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FRANCIS BARDANOUVE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE BUILDING -- (House of Representatives - October 16, 2001)
[Page: H6823] GPO's PDF---
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2876) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located in Harlem, Montana as the ``Francis Bardanouve United States Post Office Building.''
The Clerk read as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FRANCIS BARDANOUVE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) DESIGNATION.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 216 2nd Street, S.W. in Harlem, Montana, shall be designated and known as the ``Francis Bardanouve United States Post Office Building''.
(b) REFERENCES.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the United State Post Office referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Francis Bardanouve United States Post Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. DAVIS) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS).
GENERAL LEAVE
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2876. This legislation, introduced by our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Montana (Mr. REHBERG), designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 216 2nd Street, Southwest, in Harlem, Montana, as the Francis Bardanouve Post Office Building.
Francis Bardanouve was a Montana State Representative from 1958 to 1994. He chaired the powerful House Committee on Appropriations for nearly 2 decades. His integrity and respect from his colleagues transcended party lines. He was a longtime farmer-rancher in Blaine County, Montana.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 2876, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague, the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS), in consideration of this postal naming legislation, H.R. 2876, which names a Post Office in Harlem, Montana after Francis Bardanouve, which was introduced by the gentleman from Montana (Mr. REHBERG) on September 10, 2001.
Francis Bardanouve represented Harlem, Montana for 36 years, most notably as chairman of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations. He was labeled a conservative Democrat who began his career in the Montana Legislature House of Representatives in 1959, serving until his retirement a few years ago. I want to thank the gentleman from Montana (Mr. REHBERG) for introducing this measure, and I would certainly urge swift passage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. REHBERG), the sponsor of the bill.
Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking my colleagues from the Committee on Government Reform for favorably reporting this piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform and the ranking member for expediting House Resolution 2876 that designates the Post Office building in Harlem, Montana as the Francis Bardanouve Post Office. I also thank the majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. ARMEY), for scheduling this bill today.
It is important that from time to time we honor individuals within the circle of our communities, those whose lives quietly reflect the best that all of us reach for. Francis Bardanouve is such a person.
Francis's distinguished record in the Montana House of Representatives spanned 5 decades. When his career began in 1959, Dwight Eisenhower was President and George W. Bush was just another 12-year-old boy in Midland, Texas.
[Time: 16:45]
Francis was born, raised, educated in Blaine County, Montana. His roots entwine back to a Prussian bandmaster on one side of his family and a French farmer on the other. Besides serving actively as a legislator, Francis has worked hard his whole life as a farmer, a rancher, a husband, and a father.
Having had the privilege of serving three sessions with Francis in the Montana House, I can sum up his public service simply: common sense and compassion. He was both tight-fisted and kindhearted. As a long-serving Democrat chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Francis said, ``I voted against things I'd like to support. I left frustrated at times because there were things I'd like to do, but we didn't have the money.''
Former Montana Governor Ted Schwinden reaffirms this by stating: ``Francis was more parsimonious with the taxpayers' dollar than any other chairman over the years.''
[Page: H6824] GPO's PDF
When Francis announced his retirement in 1999, the Montana House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring him and designating a ``Francis Bardanouve Appreciation Day.''
This resolution aptly stated: ``Francis Bardanouve has never sought personal distinction or reward, but has had his leadership role cast upon him ..... The strong hands of Francis Bardanouve have played a major role in shaping the destiny of Montana.''
By designating the Harlem, Montana Post Office the ``Francis Bardanouve Post Office,'' we honor not only a good Montanan who quietly did his duty for many years, but we pay tribute to all those who honorably serve their community and this country day after day without expecting praise.
Public officials come and go, but Francis, please know that your deeds and service will remain forever engraved in the archives of our Nation, the post office in your community, and the hearts of your family and friends.
Mr. Speaker, I urge strong support of House Resolution 2876, and I include for the RECORD a news article regarding this legislation.
The article referred to is as follows:
Lawmaker Honored for Years of Service
Rep. Francis Bardanouve bowed his head and blushed Wednesday as he listened to a half-hour tribute from the Montana House commemorating his 34 years as a state lawmaker.
``It's almost overwhelming,'' he told legislators after hearing praise about his efforts during three decades in the House. ``Whatever I have done is what you helped me do.''
Bardanouve, a Harlem Democrat, was first elected to the Legislature in 1958 and has served as chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee in 10 sessions.
He will not run for re-election next year because the newly drawn legislative districts prevent him from seeking his current seat.
Gov. Marc Racicot read a proclamation declaring Wednesday ``Francis Bardanouve Day.''
The document lauded Bardanouve for faithfully and diligently serving the interests of the people in his district and the state. It calls Bardanouve a ``living institution.''
The House unanimously approved a resolution honoring Bardanouve's years of service and branding him ``one of the Treasure State's living treasures.''
The measure cites his sense of fairness, willingness to listen and ability to make informed decisions.
``Francis Bardanouve has always faced the legislative challenge with energy, wisdom, keen wit and a dedication to the common good,'' the resolution says. ``Francis Bardanouve has never sought personal distinction or reward, but has had his leadership role cast upon him.''
The resolution calls him a believer in equality, fairness and integrity, and adds, ``The strong hands of Francis Bardanouve have played a major role in shaping the destiny of Montana.''
Several former and present lawmakers who have sat next to Bardanouve over the years recalled their sessions with the Harlem farmer.
Speaker John Mercer, a Polson Republican who was 2 years old when Bardanouve first became a legislator, advised him, ``Take great pride in your accomplishments.
``This House will always belong to you Francis,'' he added.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I once again want to commend the gentleman for honoring such an outstanding individual by naming a post office after former Representative Bardanouve.
I also want to thank him for educating many of us who did not know that there was a Harlem, Montana. Generally, when we think of Harlem, we think of New York. So we thank the gentleman on both counts.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this measure, H.R. 2876, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. QUINN). The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2876.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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