[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 126 (Wednesday, September 9, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H9370-H9371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ALTO LEE ADAMS, SR., UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3193) to designate the United States courthouse under 
construction at 101 South United States Route 1 in Fort Pierce, 
Florida, as the ``Alto Lee Adams, Sr., United States Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3193

       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 under construction at 101 
     South United States Route 1 in Fort Pierce, Florida, shall be 
     known and designated as the ``Alto Lee Adams, Sr., 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 ``Alto Lee Adams, Sr., United States 
     Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart) 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 include extraneous material on H.R. 3193.
  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, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3193 and am pleased 
today to speak in support of a bill that names the courthouse located 
in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the Alto Lee Adams, Sr. United States 
Courthouse.
  Judge Alto Lee Adams was born in 1899 in Florida and served as a 
member of the U.S. Navy in World War I. Judge Adams later graduated 
from the University of Florida Law School in 1921 and began practice in 
Fort Pierce in 1924. After practicing law in Fort Pierce County for 14 
years, Judge Adams was appointed to the Florida State Circuit Court in 
1938. After serving as a circuit court judge, Judge Adams served two 
stints as a member of the Florida Supreme Court. He was an active 
member of his community, serving as president of the Florida State Elks 
Association and vice-chair of the State Welfare Board.
  Because of Judge Adams' exemplary career in public service as both a 
member of the military and as a Florida Supreme Court justice, I urge 
my colleagues to support H.R. 3193, which names the Federal courthouse 
under construction at 101 South United States Route 1 in Fort Pierce, 
Florida, as the Alto Lee Adams, Sr. United States Courthouse.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first 
thank Representative Rooney for his leadership and work on this bill 
and would like to also yield the distinguished gentleman from Florida 3 
minutes.
  Mr. ROONEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Today is a great day for the residents of Fort Pierce, Florida, and 
the Treasure Coast.
  Over two decades ago, the late Congressman Tom Lewis and his district 
director, Ann Decker, started the long process of bringing a Federal 
courthouse to St. Lucie County. I was greatly honored that one of my 
first official events as Congressman was to participate in the historic 
groundbreaking of this new building. Shortly thereafter, I introduced 
legislation to honor the distinguished life and career of the late 
Florida supreme court chief justice, Alto Lee Adams, by naming this new 
building in his memory.
  This courthouse will fill a vital role for the city of Fort Pierce, 
bringing much-needed jobs and investment to the community with a 
greatly needed new Federal courthouse to the area. It is only fitting 
that this courthouse be named in honor of a man who himself gave so 
much to his community.
  Chief Justice Alto Lee Adams, Sr., attended the University of Florida 
College of Law and graduated in 1921. He practiced law in Fort Pierce 
from 1924 to 1938 until he was appointed as a circuit court judge for 
St. Lucie County.
  After Florida voters adopted an amendment which created a seventh 
justice in the State supreme court in 1940, Alto Lee Adams, Sr. was 
appointed to the court by then-Governor Fred P. Cone. He served as a 
justice on the Florida supreme court from 1940 to 1951 and 1967 to 
1968, and as chief justice from 1949 to 1951.
  Chief Justice Adams believed it was important to give back to his 
community and even served as president of the Florida State Elks 
Association in 1937. His service to the St. Lucie community served as 
an example to his children and those who knew him. In addition to his 
distinguished career, Judge Adams started a successful cattle ranch 
named Adams Ranch in St. Lucie County which is still run by the Adams 
family.
  Judge Adams set a standard of integrity and community service that 
lives on today, and I believe it's only fitting that a new courthouse 
be named in his honor.
  I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar, Ranking Member Mica, Mr. 
Diaz-Balart, and their staff, for helping support the moving of this 
legislation. I am proud to sponsor H.R. 3193 and ask my colleagues for 
their support.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3193, a bill to 
designate the United States courthouse under construction at 101 South 
United States Route 1 in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the ``Alto Lee Adams, 
Sr., United States Courthouse''.
  Alto Lee Adams, Sr. was born and raised in Walton County, Florida, 
and graduated from the University of Florida Law School in 1921. After 
practicing law in Fort Pierce County for 14 years, Judge Adams was 
appointed to the Florida state circuit court in 1938.
  In 1940, Florida citizens voted for the creation of a seventh seat on 
the State Supreme Court. Then-Governor Cone appointed Judge Adams to 
the State's highest court. He served on the Florida Supreme Court until 
1951, the last two years as the Chief Justice. During this time, 
Justice Adams authored one of his most highly-regarded decisions in 
Taylor v. State, which illustrated Justice Adam's dedication to civil 
rights. He wrote that ``[a]s to the relative rights and duties, the law 
makes no [racial] distinction.'' Justice Adams also continually 
advocated for individual property rights over the Federal Government's 
power of eminent domain. In 1967, then-Governor Kirk re-appointed 
Justice Adams to the State Supreme Court, where he remained on the 
court until his mandatory retirement in 1968.
  Throughout his legal career, Justice Adams co-authored a book and 
wrote several articles regarding legal history and philosophy. His 13 
years of service on the Florida State Supreme Court are marked by his 
fairness on the bench.
  He was also an active member of his community serving as President of 
the Florida State Elks Association and as Vice Chair of the State 
Welfare Board.
  Because of Judge Adams' exemplary career in public service, it is 
fitting to designate the United States Courthouse under construction at 
101 South United States Route 1 in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the ``Alto 
Lee Adams, Sr., United States Courthouse''.

[[Page H9371]]

  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3193.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  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. 3193.
  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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