[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 14, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H11347-H11348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1430

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. 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. 2423.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2423, as amended, is a bill to designate the 
federal building and United States courthouse located at 1300 Victoria 
St. in Laredo, Texas as the George P. Kazen Federal Building and United 
States Courthouse.
  Congressman Cuellar introduced this bill, which has bipartisan 
support. Judge Kazen has served the people of the southern judicial 
district of Texas with great distinction and dedication since 1979. He 
is a graduate of the University of Texas, and the University of Texas 
Law School. After serving in private practice in Laredo, Texas he was 
nominated to the federal bench by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. He 
served in the southern district of Texas and served as Chief Judge in 
that district from 1996 until 2003.
  Judge Kazen was also very active in his community, serving as a 
member in the U.S. Air Force, founding the Laredo Legal Aid Society, 
and serving in numerous capacities in civic organizations in South 
Texas. Judge Kazen served as President of the Laredo Civic Music 
Association, the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Laredo, the St. Augustine-
Ursuline School Board, and as a member of the Laredo Community College 
Board of Trustees.
  It is both fitting and proper to honor Judge Kazen's distinguished 
public career with this designation. I support H.R. 2423 as amended and 
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of the 
bill, Mr. Cuellar of Texas.
  Mr. CUELLAR. Thank you very much for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding contributions 
of a fine public servant in Laredo, Texas, Judge George P. Kazen. This 
is an individual that has dedicated the majority of his life to 
upholding the justice system in south Texas.
  In 1979, President Jimmy Carter appointed Judge George P. Kazen to be 
a United States district judge. For four decades, he served south Texas 
as a tireless advocate for fairness under the law. From 1996 to 2003, 
he was the chief judge of the United States Southern District, which 
includes the areas of Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Laredo, Corpus 
Christi, McAllen and Brownsville in Texas. Judge Kazen is also a JAG 
officer for the United States Air Force, and in 1965 he received the 
United States Air Force Commendation Medal.
  Judge Kazen is married to Barbara Ann and they have four children. He 
is, without a doubt, a selfless public servant who has been a 
tremendous credit to the city of Laredo and the State of Texas and our 
great Nation.
  I also want to recognize Judge Kazen's Federal magistrate, the 
Honorable Marcel Notzen. Since 1967, Marcel Notzen, the magistrate, 
served for four decades in front and behind the bench, as an attorney, 
as a law partner, and most recently as a U.S. magistrate for the 
Southern District. Judge Notzen is married to Nora Lee, and they have 
six children.
  It is with great pride that I authored this legislation, H.R. 2423, 
to name the United States Courthouse located at 1300 Victoria Street in 
Laredo, Texas, as the George B. Kazen Federal Building and United 
States Courthouse in honor of George Kazen. It is also my legislative 
intent, Mr. Speaker, to name the jury room in the United States 
courthouse as the Marcel C. Notzen, II Jury Room. I think this is a way 
to thank these two individuals who have worked so hard for their Nation 
as judges.
  I want to thank all of my Texas colleagues for helping me recognize 
these exceptional individuals. By recognizing these individuals, their 
contributions will be remembered and they will continue to inspire 
those individuals who follow their lead in preserving the American 
justice system.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, after hearing the 
eloquent explanation from the sponsor of the legislation, I thank him 
for his leadership on this bill and many others.
  This bill would designate a Federal building and courthouse in 
Laredo, Texas as the ``George P. Kazen Federal Building and United 
States Courthouse.''
  Judge Kazen has served on the District Court for the Southern 
District of Texas since 1979.
  From 1996 to 2003, Judge Kazen served as chief judge and, earlier 
this year he assumed senior status.
  Prior to his appointment to the federal bench, Judge Kazen was in the 
private practice of law.
  Earlier in his career he served in the JAG Corp as a U.S. Air Force 
Captain and worked as a briefing attorney for the Texas Supreme Court.
  He received both his bachelor's degree and law degree from the 
University of Texas.
  His career demonstrates his dedication to public service and the law.
  I have no objections to the passage of this legislation.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2423, as 
amended, a bill to designate the Federal building and United States 
courthouse located at 1300 Victoria Street in Laredo, Texas as the 
``George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.

[[Page H11348]]

The Federal building and U.S. Courthouse designation will become 
effective when Judge George P. Kazen retires and is no longer serving 
as a federal judge. The bill was introduced by the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Cuellar) and has bipartisan support.
  George P. Kazen was born in Laredo, Texas, in 1940. In 1960, he 
earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the 
University of Texas. He later earned his law degree from the University 
of Texas School of Law in 1961. Kazen began his professional career as 
a Briefing Attorney for the Texas Supreme Court in 1961 and 1962. From 
1962 to 1965, he was a U.S. Air Force Captain in the JAG Corps. 
Following his military service, Kazen worked in a private practice in 
Laredo until 1979.
  In 1979, President Jimmy Carter nominated George P. Kazen as a U.S. 
District Court Judge for the Southern District of Texas. Judge Kazen 
has served on the bench for more than 30 years, including as Chief 
Judge from 1996 to 2003. On May 31, 2009, he assumed senior status on 
the court.
  During his tenure on the bench, Judge Kazen considered a wide variety 
of cases. In Luna v. Van Zandt, a 1982 case, he invalidated a Texas 
statute that allowed for the detaining of individuals perceived as 
mentally ill for up to 14 days without a commitment hearing. In 
addition, Judge Kazen has testified before Congress and written several 
articles on issues of Federalism and the courts. Outside of the 
courtroom, Judge Kazen is a stalwart of his community, serving on 
numerous civic organizations in South Texas.
  Given Judge George P. Kazen's exemplary public service, it is fitting 
to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located 
at 1300 Victoria Street in Laredo, Texas, as the ``George P. Kazen 
Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2423.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. HIRONO. 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 Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2423, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  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.

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