[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 13576-13577]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TOM STAGG UNITED STATES COURT HOUSE

  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (S. 2754) to designate the Federal building and 
United States courthouse located at 300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, 
Louisiana, as the ``Tom Stagg Federal Building and United States 
Courthouse'', as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 2754

       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 located 
     at 300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, Louisiana, shall be known 
     and designated as the ``Tom Stagg United States Court 
     House''.

     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 ``Tom Stagg United States 
     Court House''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Carson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. 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 material on S. 2754, as 
amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 2754, as amended, would designate the Federal 
building and United States courthouse located at 300 Fannin Street in 
Shreveport, Louisiana, as the Tom Stagg United States Court House.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Fleming), for his 
leadership on this legislation.
  Judge Stagg served in the U.S. District Court for the Western 
District of Louisiana. He was appointed to the bench in 1974, served as 
a chief judge from 1984 to 1991, and assumed senior status in 1992. He 
served until his death last year. Earlier in his career, he held 
various executive positions in the private sector and was in the 
private practice of law.

                              {time}  1545

  Judge Stagg served our country during World War II, during our 
Greatest Generation, as a U.S. Army captain in the infantry. He earned 
the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Stars for Valor and Meritorious 
Service, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. Judge Stagg's 
dedication to serving our country is clear, and I believe it is 
appropriate to name this courthouse after him.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

[[Page 13577]]

  I thank my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).
  Mr. Speaker, I also support this bill, as amended, which honors Judge 
Stagg by naming the Federal courthouse in Shreveport, Louisiana, after 
him. He served over 40 years, as was noted, as a district judge in the 
Western District of Louisiana. He was a lifelong Louisianan, who 
attended Louisiana State University for both his undergrad and law 
school education.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this important piece of 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my 
colleague, Mr. Carson. As members of the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee, this isn't unusual where we come together to 
do important bipartisan pieces of legislation to recognize some of 
America's heroes.
  I urge passage of this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2754, which would 
name the U.S. Federal Court House in Shreveport, Louisiana after Tom 
Stagg. Judge Stagg's legacy is one which speaks volumes of his exemplar 
character and distinguished career as a federal judge for the Western 
District of Louisiana.
  Upon graduation from high school, Judge Stagg valiantly served in 
WWII where he would rise to the rank of captain and earn the Combat 
Infantryman Badge, a Bronze Star for Valor, a second Bronze Star for 
meritorious service, and the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster. The 
patriotism and dedication which he exhibited as a soldier was further 
built upon when he began his career as a jurist. He was nominated to 
serve as a federal judge for the Western District of Louisiana in 1974. 
He held the position as chief judge from 1984 to 1991, at which point 
he assumed senior status and maintained a full caseload until his 
passing in 2015. A detailed man who commanded respect whenever he 
entered a room, Judge Stagg was well known for his institutional 
knowledge, efficiency, and thoroughness during each and every case. He 
was heavily admired by his colleagues, many of whom believed that his 
character reflected the most honorable qualities of a judge.
  A pillar within his occupation and the salt within his community, 
Judge Stagg's life was an example to us all. It is more than fitting to 
honor Judge Stagg's service by naming this court house, a court house 
which he helped design, after him.
  I introduced companion legislation, H.R. 5011, in the House, and I am 
thankful that we are able to consider S. 2754 today. I ask my 
colleagues for their support.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 2754, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``An Act to 
designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 
300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the `Tom Stagg United 
States Court House'.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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