[House Report 112-42] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 112th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 112-42 ====================================================================== GEORGE H. W. BUSH AND GEORGE W. BUSH UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE AND GEORGE MAHON FEDERAL BUILDING _______ March 29, 2011.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Mica, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 362] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 362) to redesignate the Federal building and United States Courthouse located at 200 East Wall Street in Midland, Texas, as the ``George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush United States Courthouse and George Mahon Federal Building'', having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. CONTENTS Page Purpose of Legislation........................................... 1 Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2 Summary of Legislation........................................... 3 Legislative History and Consideration............................ 3 Hearings......................................................... 3 Committee Votes.................................................. 3 Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 3 New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................ 3 Performance Goals and Objectives................................. 4 Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................ 4 Advisory of Earmarks............................................. 4 Federal Mandate Statement........................................ 4 Preemption Clarification......................................... 5 Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 5 Applicability of Legislative Branch.............................. 5 Changes in Existing Law made by the Bill, as Reported............ 5 PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION H.R. 362 would re-designate the Federal building and United States Courthouse located at 200 East Wall Street in Midland, Texas, as the ``George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush United States Courthouse and George Mahon Federal Building.'' BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION The Federal building and United States Courthouse in Midland, Texas, is currently named the George Mahon Federal Building. H.R. 362 would add the names of the former presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, to the Federal building and United States courthouse at 200 East Wall Street in Midland, Texas. The bill commemorates the many years of public service by the 41st and 43rd Presidents of the United States--George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. George H.W. Bush President George H.W. Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts. Upon turning 18, he enlisted in the armed forces and was the youngest pilot in the Navy when he received his wings. He served in the Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1945. While serving in the Navy, he flew 58 combat missions. For his bravery, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After returning from World War II, George H.W. Bush completed college at Yale University and then relocated with his family to west Texas where he began his career in the private sector. Later, he served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 7th congressional district of Texas from 1966 to 1970. Following his two terms in Congress, he served as Ambassador to the United Nations (1971-73), Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1973-74), Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in China (1974-76), and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (1976-81). In 1981, Bush was elected as Vice President to President Ronald Reagan and served in that capacity for two terms. In 1988, Bush was elected the 41st President of the United States and served as President until 1993. In 2011, President George H.W. Bush was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, the award being the highest civilian honor for ``an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.''\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\Statement of The White House issued November 17, 2010. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- George W. Bush In 2000, the son of George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, followed in his father's footsteps when he was elected as the 43rd President of the United States, after serving six years as the Governor of Texas. And, in 2004, he was elected to a second term. George W. Bush was born in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1948, his family moved to Midland, Texas. He received a bachelor's degree in history from Yale University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. George W. Bush also served as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard. After receiving his degree from Harvard, he returned to Midland and began a career in the private sector. Later, he purchased the Texas Rangers baseball franchise, with a group of partners. In 1994, he was elected the 46th Governor of Texas and became the first Governor in Texas history to be elected to consecutive 4- year terms when he was re-elected in 1998. SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION Section 1. Redesignation This section provides that the Federal building and United States Courthouse located at 200 East Wall Street in Midland, Texas, be re-designated as the ``George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush United States Courthouse and George Mahon Federal Building.'' Section 2. Reference This section provides that any references in law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States that refers to the building identified in Section 1 be deemed to refer to the ``George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush United States Courthouse and George Mahon Federal Building.'' LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND CONSIDERATION On January 20, 2011, Representative K. Michael Conaway introduced H.R. 362, a bill to re-designate the Federal building and United States Courthouse located at 200 East Wall Street in Midland, Texas, as the ``George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush United States Courthouse and George Mahon Federal Building.'' On February 16, 2011, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session, and ordered the bill reported favorably to the House by voice vote with a quorum present. HEARINGS No hearings were held on H.R. 362. COMMITTEE VOTES Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives requires each committee report to include the total number of votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, and the names of those members voting for and against. There were no record votes taken in connection with consideration of H.R. 362, or ordering the bill reported. A motion to order H.R. 362 reported favorably to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a quorum present. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in this report. NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND TAX EXPENDITURES Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is included in this report. PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the performance goal and objective of this legislation is to re- designate the Federal building and United States Courthouse located at 200 East Wall Street in Midland, Texas, as the ``George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush United States Courthouse and George Mahon Federal Building.'' CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 362 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office: U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, February 17, 2011. Hon. John L. Mica, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has reviewed H.R. 362, a bill to redesignate the Federal building and United States Courthouse located at 200 East Wall Street in Midland, Texas, as the ``George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush United States Courthouse and George Mahon Federal Building,'' as ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 16, 2011. CBO estimates that enacting this legislation would have no significant impact on the federal budget and would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew Pickford. Sincerely, Douglas W. Elmendorf. ADVISORY OF EARMARKS Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee is required to include a list of congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. No provision in the bill includes an earmark, limited tax benefit, or limited tariff benefit under clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI. FEDERAL MANDATE STATEMENT The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the ``Unfunded Mandates Reform Act'' (P.L. 104-4). PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, or tribal law. The Committee states that H.R. 362 does not preempt any state, local, or tribal law. ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this legislation. APPLICABILITY OF LEGISLATIVE BRANCH The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104-1). CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED H.R. 362 makes no changes in existing law.