To designate the United States courthouse located at 700 Grant Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the "Joseph F. Weis Jr. United States Courthouse".

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his support of the legislation during consideration in the committee. I also want to thank every member of the Pennsylvania delegation who cosponsored this bill with me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5146, legislation which would officially designate the Federal courthouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, my home district, as the Joseph F. Weis Jr. United States Courthouse.

This would be fitting recognition for an individual who served his country so well, first as a soldier and then as an outstanding jurist. Throughout his 91 years of life, Joseph F. Weis, Jr., served our country with humility, integrity, and an unfailing sense of duty. As a young man, he enlisted in the Army shortly after Pearl Harbor. Reflecting on that decision later in life, he said plainly: ``It was the thing to do. The country was at war, and I felt I should be out there doing my share.''

He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor and a Purple Heart with oakleaf cluster after sustaining multiple injuries over the course of his service.

Upon returning back home, Joe Weis pursued a legal career, joining his father's practice after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh Law School in 1950. After becoming a respected trial lawyer, he was elected to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in 1968 as the first choice on both the Democratic and Republican ballots. As a judge, he quickly developed a reputation for patience and hard work. He always strove to improve our judicial system, advocating for innovative courthouse technologies and enforcement of judicial ethics.

Two years later, Judge Weis was appointed to the Federal bench, and in 1973 he was appointed to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, one step below the Supreme Court. He served on that court for 40 years, retiring just last year when he was 90 years old. He was recognized for his outstanding service on the bench with the Devitt Award, the highest honor given to Federal judges.

Amidst this remarkable list of accomplishments, he was known perhaps most of all for the strength of his character. ``He is, if anything, an overly modest and unassuming individual,'' said the University of Pittsburgh chancellor at his Devitt Award ceremony.

Joe Weis was equally beloved by his colleagues and his law clerks, who to this day still call themselves the ``Weis guys.''

The life of Joseph F. Weis, Jr., is a model that all public servants should aspire to emulate. Naming this Federal courthouse in his honor is a fitting way to recognize his long, faithful, and extremely capable service to our country, to inspire trust in the Federal justice system which he served for so long and with great integrity, and to provide future generations with an outstanding example of a great public servant. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to name the Federal courthouse in Pittsburgh in his honor.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5146) to designate the United States courthouse located as 700 Grant Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the ``Joseph F. Weis Jr. 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 the bill before us, H.R. 5146.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5146 designates the United States courthouse located at 700 Grant Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the Joseph F. Weis Jr. United States Courthouse.

Joseph F. Weis, Jr., served as a Federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals on the Third Circuit from 1973 until assuming senior status in 1988, and he served in that capacity until his death earlier this year in 2014. Prior to his appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Judge Weis was appointed to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Prior to his appointment to the Federal bench, he served as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County and was in the private practice of law.

Judge Weis also served as a captain in the United States Army during the Second World War and is interred in Arlington National Cemetery. Given Judge Weis' service and dedication to the law, it is fitting to name this courthouse after him.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I urge all of my colleagues to support the legislation before us.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and thank Congressman Doyle for that fitting tribute to Judge Weis. Because of Judge Weis' dedicated service to the legal community and his exemplary time as a jurist in Pittsburgh, it is fitting to name the courthouse in his honor.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5146.

I yield back the balance of my time.