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".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1791) 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''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1791.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 1791 would designate the United States courthouse currently under construction at 101 South United States Route 1 in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the Alto Lee Adams, Sr., United States Courthouse.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rooney) for introducing this bipartisan legislation. I also want to thank the 21 cosponsors from the State of Florida for supporting this bill.

Chief Justice Alto Lee Adams, Sr., honorably served his community and the State of Florida throughout his life.

Chief Justice Adams was born in 1899 and was raised on a farm in Walton County, Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida College of Law in 1921, he practiced law in Fort Pierce, Florida, from 1924 to 1938. He was then appointed as circuit court judge for St. Lucie County.

After Floridians adopted an amendment to add a seventh justice on the State supreme court in 1940, Governor Fred Cone appointed Chief Justice Adams to the newly created seat. Chief Justice Adams served on the court from 1940 until 1951, and he was chief justice from 1949 until 1951. He sat on the bench again from 1967 until 1968.

Outside of his judicial career, Chief Justice Adams was active in his community. In 1937 he served as the president of the Florida State Elks Association. From '37 to '38, he served as the vice chair of the State welfare board.

Chief Justice Adams also devoted time to local business interests in St. Lucie County, including citrus groves and Bass Motors. He began a cattle ranch in 1937, which is still run by the Adams family. The ranch now encompasses over 65,000 acres in three counties.

I believe it's appropriate that we honor Chief Justice Adams's dedicated service for community and the State of Florida. I support passage of this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rooney).

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

I thank the gentleman from California.

Mr. Speaker, today is a great day for the residents of Fort Pierce, Florida, and the Treasure Coast. Over two decades ago, the late Congressman Tom Lewis and his district director, Ann Decker, started the long process of making the courthouse a reality. The countless hours of dedication and work by those who followed him are now being rewarded with the construction of a new courthouse. I was greatly honored that one of my first official events as Congressman was to participate in the historic groundbreaking for this building.

I introduced this legislation to honor the distinguished life and career of the late Florida Supreme Court chief justice, Alto Lee Adams, by naming the new courthouse in his memory.

This courthouse will fill a vital role for the city of Fort Pierce, bringing much-needed jobs and investment to the community with this greatly needed new Federal courthouse. It is only fitting that the courthouse be named in honor of a man who himself gave so much to his community and the legal community of the State of Florida.

Chief Justice Alto Lee Adams attended the University of Florida College of Law in 1921. As was mentioned, he practiced law in Fort Pierce. He was appointed circuit court judge for St. Lucie County and was appointed to the State supreme court in 1940 by then-Governor Fred P. Cone. He served as a justice on the Florida supreme court from 1940 to 1951 and chief justice from 1949 to 1951.

Chief Justice Adams believed it was important to give back to his community. His service to St. Lucie County served as an example to his children and to those who knew him. Mr. Speaker, I can say, having spoken to some of the Adams family before I took the floor today, they are thrilled that this bill is being brought up as we speak.

In addition to his distinguished legal career, Justice Adams started a successful cattle ranch named the Adams Ranch in St. Lucie County-- they just had their bull auction last week--and it is still run by the Adams family.

Judge Adams set a standard for integrity and community service that lives on today, and I believe it's only fitting that this new courthouse is named in his honor. I am proud to sponsor this bill, and I ask my colleagues for their support in naming this courthouse.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 1791 and am pleased today to speak in support of the bill that names the courthouse located in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the Alto Lee Adams, Sr., United States Courthouse.

I may seem redundant because my colleague has already mentioned most of the accomplishments of Judge Adams--the fact that he was born in 1899 in Florida and was in the U.S. Navy; that he graduated from the University of Florida Law School in 1921 and began legal practice in Fort Pierce in 1924; then from practicing law for nearly 14 years, Judge Adams was appointed, as was pointed out, to the Florida State Circuit Court in 1938. That was 2 years after I was born. After serving as a circuit court judge, he served as a member of the Florida Supreme Court, again, from 1940 to 1951 and then from 1967 to 1968 and was recognized as the first graduate of the University of Florida to serve as a justice and later chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court.

He was very well noted for his short, clear opinions as well as the several books he published and, of course, the legal articles he authored. In 1974 he was awarded the honor of being a distinguished alumnus of the University of Florida.

In addition to his judicial duties, he also served as an active member of his community, serving, as was pointed out, as the president of Florida State Elks Association and also as the vice chair of the State welfare board.

Because of his exemplary career in the public service, both in the military and the Florida Supreme Court, I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting H.R. 1791, which does name the U.S. courthouse at 101 South United States Route 1 in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the Alto Lee Adams, Sr., United States Courthouse.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, having no requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1791 and the bill be referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

I note the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 445, H.R. 1791.

I further ask the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.