[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 23039-23040]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     JAMES A. McCLURE FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate Bill (S. 1459) to designate the Federal building and United 
States courthouse located at 550 West Fort Street in Boise, Idaho, as 
the ``James A. McClure Federal Building and United States Courthouse.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1459

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF JAMES A. MCCLURE FEDERAL BUILDING 
                   AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE.

       The Federal building and United States courthouse located 
     at 550 West Fort Street in Boise, Idaho, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``James A. McClure Federal Building and 
     United States Courthouse''.

     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 James A. McClure Federal 
     Building and United States Courthouse.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1459 designates the Federal building and United 
States courthouse located at 550 West Fort Street in Boise, Idaho, as 
the James A. McClure Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
  I would like to commend my colleague the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. 
Otter), a colleague on the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, for introducing H.R. 2972, which was the House 
companion naming bill that we are considering today. With the hard work 
and diligence of the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter), the committee 
reported H.R. 2972. We are considering the Senate version today to 
clear the way to get this piece of legislation to the President's desk 
for his signature.
  James A. McClure was born in Payette, Idaho, on December 27, 1924. He 
attended public schools in Payette and went on to serve in the United 
States Navy from 1942 to 1946. Following his tour with the Navy, he 
earned his J.D. degree from the University of Idaho College of law in 
1950 and was admitted to the Idaho bar that same year.
  He commenced private practice in Payette before serving as 
prosecuting attorney of Payette County in 1956. During that time, he 
served as City Attorney from 1953 until 1966 and in the Idaho State 
Senate from 1961 until 1966, as well as being a member of the Payette 
County Central Committee for 15 years.
  Senator McClure was elected to the United States House of 
Representatives to serve in the 90th Congress. He served for three 
succeeding terms until being elected to the United States Senate in 
1972. Senator McClure served succeeding terms in the Senate until his 
retirement in 1991.
  While in the Senate, Senator McClure was Chairman of the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources from 1981 until 1987 and also the Chairman 
of the Senate Republican Conference from 1981 until 1985.
  This bill naming the Federal building and courthouse in Boise, Idaho, 
honors a dedicated public servant. I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1459 is a bill to designate the Federal building and 
United States courthouse located at 550 West Fort Street in Boise, 
Idaho, as the James A. McClure Federal Building and United States 
Courthouse.

                              {time}  1715

  Jim McClure served the citizens of Idaho as both a United States 
Representative and as a Senator. He was born in Payette, Idaho, in 
1924. He attended public schools and the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1950 he 
graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law.
  He began his public service as the prosecuting attorney of Payette 
from 1950 until 1956. For the next 13 years he served as the city 
attorney for Payette and as a State senator from 1961 to 1966. In 1966 
he was elected to the United States Congress and was reelected in 1968 
and 1970. In 1972, McClure was elected to the U.S. Senate and served 
three terms until 1990. His work in both the House and the Senate 
reflected the interests of his constituents.
  Senator McClure focused on the uses of public lands and other natural 
resource issues. In fact, over 25 years ago, Senator McClure predicted 
much of the energy questions and debates that we just had this past 
summer. His focus on energy issues as Chairman of the Senate Energy 
Committee from 1981 to 1987 helped to begin the debate on crafting a 
national energy strategy. He was one of the first policymakers to focus 
our attention on our growing demand for energy.
  Senator McClure's integrity, intelligence, and fair mindedness led to 
an appointment to the Senate Select Committee on the Iran-Contra 
Affair. Senator McClure has had an active retirement. At the age of 77, 
he is in phenomenal health. He serves on the boards of several 
corporations. It is both fitting and proper to honor the outstanding 
public service of our former colleague, Jim McClure, with this 
designation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as 
he might consume to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), the other 
outstanding Representative from that State. Along with the gentleman 
from Idaho (Mr. Otter), they provide able and wonderful service for the 
citizens of Idaho.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
LaTourette) for yielding the time. I will tell my colleagues that 
Senator McClure has often told me of his admiration for Ohio, and if he 
could not be from Idaho, he would be from Ohio.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues 
in the House of Representatives for honoring one of Idaho's finest 
public servants, former Representative and U.S. Senator James A. 
McClure, by renaming the Federal building and United States courthouse 
in Boise after him. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Idaho 
(Mr. Otter), from the First Congressional District, for working with me 
and leading this effort to recognize Senator McClure, and Idaho 
Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo for their efforts in the Senate.
  Jim McClure served the people of Idaho in the United States Congress 
for 24 years, including 6 years right here in this Chamber as a Member 
of the House of Representatives. Before coming to Washington in 1967, 
Senator McClure had a distinguished career in Idaho. He graduated from 
the University of Idaho Law School in 1950 and was immediately hired as 
the prosecuting attorney of Payette County, Idaho, where he worked for 
6 years. In 1953 he became the city attorney for Payette and served in 
that capacity until 1966.
  In 1961, Senator McClure began his long and distinguished political 
career by seeking and obtaining a seat in the Idaho State Senate where 
he served until his election to this House of Representatives. In 1972, 
after 6 years in the House of Representatives, he was elected to the 
United States Senate where he served three terms and established 
himself as one of Idaho's political giants.
  Senator McClure came to Washington and immediately made a name

