
his students.
  Indeed, as a former professor at Cornell College in Iowa, I invited 
Jim to guest lecture at the college. His knowledge and personal 
experiences were a highlight for my students, and make it clear why he 
holds eight honorary degrees.
  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jim for his many years 
of service to Iowa and our Nation, and I urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell).
  Mr. BOSWELL. I rise in support of H.R. 887, to honor my friend, 
former colleague and Congressman, Jim Leach. Jim's survival for three 
decades, winning election 14 times, and his strong record of 
principled, bipartisan leadership is a superb example to all of his 
colleagues, to all of us.
  He was born in Davenport, Iowa, where he made a name for himself by 
winning the 1960 State Wrestling Championship for Davenport High 
School. He went on to earn an impressive set of degrees from Princeton 
University, Johns Hopkins University, and the London School of 
Economics.
  Jim began his public service career in 1965 as a staffer to then-
Congressman Don Rumsfeld. In 1968, he entered the Foreign Service, 
where he served as a delegate to the Geneva Disarmament Conference and 
the U.N. General Assembly. He resigned his commission in 1973 to 
protest President Richard Nixon's firing of the first Watergate special 
prosecutor, Archibald Cox.
  Jim was first elected to represent Iowa's Second District in 1976. A 
political moderate who was always willing to reach across the aisle, 
Jim chaired the Ripon Society and the Republican Mainstream Committee, 
two organizations formed to encourage bipartisan policymaking. In 
Congress, Jim distinguished himself as a steadfastly ethical and 
independent-minded public servant.
  Throughout his career, Jim supported diplomacy before unilateralism, 
pushing for full funding of U.S. obligations to the U.N. As chairman of 
the Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus, Jim pressed for a 
comprehensive test ban and led the House debate on a nuclear freeze. 
Jim was also one of the only six House Republicans to vote against the 
2002 Iraq War resolution.
  Jim's post-congressional career has been no less extraordinary. He 
holds eight honorary degrees, and has received decorations from two 
foreign governments. He is a recipient of the Wayne Morse Integrity in 
Politics Award; the Woodrow Wilson Award from Johns Hopkins; the Adlai 
Stevenson Award from the United Nations Association; the Edgar Wayburn 
Award from the Sierra Club; and the Norman Borlaug Public Service 
Award.
  Jim continues to serve the public on the boards of several public 
companies and nonprofit organizations, including the Century 
Foundation; the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; the Social 
Sciences Research Council; Pro Publica; and Common Cause, which he 
chairs.
  Additionally, he is currently a member of the Council on Foreign 
Relations and teaches at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School 
as the John L. Weinberg Visiting Professor of Public and International 
Affairs.
  Jim is not only a remarkable public servant, but a good friend. It 
was a tremendous honor to serve alongside him.
  Just in closing, I'd like to say this. Jim Leach reminded me of a 
person that I knew in the legislature named Horace Daggett. Outstanding 
people in their own right in every way. Truly, community people. 
Iowans, Americans. And they put the country first.
  Jim was a privilege to know, as the person he was, the person that he 
is, the person that reaches out and continues to serve us with 
distinction, and someone that we all can be very, very proud of.
  So, I urge all to support H.R. 887.
  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution to 
honor our great friend, Jim Leach, by naming the courthouse in 
Davenport, Iowa, after him. It is a well-deserved honor.
  Jim Leach is missed around the Capitol because he was a resource of 
institutional knowledge, he shared his tremendous sense of humor and 
his insight. I always enjoyed his ability to bring thoughtfulness to 
the debate. Most importantly, Jim Leach was and remains a great 
advocate for the State of Iowa. Jim is also a great Iowa Hawkeye 
supporter because, of course, he had the Hawks in his district. I 
represent the University of Iowa's state rival, Iowa State University. 
Obviously, we had a lot to tease each other about throughout the years.
  Jim Leach will be remembered here in this body for his 30 years of 
dedicated service and his great intellect. He was a well-rounded 
member. You could call on him to stop gambling predators over the 
Internet or, as someone who knew and understood the many facets of 
foreign affairs; we could seek his counsel during an international 
crisis. His talent was being able to bring that forth and convey 
complex subjects in a very kind and thoughtful way.
  Jim Leach represents the very best of what constituents expect from 
their Representatives in Congress. His legacy is promoting 
bipartisanship, protecting the dignity of the House by standing as an 
example of putting thought before politics and actions over posturing. 
Jim is someone who I have the greatest personal respect for.
  I'm pleased that Mr. Loebsack has brought this resolution to the 
floor of the House, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution 
in honor of former Representative James Leach.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 887, a 
bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 131 East 4th 
Street in Davenport, Iowa in honor of former Congressman Jim Leach.
  I thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Loebsack) and the Iowa 
delegation for reintroducing this bill to honor one of Congress's most 
well-respected and well-liked Members. The House passed a similar bill, 
H.R. 1505, in the 110th Congress but unfortunately, the Senate was 
unable to act on the legislation.
  Jim Leach was a learned Member of this Body and, to many of us, a 
trusted friend.
  James Albert Smith Leach was born in Davenport, Iowa on October 15, 
1942. He attended public schools in Davenport, received a Bachelor of 
Arts from Princeton University, and attended the London School of 
Economics.
  In 1965, Congressman Leach began his public service career as a staff 
person to then-Congressman Donald Rumsfeld. In 1968, he joined the U.S. 
Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer and subsequently 
served as special assistant to the director at the Office of Economic 
Opportunity. In the 1970s, he served in various capacities with the 
United Nations, the United States Advisory Commission on International 
Education and Cultural Affairs, and the Federal Home Loan Bank Board.
  In 1976, Congressman Leach was elected to the United States House of 
Representatives; he would represent the 2nd District of Iowa for 30 
years (1977-2007). During his time in Congress, he chaired the 
Committee on Banking and Financial Services, the Subcommittee on Asian 
and Pacific Affairs, and the Congressional-Executive Commission on 
China.
  He holds eight honorary degrees, has received decorations from two 
foreign governments, and is the recipient of the Wayne Morse Integrity 
in Politics Award, the Woodrow Wilson Award from Johns Hopkins 
University, the Adlai Stevenson Award from the United Nations 
Association, and the Edger Wayburn Award from the Sierra Club.
  In February 2007, Congressman Leach joined the faculty of Princeton's 
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs as a visiting 
professor.
  In all aspects of his public career, he served the citizens of Iowa 
with distinction, hard work, and honor. This designation properly 
honors his outstanding public career and it is fitting to designate the 
Davenport, Iowa courthouse as the ``James A. Leach United States 
Courthouse.''
  I support the bill and urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Jim 
Leach.

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.

[[Page H3121]]

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. 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 Maryland (Ms. Edwards) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 887.
  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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