[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 193 (Tuesday, December 13, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9723-H9724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PAUL D. WELLSTONE BUILDING ACT OF 2022
Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 5060) to redesignate the Federal building located at 212 Third
Avenue South in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the ``Paul D. Wellstone
Federal Building'', and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 5060
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Paul D. Wellstone Building
Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) Paul David Wellstone was born on July 21, 1944, in
Washington, DC, and raised in Arlington, Virginia, as the
second child of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants Leon and Minnie
Wellstone;
(2) Wellstone graduated from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill--
(A) in 1965, with a bachelor's degree in political science;
and
(B) in 1969, with a Ph.D. in political science;
(3) after earning his Ph.D., Wellstone moved to Minnesota
to teach political science at Carleton College in Northfield,
Minnesota, during which he became an advocate for
marginalized communities and fought for improved healthcare,
education, housing, and labor and human rights;
(4) as an activist, Wellstone helped to bring attention to
issues important to the people by protesting in favor of
peace, civil rights, and social justice, including by
standing by farmers and working families in their struggles;
(5) in 1990, Wellstone extended his community activism
during his first run for the Senate;
(6) as an underdog, Wellstone was the only candidate to
unseat an incumbent Senator in the 1990 election;
(7) the grassroots campaign that was run by Wellstone
became well-known for the green bus that he used to travel
across Minnesota;
(8) Senator Wellstone continued his commitment to activism
throughout his time in the Senate, including by pushing for
legislation that--
(A) expanded support for mental health care coverage;
(B) increased the Federal minimum wage; and
(C) offered greater funding and protections for workers,
seniors, schools, and ``atomic'' veterans;
(9) in 1997, Senator Wellstone traveled across the country
on ``The Children's Tour'' to hear from disadvantaged
communities across the United States;
(10) on October 25, 2002, at the age of 57, Senator
Wellstone was killed in a plane crash in Minnesota along with
his wife, daughter, and several campaign staff; and
(11) the loss of Senator Wellstone was mourned across the
United States, but his legacy of advocacy and candor will
always be remembered.
SEC. 3. PAUL D. WELLSTONE FEDERAL BUILDING.
(a) Redesignation.--The Federal building located at 212
Third Avenue South in Minneapolis, Minnesota, shall be known
and designated as the ``Paul D. Wellstone Federal Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
Federal building referred to in subsection (a) shall be
deemed to be a reference to the ``Paul D. Wellstone Federal
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Stanton) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on S. 5060.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of S. 5060, a bill to designate the Federal
building located at 212 Third Avenue South in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
as the ``Paul D. Wellstone Federal Building''.
S. 5060 was introduced on October 25, 2022, 20 years to the day that
Senator Wellstone; his wife, Sheila; his daughter, Marcia; his staff
members, Todd Lapic, Mary McEvoy, and Will McLaughlin; and pilots,
Richard Conry and Michael Guess, were killed in a plane crash near
Eveleth, Minnesota.
Paul Wellstone was born in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 1944;
attended Arlington, Virginia, public schools; received his BA from the
University of North Carolina in 1965; earned a Ph.D. from the
University of North Carolina in 1969; taught political science at
Carleton College in Minnesota for 21 years; served as a director of the
Minnesota Community Energy Program; was elected to represent Minnesota
in the United States Senate in 1990, was reelected in 1996, and served
from January 3, 1991, until his death in a plane crash on October 25,
2002.
Paul Wellstone was a champion college wrestler and a member of the
National Wrestling Hall of Fame, a college professor for 21 years, a
prolific legislator who sponsored 608 bills during his time in the U.S.
Senate, and a mentor to generations of future public servants and
advocates.
Upon introduction of S. 5060, Senator Klobuchar said, ``During his
time as an educator, an activist, and a United States Senator, Paul
Wellstone touched the lives of people throughout Minnesota and across
the country. That is because he stood up for people, persistently
fighting against injustices, small and large. From his passionate
advocacy for better care and services for those suffering from mental
illness to his leadership on civil rights and campaign finance reform,
Paul showed how getting involved in public service can make a real
difference in improving people's lives.''
Madam Speaker, I support S. 5060, and I urge my colleagues to join
me.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CRAWFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 5060, which designates the
Federal building located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the Paul D.
Wellstone Federal Building.
Paul Wellstone served two full terms in the Senate before his life,
as well as the lives of his wife, daughter, several campaign staff, and
pilots were taken in a tragic plane crash in Minnesota.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Minnesota (Ms. Omar).
Ms. OMAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 5060, to
rename the Federal building in my district as the ``Paul D. Wellstone
Federal Building''.
I am proud to honor and celebrate the legacy of the late Senator Paul
Wellstone as an activist, academic, author, and proud Senator from
Minnesota.
Son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, Senator Wellstone was born in
Washington, D.C., and grew up in Northern Virginia. He received his
bachelor, masters, and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, and in 1969 went on to be hired as a professor in
Northfield, Minnesota, where he taught until his election to the Senate
in 1990.
{time} 1500
While in the U.S. Senate, Wellstone was a proud, progressive in
support of environmental protection, public housing, free school meals,
labor groups, and healthcare reform.
He served in the Senate from 1991 until 2002, when he was tragically
killed in a plane crash with his wife and daughter on board.
Paul Wellstone is a personal hero of mine. He was an organizer to his
core. He showed what it meant to fight unapologetically for working
people. And he showed that it is possible to stay true to your
progressive values and lead a life of public service.
He always said, ``We all do better when we all do better.'' I am
honored to have the Federal building in my district, the same building
where in May
[[Page H9724]]
1970, he was arrested for civil disobedience while protesting the
Vietnam war named after the late Senator from Minnesota.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring his life
and legacy by passing this bipartisan bill.
Mr. CRAWFORD. Madam Speaker, this bill recognizes Senator Wellstone's
service to our country and dedication to the people of Minnesota.
Madam Speaker, I urge the support of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, in closing, this bill honors the life of
a dedicated public servant, a United States Senator, Paul Wellstone.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stanton) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 5060.
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.
____________________