[[Page 23040]]

for himself as one of the foremost experts on the issues most important 
to the people of Idaho. His experience and expertise in energy and 
natural resource issues were unmatched in Idaho's history, and his 
leadership was vital in the passage of many important legislative 
initiatives, including the creation of Hell's Canyon National 
Recreation Area and the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in 
my home State.
  As a Member of Congress, Senator McClure was also known for his 
steadfast advocacy of rural Idaho and the rugged individuals who built 
and still inhabit the western United States. He fought to improve the 
rural economy and ensure those who want to live in rural America will 
always find opportunities in rural communities. He strove to enact 
policies that balanced the public's interest in natural resource 
protection and natural resource enjoyment and always understood that no 
American should have to see their job eliminated and family uprooted 
through ill conceived Federal forest, mining, or grazing policies. Like 
most Idahoans, he staunchly believed in an individual's right to keep 
and bear arms; and as a veterans of the United States Navy during World 
War II, he was an ardent advocate of a strong military to protect our 
Nation's most treasured possession: our freedom.
  Today, Senator McClure remains an advocate of the issues that matter 
most to many Idahoans. He continues to work with Congress and those of 
us in the Idaho delegation on natural resource and energy issues, and 
he serves as a trustee for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 
Senator McClure remains a trusted leader for Idaho and a true friend to 
those of us who know him well.
  Senator McClure would be the first to acknowledge that none of his 
accomplishments would have been possible without the unwavering support 
of his gracious and lovely wife, Louise. Mr. Speaker, I know of no one 
who is more deserving of the recognition we approve today in the House 
of Representatives. I will always be proud to have played a role in the 
establishment of a James A. McClure Federal building and United States 
courthouse and grateful to have known and worked with a man as 
respected, trusted, and revered as Senator McClure.
  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the 
remarks that have been stated earlier by my colleagues, especially the 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Infrastructure, as well as my good 
friend from Utah, and especially my friend and colleague from Idaho.
  Those of us from the islands just want to share with my colleagues 
that we do have a sense of real appreciation and a real sense of 
gratitude for what this Senator has done for those of us who come from 
the insular areas. I do want to also pay a very special tribute to the 
Senator from Idaho, Senator McClure. Many of my colleagues may not 
know, but his name is well known in the islands. For his tremendous 
sense of compassion and sensitivity to the issues affecting the needs 
of those of us who come from the insular areas, I want to pay special 
homage and honor to Senator McClure for all that he has done.
  Some of my colleagues may not be aware, but Senator McClure was also 
one of the instrumental leaders that assisted greatly in the passage of 
the Compact of Free Association which was very, very important, 
especially for the security needs of our country.
  I remember also the strong working association Senator McClure had 
with the late Congressman Phil Burton and the efforts that they made to 
help those of us who come from the insular areas of the United States. 
I want to again thank our friends here for bringing this resolution to 
the floor. I could not think of a better person to have the Federal 
building named after than this great man, and I sincerely hope that 
maybe my good friend from Idaho will come and visit us so we can let 
him know that we have not forgotten this good man from Idaho, Senator 
McClure, for all that he has done for the territories.
  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of our time 
on this side.
  This is a good and appropriate piece of legislation. I did want to 
remark that I have had the pleasure of serving in this body now for 7 
years, and I always marveled at how tough the legislators were from the 
State of Idaho, and now I understand that when they have recreation 
areas named Hell's Canyon and River of No Return, it must be a very 
tough place to live, indeed.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whitfield). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1459.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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