Birth Parent Assistance Act of 2009

I rise in support of H.R. 887, to honor my friend, former colleague and Congressman, Jim Leach. Jim's survival for three decades, winning election 14 times, and his strong record of principled, bipartisan leadership is a superb example to all of his colleagues, to all of us.

He was born in Davenport, Iowa, where he made a name for himself by winning the 1960 State Wrestling Championship for Davenport High School. He went on to earn an impressive set of degrees from Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, and the London School of Economics.

Jim began his public service career in 1965 as a staffer to then- Congressman Don Rumsfeld. In 1968, he entered the Foreign Service, where he served as a delegate to the Geneva Disarmament Conference and the U.N. General Assembly. He resigned his commission in 1973 to protest President Richard Nixon's firing of the first Watergate special prosecutor, Archibald Cox.

Jim was first elected to represent Iowa's Second District in 1976. A political moderate who was always willing to reach across the aisle, Jim chaired the Ripon Society and the Republican Mainstream Committee, two organizations formed to encourage bipartisan policymaking. In Congress, Jim distinguished himself as a steadfastly ethical and independent-minded public servant.

Throughout his career, Jim supported diplomacy before unilateralism, pushing for full funding of U.S. obligations to the U.N. As chairman of the Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus, Jim pressed for a comprehensive test ban and led the House debate on a nuclear freeze. Jim was also one of the only six House Republicans to vote against the 2002 Iraq War resolution.

Jim's post-congressional career has been no less extraordinary. He holds eight honorary degrees, and has received decorations from two foreign governments. He is a recipient of the Wayne Morse Integrity in Politics Award; the Woodrow Wilson Award from Johns Hopkins; the Adlai Stevenson Award from the United Nations Association; the Edgar Wayburn Award from the Sierra Club; and the Norman Borlaug Public Service Award.

Jim continues to serve the public on the boards of several public companies and nonprofit organizations, including the Century Foundation; the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; the Social Sciences Research Council; Pro Publica; and Common Cause, which he chairs.

Additionally, he is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and teaches at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School as the John L. Weinberg Visiting Professor of Public and International Affairs.

Jim is not only a remarkable public servant, but a good friend. It was a tremendous honor to serve alongside him.

Just in closing, I'd like to say this. Jim Leach reminded me of a person that I knew in the legislature named Horace Daggett. Outstanding people in their own right in every way. Truly, community people. Iowans, Americans. And they put the country first.

Jim was a privilege to know, as the person he was, the person that he is, the person that reaches out and continues to serve us with distinction, and someone that we all can be very, very proud of.

So, I urge all to support H.R. 887.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 887, a bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 131 East 4th Street in Davenport, Iowa in honor of former Congressman Jim Leach.

I thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Loebsack) and the Iowa delegation for reintroducing this bill to honor one of Congress's most well-respected and well-liked Members. The House passed a similar bill, H.R. 1505, in the 110th Congress but unfortunately, the Senate was unable to act on the legislation.

Jim Leach was a learned Member of this Body and, to many of us, a trusted friend.

James Albert Smith Leach was born in Davenport, Iowa on October 15, 1942. He attended public schools in Davenport, received a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University, and attended the London School of Economics.

In 1965, Congressman Leach began his public service career as a staff person to then-Congressman Donald Rumsfeld. In 1968, he joined the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer and subsequently served as special assistant to the director at the Office of Economic Opportunity. In the 1970s, he served in various capacities with the United Nations, the United States Advisory Commission on International Education and Cultural Affairs, and the Federal Home Loan Bank Board.

In 1976, Congressman Leach was elected to the United States House of Representatives; he would represent the 2nd District of Iowa for 30 years (1977-2007). During his time in Congress, he chaired the Committee on Banking and Financial Services, the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs, and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

He holds eight honorary degrees, has received decorations from two foreign governments, and is the recipient of the Wayne Morse Integrity in Politics Award, the Woodrow Wilson Award from Johns Hopkins University, the Adlai Stevenson Award from the United Nations Association, and the Edger Wayburn Award from the Sierra Club.

