July 23, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5103 Judge Mechem dedicated his life to Mexico. And following graduation from The Clerk read the title of the bill. public service. I believe it is fitting to the University of Arkansas School of The text of the bill is as follows: name this courthouse after him. I sup- Law, he returned to New Mexico to H.R. 3556 port passage of this legislation and practice law. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- urge my colleagues to do the same. Despite having a successful law prac- resentatives of the United States of America in Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of tice, Governor Mechem answered Congress assembled, my time. America’s call and joined the FBI dur- SECTION 1. DESIGNATION. Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield ing World War II. After the Allied vic- The United States courthouse at 2 Niagara myself such time as I may consume. tory, Governor Mechem returned to his Square, Buffalo, shall be known Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3742. It practice, but then ran for a seat in the and designated as the ‘‘Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse’’. was introduced by the gentleman from house of representatives, for which he New Mexico, and it would designate the SEC. 2. REFERENCES. was elected. He served two terms in the Any reference in a law, map, regulation, United States courthouse located at 100 State house, then made a successful bid document, paper, or other record of the North Church Street in Las Cruces, for Governor of the State of New Mex- United States to the United States court- New Mexico, as the Edwin L. Mechem ico. He went on to become the only house referred to in section 1 shall be deemed United States Courthouse. four-term Governor of New Mexico. to be a reference to the ‘‘Robert H. Jackson Judge Edwin L. Mechem spent a life- Governor Mechem then served 2 years United States Courthouse’’. time in public service. Early in his ca- as a United States Senator. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- reer, he was a special agent of the Fed- On October 8, 1970, Governor Mechem ant to the rule, the gentleman from In- eral Bureau of Investigation during took the next step of his life in service diana (Mr. BUCSHON) and the gentleman World War II and, later, a land sur- when he was confirmed by the United from Illinois (Mr. COSTELLO) each will veyor for the U.S. Reclamation Serv- States Senate as United States district control 20 minutes. ice. judge for the district of New Mexico. The Chair recognizes the gentleman In 1947, Judge Mechem was elected to He dutifully served in that position from Indiana. the New Mexico House of Representa- until his death in 2002. GENERAL LEAVE tives and went on to become a four- In a letter to my office, his wife Jose- Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I ask term Republican Governor of the State phine Mechem wrote: unanimous consent that all Members of New Mexico. Later, he was appointed He loved this State from one end to the may have 5 legislative days in which to to the to rep- other, and vacations were rarely taken out- revise and extend their remarks and in- resent the State of New Mexico. side of New Mexico. All his life, the thing he clude extraneous material on H.R. 3556. In 1970, President Nixon appointed loved most was to spend his free time driving The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Judge Mechem as a Federal judge on the back roads, checking the water situa- objection to the request of the gen- the U.S. district court for the district tion, and seeing that all was well with our tleman from Indiana? crops, our businesses, and our communities. of New Mexico, where he served for 32 There was no objection. years before he passed away in 2002. This year marks the 100th anniver- Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I yield Judge Mechem will be remembered sary of New Mexico’s statehood, and myself such time as I may consume. for his commitment to public service July 2, 2012, was Governor Mechem’s H.R. 3556 would designate the court- and his distinguished service as a Fed- 100th birthday. Naming this courthouse house in Buffalo, New York, as the eral judge. the Edwin L. Mechem United States Robert H. Jackson United States Mr. Speaker, I encourage my col- Courthouse during 2012 is an honor be- Courthouse. Justice Jackson was an as- leagues to support H.R. 3742, and I re- fitting his life of service; and, as such, sociate Justice to the United States serve the balance of my time. I ask my colleagues in the House to Supreme Court from 1941 to 1954. He Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 vote in favor of H.R. 3742. I would also had a long career in public service, in- minutes to the gentleman from New strongly encourage quick action and cluding participating in the landmark Mexico (Mr. PEARCE). passage by our friends in the Senate. desegregation case Brown v. Board of Mr. PEARCE. I thank the gentleman Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, at this Education, and serving as chief counsel for yielding. time I would ask my friend from Indi- for the United States in charge of pros- Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by ana if he has additional requests for ecuting Nazi leaders at Nuremberg. thanking Subcommittee Chairman time. Justice Jackson served the Nation and DENHAM and Ranking Member HOLMES Mr. BUCSHON. I have no further re- advanced justice both here and at Nur- NORTON, Committee Chairman MICA quests for time. emberg. and Ranking Member RAHALL for mov- Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I urge I think it’s appropriate to honor his ing H.R. 3742. support of this legislation and yield dedication by naming this courthouse I rise today in strong support of this back the balance of my time. after him. I support passage of this leg- bill. Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I, again, islation and urge my colleagues to do This bill is very simple. It would rise in support of H.R. 3742 and yield the same. name the United States courthouse lo- back the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of cated in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as The SPEAKER pro tempore. The my time. the Edwin L. Mechem United States question is on the motion offered by Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield Courthouse. the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. myself such time as I may consume. Governor Mechem was a community BUCSHON) that the House suspend the I rise in support of H.R. 3556, intro- leader who dedicated his life to public rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3742. duced by the gentleman from New service. He was a four-term Governor The question was taken; and (two- York (Mr. HIGGINS). of New Mexico and the first Governor thirds being in the affirmative) the The bill would designate the new United born in New Mexico post-statehood. rules were suspended and the bill was States courthouse in Buffalo, New York, as Governor Mechem also served New passed. the ‘‘Robert H. Jackson United States Court- Mexico as a member of the New Mexico A motion to reconsider was laid on house’’. House of Representatives, in the the table. Associate Supreme Court Justice Robert H. United States Senate, and as a United f Jackson is considered one of the finest legal States district judge for the district of experts in American history. New Mexico. He presided as United ROBERT H. JACKSON UNITED He served in the U.S. Treasury Department States district judge from 1970 until his STATES COURTHOUSE and in several roles within the U.S. Depart- death in 2002. Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I move ment of Justice, including Attorney General. In Governor Mechem was born in to suspend the rules and pass the bill 1938, Justice Jackson was appointed as the Alamogordo, New Mexico, shortly after (H.R. 3556) to designate the new United U.S. Solicitor General where he argued more New Mexico gained statehood. He at- States courthouse in Buffalo, New than 30 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. tended what later became New Mexico York, as the ‘‘Robert H. Jackson In 1941, Justice Jackson was appointed to State University in Las Cruces, New United States Courthouse’’. the U.S. Supreme Court by President Franklin

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:41 Jul 24, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K23JY7.048 H23JYPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H5104 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 23, 2012 D. Roosevelt. Justice Jackson served for 13 As U.S. Solicitor General, he argued This is a proud day for western New terms on the U.S. Supreme Court and in more than 30 cases before the United York, and I urge my colleagues to sup- 1945, at the request of President Harry S. Tru- States Supreme Court, on which he port this legislation. man, Justice Jackson took a leave of absence would later sit. Louis Brandeis, the Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I con- from the Supreme Court to serve as the constitutional scholar and a former tinue to reserve the balance of my United States Chief Prosecutor in the ‘‘Nurem- member of the U.S. Supreme Court, time. berg Trials’’ where Nazi war criminals were said at the time that Jackson was so Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I urge tried. good as Solicitor General, he ‘‘should support of this legislation, and I yield He was admired for his work in addressing be Solicitor General for life.’’ back the balance of my time. how these trials were organized, the standards And as U.S. Attorney General, Jack- Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I also of evidence, and the rights of all defendants, son focused on national security issues urge support for H.R. 3556, and I yield setting the stage for the development of mod- as the United States headed toward in- back the balance of my time. ern international law. volvement in World War II. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Justice Jackson will be remembered for his Robert Jackson served the United question is on the motion offered by outstanding work in the legal system and for States Supreme Court for 13 terms and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. his strong commitment to public service. took part in the landmark decision BUCSHON) that the House suspend the Therefore, it is appropriate that the new United prohibiting segregation, Brown v. rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3556. States courthouse in Buffalo, New York, be Board of Education. He is celebrated as The question was taken; and (two- named in his honor. among the most accomplished writers thirds being in the affirmative) the I support this bill and encourage my col- in the Court’s history. In fact, con- rules were suspended and the bill was leagues to support H.R. 3556. stitutional scholar Laurence Tribe passed. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 called him ‘‘the most piercingly elo- A motion to reconsider was laid on minutes to my good friend, Congress- quent writer ever to serve on the the table. man HIGGINS from New York. United States Supreme Court.’’ f Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, the new At the request of President Truman, ROBERT BOOCHEVER UNITED Federal courthouse in Buffalo opened Jackson took a leave of absence from STATES COURTHOUSE last November. It opened to great fan- the Court to serve as the chief pros- fare, and rightly so, because it is a ecutor of Nazi war criminals at the Mr. YOUNG of . Mr. Speaker, I beautiful building that enhances our International Military Tribunal, com- move to suspend the rules and pass the community and will provide needed monly known as the Nuremberg trials. bill (H.R. 4347) to designate the United space for the crucial work that is done He designed and was the driving force States courthouse located at 709 West there. behind this first international trial, 9th Street in Juneau, Alaska, as the But the opening of the courthouse bringing Nazi criminals to justice ‘‘Robert Boochever United States was also significant to western New while establishing an important foun- Courthouse’’. York because it did not come easily. dation of international law. The Clerk read the title of the bill. In the 1990s, Federal Judges William In his oral arguments at Nuremberg, The text of the bill is as follows: Skretny and Richard Arcara began to he spoke not only to the assembled tri- H.R. 4347 make the case that the Michael Dillon bunal, he spoke to the world of the Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- Courthouse in Buffalo was no longer American ideals of justice and freedom, resentatives of the United States of America in suitable for the growing caseload of the and of freedom being the essence of Congress assembled, Western District of New York. The man. He said America’s history and SECTION 1. DESIGNATION. United States Judicial Conference promise is to help other nations define The United States courthouse located at agreed, and they ranked a new court- freedom in their own terms. Jackson’s 709 West 9th Street in Juneau, Alaska, shall house in Buffalo near the top of the list be known and designated as the ‘‘Robert oral arguments at Nuremberg are con- Boochever United States Courthouse’’. of new facilities it annually sends to sidered among the greatest speeches of SEC. 2. REFERENCES. Congress. Yet Judges Skretny and the 20th century. Any reference in a law, map, regulation, Arcara watched along with the rest of Shortly after the Nuremberg trials document, paper, or other record of the our community as Congress repeatedly concluded, Justice Jackson was invited United States to the United States court- passed over Buffalo for other facilities to speak at the University of Buffalo’s house referred to in section 1 shall be deemed around the country. But the judges centennial celebration at Kleinhans to be a reference to the ‘‘Robert Boochever kept fighting, and so did Buffalo. Music Hall on October 4, 1946. With United States Courthouse’’. We finally passed the funding over 2,000 people in attendance, Jack- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- through Congress in 2007, and we now son’s speech was delivered with power ant to the rule, the gentleman from have a magnificent 10-story structure and eloquence. In it, he said that ‘‘edu- Alaska (Mr. YOUNG) and the gentleman right on historic Niagara Square that cation is humanity’s hope,’’ connecting from Illinois (Mr. COSTELLO) each will we can be proud of. his work at Nuremberg to the work of control 20 minutes. the university, and he received an hon- The Chair recognizes the gentleman b 1730 orary degree of doctor of laws from the from Alaska. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today University of Buffalo. GENERAL LEAVE would name this new courthouse for The leadership of the western district Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I Supreme Court Justice, chief U.S. pros- of New York has endorsed naming their ask unanimous consent that all Mem- ecutor at the Nuremberg trials, Solic- building in honor of Justice Jackson. bers have 5 legislative days in which to itor General and U.S. Attorney General Judge Skretny called him the most dis- revise and extend their remarks and in- Robert H. Jackson. He is a uniquely tinguished jurist and most acclaimed clude extraneous material on H.R. 4347. western New York story and a uniquely legal mind to come out of western New The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there American story. York. Jackson is the only member of objection to the request of the gen- Robert Jackson was raised near the United States Supreme Court from tleman from Alaska? Jamestown, New York, and spent the western New York, making this honor There was no objection. first 42 years of his life in western New especially significant. Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, York. For a time, he lived on Johnson I want to thank Chairman MICA and H.R. 4347 would designate the United Park, now in the shadow of the new Ranking Member RAHALL for bringing States Courthouse in Juneau, Alaska, courthouse, and practiced law in the this bill to the floor today; and I would as the Robert Boochever United States historic Ellicott Square Building. He like to thank the western New York Courthouse. would often walk to work from his congressional delegation—KATHY Judge Boochever served our country home, passing the site where the new HOCHUL, LOUISE SLAUGHTER, and TOM as a captain in the U.S. Army during courthouse now sits. He was a promi- REED—and the entire New York delega- World War II and then moved to Alaska nent attorney in Buffalo when he was tion, including our two Senators, for in 1940, where he worked in the U.S. At- called to Washington by President their bipartisan and unanimous sup- torney’s Office and in private practice. Franklin Roosevelt. port of this bill. In 1972, he was appointed to the Alaska

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