[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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