[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4364]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  SENATOR PAUL SIMON FEDERAL BUILDING

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2022.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will state the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2022) to designate the Federal building located 
     at 250 West Cherry Street in Carbondale, IL, as the ``Senator 
     Paul Simon Federal Building.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, on December 9, 2003, we lost our 
colleague, U.S. Senator Paul Simon, a great public servant and a great 
friend.
  At the age of 19, Paul Simon became the nation's youngest editor-
publisher when he accepted a Lion's Club challenge to save the Troy 
Tribune in Troy, IL. From that start, he built a chain of 13 newspapers 
in southern and central Illinois. He also used his post in the 
newspaper world to expose criminal activities and in 1951, at age 22, 
he was called as a key witness to testify before the U.S. Senate's 
Crime Investigating Committee.
  Paul Simon served the state of Illinois and the United States for 
decades. He is the only individual to have served in both the Illinois 
House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate, and the U.S. House of 
Representatives and U.S. Senate. He served in the state legislature for 
14 years, and won the Independent Voters of Illinois' ``Best Legislator 
Award'' every session. He also served as Lieutenant Governor for 
Illinois from 1968 to 1972. In addition, he served in the U.S. Army 
from 1951 to 1953.
  Paul Simon highly valued education and the youth of our nation. In 
addition to his work in Congress to strengthen public education in 
America, he started the public affairs reporting program at Sangamon 
State University, now the University of Illinois at Springfield. He 
later became the founder and director of the Public Policy Institute at 
Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL, and taught there for 
more than 6 years. In addition, Paul Simon wrote 22 books and earned 
over 55 honorary degrees.
  From journalism to government to education, Paul Simon set the 
standard for honesty and caring in public life. He was an unapologetic 
champion of the less fortunate. He was genuine in his politics, life 
and values.
  Now those of us who loved and respected him will do our best to carry 
on his tradition. We will find many ways, great and small, to honor 
him.
  Today, the Senate will pass companion legislation to a bill 
Congressman Jerry Costello has introduced in the House. This 
legislation would designate the federal building at 250 West Cherry 
Street in Carbondale, Illinois as the ``Senator Paul Simon Federal 
Building.'' I am happy to have Senator Fitzgerald as a cosponsor of 
this legislation. I thank Senators Inhofe and Jeffords for their timely 
consideration of this legislation in the Senate Environment and Public 
Works Committee.
  Paul Simon moved to Carbondale in 1974, where he was elected to serve 
in the U.S. House of Representatives. He continued to call the 
Carbondale area his home until his death. Naming this building in 
Carbondale after him will help present and future generations remember 
and honor Paul Simon, a great man who lived in and worked for the 
people of Carbondale, Illinois and our Nation with the greatest 
integrity.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statements related thereto be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 2022) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 2022

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF FEDERAL BUILDING.

       The Federal building located at 250 West Cherry Street in 
     Carbondale, Illinois shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Senator Paul Simon Federal Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCE.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper or 
     other record of the United States to the Federal building 
     referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the Senator Paul Simon Federal Building.

                          ____________________