In February 2007, Congressman Leach joined the faculty of Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs as a visiting professor.

In all aspects of his public career, he served the citizens of Iowa with distinction, hard work, and honor. This designation properly honors his outstanding public career and it is fitting to designate the Davenport, Iowa courthouse as the ``James A. Leach United States Courthouse.''

I support the bill and urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Jim Leach.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I would like to take a few minutes today to honor the many accomplishments of my predecessor, former Congressman Jim Leach.

Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 887, to rename the United States Courthouse in Jim's hometown of Davenport, Iowa, as a tribute to his 30 years of service to Iowa's Second Congressional District. Jim's legacy of statesmanship; his leadership in foreign affairs and financial services issues; his dedication to public service; and his capable representation of his constituents left a lasting impact on the district I am now honored to represent.

As chairman of the Banking and Financial Services Committee, the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs, and the Congressional- Executive Commission on China, Jim was a leader on some of the most important financial and foreign affairs issues of the past 30 years.

A native son of Iowa, Jim represented his constituents with grace, commitment, and the Iowa values with which he was raised. Indeed, his legacy of service has been highlighted through several awards, including the Norman Borlaug Award for Public Service.

Jim is now continuing that legacy as a faculty member at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, his alma mater. As a former member of the Foreign Service, where he served as a delegate to the Geneva Disarmament Conference and the United Nations General Assembly, I am confident that Jim brings a unique perspective to Princeton that is surely a tremendous asset for his students.

Indeed, as a former professor at Cornell College in Iowa, I invited Jim to guest lecture at the college. His knowledge and personal experiences were a highlight for my students, and make it clear why he holds eight honorary degrees.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jim for his many years of service to Iowa and our Nation, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 887) to designate the United States courthouse located at 131 East 4th Street in Davenport, Iowa, as the ``James A. Leach United States Courthouse''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 887.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 887, a bill to designate the federal building in Davenport, Iowa, as the James A. Leach United States Courthouse.

Former Representative Leach began his public service career in 1965 as a staff person to then-Congressman Donald Rumsfeld. In 1968, Jim Leach joined the United States Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer and subsequently served as a special assistant to director at the Office of Economic Opportunity.

In the 1970s, Representative Leach served in various capacities with the United Nations, the United States Advisory Commission on International Education and Cultural Affairs, and the Federal Home Loan Bank Board.

Our former colleague, Jim Leach was elected to the Congress in 1977 from Iowa and served for 14 consecutive Congresses. His contributions to, and interests in the House of Representatives, are numerous, including his longstanding support for use of HOPE VI HUD funds to help smaller cities develop affordable housing.

Jim Leach was hardworking, highly respected on both sides of the aisle, and dedicated to the welfare of his constituents. It is fitting and proper to honor his public service with this designation. I support H.R. 887, and urge the passage of the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Loebsack).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell).

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution to honor our great friend, Jim Leach, by naming the courthouse in Davenport, Iowa, after him. It is a well-deserved honor.

Jim Leach is missed around the Capitol because he was a resource of institutional knowledge, he shared his tremendous sense of humor and his insight. I always enjoyed his ability to bring thoughtfulness to the debate. Most importantly, Jim Leach was and remains a great advocate for the State of Iowa. Jim is also a great Iowa Hawkeye supporter because, of course, he had the Hawks in his district. I represent the University of Iowa's state rival, Iowa State University. Obviously, we had a lot to tease each other about throughout the years.

Jim Leach will be remembered here in this body for his 30 years of dedicated service and his great intellect. He was a well-rounded member. You could call on him to stop gambling predators over the Internet or, as someone who knew and understood the many facets of foreign affairs; we could seek his counsel during an international crisis. His talent was being able to bring that forth and convey complex subjects in a very kind and thoughtful way.

Jim Leach represents the very best of what constituents expect from their Representatives in Congress. His legacy is promoting bipartisanship, protecting the dignity of the House by standing as an example of putting thought before politics and actions over posturing. Jim is someone who I have the greatest personal respect for.

I'm pleased that Mr. Loebsack has brought this resolution to the floor of the House, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution in honor of former Representative James Leach.