[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12] [House] [Pages 17137-17141] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]WILLIAM S. BROOMFIELD POST OFFICE BUILDING Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4884) to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 West 2nd Street in Royal Oak, Michigan, as the ``William S. Broomfield Post Office Building.'' The Clerk read as follows: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION. The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 West 2nd Street in Royal Oak, Michigan, and known as the Royal Oak Post Office, shall be known and designated as the ``William S. Broomfield Post Office Building''. SEC. 2. REFERENCES. Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``William S. Broomfield Post Office Building''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella). General Leave Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 4884. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Maryland? There was no objection. Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. [[Page 17138]] Madam Speaker, I commend the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg), for introducing this legislation, H.R. 4884, introduced on July 19, 2000, that designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 West 2nd Street in Royal Oak, Michigan, as the ``William S. Broomfield Post Office Building.'' This legislation has the support of all members of the House delegation from the State of Michigan, pursuant to the policy of the Committee on Government Reform. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to speak briefly on the former Member of Congress and my friend, William S. Broomfield, for whom I was privileged to serve for 6 years. Mr. Broomfield was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, and graduated from Michigan State College, now known as Michigan State University. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during the Second World War and then went into the real estate and property management business. Bill, as he continues to be known by his friends and by those whom he has represented, was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives from 1949 to 1954. He served as speaker pro tem in 1953. He was then elected to the State Senate in 1955 and 1956. In January 1957, Michigan's 18th district elected him to the 85th Congress. He served for 17 succeeding Congresses until January 1992, when he voluntarily retired. During his tenure in Congress, Representative Broomfield served as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and was ranking member from 1975 until his retirement in 1992. After retirement, Bill Broomfield started a foundation in Michigan that supports various charities in southeast Michigan, including the efforts to cure cancer, spina bifida, Alzheimer's, and the Salvation Army. Mr. Broomfield is now a resident of Lake Orion, Michigan. It is fitting that a post office be named after William S. Broomfield in Royal Oak, the birthplace of this dedicated and respected public servant. I wholeheartedly endorse this resolution and urge all of our colleagues to support this bill, H.R. 4884, honoring Bill Broomfield, a gentleman and a colleague and a friend of many in this House. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join my friend and fellow committee member, the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), in the consideration of these postal-naming bills. We seek to pass bills which name eight post offices after a number of distinguished Americans. Collectively, we will honor two former Members of Congress, a pastor, the first African American chaplain, a POW, an assemblyman, and the first African American municipal court judge and a fine university educator and administrator. I look forward to the swift passage of these measures, as H.R. 4884. This bill, which redesignates a post office after William S. Broomfield, was introduced by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg) on July 19, 2000. Mr. Broomfield was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, and graduated from high school and attended Michigan State College. He served in the United States Army Air Corps and was a member of the Michigan State House and Senate. He was elected to the 85th Congress in 1956 and represented the 18th Congressional District until his retirement in 1992. Former Congressman Broomfield was a member of the Committee on International Relations and widely recognized as a consensus builder. He represented his constituents for well over 40 years and is still involved in local charity work. I urge the swift adoption of this measure. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1430 Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg), the chief sponsor of this bill. Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) for yielding me this time. I want to begin also by thanking the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) for bringing this bill to the floor today. I also want to thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), for his valuable assistance as well; and I appreciate the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) being with us during this debate today. I rise to pay much deserved tribute to Congressman William S. Broomfield who is so endearing and personable that he was known to his constituents simply as Bill. And Bill Broomfield is here with us today. I stand before the House as the sponsor of H.R. 4884, legislation that has been described as naming the post office building at 200 West Second Street in Royal Oak, Michigan in honor of my friend and predecessor. I am pleased to report to my colleagues that the entire Michigan House delegation has not only signed on as cosponsors but as original cosponsors of this bill. Madam Speaker, Bill Broomfield is so well respected by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle that both Republicans and Democrats stand together to honor this fine man. As was mentioned, Bill Broomfield was born in Royal Oak, Michigan back in 1922; went on to Michigan State University, then known as Michigan State College; and he has been serving ably in the Michigan legislature and in Congress for, as has been mentioned, over 40 years. He was first elected to Congress in 1956, the same time as the second Eisenhower administration; and he did not stop serving his constituents until his retirement from this body in 1992, a span of 36 years. During his tenure, he served with eight different presidents. During his tenure, Bill Broomfield was the hallmark of bipartisanship and a self-defined consensus builder. He served as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, later named the International Relations Committee, where he helped craft America's foreign policy during the critical Cold War era. He served as the ranking member of this committee from the mid-1970s until his retirement from this body. He was also the point person in Congress for many of the foreign policy initiatives championed by Presidents Reagan and Bush. From Nicaragua to the Persian Gulf to Eastern Europe to North Korea, he led the charge in Congress for the foreign policy that ultimately won the Cold War. For this effort, Michiganders and Americans everywhere owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. The history books may credit Reagan and Bush with bringing down communism, but make no mistake, it should also mention Bill Broomfield in the same breath for his outstanding contribution to the effort that won the Cold War. Bill Broomfield was also a careful keeper of Congress's prerogatives in foreign policy. He made sure that the legislative branch of government fulfilled its constitutional duty and that the President consulted with lawmakers. For example, Mr. Broomfield ensured that President Bush would consult with Congress when the chief executive ordered a massive troop buildup in Saudi Arabia in response to Iraq's aggression in Kuwait. When President Bush did come to Congress, Bill Broomfield supported his efforts. He said, ``We must give the President the power he needs to convince Saddam that he has no other alternative.'' Think about all the changes in America that Bill Broomfield had the privilege of witnessing firsthand during his 36-year tenure in this body. He has seen the rise and fall of Soviet totalitarianism. He has seen man reach the Moon and Jim Crow fall. He helped move the U.S. post-war era economy to the brink of the technological revolution. As we move into the 21st century, we should not forget the legacy of those who helped us get there and Bill [[Page 17139]] Broomfield was at the forefront of that crusade. Just because he retired from elective office did not mean that he stopped serving the public. In fact, he started a foundation that supports many causes and charities throughout southeast Michigan, including the Salvation Army and efforts for fighting cancer, Alzheimer's and spina bifida. Bill Broomfield is Royal Oak's favorite son and a true man of the people. He loves the people that he served for and they have love, admiration and respect for him. I also want to mention his devoted wife of so many years, Jane, who was so active in the community. From the middle of the Eisenhower era to the beginning of the Clinton administration, Bill Broomfield was a gentleman in every sense of the word and an example of everything that is good and decent in public service and this institution. Naming the post office in his hometown of Royal Oak is just one way we can pay tribute to this fine man. I urge support for the bill. Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg) for sponsoring this legislation. The thought came to my mind of something that Voltaire said. He said, ``He who give not thanks to man give not thanks to God.'' And so it is quite appropriate that we do this this afternoon. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin). Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg) and everybody else who has joined together for this happy moment. And that it is. I first knew Bill Broomfield as a constituent. My wife and I moved to Berkley in 1957. Bill Broomfield was Congressman while we lived there through 1972 when the districts changed. I also came to know Bill Broomfield as a competitor, in a sense. In the early 1960s, I was the county chair of the Democratic Party; and then in 1968, I was the State chair. And we tried very hard to defeat Bill Broomfield. So I knew him as a competitor. And then I had the privilege, beginning in 1982, to know Bill as a colleague. And throughout all of these relationships, his characteristics were constant, a dedicated public servant, honest to the core, hardworking in DC, and at home; and when I was the Democratic chair I thought he was too hardworking. It also was so characteristic that in all of his relationships, there was a complete civility. I think these characteristics were well noted upon Bill's retirement, first by President Carter who said, ``Your record number of terms is testimony to the impact you have made on the lives of all whom you have served so well over the years,'' and also former President Ronald Reagan