[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 2] [House] [Pages 1985-1995] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]JOHN JOSEPH MOAKLEY UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of Tuesday, February 13, 2001, I call up [[Page 1986]] the bill (H.R. 559) to designate the United States courthouse located at 1 Courthouse Way in Boston, Massachusetts, as the ``John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse,'' and ask for its immediate consideration in the House. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of H.R. 559 is as follows: H.R. 559 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. DESIGNATION. The United States courthouse located at 1 Courthouse Way in Boston, Massachusetts, shall be known and designated as the ``John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse''. SEC. 2. REFERENCES. Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the United States courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse''. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). Pursuant to the order of the House of Tuesday, February 13, 2001, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) each will control 30 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette). Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as I begin my remarks on H.R. 559, I want to thank and commend our colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for one, not only bringing this matter before the attention of the House, but also for pushing for its expedited consideration. I was in my district in Ohio as all Members were earlier this week. They all were not in Ohio, they were all in their districts. And the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) was kind enough to call and indicate this was a bill that was not only deserving of the body's attention, but it was deserving of expedited attention. Madam Speaker, I also want to commend the leadership of the House for giving it every consideration. Madam Speaker, H.R. 559 designates the United States courthouse located at 1 Boston Way in Boston, Massachusetts as the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse. It is only fitting that the courthouse in Boston bear the name of our witty, compassionate and amiable colleague in the House. Mr. Moakley has been a staple in this body since his election to the House in 1972. Congressman Moakley was born, raised and lived most of his adult life in South Boston, something he is very proud of. He began his long distinguished career in public service at the age of 15 when he enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the South Pacific during the Second World War. Upon returning from his service in World War II, he attended the University of Miami, and later received his law degree from Suffolk University Law School in Boston. At the age of 25, Congressman Moakley was elected to the Massachusetts State Legislature, serving in both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate for 18 years before being elected to the Boston City Council. In 1972, as I mentioned before, Congressman Moakley was elected to the United States House of Representatives. After his first term in the House, Congressman Moakley was appointed to the Committee on Rules. He later became chair of the Committee on Rules in 1989. He is now serving as the Committee on Rules ranking member. With his affable personality, he was able to give everyone a fair shake that came before his committee, even during some of the more than difficult political debates that we, from time to time, have in this Chamber. In addition to his work on the Committee on Rules and being an ardent supporter for South Boston's transportation infrastructure, Congressman Moakley continues to be dedicated to ending human rights violations around the world, particularly in Central America. This naming is a fitting tribute to our colleague. Madam Speaker, I support the bill and encourage my colleagues to join in support. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), for his cooperation on this matter. I want to thank the leadership, the Republican leadership and the Democratic leadership, for all their cooperation, and, in particular, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey), the majority leader; the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; as I mentioned, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), as well as the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), the minority leader; and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello). I really appreciate everybody here working together to move this legislation to the floor expeditiously, and it is for our very dear friend, Joe Moakley. Madam Speaker, this is a very special moment for me. Joe Moakley has been my teacher and he has been my mentor. He has, as I have said many times over the last couple of days, been like a second father to me, and he is my best friend. As many of my colleagues know, I worked in Joe Moakley's congressional office for over 13 years. I have seen him solve problems, both large and small. I watched as he steered countless millions of dollars to his district and to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for sensible economic development. There is not a Federal project in Massachusetts from the Berkshires to Cape Cod that does not have Joe Moakley's fingerprints all over it. I watched him help colleges and universities build new buildings, research facilities, classrooms and laboratories. I watched him champion the cause of health care, because as he said on Monday, he knows probably better than most of us the miracles of medical science. Madam Speaker, I have seen him immerse himself in constituent casework. If someone stops him at a local diner or on the street with a problem, Joe Moakley is immediately on the phone, usually using some very colorful language to get his point across in order to solve that problem. And I have even seen Joe stare down death squads in El Salvador. Joe Moakley's commitment to human rights in that war-torn country played a mighty role in ending the Salvadoran war, which caused over 80,000 innocent civilians' lives. I returned to El Salvador with Joe in November of 1999 to mark the 10th anniversary of the murder of the 6 Jesuit priests, the case in which Joe successfully exposed the truth. Everywhere we went in El Salvador, even in the most remote villages, people remembered what he did. They would come up and give him a big hug and say thank you and tell him how much he impacted their lives. In return, Joe would sing his favorite Irish tunes, If You Are Irish, Come Into the Parlor, or Southey, My Hometown, or his personal favorite, Redhead, and I am not sure that they knew what the heck he was singing, but they all fell in love with him. They all appreciated what he did and they will remember him forever. In 1996, I was elected to the United States Congress, and I would not have won that race if it were not for Joe Moakley. There is no way that I can adequately say thank you to him for helping me realize my dream. Today we are naming the U.S. courthouse in Boston, a building that, quite frankly, would not be there if it were not for Joe Moakley. We are naming it the John Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse. It is an appropriate tribute for two reasons. First, that new courthouse is already serving as a catalyst for economic development in that area of South Boston with new construction springing up all around it. And so much of Joe's career has been about [[Page 1987]] promoting economic development and creating jobs. He joked the other day that his favorite bird is the crane, and if you visit Boston, you will see cranes all over the place. The second reason why I think this is appropriate is that that courthouse is a symbol for justice, and Joe Moakley's entire life has been dedicated to fighting for justice, especially for those who do not have a powerful ally or who are not well committed; whether it is fighting to help Mrs. O'Leary find her lost Social Security check, or whether it is fighting on behalf of refugees from El Salvador who were too afraid to go back to their homeland during that war, or whether it is fighting for health care or for Medicare or for hospitals or for anybody who has any problem, Joe Moakley is always out there, front and center, fighting for justice. He was one time asked what his favorite compliment was, and he replied being called a regular guy. Well, Joe Moakley is the most extraordinary regular guy I have ever known, and like everyone in this House, and I would say like everybody who knows him, I love him a lot. Madam Speaker, we are all sad that Joe announced that he will not seek reelection in the year 2002, but I want to remind everyone here that 2 years is a long time. Joe Moakley will be with us on this floor, telling his Irish stories, singing his Irish songs and fighting the good fight. I, again, want to thank all of my colleagues for bringing this to the floor so expeditiously. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn). Mr. QUINN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for his leadership on this issue. We were going to invite the Massachusetts Republican delegation down here to speak today, but, you know, that does not exist. There have been a couple of great Republicans in the Congress from Massachusetts. Of course, the great Silvio Conte and Mr. Torkelson, who my colleagues took care of and Mr. Blute, who my colleagues took care of, and so we are without a Massachusetts Republican delegation. But, nonetheless, I rise this morning to represent all of the Members on our side of the aisle in talking about Joe Moakley for a couple of minutes here this morning. A good thing, as the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) pointed out, is that sooner or later everybody will have a chance to talk about us, sooner or later; some sooner, some later. But by doing this naming today, we get a chance to talk this morning about a good friend in Joe Moakley. I want to talk to Joe this morning, not about him, because he is with us. I do not want to talk to him. I want to thank Joe Moakley personally for the work he has done with me on our weatherization and our LHEAP program where we have been able to restore some money back into this Federal budget to take care of people who have to make decisions about whether or not they are going to heat their homes or put food on the table; not an easy decision, not an easy road to hoe for people in the northeastern part of our country. Joe and I have teamed up together to do that these last couple of years, and I have learned from Joe Moakley more in these last couple of years than all of my years in education, all my years in government, all my years in public life. And I do not know Joe Moakley's district exactly, but I will tell you, Joe, and I know you like to be called a regular guy, which you are, but I have a feeling that that district back there in Massachusetts when you care about the rest of the regular guys, you are caring about the teachers. You are caring about the cab drivers and the truck drivers. You are caring about the electricians and the carpenters. You are caring about the people that really make this country what it is. And I, for one, want to thank you for doing that. I also want to let you know, Joe, whether you know it or not, you have taught a lot of us here in the House on both sides of the aisle, not only to be Members of Congress, but how to act as respectful gentlemen and from all of us, we appreciate that. Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano). Mr. CAPUANO. Madam Speaker, I guess, to a certain extent, I do not want to talk about what Joe Moakley has done, because, to me, that is not the measure of a man. It is not the measure of the reason I like Joe, and I think the reason Joe is so well loved in his own district. It is what he is. I grew up in Massachusetts, and for all of my life, like Joe, I live in my own hometown. Like Joe, I live in my own neighborhood. And I want to tell my colleagues, all of my life, I have heard about Joe Moakley, as I heard about Tip O'Neill, as I heard about Ted Kennedy, as I heard about James Michael Curly, as I heard about John Kennedy. In my world, there were many political giants. But, for me, most of them came before me. And I knew some of them in passing. I knew Mr. O'Neill a little bit. My father knew him better. This is the first time in my life I have had an opportunity to get up close to someone who is a living icon in my world, and it is the first time in my life that I know that all the things I heard about him were not just the typical media fluff that many of us around here worry about. We are all worried about our image. We are all worried about what people say about us. And Joe Moakley could not care less because he is what he is, and what he is is a regular guy. I say that representing a district that almost is a mirror image of Joe's district. We do represent all of those people. I will tell you that Joe Moakley would have been the exact same person if he did not get into politics, if he had gone the way of so many of his friends and gone to work as a Teamster, or gone to work as a longshoreman or gone to work as a bus driver, like many of the people he grew up next to, like many of the people I grew up next to, would have been the same person, would have still joked, would have still sang songs, would have still had fun, and would have still been loved by all of his neighbors and friends. {time} 1100 The fact that we have had so much of an opportunity to get the best from Joe Moakley does nothing more than enriches us. I can only say that I am personally happy and proud to have gotten to know him as more than a political icon, as a person, a person that so many people in Massachusetts love and a person that so many people in Massachusetts wish only the best for. Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. King). Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, it is really a great honor for me to be able to stand up and speak on behalf of this resolution. If there is anyone who deserves it, it is Joe Moakley. I can honestly say that, for the time that I have been in Congress, no one has personified to me more what it means to be a Congressman than Joe Moakley. If everybody in this House were like Joe Moakley, we would get along much better; we would get a lot more done. We would realize that partisanship is important, but yet it stops. We should be able to reach across the aisle and shake hands and have a drink and share a joke and make a cutting remark or humorous remark about one of our colleagues in a way that really shows the camaraderie that we should have. From the time I came here, Joe Moakley reached out to me. He was, as the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn) have said, a good guy in the very best sense of the word. Yet, he was also an outstanding Congressman, a man who fought and fights so hard for his district, a man who obviously believes the principles for the Democratic party, fights hard for those principles; but at the end of the day, is willing to sit down and talk with anyone, no matter what their party affiliation happens to be. [[Page 1988]] He reaches out for people who need help. He is a person who I know, speaking for Members on my side of the aisle, when they needed a favor, when they needed help, when they needed a break, the guy they went to on the other side was Joe Moakley. He never let party divisions stand between him and them. As the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) said, Joe Moakley represents a working class district. He represents real people. There is nothing phony. There is nothing built-up by the media. This is the real thing. When one sees Joe Moakley, one is seeing what a real person is. Today, to be honoring him in this way, it is important. It means a lot. But on the other hand, if there was never any courthouse named after Joe Moakley, if there was never any plaque or citation put out for Joe Moakley, he would always be remembered by those who knew him, those who served with him in Congress. And as the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) has said, probably most importantly of all, the average guy on the street corner in his district, the average guy in the bar, the average guy driving the bus, the average guy going to work every day, he realizes that Joe Moakley, in every sense of the word, represented those people here in Congress, the people who otherwise would not have a strong voice, the people who are so busy working day to day they cannot afford to be getting involved in exotic causes. They have to know that they have somebody who is on the firing lines for them day in and day out. The fact that so many projects went to Joe's district as opposed to mine or the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), we take that in stride, realizing that was Joe fighting for his district, and, quite frankly, doing a better job than we were for ours. So I am proud to join with all of my colleagues today in honoring Joe Moakley and speaking on behalf of this resolution and saying it has been a true source of pride and honor for me to be able to work with Joe Moakley. I wish him the best of health. I wish him the very best to himself that he has given to so many of us for so many years. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney), my classmate and colleague. Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for this opportunity to say some words about Joe Moakley, John Joseph Moakley, but all of us know him as Joe. He was described the other day by folks from Massachusetts as a lunch-bucket Democrat and politician; and a politician obviously defined in this sense, as a servant of the people. When one is talking about a servant of the people, it is everybody. Joe worked over 50 years and continues to work now for a better quality of life for everyone, rich or poor, and all those in between. He is known for his policy work whether it is housing, whether it is the environment, whether it is employment, El Salvador or Cuba. He happens to make sure that he is happiest when people are working. When they are employed and there are numerous economic development projects going on in his district, he is smiling the most. As he said just the other day, that the favorite bird for him is the crane. When one looks all over his district in Boston, one sees one crane after another. One sees construction projects blooming in the Boston skyline and that means development, it means progress, it means jobs and a better quality of life for all of Joe's constituents. His life is a lasting example of honor. He treats others with respect and dignity; and in turn, he is liked by everyone, as we have heard from Members on both sides of this aisle. He is compassionate, but he is certainly not weak. He is strong, but he is always considerate of others. He has a sense of responsibility that has permeated his being for a long, long time. At the age of 15, as I am sure my colleagues have heard or will hear, he forged his documents and enlisted in the Navy and went into World War II. Today some people would probably say he misrepresented something and try to run him out of government; but for Joe, this was the right thing to do to get in there, be a patriot, and to represent and work on behalf of his country. Tom Oliphant wrote a column about Joe the other day; and in it he said something that was very touching. He said Joe Moakley treats everybody the same. So even if you are a king or President, you get to be treated like his constituent. That says a lot about Joe. It is exactly the way that he has always treated with respect the people whom he represents and whom he considers family. So it is fitting that this courthouse be named after him. It is fitting because that is where he grew up, that is where he played and ran around in the rail yards that used to pass through there, chasing watermelons and other fruit off of the trains as they went by. I am proud and I consider it an honor to join others here today in saying that this courthouse will be appropriately named for Joe Moakley. It represents jobs. It represents progress and development. Most of all, it represents justice and fairness. Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, as we await the arrival of other speakers, we reserve the balance of our time. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey). Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, there is a great void in our delegation and in this institution as Joe Moakley announces that he will not run for another term. But it is altogether fitting and appropriate that we gather here to name the courthouse overlooking Boston Harbor on behalf of Joe Moakley. There is a great scene in the movie the Ten Commandments where Moses, Charlton Heston, is confronted by Pharaoh, his father who has adopted him and raised him, where the father says to him, What have you done for me, Moses? My son, Ramses, Yul Brenner, has done so much for me. At that point, Moses pulls back the cloth and says, Behold, I have built you a city. If someone asks me, if someone asks our delegation what has Joe Moakley done, we could pull back the same cloth in the Moakley Courthouse and look out and say, Behold, Joe Moakley has rebuilt Boston. One would look out on this clear and clean water of Boston Harbor that was once polluted. One can look at the jewels of the Boston Harbor, the islands, now the Boston Harbor National Park. One could look at the Central Artery, Moses parted the Red Sea, what Joe Moakley has done is reunite the city of Boston by putting the Central Artery underground so that this city that was divided for 50 years is now once again united when the Central Artery, the Big Dig, is completed, the civil and political engineering feat of the last 50 years, finding the money and then designing it. Then the Moakley Courthouse above from which one can see the Evelyn Moakley Bridge named for his beloved wife. Joe Moakley talked to kings and pages with the same language. If we ever do have a Mount Rushmore for congressmen, Joe Moakley should be up there with his great friends, John McCormack and Tip O'Neill as the symbols of everything that Congress should stand for. He is a great man. We are honoring a great man by placing his name on this courthouse. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost). Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution naming the Federal courthouse in Boston in honor of my colleague, Joe Moakley. No Member of Congress deserves this honor more than the gentleman from Massachusetts, my friend Joe. I have had the honor of serving on the Committee on Rules with Joe for more than 22 years. No person better epitomizes what is good about public service in this country. Joe has served with distinction, with good humor and with class. Years ago, he personally and courageously took on the death squads in El [[Page 1989]] Salvador following the murder of four nuns in his district as well as six Jesuit priests. It was his dogged determination and hard work that brought an end in that sad chapter in El Salvador's history. Joe's district in Boston did not reap great rewards from his courageous fight, but all of mankind did. Joe Moakley, as we have heard earlier, enlisted in the Navy in World War II at the age of 15, lying about his age so he could fight the enemies of our Nation. I guess he was big for his age at the time, but no one in Congress today has a bigger heart than Joe Moakley. Joe served as chairman of the Committee on Rules for 5 years and has served as ranking Democrat for the past 6 years. Whether in the majority or in the minority, Joe has served with class. He has never been mean to his adversaries, but he has always been firm in his convictions and vigorous in his pursuit of the values and ideals of the Democratic Party. Joe has made the decision to step down after this term in Congress after having fought valiantly in recent years against a series of ailments and will continue to fight against his ailments as he has done with courage, grace, and dignity. We look forward to his continued service in this body in the months ahead. Boston and all America can be proud of this great Congressman. He is one of the last of the great Boston pols, a man who is proud to represent his district and to serve his country. Naming the beautiful Federal courthouse overlooking Boston Harbor in his honor is the very least we can do. Joe Moakley is a great Congressman. He is and always will be a shining example to the entire country about what is good in public life today. Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce), a seatmate on the Committee on Rules with the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley). Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my good friend from Massachusetts and Committee on Rules colleague, Joe Moakley. Anyone familiar with the Committee on Rules' work knows that it often entails long hearings, very late nights, and early morning wake-up calls just to get our work done for the next day. But Joe Moakley makes our sacrifices much easier to bear with a twinkle in his eye and his quick wit. He keeps us on our toes, and he keeps us chuckling even when the joke is at his own expense. If more Members could do their party's bidding on both sides of the aisle with Joe's flare, there would be a lot less partisan rancor around here and many more smiles on the faces of our colleagues. Today, we not only honor Joe Moakley, but we also thank him for his invaluable contributions to this institution, to the lives of everyone he has touched, and all of us who have had the privilege of knowing him. I was not here when a young Joe Moakley came to Washington some 30 years ago, but I am very certain that this institution and his constituents and every Member he has come in contact with is better for his work here. So, Mr. Speaker, I am a Republican, and Joe Moakley is a dyed-in-the- wool Democrat, and most people would, therefore, put us at odds; but I am here to tell you, and to turn a phrase, with enemies like that, who needs friends? Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal). Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for yielding to me, and thank the Members that are assembled here today. Joe Moakley's sense of humor was infectious for all of us; and one can sense, I think, the affection that we all feel for him today. In Massachusetts, people think that one is supposed to be good at politics. We take it very seriously. In the instance of Joe Moakley, he is heir to the great legacy of the great McCormack and the great O'Neill. There are two parts of this business in Congress. There is the outside business, and there is the inside business. Joe Moakley was good at both of them. The problem in this institution, like most institutions of legislative life today across America, is that the people that are good at the outside part of it can never become good at the inside part of it because they profess a disdain for the institutions of which they serve, thereby never buying into consensus, never having the chance to do the great governing that has to take place in legislative life. Joe Moakley understood both parts of legislative life. One has to be good at the outside part of it, and one has to be very good at the inside part of it. Hence, committee assignments. I know people's eyes glaze over when they hear that, but the members of the delegation were always on good committees, primarily because of McCormack, O'Neill, and Moakley. The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) said to me a moment ago when somebody mentioned, well, Jeez, Joe treated everybody alike. The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) said, In our delegation, he sure did. He thought we were all on his staff. But it was a joy to be part of his success in this institution. There is still going to be a lot of good days as we move along as well. Let me just close on this note: I bumped into the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Everett) today, a terrific guy. He said to me, ``You know, I never voted the way Joe Moakley voted in the years I have been in Congress, but there was nobody whose company I enjoyed more at dinner. There is nobody that I enjoyed talking to more about the great stories that he told and still will have an opportunity to tell.'' I am indeed very grateful for many of the good things that have come my way in legislative life here in the Congress because I consider it an honor to serve here. Joe Moakley has been responsible for much of the success that I have had within this institution. I am indeed grateful today and happy to be part of this and only wish our friend from South Boston, if one asked him where he was from, he would not say Boston, he would say he was from South Boston, our friend Joe Moakley. {time} 1115 Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey), the majority leader of the House. Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, let me say that when I picked up my paper last Monday and read the news of Joe Moakley's illness, it made me extremely sad; and I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for calling to my attention this opportunity we have as a body to appreciate one of our own. Joe Moakley is a pretty good partisan, and that is fine. It is his institutional role to stick up for people who have a shared point of view of his own, and he has done that and he has done it well. But he has never in all the time I have known him done that in any manner that was ungentlemanly or inconsiderate. On a more personal basis, when we have those moments in our lives when we can get beyond our institutional roles, he is a friend. I can remember as a young guy in the minority, probably a little bit out of line, messing with something that was not in a committee on which I served and, therefore, considered by many to be perhaps none of my business, having to trek up to the Committee on Rules with the second- ranking Democrat on the Committee on Rules who showed me patience, tolerance, encouragement, consideration, and a helping hand in the committee for me to get an amendment that was important to me to the floor so he could cheerfully vote against it. That was a pretty decent thing, quite frankly. So I welcome this opportunity. And I should say, by the way again on a more personal note, we should remember that Joe Moakley is from south Boston. If we forget, we should just notice that is where the accent came from. I had not realized until my brother went to work with the Boston Patriots, the [[Page 1990]] New England Patriots, that for all my life I had been mispronouncing his name. I, in my misguided youth, had learned that his name was Charlie Armey. It was only by Joe's compliments towards my brother that I learned his name is ``Chawley Aumey.'' I often refer to Charlie with affection as my brother Chawley Aumey, and I think of Joe Moakley every time. So thank you again for giving us this opportunity, and I thank the gentleman for giving me just this moment to speak with very, very real affection for a real person. As Evey, his wife, would have said, He's a person. And we ought to know that and we ought to appreciate that. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to thank the gentleman from Texas, the majority leader, for his very kind words and his eloquent words. I want him to know I appreciate them and everybody in the Massachusetts delegation, I think everybody in Massachusetts, really appreciates those words. The gentleman points out that even though Joe was a solid bread-and- butter Democrat, that he had this talent to kind of cross party lines. There is not a single person, even those who disagree with him on an issue, that do not walk away from a fight saying, He's a good guy; I liked him a lot. We really do appreciate the gentleman's kind words, and we appreciate his working with us to bring this to the floor today. Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield? Mr. McGOVERN. I yield to the gentleman from Texas. Mr. ARMEY. One final moment. I would just say to Joe, ``Mr. Chairman, stay with us.'' Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank). Mr. FRANK. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague in thanking the majority leader for really speaking, I think, on behalf of the whole House in his very personal eloquent statement. We will have to be forgiven, those of us who do this as a profession, because, to be honest, we are all reacting personally in these last couple of days. Joe Moakley had enormous benefits to the country, to this institution, to the city and the State, but for us also the personal was there. We could not come into this Chamber on the worst of days, having encountered all kinds of unpleasantness, and not have our spirits uplifted by sitting with Joe. There was no way that anyone could fail in his presence to be cheered. And for that personal element, even in this time of trial for him, he has been cheering the rest of us up. Typical of this really quite extraordinary man. I also want to talk about another aspect in which he is extraordinary. He is a great stereotype breaker. One of the things we suffer from in this country is this assumption that if we are A, we cannot be B; if we are X, we cannot be Y. Joe Moakley showed us that we could be. There is a lot of talk about civility now. No one had to tell Joe Moakley that a person could be a deeply committed advocate of issues, not simply a partisan in the sense of being a Democrat but a partisan Democrat who cared a lot about what was necessary to improve the lot of those people in our society who were not going to do well on their own, no one had to tell him that someone could be deeply committed without being truculent or belligerent. No one had to tell that a passion for doing the right thing in public policy was incompatible with friendliness, and we have seen that demonstrated here. We have talked about people in whose tradition Joe Moakley was, and Tip O'Neill is the one who comes most to mind with me, because Moakley and Tip O'Neill shared something which I think is a defining thing about greatness. We throw this word around a lot; but to me, in our political system, it means among others things this: that someone can be a master of a given set of rules. Tip O'Neill and Joe Moakley were both masters of the old politics. They were both masters of politics in the old school. Joe Moakley, 50 years ago in south Boston, was beginning a very impressive career in politics as it then was. And both of them, first Tip O'Neill then Joe Moakley, showed that an individual could be a master of the old ways and welcome the new. Too often people who are good at one set of arrangements feel threatened by change. Joe Moakley was not threatened by change. He understood that being a basic Social Security-getting, job-getting Democrat at home did not mean a person could not worry about human rights abroad. Joe Moakley bridged by the greatness of his personality his commitment, his caring about individuals and humanity at large, a lot of things people have tried to pull apart. It is for that reason that we will be impoverished personally by not having his companionship here on the floor when he leaves this House, and this Nation will be impoverished by someone who did so much to try to get us to put aside artificial differences. Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers). Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join in this discussion. I have not known the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley) as well as many of the previous speakers, but I have to say that when I first appeared before the Committee on Rules a few years ago as a trembling freshman and presented my case on an amendment, it was interesting to watch the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley). He initially was shuffling papers, then he began listening to me, and then he turned to the person next to him and I could see him say, ``Who is this guy?'' And after I made the presentation, he made some complimentary comments and took the trouble after the meeting to come and speak to me about my proposal and explain how it could be improved. That was the beginning of a friendship. And even though I cannot claim the close friendship that some of the old-timers here have, it has always been a good relationship. We joke with each other, we talk with each other, we always greet each other in the hallways. He always strikes me as what a longstanding Member of Congress should be, a kindly older gentleman who is helping and aiding those around him and always cheerful, always helpful, and always trying to help us do our best for the country. We need more Members like that. And the other comments about his civility, I believe, are well taken. He is a very civil person in every sense of the word and truly a gentleman who deserves the honor that he is being given today. We cannot say enough good about him. