[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9660-9661]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  GERALD W. HEANEY FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE AND 
                              CUSTOMHOUSE

  Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 521) to designate the Federal building and United 
States courthouse and customhouse located at 515 West First Street in 
Duluth, Minnesota, as the ``Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and 
United States Courthouse and Customhouse''.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

                                 S. 521

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The Federal building and United States courthouse and 
     customhouse located at 515 West First Street in Duluth, 
     Minnesota, shall be known and designated as the ``Gerald W. 
     Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and 
     Customhouse''.

     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 and customhouse referred to in 
     section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Gerald 
     W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and 
     Customhouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maine (Mr. Michaud) and the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. 
Capito) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maine.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within

[[Page 9661]]

which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous 
material on S. 521.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maine?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, S. 521 is a bill to designate the Federal building and 
United States courthouse located at 515 West First Street in Duluth, 
Minnesota, as Judge Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States 
Courthouse and Customhouse.
  Gerald Heaney was appointed judge of the United States Court of 
Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on November 3, 1966. He took senior 
status on December 31, 1988, and retired on August 31, 2006, after over 
40 years of distinguished service to his country and the citizens of 
Minnesota. I rise in strong support of this bill.
  Judge Heaney was born on January 29, 1918, in Goodhue, a rural 
community in the southeastern part of Minnesota. As a child growing up 
in a farming community, Judge Heaney learned the value of a close 
family, honesty, and hard work. These qualities have marked not only 
his personal life but also his life as a public servant.
  He was educated at the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul and received 
his law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1941.
  Gerald Heaney is a decorated World War II veteran and was a member of 
the distinguished Army Ranger Battalion and participated in the 
historic D-Day landing at Normandy. He was awarded the Silver Star for 
extraordinary bravery in the Battle of La Pointe du Hoc in Normandy. He 
also received a Bronze Star and five battle stars. At the end of the 
war, Judge Heaney returned home and entered private practice in Duluth. 
During this time, he was instrumental in improving the State's 
education system, and served on the board of regents for the University 
of Minnesota.
  He was instrumental in helping develop for the Duluth school system 
the same pay scale for both men and women. In 1966, he was appointed by 
President Johnson to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. In that 
capacity, he has been a champion in protecting the rights of the 
disadvantaged. He was devoted to making sure that every person had an 
equal opportunity for an education, a job, and a home.
  He firmly believes the poor and the less educated and the less 
advantaged deserve the protection of the Constitution. As a 
hardworking, well-prepared and fair-minded jurist, he left his legal 
stamp on school desegregation cases, bankruptcy laws, prison treatment, 
and Social Security law. His public service is marked by industry, 
brilliance, and scholarly excellence. His compassion and dedication to 
those most disadvantaged is unparalleled.
  Judge Heaney is most deserving of this honor. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in supporting this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, S. 521 is a companion bill to H.R. 187 which was 
introduced by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar). This bill 
designates the Federal building and United States courthouse and 
customhouse at 515 West First Street in Duluth, Minnesota, as the 
Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and 
Customhouse. The bill honors Judge Heaney's dedication to public 
service.
  As we have heard previously, after serving in the Army during World 
War II and acquiring a law degree from the University of Minnesota Law 
School, Judge Gerald Heaney entered into the private practice of law 
from 1946 to 1966. Judge Heaney's career as a judge began in 1966 with 
an appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit by 
President Lyndon Johnson.
  Judge Heaney had a reputation for championing equal justice for 
underprivileged and vulnerable citizens. He retired after 40 years of 
service on August 31, 2006.
  I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the 
same.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill, S. 521.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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