who said, ``It was an honor to have you `on my team.' Through your dedication, you have established a distinct record of community service that has so intimately been dedicated to your fellow man.'' During those years, the Carter years and the Reagan years, as noted, Bill Broomfield was on Foreign Affairs and became ranking there. And they were years of controversy, as Bill Broomfield remembers so well. I was there during many of these controversies. El Salvador, just among some of them, the nuclear weapons freeze, Lebanon, issues relating to Greece and Turkey, and even though often we were on different sides, there was always this effort to find a consensus and, most important, an air and reality of civility. Truly, Bill, has been a public servant, a wonderful public servant in terms of your dedication. I first represented Royal Oak in 1982 in the Congress. That was 10 years after Bill Broomfield no longer represented his home city Royal Oak. But everywhere I went in those early years, Bill Broomfield was fondly remembered and still remains such. As mentioned, he was born in Royal Oak, he was raised in the city of Royal Oak, he went to schools there, several of which have been torn down, some near where we now live. He represented the Royal Oak area in the State and then the Federal legislatures for almost 25 years. So in a word, it is highly fitting today that the post office in Royal Oak be named after Bill Broomfield. It marks, this designation, the service of Bill Broomfield and his wife Jane on behalf of the citizens of Royal Oak. Royal Oak has grown mightily these last 10, 15 years, so much so that I think Bill's beloved parents would hardly recognize it. But Royal Oak has remained, in a sense, as it was and it has retained its roots, and the post office is an important institution within this community. So I say to you, Bill Broomfield, it is a pleasure to join so many others in this effort today. We feel especially pleased that you are here, healthy and continuing in service to the community. This is a joyful moment for us all. I am sure this institution will rise together in naming the post office of Royal Oak after a distinguished, dedicated public servant, William S. Broomfield. Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith). Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, in behalf of this House, we welcome the Honorable Bill Broomfield to this Chamber again, to his old Chamber. Bill helped me when he was first elected to office in 1957 when he first came in, and he helped me again in his last year in 1992. In 1957, my brother, who was a jet pilot, was killed in Asia. All of his personal effects had been lost coming back to Michigan. Chan's wife, Bonnie, and I went to Bill Broomfield. Bonnie is from Royal Oak. And so this new freshman Congressman pushed ahead, found Chan's personal effects and got them back to us. Again when I was first elected in 1992, I won a tough primary, did not have any final opposition in the general, and came to Bill Broomfield who had been a friend in between to help give me some guidance on learning to be a good Congressman. What struck me as significant is Bill said, ``Look, one of the things I try to do the best I can is responding honestly and quickly to mail coming in from constituents.'' At that time the Congressman had a turnaround time for 98 percent of his mail of 24 hours. So he had set a target. Do we not all wish we had a 24-hour turnaround time that we could give that kind of attention and dedication to mail? He did that. I have tried to achieve it. Here is a gentleman that has guided us through foreign policy decisions for his 36 years in the United States Congress, from the problems of Soviet invasion in Hungary, their invasion of Czechoslovakia, Nicaragua, the Persian Gulf, Eastern Europe, Iran, Iraq, the problems with North Korea. We should be consulting with him on a regular basis for our current international affairs. Bill Broomfield, again, congratulations. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation. Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, in behalf of this House, we welcome the Honorable Bill Broomfield to this Chamber again, to his old stomping grounds. Bill helped me when he was first elected to office in 1957, in his first year, and he helped me again in his last year in 1992. In 1957, my brother, Chan, who was a jet pilot, was killed in Asia. All of his personal effects had been lost coming back to Michigan. Chan's wife, Bonnie, who was from Royal Oak, and I went to Bill Broomfield. And so this new freshman Congressman pushed ahead, found Chan's personal effects and got them back to us. Again when I was first elected in 1992, I went to Bill Broomfield who had been a friend to help give me some guidance on learning to be a good Congressman. What struck me as significant is Bill said, ``Look, one of the things I try to do the best I can is responding honestly and quickly to mail coming in from constituents.'' At that time the Congressman had a turnaround time for 98 percent of his mail of 24 hours. So he had set a target and achieved it. Do we not all wish we had the ability to respond to constituent inquiries in a 24-hour turnaround time; that we could give that kind of attention and dedication to mail? He did that. I have tried to follow his advice and example. Here is a gentleman that has guided us through foreign policy decisions for his 36 years in the United States Congress, from the problems of Soviet invasion in Hungary, their [[Page 17140]] invasion of Czechoslovakia, the problems in Nicaragua, the Persian Gulf, Eastern Europe, Iran, Iraq, the problems with North Korea. Bill is still an excellent consultant for our current international challenges. Bill Broomfield, again, congratulations. