[House Report 111-257]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
111th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 111-257
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GEORGE P. KAZEN FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE
_______
September 16, 2009.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
_______
Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 2423]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to
whom was referred the bill (H.R. 2423) to designate the Federal
building and United States courthouse located at 1300 Victoria
Street in Laredo, Texas, as the ``George P. Kazen Federal
Building and United States Courthouse'', and to designate the
jury room in that Federal building and United States courthouse
as the ``Marcel C. Notzon II Jury Room'', having considered the
same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend
that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendments are as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. BUILDING DESIGNATION.
(a) Designation.--The Federal building and United States courthouse
located at 1300 Victoria Street in Laredo, Texas, shall be known and
designated as the ``George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States
Courthouse''.
(b) 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 subsection (a) shall be deemed
to be a reference to the ``George P. Kazen Federal Building and United
States Courthouse''.
SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect on the first day on which George P. Kazen
is no longer serving as a Federal judge.
Amend the title so as to read:
A bill to designate the Federal building and United States
courthouse located at 1300 Victoria Street in Laredo, Texas, as the
``George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.
Purpose of the Legislation
H.R. 2423, as amended, designates the Federal building and
United States courthouse located at 1300 Victoria Street in
Laredo, Texas, as the ``George P. Kazen Federal Building and
United States Courthouse''.
Background and Need for Legislation
H.R. 2423, as amended, designates the Federal building and
United States courthouse located at 1300 Victoria Street in
Laredo, Texas, as the ``George P. Kazen Federal Building and
United States Courthouse''. H.R. 2423 will not take effect
until the first day on which George P. Kazen is no longer
serving as a Federal District Judge.
George P. Kazen was born in Laredo, Texas, in 1940. In
1960, he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration
from the University of Texas. He later earned his law degree
from the University of Texas School of Law in 1961. Kazen began
his professional career as a Briefing Attorney for the Texas
Supreme Court in 1961 and 1962. From 1962 to 1965, he was a
U.S. Air Force Captain in the JAG Corps. Following his military
service, Kazen worked in a private practice in Laredo until
1979.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter nominated George P. Kazen
as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of
Texas. Judge Kazen has served on the bench for more than 30
years, including as Chief Judge from 1996 to 2003. On May 31,
2009, he assumed senior status on the court.
During his tenure on the bench, Judge Kazen considered a
wide variety of cases. In Luna v. Van Zandt, a 1982 case, he
invalidated a Texas statute that allowed for the detaining of
individuals perceived as mentally ill for up to 14 days without
a commitment hearing. In addition, Judge Kazen has testified
before Congress and written several articles on issues of
Federalism and the courts. Outside of the courtroom, Judge
Kazen is a stalwart of his community serving numerous civic
organizations in South Texas.
Given Judge George P. Kazen's exemplary public service it
is fitting to designate the Federal building and United States
courthouse located at 1300 Victoria Street in Laredo, Texas, as
the ``George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States
Courthouse''.
Summary of the Legislation
Section 1. Designation
Subsection (a) designates the Federal building and United
States courthouse located at 1300 Victoria Street in Laredo,
Texas, as the ``George P. Kazen Federal Building and United
States Courthouse''.
Subsection (b) states that any reference in a law, map,
regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United
States to the United States courthouse referred to in
subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the
``George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States
Courthouse''.
Legislative History and Committee Consideration
On May 14, 2009, Representative Henry Cuellar introduced
H.R. 2423. This bill has not been introduced in a previous
Congress. On July 30, 2009, the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure met in open session and considered H.R. 2423.
The Committee adopted an amendment to the bill by voice vote
with a quorum present. The Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure ordered H.R. 2423, as amended, reported
favorably to the House by voice vote with a quorum present.
Record Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives
requires each committee report to include the total number of
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter,
and the names of those members voting for and against. There
were no recorded votes taken in connection with consideration
of H.R. 2423 or ordering the bill reported. A motion to order
H.R. 2423, as amended, reported favorably to the House was
agreed to by voice vote with a quorum present.
Committee Oversight Findings
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in this report.
Cost of Legislation
Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and
comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the
report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is
included in this report.
Compliance With House Rule XIII
1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee references the report of the Congressional Budget
Office included in the report.
2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
performance goals and objective of this legislation are to
designate the Federal building and United States courthouse
located at 1300 Victoria Street in Laredo, Texas, as the
``George P. Kann Federal Building and United States
Courthouse''.
3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee has received the enclosed cost estimate for H.R.
2423, as amended, from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, July 31, 2009.
Hon. James L. Oberstar,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
reviewed the following legislation ordered reported by the
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on July
30, 2009:
H.R. 2423, a bill to designate the federal
building and United States courthouse located at 1300
Victoria Street in Laredo, Texas, as the ``George P.
Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse'';
H.R. 2913, a bill to designate the United
States courthouse located at 301 Simonton Street in Key
West, Florida, as the ``Sidney M. Aronovitz United
States Courthouse''; and
H.R. 3193, a bill to designate the United
States courthouse under construction at 101 South
United States Route 1 in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the
``Alto Lee Adams, Sr., United States Courthouse.''
CBO estimates that enacting those pieces of legislation
would have no significant impact on the federal budget and
would not affect direct spending or revenues. The bills contain
no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on
state, local, or tribal governments.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew
Pickford.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Sunshine
(For Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director).
Compliance With House Rule XXI
Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, H.R. 2423 does not contain any
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or joint
resolution of a public character shall include a statement
citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in the
Constitution to enact the measure. The Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure finds that Congress has the
authority to enact this measure pursuant to its powers granted
under article I, section 8 of the Constitution.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act (P.L. 104-4).
Preemption Clarification
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local,
or tribal law. The Committee states that H.R. 2423, as amended,
does not preempt any state, local, or tribal law.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this
legislation.
Applicability to the Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(6)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104-1).
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
H.R. 2423, as amended, makes no changes in existing law.