The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“E. BARRETT PRETTYMAN U.S. COURTHOUSE” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6047-H6048 on June 10, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
E. BARRETT PRETTYMAN U.S. COURTHOUSE
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3029) to designate the U.S. courthouse in Washington, DC, as the ``E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse''.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3029
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF COURTHOUSE.
The United States courthouse located at 3rd Street and Constitution Avenue, Northwest, in Washington, District of Columbia, shall be designated and known as the ``E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse''.
SEC. 2. 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 section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Mascara] each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].
{time} 1445
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3029 is a bill to designate the U.S. courthouse located at the intersection of 3rd and Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC, as the ``E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse.'' Judge Prettyman was a native of Virginia, born in Lexington in 1896. He was the son of the Chaplain of the U.S. Senate during the Wilson administration. He attended Randolph Macon University, and Georgetown University Law School. After graduation, he worked on newspapers, and practiced law with a District firm. He served on the Federal bench for 26 years, from his appointment in 1945 until his death in 1971. During that time Judge Prettyman was regarded as one of America's leading legal scholars and was a pioneer in the areas of judicial reform. He demonstrated an ability to be fair, firm, and thorough.
As a jurist, Judge Prettyman was known for his centrist positions. His most notable opinion concluded that the State Department had the authority to ban U.S. citizens from entering certain areas of the world. His position was upheld by the Supreme Court.
Judge Prettyman participated widely in local civic matters, and served on a Presidential commission inquiry about the U-2 incident.
I am pleased to note the sponsor of the bill, our colleague, Tom Davis, testified before the Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Economic Development, as well as a member of the subcommittee, Ms. Norton, a cosponsor of the bill.
I support the bill and urge my colleagues to pass the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, Ms. Norton and Mr. Davis have introduced legislation to honor the distinguished career of Federal judge E. Barrett Prettyman. He served the public on the Federal bench for 26 years, and as chief judge here in the District from 1953 to 1960. Not only was he regarded as an outstanding legal scholar but also he was a leader in judicial reform. Judge Prettyman was a strong advocate for increasing attention to the juvenile justice system here in the District.
In addition to focusing on the needs of juvenile offenders, Judge Prettyman championed the cause of the indigent and founded a program at Georgetown Law School to better train lawyers for the indigent.
This bill honors the life and contributions of an outstanding jurist and public servant and deserves our support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton], a cosponsor of the bill.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to introduce the bill to name the U.S. District Court in the Circuit Court of Appeals building for the late Chief Judge E. Barrett Prettyman. The same bill had earlier been introduced by Senator John Warner in the Senate. I am very pleased that the chair of the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia was also a cosponsor in introducing the bill with me.
Judge Prettyman, a native of Virginia, graduated from Georgetown University Law School, where I still teach a course. He remained associated with Georgetown all of his professional life. I assure my colleagues that the university takes great pride that he is being put forward today to be honored in this manner.
Judge Prettyman served on the Federal bench for 26 years. He was Chief Judge of the United States Circuit Court from 1953 to 1960. Judge Prettyman was widely regarded as one of this country's leading legal scholars and a pioneer for judicial reform. He is particularly remembered for the way he worked to improve the efficiency of the Judiciary.
Judge Prettyman also championed the cause of the indigent and Prettyman fellows work to this day on that issue out of Georgetown University, where he established a program to better assist indigent defendants.
Naming the courts after Judge Prettyman is considered in this city, and I believe by those who know the judge's work, a fitting tribute to one of the most outstanding jurists and legal scholars to hold the bench in this city. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this measure.
Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], the ranking member of the full committee.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Again I want to compliment our subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Gilchrest, for taking the leadership and moving this legislation and especially the District delegate, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, for sponsoring this legislation in honor of Judge E. Barrett Prettyman.
His career and times of service have already been well stated by previous speakers. I just want to say that for me this is a very touching moment. Judge Prettyman has been an inspiration to generations of young attorneys, aspiring young men and women who sought a career in the service of the law and in service of the public, and because he was such an inspiration himself, it is very appropriate that we dedicate a place to carry his name so that as many young people in the future walk into that building and see that name, they will be inspired as we are by the words of Marshall and Webster that sit above this Chamber.
There should always be a person who serves as a role model for career of public service, for giving of oneself to the needs and the purposes of the broad public good as Judge E. Barrett Prettyman did during his career of service to the District of Columbia, but in a larger sense to the service of the law and of all Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this legislation.
Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton] for her effort in this legislation and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Mascara], and again the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar] for his valued words for an esteemed jurist, and I urge my colleagues to vote for the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Coble). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3029.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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