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan). Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for moving on this courthouse quickly with both sides of the aisle embracing this. This is very, very important at this time; and I compliment the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for not only the way he has gone about this but his remarkable friendship with Joe Moakley over the years. When I got elected to the Congress, I had never been in a legislative body before, and I was a little inexperienced; and I remember getting here and butting heads with Joe Moakley. Then I quickly surrendered. Joe is a remarkable guy. Many of us have heard the stories about what he has done in terms of building Boston and what he has meant to that community, with the Big Dig, depression of the Artery, the beautiful courthouse, the sense of humor that he had. Amazing. All of us have read the story about Joe's illness, and his initial remark was, ``The doctor told me that I should not get any green bananas.'' Remarkable sense of humor. The jokes on the floor. But also his commitment on so many issues. I remember, and it was mentioned earlier, in the wake of the burial of the murdered Jesuits and nuns in El Salvador in 1989, Speaker Foley appointed Joe to head the special task force to investigate the El Salvadoran government. It was Joe Moakley who led the way there and exposed violations of [[Page 1991]] human rights that have made a dramatic difference there. What a legacy his work on human rights in El Salvador. An incredible legacy. Many of us had been fighting over the years to try to get the School of the Americas shut down, could never get the votes in the House, until Joe Moakley took it up. He said I will offer this and we will get it passed. That is Joe Moakley. The personal relationships with Members, not only all he has done for his own district but everyone's district. When we go to the dean of the delegation from Massachusetts and we ask him for help, we are more effective in our districts. I will tell a quick story, if I can get 30 seconds more. Malden Mills in my district in Lawrence and Lowell, a great factory that burned down a few years ago. Aaron Feuerstein, the owner of the mill, kept all the workers working at Christmas time. Kept them all employed. He developed Polartec for cold weather. We were looking for a way to get it to the Marines, get it to our service members, because it is cutting-edge fabric. Aaron came down and said, ``How do I do this?'' I said, ``Well, I will tell you how we will do it. We will go to see Joe Moakley.'' Needless to say, the contracts have been signed, and the Marines are now wearing Polartec. So this is a great honor to a great man, and I congratulate the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern). Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), chairman of the Committee on Rules, Mr. Moakley's counterpart; and Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take 5 minutes of my time and yield it to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for him to control. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Without objection, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) will have an additional 5 minutes. There was no objection. Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding me this time. I hear all these nice things being said about Joe Moakley by Members of the Massachusetts delegation, Members on this side of the aisle; and I have to say that I probably more than any other Member of this House know Joe Moakley to be a real fighter. In fact, he has abused me regularly up in the Committee on Rules and I know plans to continue that pattern over the next couple of years. He is one who clearly does stand for his principles very firmly. But I will agree with the arguments that have been made by my colleagues that he is extraordinarily civil in the process. Just yesterday I followed a statement that he made about the fact that he is at a point in his life where he does not purchase green bananas any longer because he does not know if he will be around long enough for them to ripen. Well, we know that Joe Moakley is going to be around for a long time. He continues to fight very hard. But the fact is I presented him yesterday with some green bananas upstairs in the Committee on Rules, and he told me that he would much rather have the gavel than the green bananas that I presented to him. {time} 1130 I let him hold the gavel momentarily. But I will tell my colleagues that I have the highest regard for the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley). I have had the privilege of serving on that Moakley Commission in El Salvador, and he did tremendous work and was so dedicated in that effort. He has represented the Democrats extremely well in the Committee on Rules. The Committee on Rules is one of the most partisan committees in the institution, and yet we have been able to work in a bipartisan way on lots of different issues. I am proud to have worked with him on bringing about a complete overhaul of the rules structure here in this House. We did that in a bipartisan way. Were it not for Joe Moakley, we would not have been able to proceed with what was one of the boldest reforms since 1880 in this institution. On lots of issues, we have been able to find areas of agreement. Of course, the attention is focused on areas of disagreement. But he is a fighter who is going to continue to be with us for a long time to come, and I am looking forward to continuing to get the wit and wisdom of Joe Moakley upstairs and down here on the floor. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) for his kind words. Those of us in the Massachusetts delegation have not heard so many nice things said about Massachusetts Members of Congress in a long time, but we really appreciate it. We appreciate the heartfelt comments. It means an awful lot to us, and I know it means an awful lot to Joe. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt). Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), for leading us in this resolution. It is so appropriate that we are naming a courthouse after Joe Moakley. We probably should also name a post office, and maybe we will do that at a later point in time. Because certainly, as has been referenced here, Joe Moakley has delivered the mail. I mean, he has delivered the mail for his district. He has delivered the mail for Massachusetts. As the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) has said, he more than anyone, along with Tip O'Neill, is responsible for rebuilding the city of Boston. And that will be a lasting monument to Joe Moakley, as well as Tip O'Neill. But appropriate I say a courthouse because a courthouse is a symbol of justice. And I thought it was fascinating the other day, because some of us attended his press conference, where he stated publicly that, as he looked back on his political career, the one aspect of his legacy that he was most proud of is what he did in El Salvador. What he did in El Salvador was really to begin the process of stopping a civil war that took oh so many lives. It was about justice. It was about social justice and economic justice. Beyond buildings and beyond bridges and beyond harbors, really the heart and the soul and the core of Joe Moakley is social and economic justice. And that is why it is so appropriate to name the ultimate symbol of a democracy, a courthouse, after Joe Moakley. On a personal note, I want to thank Joe Moakley for his wisdom, his counsel, for his kindness, his advice, and help to me. I know I speak for everyone in Massachusetts when I say, we respect him and, as importantly, we love him. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver). Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley) who announced his retirement from the Congress this week. With his departure, we will lose one of our finest, wittiest, and longest serving Members. We in the Massachusetts delegation will lose our dean, our load star, and the patron saint of South Boston. Even before his years as chairman and later ranking member of the Committee on Rules, Joe was a force not to be tangled with. In nearly 3 decades of service in the House, he cites among his most notable accomplishments his fight for peace and justice in El Salvador during the conflict-ridden 1980s. He is known for that and a lot more in Massachusetts. Congressman Moakley has literally lifted the city of Boston up. He has set an example for all of us in his efforts to improve the lives of working families, and his deeply personal style will be remembered. Speaking of lifting the city of Boston up, Joe has spent the last decade securing crucial transportation funding for the Boston Metropolitan area, which faces formidable transportation challenges. Joe recognized that large investments were necessary to keep the great and historic city of Boston in a prominent place in the global economy, and soon Boston will be a shining example of efficient transportation that will be a tribute to Joe's tireless work. [[Page 1992]] Joe has been an important part of my political life, too. When I was elected in 1991, Joe cleared the way for me to join the Committee on Appropriations and so helped me define my role in Congress. And I am grateful to him. Joe's recent diagnosis of incurable leukemia touches all of our lives. It takes a special breed of person to respond with such grace and equanimity. Joe, I wish you the best. We all wish you the best. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you always. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for bringing this bill before us today. It is but a small recognition of Joe Moakley's dedication to public service and of his great accomplishments for the people of Massachusetts. I urge its adoption. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson). Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, let me also congratulate the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern). I join my colleagues from the Massachusetts delegation and those Members of the House who have come to the floor today to pay honor and tribute to an outstanding American, a quintessential Irish statesman who I think, as the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) pointed out, is not only a link to the past but a handshake and a look into his eyes is peering into the future. I spoke with Joe the other day, and he said with a great deal of pride how he assumed office on the same day that Tip O'Neill was taking John Kennedy's place in the House of Representatives and John Kennedy was going on to the Senate and Joe Moakley was taking Tip O'Neill's place in the great State of Massachusetts Assembly. Mr. Speaker, Joe Moakley simply embodies everything that is rich about public service and public life. I commend the delegation for its salute and tribute to Congressman Moakley. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my most admired colleagues in the House of Representatives, Congressman Joe Moakley of Massachusetts who today is the subject of legislation before this body, that has been written in his honor. Joe Moakley is the quintessential Boston Irish public servant. For more than 50 years he has served his Nation, his State of Massachusetts, and the hard-working men and women of South Boston in one form or another. In the long, and inspiring tradition of such great men as former Speaker Tip O'Neill, Joe has been the kind of Representative that has shown time and time again that he is a leader on the national and international stage, yet has remained ever loyal to the people of South Boston and all of Massachusetts. When I first arrived here as a freshman Member in 1999, Joe Moakley, who was then and now Dean of the New England House delegation, was one of those remarkable people I looked to as a model of how I wanted to conduct myself as a Member of Congress. With character, dignity, devotion, and loyalty, Congressman Moakley continues to serve as constant reminder that we are indeed part of a noble profession. Joe Moakley's remarkable time in public service began when he was a mere 15 years old, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy for service in the South Pacific during the Second World War. After graduating from college in Florida, and law school, Joe Moakley ran for the Massachusetts State Legislature in 1952 where he served until 1960. And in 1964, he ws elected to the Massachusetts State Senate where he served until 1970. It was in 1972, after briefly serving on the Boston City Council, that he was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 9th District. It was not long after he began his second term that he gained a seat on the House Rules Committee, where still serves today as ranking member. In 1989, he was made chairman of that committee. As chairman, he conducted himself with his characteristic sense of integrity and humor. Through all his years of service which he continues today, he has worked tirelessly for his district, giving them the same full measure of devotion that he gave to other matters, such as human rights abuses in Central America, which he helped investigate and report on. His actions helped expose injustice, and likely contributed to the end of a brutal civil war in El Salvador. I have always believed that the measure of a person's life is not contained merely in the years they spend in office, but rather in how their actions in office continue to positively affect the neighborhoods, district, and people they served, long after their time in service has drawn to a close. If a person's actions have improved the life of even one person, or one family, or one community, then there is no end or limit to what their service has meant to others. And for Joe Moakley, there is no end in sight. No matter how long I spend as a Member of this body, I am now, and will always be, proud to say that I served with Joe Moakley. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We are waiting for a couple of other speakers, but I want to take this opportunity to say something that is important to say. I am a former staffer of Joe Moakley. I am one of the few people who ever left his staff. Most of the people who have worked for him have worked for him for many years, and they have done so because they admire him and respect what he stands for. But members of the staff who are in Massachusetts, those who are here in Washington, those on the Committee on Rules, do not have the opportunity to come up before the mike and to say anything, and I want to say a few words on their behalf. Mr. Speaker, if they were able to speak here today, they would express their incredible gratitude to Joe, not only for what he stands for, but for his friendship and for his support over the many years. People who work for him and people who deal with him, it is not just people who work for him directly, people who are part of the staff, people in the House dining room, the credit union, all love him because he has a way of connecting with people. He has a way of expressing humor that endears himself to these people. I want to say on behalf of his staff how grateful we all are to everybody who has spoken here today and who has offered tributes. It means an awful lot to all of us because we feel that we are part of his family as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior). Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for taking the time to honor our dear friend, Joe Moakley. I think above all, Joe communicates. The dedication of this Post Office to him fits his ability to communicate with people, whether it is a funny story, in which there are endless numbers, and they just kind of flow out of Joe, or whether it is something as serious as dealing for justice for the people of Central America to which he and the gentleman from Massachusetts played such an important role. I consider Joe not only a friend but a mentor. We served together on the Committee on Rules for 14 years. He was always insightful. He was always there to break the tension with a great joke. He is a person that knows how to seize the moment and make the most of it politically. I will miss him when he leaves this institution. I understand that he will not be seeking reelection. In my estimation, he is one of the finest people that has ever served in this body. I want to say something about Central America because a lot of people don't recall Joe's activity there because they were not here. There has been such large turnover since the late 1980s. The death squads in El Salvador, as the PBS special that recently played across the country showed, it was Joe Moakley's persistence and courage that changed the complexion of life in that country and for many Central Americans. He had great courage in standing up for them. He is a man that I have great admiration for, and it is only fitting that we name this Post Office after him, but that we pay tribute to his great service. Mr. Speaker, he was there for me in every battle that I ever had in this institution, in my leadership battles, in my battles with respect to putting together an organization that would get the votes on the House floor, he is a wonderful human being. Joe, thank you for all of your great service. There will be service ahead for you here and we want you to know that we love you. We stand by you and that you are the best. I thank my friend from Massachusetts. [[Page 1993]] Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield another 5 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for purposes of control. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Without objection, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) will control an additional 5 minutes. There was no objection. