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".

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 30, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a business meeting to consider S. 930, S. 1279, GSA resolutions to authorize the FY 2004 Capital and Investment Leasing Program, H.R. 274, S. 269, S. 551, the Recycled Oil Bill (to be introduced), S. 793, H.R. 1018, H.R. 281, S. 1210, S. 1425, and the POPS implementing bill, to be introduced.

The hearing will be held in SD 406 (Hearing Room).

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 9 a.m., to hold a nominations hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at a time and location to be determined to hold a business meeting to consider the nominations of Joe D. Whitley to be General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security; Penrose C. Albright to be Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Plans, Programs, and Budget, Department of Homeland Security, and Joel D. Kaplan to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet in executive session during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 30, 2003.

The following agenda will be considered:

Presidential nominations: Howard Radzely, of Maryland, to be Solicitor for the Department of Labor; and Michael Young, of Pennsylvania, to be a member of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

Any additional nominees cleared for action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 10 a.m., in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building to conduct a business meeting on pending business, to be followed immediately by an oversight hearing on potential settlement mechanisms of the Cobell v. Norton lawsuit.

Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet in the afternoon on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 2 p.m., in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing on S. 578, The Tribal Government Amendments to the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Judicial Nominations'' on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 10 a.m., in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226.

Witness List:

Panel I: Senators.

Panel II: Henry W. Saad to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit.

Panel III: Larry Alan Burns to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California; Glen E. Conrad to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Virginia; Henry F. Floyd to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina; Kim R. Gibson to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Michael W. Mosman to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon; and Dana Makoto Sabraw to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 2:30 p.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226 on ``An Examination of S. 1194, The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003.''

Witness List:

Panel I: Mr. Ron Honberg, Esq., National Alliance for Mental Illness, Arlington, VA; The Honorable Eve Stratton, Justice Ohio Supreme Court, Columbus, OH; Mr. Reggie Wilkinson, Director of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Corrections, Columbus, OH; Sheriff Donald Eslinger, Seminole County Sheriff's Department, Sanford, FL; and The Honorable John Campbell, Vermont State Senate, Quechee, VT.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 9 a.m., for a hearing entitled ``SARS: Best Practices for Identifying And Caring for New Cases.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 2:30 p.m., on Space Exploration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with great enthusiasm in support of H.R. 1018, the bill designating the building located at 1 Federal Plaza in New York City as the ``James L. Watson United States Court of International Trade Building.''

I first introduced this bill in the 107th Congress when it was passed in the House but failed to be brought up in the hectic closing days of the Senate. I commend Chairman Young and Ranking Member Oberstar for their commitment to this initiative and willingness to move the legislation early in the 108th Congress. I look forward to speedy action in the Senate to ensure enactment of this legislation that honors one of this nation's greatest jurists.

This bill will attach Judge Watson's name to the courthouse housing the U.S. Court of International Trade where he served for 36 years until his death, having achieved senior status in 1991. He was appointed to what was then the United States Customs Court in 1966 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Reorganized and renamed by Congress in 1980, the court deals primarily with matters involving trade, including the classification and valuation of imported goods, tariffs, customs and duties and charges of unfair practices by U.S. trading partners.

Judge James L. Watson, who died at the age of 79 in the fall of 2001, was a fine man, a distinguished jurist and a pillar of the Harlem community where he was born. I was honored to have served as one of his law clerks soon after my graduation from law school.

Judge Watson was the nation's most senior African American federal judge, and was the first Black Customs Court judge in modern times assigned to cases in the deep South. As was the practice in the Customs Court, he was also assigned to preside over various criminal and civil matters in Federal District Courts across the country.

The scion of an accomplished family of lawyers, public servants and business people with roots in Jamaica, West Indies, Judge Watson had a distinguished career in New York, prior to his service on the Court of International Trade. After his service in the U.S. Army in WWII, he graduated from New York University and Brooklyn Law School. Moving from the private practice of law into the political arena, he was elected to the New York State Senate, where he served from 1954 to 1963, when he was elected to the Civil Court.

Long before this legislation, Judge Watson had placed his stamp on the functioning of the Court of International Trade. In 1970, he helped modernize the court, bringing it more in line with the rest of the federal judiciary and, as chairman of its committee on rules and practices, was instrumental in rewriting its rules and communications systems.

Judge Watson was a trailblazer in government and the law, with a reputation for fairness, good judgment, and the common touch with people. I will never be able to thank him enough for his service to our community and to our nation. More personally, I will be forever grateful for the opportunity he provided me as a young lawyer and the wisdom he instilled, which guides me to this day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1018, a bill to designate the court of international trade building at 1 Federal Plaza in New York City as the ``James L. Watson United States Court of International Trade Building.'' The House passed legislation regarding this designation in the 107th Congress, unfortunately, the other body never acted. I am glad that the House is acting on this bill early in the session so that there will be ample opportunity for the other body to complete action on it during this Congress.

