[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 110 (Monday, July 23, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H5102-H5103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1720
                EDWIN L. MECHEM UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3742) to designate the United States courthouse located at 
100 North Church Street in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as the ``Edwin L. 
Mechem United States Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3742

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Edwin L. Mechem was a land surveyor with the United 
     States Reclamation Service in Las Cruces, New Mexico, from 
     1932-1935.
       (2) He served as a member of the New Mexico State Police 
     Commission.
       (3) He was a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation.
       (4) He attended the New Mexico College of Agriculture and 
     Mechanic Arts, which later became the New Mexico State 
     University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
       (5) He was admitted to the New Mexico bar in 1939, and 
     practiced law in Albuquerque and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
       (6) He served in the New Mexico House of Representatives 
     from 1947-1948.
       (7) He was the first New Mexico governor born in New Mexico 
     after statehood.
       (8) He served four terms as Governor of New Mexico between 
     1951 and 1962.
       (9) He served as a United States Senator from New Mexico 
     from 1962-1964.
       (10) He was confirmed by the United States Senate as a 
     United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico 
     on October 8, 1970, and served in that position until his 
     death in 2002.
       (11) He led a rich and accomplished life dedicated to 
     public service which warrants recognition.

     SEC. 2. DESIGNATION.

       The United States courthouse located at 100 North Church 
     Street in Las Cruces, New Mexico, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``Edwin L. Mechem United States 
     Courthouse''.

     SEC. 3. 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 2 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Edwin L. Mechem United States 
     Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Bucshon) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 3742.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 3742 would designate the United States courthouse in Las Cruces, 
New Mexico, as the Edwin L. Mechem United States Courthouse.
  I want to thank the gentleman from New Mexico, Representative Pearce, 
for his work on this legislation.
  Judge Mechem served more than 30 years as a U.S. district judge for 
the district of New Mexico until his death in 2002. Prior to his 
judicial appointment, Judge Mechem served as Governor of New Mexico for 
four terms. He also served as a U.S. Senator as well as a member of the 
New Mexico House of Representatives. Earlier in his career, he worked 
as a special agent for the FBI.

[[Page H5103]]

  Judge Mechem dedicated his life to public service. I believe it is 
fitting to name this courthouse after him. I support passage of this 
legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3742. It was introduced by the gentleman 
from New Mexico, and it would designate the United States courthouse 
located at 100 North Church Street in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as the 
Edwin L. Mechem United States Courthouse.
  Judge Edwin L. Mechem spent a lifetime in public service. Early in 
his career, he was a special agent of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation during World War II and, later, a land surveyor for the 
U.S. Reclamation Service.
  In 1947, Judge Mechem was elected to the New Mexico House of 
Representatives and went on to become a four-term Republican Governor 
of the State of New Mexico. Later, he was appointed to the United 
States Senate to represent the State of New Mexico.
  In 1970, President Nixon appointed Judge Mechem as a Federal judge on 
the U.S. district court for the district of New Mexico, where he served 
for 32 years before he passed away in 2002.
  Judge Mechem will be remembered for his commitment to public service 
and his distinguished service as a Federal judge.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 3742, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Pearce).
  Mr. PEARCE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by thanking Subcommittee Chairman 
Denham and Ranking Member Holmes Norton, Committee Chairman Mica and 
Ranking Member Rahall for moving H.R. 3742.
  I rise today in strong support of this bill.
  This bill is very simple. It would name the United States courthouse 
located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as the Edwin L. Mechem United States 
Courthouse.
  Governor Mechem was a community leader who dedicated his life to 
public service. He was a four-term Governor of New Mexico and the first 
Governor born in New Mexico post-statehood. Governor Mechem also served 
New Mexico as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, in 
the United States Senate, and as a United States district judge for the 
district of New Mexico. He presided as United States district judge 
from 1970 until his death in 2002.
  Governor Mechem was born in Alamogordo, New Mexico, shortly after New 
Mexico gained statehood. He attended what later became New Mexico State 
University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. And following graduation from the 
University of Arkansas School of Law, he returned to New Mexico to 
practice law.
  Despite having a successful law practice, Governor Mechem answered 
America's call and joined the FBI during World War II. After the Allied 
victory, Governor Mechem returned to his practice, but then ran for a 
seat in the house of representatives, for which he was elected. He 
served two terms in the State house, then made a successful bid for 
Governor of the State of New Mexico. He went on to become the only 
four-term Governor of New Mexico. Governor Mechem then served 2 years 
as a United States Senator.
  On October 8, 1970, Governor Mechem took the next step of his life in 
service when he was confirmed by the United States Senate as United 
States district judge for the district of New Mexico. He dutifully 
served in that position until his death in 2002.
  In a letter to my office, his wife Josephine Mechem wrote:

       He loved this State from one end to the other, and 
     vacations were rarely taken outside of New Mexico. All his 
     life, the thing he loved most was to spend his free time 
     driving the back roads, checking the water situation, and 
     seeing that all was well with our crops, our businesses, and 
     our communities.

  This year marks the 100th anniversary of New Mexico's statehood, and 
July 2, 2012, was Governor Mechem's 100th birthday. Naming this 
courthouse the Edwin L. Mechem United States Courthouse during 2012 is 
an honor befitting his life of service; and, as such, I ask my 
colleagues in the House to vote in favor of H.R. 3742. I would also 
strongly encourage quick action and passage by our friends in the 
Senate.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would ask my friend from 
Indiana if he has additional requests for time.
  Mr. BUCSHON. I have no further requests for time.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation and 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I, again, rise in support of H.R. 3742 and 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3742.
  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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