[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 145 (Monday, September 26, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5885-H5886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TOM STAGG UNITED STATES COURT HOUSE
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the
rules and pass the bill (S. 2754) to designate the Federal building and
United States courthouse located at 300 Fannin Street in Shreveport,
Louisiana, as the ``Tom Stagg Federal Building and United States
Courthouse'', as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2754
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.
The Federal building and United States courthouse located
at 300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, Louisiana, shall be known
and designated as the ``Tom Stagg United States Court
House''.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper,
or other record of the United States to the Federal building
and United States courthouse referred to in section 1 shall
be deemed to be a reference to the ``Tom Stagg United States
Court House''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Carson)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. 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 S. 2754, as
amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 2754, as amended, would designate the Federal
building and United States courthouse located at 300 Fannin Street in
Shreveport, Louisiana, as the Tom Stagg United States Court House.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
September 26, 2016, on page H5885, the following appeared: Tom
Stagg United States Courthouse.
The online version has been corrected to read: Tom Stagg United
States Court House.
========================= END NOTE =========================
I want to thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Fleming), for his
leadership on this legislation.
Judge Stagg served in the U.S. District Court for the Western
District of Louisiana. He was appointed to the bench in 1974, served as
a chief judge from 1984 to 1991, and assumed senior status in 1992. He
served until his death last year. Earlier in his career, he held
various executive positions in the private sector and was in the
private practice of law.
{time} 1545
Judge Stagg served our country during World War II, during our
Greatest Generation, as a U.S. Army captain in the infantry. He earned
the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Stars for Valor and Meritorious
Service, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. Judge Stagg's
dedication to serving our country is clear, and I believe it is
appropriate to name this courthouse after him.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I thank my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).
Mr. Speaker, I also support this bill, as amended, which honors Judge
Stagg by naming the Federal courthouse in Shreveport, Louisiana, after
him. He served over 40 years, as was noted, as a district judge in the
Western District of Louisiana. He was a lifelong Louisianan, who
attended Louisiana State University for both his undergrad and law
school education.
I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this important piece of
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my
colleague, Mr. Carson. As members of the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee, this isn't unusual where we come together to
do important bipartisan pieces of legislation to recognize some of
America's heroes.
I urge passage of this bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2754, which would
name the U.S. Federal Court House in Shreveport, Louisiana after Tom
Stagg. Judge Stagg's legacy is one which speaks volumes of his exemplar
character and distinguished career as a federal judge for the Western
District of Louisiana.
Upon graduation from high school, Judge Stagg valiantly served in
WWII where he would rise to the rank of captain and earn the Combat
Infantryman Badge, a Bronze Star for Valor, a second Bronze Star for
meritorious service, and the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster. The
patriotism and dedication which he exhibited as a soldier was further
built upon when he began his career as a jurist. He was nominated to
serve as a federal judge for the Western District of Louisiana in 1974.
He held the position as chief judge from 1984 to 1991, at which point
he assumed senior status and maintained a full caseload until his
passing in 2015. A detailed man who commanded respect whenever he
entered a room, Judge Stagg was well known for his institutional
knowledge, efficiency, and thoroughness during each and every case. He
was heavily admired by his colleagues, many of whom believed that his
character reflected the most honorable qualities of a judge.
A pillar within his occupation and the salt within his community,
Judge Stagg's life was an example to us all. It is more than fitting to
honor Judge Stagg's service by naming this court house, a court house
which he helped design, after him.
I introduced companion legislation, H.R. 5011, in the House, and I am
thankful that we are able to consider S. 2754 today. I ask my
colleagues for their support.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, S. 2754, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``An Act to
designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at
300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the `Tom Stagg United
States Court House'.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
[[Page H5886]]
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