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation honoring you. Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant). Mr. TRAFICANT. Madam Speaker, I commend both the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) for bringing this to the floor and for the committee. It is good to see our good friend Mr. Broomfield here. I want to commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg) for the legislation. I heard comments earlier of what a competitor he was. Bill Broomfield was not just a competitor. He was a consummate winner, a winner for Royal Oak, a winner for Michigan, a winner for the United States of America, and with his distinguished record if you take the time to really look at it, he was a winner for the entire world. Just earlier I was here. I did not know this bill was scheduled. Mr. Broomfield came over. He is a dear friend to all of us and always has time for everyone. He said, I just wish that my parents could be here today. I want to say on the House floor, his parents are here today; they are here in you. And all of your family that will follow will benefit from the fact that they will see the great contributions of your parents and you and your family as this post office is named on your behalf. {time} 1445 This is truly fitting, and it is an honor that is justly deserved; and I am proud to be a part of this today and wish you and your family the very best. Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), chairman of the Committee on International Relations. Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) for yielding the time to me. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in strong support of H.R. 4884, designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 West Second Street in Royal Oak, Michigan, as the William Broomfield Post Office Building. And I commend the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg) for bringing this resolution to the floor, along with the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh), chairman of the Subcommittee on Postal Service, and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for bringing this to our attention today. Bill Broomfield, who we are pleased is with us today and in this Chamber, was first elected to the Congress in 1956 and meritoriously served his constituents of Michigan's 18th district for some 36 years, until he retired in 1992. As a member of Committee on International Relations, earlier known as the Committee on Foreign Affairs, I had the distinct pleasure of serving with Bill for many years, where, as our ranking member, Bill Broomfield helped to establish our Nation's foreign policy during the critical Cold War period. It was during all of those years in working with Bill that I experienced Bill Broomfield's unique ability to bring our Members of Congress together as he sought to build a consensus on numerous important issues championed by then President Reagan and President Bush. Accordingly, I urge all of our colleagues to support this resolution that appropriately honors former Congressman Bill Broomfield and the constituents he served so well for so long in the 18th District of Michigan. Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers). Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I did not have the pleasure of working with Mr. Broomfield, but I do want to offer some testimonials based on the information I have as a fellow Michiganian. I think it is entirely appropriate that we name the post office in Royal Oak in honor of this gentleman. For years he carried the mail for the Republicans in the Congress and also for the Republicans in the White House. And even while he was carrying the mail for the President, very often he also had the courage, when he thought the mail was inappropriate or not addressed properly, to stand up to the Presidents and say, wait a minute, I think you are going down the wrong track; I think you have to rethink this and do it differently. Frequently, they were willing to listen. He is a man of honor, a man of good service, and a man of good political sense. My first acquaintance with him was when I first moved to Michigan in 1967. He had then been in office 11 years; he had taken office when I was just entering graduate school. But soon after I came to Michigan, I began reading about him in the papers; and I thought that this is a man who knows what he is doing and knows how to do it right, and my judgment was correct. I am sorry that I was not able to serve with him. I arrived in the Congress only 11 months after he left, but his legend has persisted; and I have appreciated him, particularly his excellence in foreign affairs, something in which I personally believe the Congress, both the House and the Senate, should play a much more active role, similar to what they did a number of years ago during and following World War II. He was a careful keeper of Congress' prerogatives in foreign policy, and he served well and honorably in so many ways, not only in the Committee on Foreign Relations, but in other ways and particularly in service to his constituents. I had no idea when I moved to Michigan in 1967 that I would some day be serving in this House. In fact, I had no intention of doing so, but I am pleased to be here to try to carry on the work and fulfill the legend that Mr. Broomfield established for Michigan, for his district and for this country. He is an honorable person who did an outstanding job for his country, and we are here today to show our appreciation for what he has done for us. Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I did not have the opportunity to serve with Congressman Broomfield, but the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), who wanted to be here today but is tied up in a conference committee, told me that Mr. Broomfield is probably one of the greatest public servants he served with. One of the things that he said is that no matter how difficult the arguments became, no matter how heated, he always knew that he was speaking from his heart and synchronizing his conscience with his conduct, and perhaps that is the type of example that we here now serving should follow. So it is indeed my honor to salute him. And I can say this for all of our honorees today, the people that we will be honoring, Madam Speaker, when I asked a fellow Marylander how it felt to have a post office named after him, and his name is Sam Lacey, one of the great sports writers, he broke out into tears, and he said just the idea that children yet unborn will walk past that post office and see my name and they simply will ask the question, who was he? And if someone can simply answer with a smile that he was a great man and that he touched this earth and made it better, then that makes me happy. I am sure Congressman Broomfield can say the same thing, and so we take this moment to honor him and honor the people of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, I am very honored to be here with this bill that I support so strongly, H.R. 4884, honoring our former Member of Congress, Bill Broomfield. He was indeed, as we have heard, a coalition builder, someone who was always fair, a gentle man and always who respected all of his colleagues and respected the people that he represented [[Page 17141]] and very committed to the work of making America as best as could be done. Madam Speaker, I congratulate all of us for the idea of having a post office named for Bill Broomfield, and I congratulate him and Mrs. Broomfield. Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the gentleman from Michigan's resolution, and in honor of a fellow Michigander, William Broomfield, with whom I had the privilege of serving with in this body for thirty-six years. William Broomfield was born in Royal Oak, Michigan and represented it in Congress with distinction. It is only fitting that the city's post office be named in his honor. William Broomfield was a man of principle and foresight. Moreover, he was a dedicated and tireless public servant who honorably represented residents of Michigan in our State legislature and, most notably, in the U.S. House of Representatives for most of his adult life. William Broomfield's capable service to his constituents was rewarded time and time again by their continual support for him as their Representative. William Broomfield was also a mainstay of the Foreign Affairs Committee. As Ranking member for fourteen years, he was a workhorse rather than a show horse. He did not seek out the spotlight, but worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to help craft important legislation that was amiable to both sides of the isle and in the best interests of our great country. Naming the Royal Oak Post Office Building in William Broomfield's honor is a proper tribute to a man who vigorously served his constituents and honorably served his country in doing so. As such, Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleagues to support this resolution and join me in honoring a good man and public servant who did much for his state and country, William Broomfield. Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, this Member wants to express strong support for H.R. 4884, which would name a United States Postal Service facility in Royal Oak, Michigan, as the ``William S. Broomfield Post Office Building.'' This Member became well acquainted and impressed with the decency, convictions, and leadership of Representative Bill Broomfield. A Member of this body from 1956-1992, Bill Broomfield served the state of Michigan with extraordinary distinction. When this Member joined the House Foreign Affairs Committee at the beginning of his 3rd term, Representative Broomfield, the senior Republican member of the Committee, gave this member great advice when requested, support and encouragement, and most importantly an outstanding example of how a Representative can so capably represent their constituency and state, while pursuing the national interest on matters of foreign policy. During his time as a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, this nation faced numerous crises--the Cuban missile crisis, the Vietnam War, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, turmoil in Latin America, and the collapse of the Soviet empire. In each instance, Bill Broomfield's first thought was toward the U.S. national interest. Thus the designation of this Post Office Building with his name in his home town is certainly one way his colleagues and newer Members of Congress can appropriately recognize the outstanding contributions he made to America while a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Madam Speaker, obviously, this Member encourages his colleagues to support this legislation and hereby extend this Member's appreciation of his service to Bill Broomfield and his family. Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4884. The question was taken. Mrs. MORELLA. Madam 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. ____________________