H8246 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE October 6, 2004 Second, S. 2742 creates statutory au- it would renew their authority to pro- On May 1 of this year, Supreme Court Jus- thority for the Court to accept gifts. vide security for their Justices when tice David Souter suffered minor injuries when The scope of this text was narrowed they leave the Supreme Court and sur- a group of young men assaulted him as he with the Committee on the Judiciary’s rounding area. jogged right in this vicinity. He is not the first input and is now limited exclusively to On May 1 of this year, Supreme Court justice to be injured in this manner. Justice gifts ‘‘pertaining to the history of the Justice David Souter suffered minor in- Stephen Breyer was thrown from his bicycle Court or its Justices.’’ The Court pres- juries when a group of young men as- several years ago and suffered minor injuries. ently may accept gifts based on Comp- saulted him when he jogged right in These reports underscore the importance of troller General opinions. this vicinity. Other judges have had off-campus security for Justices. If no congres- Third, this legislation empowers the some experiences along those lines. sional action is taken, the authority of Su- U.S. District Court for the District of Another provision in this legislation preme Court police to protect its Justices off to Columbia, along with the D.C. Superior allows the Supreme Court to accept court grounds will expire at the end of this Court, to adjudicate cases relating to gifts ‘‘pertaining to the history of the year. crimes committed in the Supreme Supreme Court of the United States or Another provision in this legislation allows Court building and on Court grounds. its Justices.’’ The Administrative Of- the Supreme Court to accept gifts ‘‘pertaining Under current law, all cases are re- fice of the Courts currently has statu- to the history of the Supreme Court of the ferred to the D.C. Superior Court. Be- tory authority to accept gifts on behalf United States or its justices.’’ The Administra- cause some of the crimes committed on of the judiciary. This provision would tive Office of the Courts currently has statutory Court grounds implicate first amend- grant the Supreme Court its own au- authority to accept gifts on behalf of the judici- ment rights, the Court and the Depart- thority to accept gifts that would ele- ary. This provision would grant the Supreme ment of Justice believe that a Federal vate or enhance its historical presence Court its own authority to accept gifts but it court will do a better job of promoting in this Nation. It would, of course, nar- would narrow the types of gifts that can re- uniform results since it is more experi- row the type of gift that can be re- ceived to historical items. This provision enced in handling constitutional chal- ceived to historical items. This provi- strikes the proper balance and will improve the lenges. sion strikes the proper balance of courts’s overall function. Mr. Speaker, the House Committee maintaining the very favored place in Finally, this legislation also would provide an on the Judiciary, in a bipartisan fash- history that the Supreme Court main- additional venue for the prosecution of of- ion, worked with the Supreme Court tains, and then will improve the fenses that occur on the Supreme Court and the other body to ensure that S. Court’s overall function and adminis- grounds. Currently, the DC Superior Court is 2742 is devoid of controversy. trative relief or issue and, as well, en- These changes are important to the the only place of proper venue despite the sure the ethical considerations be made operation of the Court. I urge Members uniquely federal interest at stake. This legisla- in order. to support the bill. tion would allow suit to be brought in United Again, prosecution of offenses Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of States District Court in the District of Colum- my time. against the Court now were moved to bia. Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. the district court. I think that is an Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join Speaker, I yield myself such time as I appropriate way of handling these mat- me in supporting this important legislation. might consume. ters, and I would ask in light of the Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked fact that our Supreme Court, now more Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speak- and was given permission to revise and than ever, is well-known to the Amer- er, I yield back the balance of my time. extend her remarks.) ican public, handling any number of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. controversial issues, I believe that S. question is on the motion offered by Speaker, let me also rise and thank the 2742 is an appropriate legislative initia- the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. other body and thank the ranking tive to help us in the administration of SENSENBRENNER) that the House sus- member and the chairman of the Com- justice. pend the rules and pass the Senate bill, mittee on the Judiciary for legislation With that, I ask my colleagues to S. 2742. that I think is very important. I sup- support it. The question was taken; and (two- port the legislation introduced by Sen- Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the legislation thirds having voted in favor thereof) ator HATCH and cosponsored by Mr. introduced by the Gentleman from Utah, Mr. the rules were suspended and the Sen- LEAHY from Vermont. HATCH on July 22, 2004 and co-sponsored by ate bill was passed. The goals of this legislation are, Mr. LEAHY from Vermont. The goals of this A motion to reconsider was laid on namely, to extend to December 29, 2008, legislation, namely to: the table. the authority of the Marshal of the Su- Extend to December 29, 2008, the authority preme Court and the Supreme Court of the Marshall of the Supreme Court and the f police to protect the Justices and offi- Supreme Court Police to protect the Justices 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF SIX- cial guests of the Court away from the and official guests of the court away from the TEENTH STREET BAPTIST court building and grounds; add the court building and grounds; CHURCH BOMBING U.S. District Court to the District of Add the U.S. District Court for the District of Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speak- Columbia to venue provisions gov- Columbia to venue provisions governing pros- er, I move to suspend the rules and erning prosecutions relating to the Su- ecutions relating to the Supreme Court build- agree to the resolution (H. Res. 389) preme Court building and grounds, ing and grounds—where venue now lies in the honoring the young victims of the Six- where venue now lies in the Superior Superior Court of the District of Columbia; and teenth Street Baptist Church bombing, Court of the District of Columbia; au- Authorizes the Chief Justice to accept, hold, recognizing the historical significance thorizes the Chief Justice to accept, administer, and use gifts and bequests of per- of the tragic event, and commending hold, administer and use gifts of per- sonal property to facilitate the work of the Su- the efforts of law enforcement per- sonal property to facilitate the work of preme Court. sonnel to bring the perpetrators of this the Supreme Court. As a general matter, I am an advocate of As a general matter, I am an advo- extending the discretion and jurisdiction of the crime to justice on the occasion of its cate of extending the discretion and ju- federal courts. In the midst of this House’s 40th anniversary. risdiction of the Federal courts. In the consideration and passage of several meas- The Clerk read as follows: midst of this House’s consideration and ures that patently strip the jurisdiction of the H. RES. 389 passage of several measures that pat- courts and the discretion of the judges, it is re- Whereas the Sixteenth Street Baptist ently strip the jurisdiction of the freshing to see a piece of legislation pass that Church of Birmingham, Alabama was con- courts and the discretion of the judges, actually expands the reach of the court. structed in 1911 and served as a center for Af- rican-American life in the city and a ral- it is refreshing that we see a piece of The Gentlemen co-sponsored S. 2742 at lying point for the civil rights movement legislation pass that actually works to the request of the Supreme Court. This legis- during the 1960s; enhance the Court and its security. lation would renew their authority to provide Whereas on Sunday, September 15, 1963, This legislation, S. 2742, is to add security for their justices when the leave the segregationists protesting the mandatory in- protection to the Supreme Court, and Supreme Court. tegration of Birmingham’s public schools VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:19 Oct 07, 2004 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06OC7.080 H06PT1 October 6, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8247 firebombed the Sixteenth Street Baptist The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there sor, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Church; objection to the request of the gen- BACHUS) for this important legislation. Whereas the blast killed Addie Mae Col- tleman from Wisconsin? It is important to note that the gen- lins, age 14, Denise McNair, age 11, Carole There was no objection. tleman from Alabama’s (Mr.