[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. ____________________