[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 17795-17796]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                JAMES F. BATTIN UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 3311) to designate the United States courthouse located at 
2601 2nd Avenue North, Billings, Montana, as the ``James F. Battin 
United States Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3311

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

     SECTION 1. JAMES F. BATTIN UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Designation.--The United States courthouse located at 
     2601 2nd Avenue North, Billings, Montana, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``James F. Battin United States 
     Courthouse''.
       (2) Technical amendment.--The ``James F. Battin United 
     States Courthouse'' located at 315 North 26th Street, 
     Billings, Montana, shall no longer be known and designated as 
     the ``James F. Battin United States Courthouse''.
       (b) 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 subsection (a)(1) 
     shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``James F. Battin 
     United States Courthouse''.


[[Page 17796]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Denham) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. 
Napolitano) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous materials on S. 3311.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  S. 3311 would designate the United States courthouse located at 2601 
2nd Avenue North, Billings, Montana, as the James F. Battin United 
States Courthouse.
  Judge Battin received his law degree from George Washington 
University Law School in 1951. Prior to attending law school during 
World War II, Judge Battin served in the United States Navy.
  Early in his career, Judge Battin practiced law in Washington, D.C., 
and in Billings, Montana. Later, he served in a number of public 
service positions, including deputy county attorney for Yellowstone 
County, Montana, and city attorney in Billings.
  In 1958, Judge Battin served as a State representative in Montana, 
and in 1961 Judge Battin was elected to the U.S. House of 
Representatives and served as a U.S. Representative from Montana until 
1969. In 1969, Judge Battin was appointed by President Nixon to be a 
judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. During 
that time, he served as chief judge from '78 to '90, when he assumed 
senior status.
  Judge Battin's commitment to public service is clear. I believe his 
dedication to serving this Nation makes it fitting to name this 
courthouse after him.
  I support passage of this legislation and urge my colleagues to do 
the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3311. It's a bill to designate 
the courthouse in Billings, Montana, as the James F. Battin United 
States Courthouse.
  As my colleague has so aptly stated, in 1969, President Nixon 
appointed James Battin to the Federal bench in Billings, Montana, where 
he continued his 40 years of public service to the citizens of that 
State. In 1978, Judge Battin was appointed chief judge and served in 
that position for 12 years. He remained active in judicial affairs 
until his death in September of 1996.
  Prior to his judicial appointment, Judge Battin served, as was 
mentioned, in the House of Representatives, representing eastern 
Montana from 1960 to 1969, when he resigned to receive his judicial 
appointment. While in this Congress, Judge Battin served on the 
Judiciary Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Ways and 
Means Committee.
  Judge Battin was also a World War II Navy veteran, a member of the 
Montana State Legislature, and also Billings city attorney and general 
counsel for the Billings planning board.
  It is fitting to honor the contributions Judge Battin, a great hero 
to Montana, has made to public service with the designation of the U.S. 
courthouse in Billings, Montana, as the James F. Battin United States 
Courthouse.
  I urge support of S. 3311 and urge my colleagues to also support the 
bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Denham) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 3311.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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