Judge Watson, a native New Yorker, was born in Harlem in 1922 and lived and worked his entire life in New York. During World War II, he served with the legendary Buffalo Soldiers Division in the 371st Infantry Regiment, 92nd Division in World War II. After being wounded during service in Italy, he was decorated with a Purple Heart, the Battle Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, and a U.S. Army Commendation.

After the war, Judge Watson graduated from New York University in 1947 and from Brooklyn Law School in 1951. He was elected to the New York State Senate in 1954. In 1962, President Kennedy selected him to accompany then Vice-President Johnson to the Jamaican Independence celebration. In 1963, he was appointed to the Civil Court of New York and hired our colleague Charlie Rangel as one of his staff attorneys. Congressman Rangel has said: ``Judge Watson was my friend and constituent for many years; he was the Judge for whom I clerked after completing law school; and the man who contributed with all of his heart to his family, his community and our Nation.''

President Johnson appointed Judge Watson in 1966 to what was then known as the United States Customs Court, now known as the United States Court of International Trade. During his years on the Court of International Trade, he worked to help modernize the Court and facilitated the introduction of computers into the courtroom. After 36 years on the bench, Judge Watson took senior status in 1991. He passed away at his home in Harlem in 2001.

Mr. Speaker, Judge Watson was the Nation's most senior ranking African-American Federal judge and enjoyed a national reputation for handing or fair and just sentences. He was a sought-after public speaker, who served on both the Board of Visitors of Fordham University and the board of the Harlem YMCA. Judge Watson's life serves as a model of diligence, hard work, and fairness. Many, many people, including colleagues, politicians, and other lawyers, sought the wise advice and sage counsel of Judge Watson.

I urge all Members to support H.R. 1081 and honor Judge Watson by naming the building in which he served with distinction for over three decades in his honor.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1018 is a bill to honor Judge James Watson, the Nation's most senior African American judge. He served on the United States Court of International Trade, a lifetime appointment by President Lyndon Johnson. Judge Watson was also a former New York Senator and civil court judge.

I knew Judge Watson when I lived in New York City. I saw him make history there. He was from a family of African American achievers and path breakers. His career spanned 36 years, and he set a record of 70 appearances serving as a visiting judge in districts around the country. On several occasions, he was the first African American to held court in parts of the deep south, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Compassion and evenhandedness were hallmarks of his judicial behavior.

In World War II, he served as an infantryman with the legendary all- black 92nd Buffalo Soldiers Division and was seriously wounded in combat in Italy. He received the Purple Heart, the Battle Star, the Combat Infantry Badge and a U.S. Army commendation.

After the war and his recuperation, he attended New York University and Brooklyn Law School. Upon graduation, he established a private practice with retired Judge Bruce Wright, Lisle Carter, former Assistant Secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, and Jacob Smith. Judge Watson was elected in 1954 to the State Senate and to the Civil Court in 1963. Judge Watson hired as one of his first law clerks a young attorney named Charles Rangel.

In March, 1966, President Johnson named him to the U.S. Customs Court, which was later renamed the Court of International Trade. During his years on the International Court, Judge Watson helped develop a modern court system, rewrote many of the court's rules, and introduced computers into the court.

He was noted for a judicial style that was fair and balanced. His personal ability to settle many cases out of court helped avoid costly expenses and the unpredictability of an often-long trial.

He was a lifelong resident of Harlem, a sought-after public speaker, and an insightful adviser to local public officials. His cousins include Bruce Llewellyn, chairman of CocaCola, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Dorothy Llewellyn Cropper, a New York Supreme Court justice.

Judge Watson's life was full of success and friendship. He was blessed with a devoted family and loving wife.

It is fitting and proper to honor the distinguished Judge Watson with this designation, and I urge support for the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 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''.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1018, introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) designates the building located at 1 Federal Plaza in New York City, New York, as the James L. Watson Court of International Trade Building.

Judge Watson was born in Harlem, New York, the son of Jamaican immigrants in 1922.

During the Second World War, Judge Watson served with the famous Buffalo Soldiers Regiment in Italy where he was wounded and returned to the United States decorated with a Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Badge.

He graduated from New York University in 1947 and the Brooklyn Law School in 1951. In 1954, Judge Watson was elected to the New York State Senate.

In 1963, Judge Watson was elected to New York City Civil Court, a position he held until President Johnson appointed him to what was then known as the United States Customs Court and is now known as the United States Court of International Trade.

During his 25-year tenure on the bench, Judge Watson heard cases in California, Oregon, Washington, Atlanta, Tampa, Houston, El Paso, San Antonio, and Dallas on civil and criminal matters.

Judge Watson also worked to help modernize his court under the Customs Court Act of 1970. As chairman of the court's Rules and Practices Committee, he reworked the rules and facilitated the modernization of the court with the introduction of computers. He took senior status in 1991, and passed away in 2001.

I would like to note that the House passed by a voice vote similar legislation during the previous Congress. However, due to technical differences with the version in the Senate, it was never enacted. I trust our consideration this year will result in a more favorable outcome. I support the legislation, and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.