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to our leader, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt). Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this measure to name the courthouse in Boston the Joe Moakley Courthouse. Joe has been a great friend to all of us. He has been a great strong right arm of this caucus and this House. He has played a pivotal role in the leadership of this House in many, many different ways: as a member of the Committee on Rules, as the ranking member on the Committee on Rules, a member of our leadership organization, as a member of our ranking Members' organization. We admire tremendously the service that he has brought. What really sets Joe Moakley apart is his relationship with his constituents. We all know that he has all of these wonderful roles, dean of the delegation for Massachusetts, ranking member on the Committee on Rules, a leader in the House in so many ways. He has done so much in Central America. He has done so much with many of his constituents in many, many ways. But I think that above all else is his humanity, his humanness, his relationship with each of us individually and collectively. He is to me the embodiment of public service. At his press conference where he announced his retirement, Joe said the people I represent are more than constituents, they are family. That is the way Joe Moakley treated everyone. He treated everyone he met, his constituents, even total strangers as part of his family. {time} 1145 He was always funny, he was always friendly, he was always warm, he was always loving of other people. And he always will be. I think, more than anything that we can say about Joe Moakley today, we can see that he has embodied in everything that he has done the humankindness and love that all of us should like to represent. We love you, Joe, and we look forward to working with you in the days ahead in this Congress to make things better for the people of America and the people of Massachusetts. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank our leader the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt) for his remarks. He mentioned Joe's humanity. I think all of us agree with him when he says that Joe treated us all like family, and he treated us all with an incredible amount of respect. Joe Moakley is probably the most genuine person that any of us know. There is not a phony bone in his body. That is why people love him so much, because when he speaks to you and even when he disagrees with you, it is from his heart. It is because of what he believes. I very much treasure that trait in him and very much value his friendship. Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) for all of his cooperation and for all of his generosity with the time. I want to thank on behalf of all the Massachusetts delegation and the people of Massachusetts everybody who has spoken here today. Words cannot express adequately how much it means to all of us that you have come here today to express your support and your friendship and your love for Joe Moakley. I want to thank all my colleagues for getting behind this initiative. This is the right thing to do. Joe Moakley is going to be with us for the next couple of years, and we are going to be able to continue to enjoy his humor and to watch him in action. But I think this is the appropriate way to say to Joe, ``thank you.'' It does not do justice to all that we should do to thank him, but this is a small gesture of our affection. As I said at the end of my remarks when I opened up here, I will say it again, Joe, we all love you a lot. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 559. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio? There was no objection. Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, many Members have come over to the floor today, Members that know Joe Moakley far better than I, and have shared their personal stories of his dedication and his compassion, his fierce competitiveness, his desire to be a good Democrat and serve well the constituents of South Boston and a lot of stories about his wit. I can only tell you, Mr. Speaker, that as a House we are united in our desire to honor our longtime colleague; and there is no honor more fitting than what we plan to do today and that is to name the United States courthouse in Boston after one of Boston's sons, John Joseph Moakley. I urge passage of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy). Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague for yielding time and say to my colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) what a wonderful tribute he has organized on behalf of a wonderful man that I know all of our colleagues are distressed to learn is facing the fight of his life but someone whom we all know could face that fight like no other in this House, with charm and dignity and sense of importance in life and humor that none of us, I do not think, could have if we were in his shoes right now facing what he is facing. I just want to close by saying I cannot think of anybody, and I know my father feels the same way, that would better have his name on really now a landmark in Boston like the Federal courthouse than Joe Moakley. I think what a tribute it will be to have that beautiful courthouse which he was such a major part in bringing about bear his name right next to the bridge that bears the name of his late wife. All of Boston and all of Massachusetts and all of New England and all of this country and all over the world for the people that Joe Moakley has stood for, this is a great tribute to him. I ask my colleagues to join me in urging passage of the Joe Moakley Federal Courthouse Building. Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation as a tribute to a great American and outstanding Congressman, Joe Moakley. As a member of the Rules Committee, I have the privilege of working closely with Joe. Serving on the Rules Committee is often a thankless job. It requires late hours and uncertain schedules. For the ranking Democrat, that job is even more difficult. Yet Joe approaches his task with dedication and never-ending energy. I can remember waiting around for many light-night sessions when we were entertained by his stories. Even under the most difficult circumstances, Joe never lost his wit and sense of humor. Joe represents the best of Democratic ideals of compassion and justice. He has championed the rights of the poor, the neglected, and oppressed, not only in this country but throughout the hemisphere. He has served his Boston constituents with honor and dignity. He has skillfully used his position to bring Federal Government services to his community. He is the best that government has to offer. It is highly appropriate to name a Federal courthouse after Joe. A courthouse is where citizens seek justice from their government. That is Joe's legacy. When Joe Moakley was diagnosed with leukemia, his doctor recommended that he consider retiring from Congress and doing what he wants to do. Joe replied that serving in Congress is what he wants to do. That's Joe Moakley--serving others rather than thinking of himself. There is no way our Nation can fully thank Joe for his service, but this is a fitting attempt. I have enjoyed my service with Joe over the years and I will treasure the remaining time in the 107th Congress. [[Page 1994]] Good luck, Joe. Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 559, a bill to designate the Federal Courthouse in Boston in honor of Congressman Joe Moakley. It is with great respect that we honor one of Congress' most prolific workers and dedicated Members with this designation. Joe Moakley is a true Bostonian. He was born in Boston on April 27, 1927. He attended local schools, and at the young age of 15 joined the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, Joe attended the University of Miami. Upon his return to Boston he attended Suffolk University Law School and received his law degree in 1956. In 1952, at the age of 25, Joe was elected to the Massachusetts legislature. From 1952 until 1960 he served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and from 1962 until 1970, he served in the Massachusetts Senate. He specialized in urban affairs and environmental legislation. In 1971, topping the ticket with a record-breaking vote in both the primary and general elections, Joe Moakley won a seat on the Boston City Council. Just 2 years later he was elected to represent the Ninth Congressional District. After his first term he was appointed to a seat on the House Rules Committee--a seat previously held by former Speaker Tip O'Neill, Jr., his close friend and mentor. In June 1989, Congressman Moakley was appointed chairman of the House Rules Committee, which controls the flow of legislation and set terms for floor debate. In 1995, Mr. Moakley became the committee's ranking member. All of us will be known for our legislative achievements but few will be remembered for their broad concern for humanity. For Joe Moakley, it is one of the ways in which he distinguishes himself. In 1989, Joe embarked on his most ambitious