[House Report 108-85]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 108-85
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DESIGNATION OF JAMES L. WATSON UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL
TRADE BUILDING
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May 1, 2003.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed
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Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1018]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 1018) to designate the building
located at 1 Federal Plaza in New York, New York, as the
``James L. Watson United States Court of International Trade
Building'', having considered the same, report favorably
thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
The purpose of H.R. 1018 is to designate the building at 1
Federal Plaza in New York, New York as the ``James L. Watson
United States Court of International Trade Building.''
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION
James L. Watson was born in Harlem, New York. He served
with the Buffalo Soldiers in the 371st Infantry Regiment, 92nd
Division in World War II. He was wounded in Italy and returned
to the United States decorated with a Purple Heart and the
Infantry Combat Badge.
He graduated from New York University in 1947 and from
Brooklyn Law School in 1951. Judge Watson was elected to the
New York State Senate in 1954. In 1963, Judge Watson was
elected to the New York City Civil Court.
President Johnson appointed Judge Watson to what was known
as the United States Customs Court and now known as the United
States Court of International Trade in 1966. The nine members
of the United States Customs Court could be assigned to sit in
any Federal District Court in the nation. Because of his
previous experience, in his first year on the Federal bench,
Judge Watson was appointed to hear cases in California, Oregon,
Washington, Atlanta, Tampa, Houston, El Paso, San Antonio and
Dallas on civil and criminal matters. Judge Watson worked to
help modernize his court under the Customs Court Act of 1970,
and as Chairman of the Court's Rules and Practices Committee he
reworked court rules and facilitated the modernization of the
court with the introduction of computers.
Judge Watson took senior status in 1991. He passed away in
his home in Harlem in 2001.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On April 9, 2003, the Full Committee met in open session
and ordered reported H.R. 1018, a bill designating the building
located at 1 Federal Plaza in New York, New York as the ``James
L. Watson United States Court of International Trade
Building.'' A motion by Mr. LaTourette to order H.R. 1018
favorably reported to the House was agreed to by the Full
Committee unanimously, by voice vote with a quorum present.
There were no recorded votes taken during Committee
consideration of H.R. 1018.
SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION
Section 1. Designation
This section designates the building located at 1 Federal
Plaza in New York, New York as the ``James L. Watson United
States Court of International Trade Building.''
Section 2. References
This section requires that all references in law, maps,
regulations, documents, papers or other record of the United
States to the building located at 1 Federal Plaza in New York,
New York be deemed a reference to the ``James L. Watson United
States Court of International Trade Building.''
ROLLCALL 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 rollcall 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 rollcall votes taken in ordering H.R. 1018 favorably
reported.
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
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee
references the report of the Congressional Budget Office
included below.
2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee advises that the bill contains no measure that
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance and
objectives for which any measure that authorizes funding is
required.
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 following cost estimate for H.R.
1018 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, April 10, 2003.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
reviewed the following legislation, as ordered reported by the
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April
9, 2003:
H.R. 1018, a bill to designate the building
located at 1 Federal Plaza in New York, New York, as
the ``James L. Watson United States Court of
International Trade Building''; and
H.R. 281, a bill to designate the federal
building located at 200 West 2nd Street in Dayton,
Ohio, as the ``Tony Hall Federal Building and United
States Courthouse.''
CBO estimates that their enactment would have no
significant impact on the federal budget and would not affect
direct spending or revenues. These 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,
Barry B. Anderson
(For Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director.)
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. (Public Law 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. 1018 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(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. (Public Law
104-1).
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
H.R. 1018 makes no changes in existing law.