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.
“REX E. LEE POST OFFICE BUILDING” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H10561-H10562 on Oct. 7, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
REX E. LEE POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3547) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 936 South 250 East in Provo, Utah, as the ``Rex E. Lee Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3547
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REX E. LEE POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 936 South 250 East in Provo, Utah, shall be known and designated as the ``Rex E. Lee Post Office Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Rex E. Lee Post Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.
General Leave
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, I am proud to present H.R. 3547 for consideration. This legislation designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 936 South 250 East Street in Provo, Utah, as the ``Rex E. Lee Post Office Building.''
The measure before us was introduced on September 10 by my friend and colleague, Ranking Member Jason Chaffetz of Utah, and it was favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee on September 24, 2009, by unanimous consent. In addition, this measure enjoys the full support of the Utah House delegation.
Since it is the legislation sponsored by my friend, I will allow him to fill in the details.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of the H.R. 3547, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 936 South 250 East Street in Provo, Utah, as the ``Rex E. Lee Post Office Building''.
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I happen to know Mr. Lee, as he served as the president of Brigham Young University. He was a great and amazing human being. All too often in our society we hope that our kids will emulate somebody of significance, and Rex Lee was certainly that kind of person.
He was a joy. He was full of life at every step and one of the smartest people you could ever meet. In fact, he had many dealings with the Supreme Court. In fact, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said this about the passing of Rex Lee: ``He inspired all of us with his courage in the face of a terminal illness. Knowing him was one of the greatest privileges of my life. Remembering him will be one of the easiest.''
Amazing words from an amazing person.
In 1960, Rex Lee graduated with a BA from Brigham Young University. He served as the student body president. In 1963, Rex graduated first in his class from the University of Chicago Law School, and from law school he went on to serve as a law clerk for Byron White, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
From Washington, D.C., he returned to his home in the State of Arizona as a partner in the Phoenix law firm of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon. While there, Rex argued his first case in the United States Supreme Court just 4 years after graduating from law school.
In 1972, Rex returned to Brigham Young University to become the founding dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School. From 1975 to 1976, he served as an assistant Attorney General in charge of the civil division in the United States Department of Justice; and from 1981 to 1985, Mr. Lee served as Solicitor General of the United States of America.
In 1986, Mr. Lee retired as Solicitor General and returned to Brigham Young University. He was diagnosed with cancer shortly thereafter. Mr. Lee practiced law with Sidley & Austin law firm and returned to teaching constitutional law at the George Sutherland Chair of Law at the J. Reuben Clark Law School.
Mr. Lee was then named the 10th president of Brigham Young University on May 12, 1989, and served in this capacity until December of 1995, just 2\1/2\ months before he passed away.
All told, he argued 59 cases before the Supreme Court and won 23 of the 30 cases he argued as the Solicitor General. In fact, he was preparing for his 60th case just months before he passed away.
He's known throughout the community in Utah for his great humility, for his great contribution to the United States of America. In fact, five Supreme Court Justices attended a memorial service for Rex Lee: Byron White, Justices John Paul Stevens, David H. Souter, Sandra Day O'Connor, and Clarence Thomas.
This is a great man. He's worthy of recognition of the United States Congress, and it's my honor to stand here and encourage the passage of this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague's support of this bill and authorship and thank him for his energy on behalf of this measure.
The object of H.R. 3547, as my friend has indicated, will dedicate the United States Postal Service facility in Provo, Utah, to the life and legacy of Mr. Rex Lee.
Mr. Lee dedicated his entire life to serving others, as my friend has noted. In 1972 he left a very promising legal career as a partner at the prestigious Arizona law firm of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon to become the founding dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University.
It's no exaggeration to say that Mr. Lee's hard work as the law school's first dean really and truly put it on a track to become one of today's top American law schools.
After a successful tenure at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Mr. Lee entered the field of public service, began his career as an assistant Attorney General in charge of the civil division of the United States Department of Justice from 1975 to 1976, and then went on to serve as Solicitor General for the United States from 1981 to 1985.
As Solicitor General, Mr. Lee was able to focus his attention on his favorite legal practice area: litigation. And he argued several cases before the United States Supreme Court.
During his time as America's Solicitor General, Mr. Lee developed a distinct and enduring reputation as a man of principle. In fact, he was so passionate that up until the time of his death Mr. Lee was still in the midst of preparation for arguing another case before the Supreme Court.
After resigning from his position as Solicitor General, Mr. Lee returned to Brigham Young University in 1986; and shortly thereafter, he was regrettably diagnosed with cancer. Following a year of medical treatment and therapy, Mr. Lee recovered for a time and was named president of BYU. He served the Brigham Young University community with distinction from July 1, 1989, through December 31, 1995, leaving the position 2\1/2\ months before he passed away on March 11, 1996.
Although Mr. Lee is no longer with us, his memory lives on through his wife, Janet, his seven children, 10 grandchildren, and all of those who were fortunate enough to know him.
As my friend, Mr. Chaffetz from Utah, has noted, Mr. Lee earned the great respect of quite a few people at the United States Supreme Court, and those quotes have been included.
In closing, I wholeheartedly support this measure, and I urge all of my colleagues to join with Mr. Chaffetz, the gentleman from Utah, and myself in favor of voting for H.R. 3547.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. I would simply thank Mr. Lynch for his kind words, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, in closing I encourage all of my friends on both sides of the aisle to join with Mr. Chaffetz, the gentleman from Utah, and myself in honoring the life of Rex Lee by voting in favor of H.R. 3547.
I yield back the balance of our time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3547.
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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