mission concerning abuses of human rights. His outrage at the blatant murder of six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter in 1989 in El Salvador propelled him into a national investigation that culminated in the Moakley report. This searing document revealed the involvement of several high-ranking Salvadoran military officials in the murders. The findings in this report resulted in the termination of United States military aid to El Salvador. It also led to his concern with the School of Americas. More importantly, the people of the small village of Santa Marta had their sense of justice and fairness renewed and refreshed by the diligence and hard work of Joe Moakley. Although Joe's concern for abuses of human rights brought him international attention, he proudly remained a ``bread and butter'' and ``nuts and bolts'' politician--caring and concentrating on the people of the Ninth Congressional District in his beloved Boston. His efforts resulted in securing funds for, among other things, the dredging of Boston Harbor, renovation of the World Trade Center, bridges for access to the Boston waterfront, the Juvenile Justice Center at Suffolk University, Boston Public Library, and economic development in the Miles Standish Industrial Park in Taunton. His constituents benefited from his dedication to environmental protection. He was instrumental in establishing the Boston Harbor Islands National Park, and as previously mentioned, he secured funds to clean up Boston Harbor. He did not forget historic preservation-- Faneuiel Hall, the African Meeting House, the Old South Church, the Freedom Trail, the U.S.S. Constitution, and the Boston Customs House all received necessary funding to preserve these American treasures. During his career, over 5,100 congressional actions bear the name Joe Moakley. His interests include support for the Olympics, regulatory review, Medicare, human rights, civil rights, violence, police protection, education, environmental protections, energy assistance programs for the poor and elderly, landmark legislation designating arson as a major crime, merchant marines issues, and international affairs. Joe Moakley has received numerous awards and honors including an honorary doctorate from Suffolk University, and an honorary doctorate from Northeastern University in political science. Of course, no picture of Joe Moakley would be complete without mentioning his boundless Irish wit, his legendary expertise at telling a story, his unfailing courtesy, kindness, and immense generosity. Mr. Speaker, I would like to close with an Irish blessing for our esteemed colleague Joe Moakley: May the friendships you make, Be those which endure, And all of your grey clouds Be small ones for sure. And trusting in Him To whom we all pray, May a song fill your heart, Every step of the way. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I support H.R. 559 and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, Joe Moakley is a great American. At the age of 25 his political career began with a seat on the Massachusetts State Legislature. This was just the beginning of a long and active political career, serving on both the Massachusetts State House of Representatives and the Massachusetts State Senate. Joe Moakley started his service to the Ninth District of Massachusetts in 1972. His long record of service to the Democratic Party was rewarded when he was appointed chairman of the Rules Committee in June 1989. Joe Moakley has shown his continued dedication through his service as ranking member on the Rules Committee since 1994. Joe Moakley is a very dedicated man who deserves the honor designating the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse in Boston, MA. I supported a bill proposing this honor for Joe Moakley in the 106th Congress and am pleased to support this bill again. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve with Joe, and his presence in the U.S. Congress will be sorely missed. I will always consider Joe as my friend. Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 559, a bill to designate the new Federal courthouse in Boston as the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse. Mr. Speaker, our friend and colleague Joe Moakley has been an outstanding Member of this House working tirelessly for the people of his district and our Nation. Like his friend and our former Speaker Tip O'Neil, Joe has never forgotten where he came from and has never forgotten that ``all politics is local.'' The people of Joe's district have benefited greatly by his leadership in the House--and hundreds of millions of tax dollars have been returned to Joe's district and State to improve major infrastructure and other public projects. Projects include dredging the Boston Harbor, the reconstruction of the Barnes Building--the last major operating military facility in Boston, the South Boston Piers Transit Way, the modernization and expansion of the Boston transit system, the renovation and modernization of South Station and Logan Airport--and the list goes on. I have enjoyed working with Joe on human rights issues. Joe's dedication to fairness and justice was demonstrated in his leadership in bringing to justice the ruthless murderers of six Jesuit priests and their housekeeper in El Salvador in 1989. Joe's ability to work with other Members and his ability to get things done helped him lead the Rules Committee for 6 years. Joe's humor and unfailing courtesy have set a high standard for all of us to follow in the House. It is most fitting and proper that we honor Joe Moakley by designating the new Federal courthouse in Boston as the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse. Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 559, designating the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse. My colleague from Massachusetts is a legislator's legislator, fighting for the people of his district. He has lived by Tip O'Neill's adage that all politics is local, and under his leadership, Massachusetts has benefitted, as he has carried bills promoting high tech businesses, creating jobs, and developing the local economy. It is therefore fitting that a courthouse in his district bear the name the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse. He is a remarkable man. Serving our nation in World War II, going to college and then earning his law degree at night, serving in the Massachusetts State Legislature and the Boston City Council, and finally being elected to the U.S. Congress. He has filled big shoes, serving on the Rules Committee in the seat previously held by former Speaker Tip O'Neill, Jr., ascending to its chairmanship when Democrats held the majority, and ranking member in the minority. He has a strong commitment to human rights, a passion for gentle debate, a keen sense of humor, and the ability to resolve difficult disputes. I can think of no better or more fitting tribute to a man who has devoted his career to promoting the rule of law for our nation and his constituents. I wish him my prayers and good thoughts in fighting his recently diagnosed leukemia, and I wish him God's blessings and the strength that comes from faith. Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the many accomplishments of my friend, Mr. Joe Moakley of Massachusetts. I stand before you to commend a man who embodies infinite courage and legendary patriotism. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the dedicated service of Congressman Joe Moakley. [[Page 1995]] Bound by a sense of service to country, Joe lied about his young age to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Risking his life to defend our country during World War II only marked the beginning of his career in public service. Joe rose through the ranks of local government and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972. It has been my distinct honor to work with him the past 22 years, and in that time I have come to recognize him, as have many others, as a man driven by principal and conviction. During his tenure in the House, Joe has become a renegade for human rights. His desire to find answers to the brutal murders of innocent civilians in El Salvador led a divided country to an eventual peace agreement in 1992. His leadership, his passion and his dedication to civic justice will truly be remembered. Most significantly, I have admired Joe for his tireless commitment to the people of the Ninth District of Massachusetts. Joe is a member of this body who will truly be missed. While this tribute cannot begin to communicate his greatness as a leader and friend, I can say that this body has been made better by his presence and will be lesser in his absence. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join with me today in celebrating the accomplishments of Congressman Joe Moakley. Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill is considered read for amendment. Pursuant to the order of the House of Tuesday, February 13, 2001, the previous question is ordered. The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill. The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________