59–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110–209 

GEORGE HOWARD, JR. FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED 

STATES COURTHOUSE 

JUNE 25, 2007.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr. OBERSTAR, from the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 2011] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 

was referred the bill (H.R. 2011) to designate the Federal building 

and United States courthouse located at 100 East 8th Avenue in 

Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as the ‘‘George Howard, Jr. Federal Building 

and United States Courthouse’’, having considered the same, report 

favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill 

do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

H.R. 2011 designates the Federal building and United States 

courthouse located at 100 East 8th Avenue in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, 

as the ‘‘George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and United States 

Courthouse’’. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Judge George Howard, Jr. was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on 

May 13, 1924. He began his service to our nation at the age of 18 

when he was drafted into military service during World War II. 

Judge Howard served with distinction in the United States Navy 

with the Construction Battalion—or the ‘‘Seabees’’—in the South 

Pacific. 

After completing his military service, Judge George Howard Jr. 

returned to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and re-enrolled in high school to 

complete his high school education. Upon graduating from high 

school, Judge Howard attended the pre-law program at Lincoln 

University in Missouri and graduated with honors. Judge Howard 

subsequently attended the University of Arkansas School of Law. 

He was the first African American student to live on campus in the 

newly desegregated campus dormitories. He earned his law degree 

in 1954. 


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After graduating from law school, Judge Howard began a long, 

illustrious, and trailblazing legal career in his home state of Arkansas. In the 1950s, Judge Howard started a private law practice and 

devoted his energies to representing those whose voices would not 

otherwise be heard. He subsequently served on the Arkansas State 

Claims Commission, the Arkansas Court of Appeals, and the Arkansas Supreme Court. In 1980, President Carter appointed Judge 

Howard to the U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts 

of Arkansas. Judge Howard was Arkansas’ first African American 

Federal judge. During his tenure, he presided over the lengthy 

‘‘Whitewater’’ trials regarding a failed Arkansas land deal. 

During Judge Howard’s career, he received several awards and 

distinctions from the legal community. He received the Outstanding Trial Judge Award from the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, the Distinguished Jurist Award from the National Bar 

Association, and the Keepers of the Spirit-Community Service 

Award from University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

Through his pursuit of legal and racial equality, and his exemplary career in public service, Judge Howard helped to pave the 

way for other African-Americans to pursue careers in law and public service. From his time as a private attorney, to his service as 

President of the State Council of Branches of the National Association of Colored People (NAACP), Judge Brown’s judicial ideals were 

grounded in the fundamental belief of justice for all. 

Judge Howard passed away on April 21, 2007, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, at the age of 82. In honor of Judge George Howard, Jr.’s 

outstanding contributions to the state of Arkansas, the Federal judiciary, and his distinguished legal career, it is both fitting and 

proper to designate the courthouse located at 100 East 8th Avenue 

in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as the ‘‘George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse’’. 

SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Designation 

Section 1 designates the Federal building and United States 

courthouse located at 100 East 8th Avenue in Pine Bluff, Arkansas 

as the ‘‘George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and United States 

Courthouse’’. 

Section 2. References 

Section 2 declares any reference in law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Federal 

Building and United States Courthouse referred to in Section 1 

shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘‘George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse’’. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On May 23, 2007, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session, and ordered the bill reported favorably to the House by voice vote. 

RECORD 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 


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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 recorded 

votes taken in connection with ordering H.R. 2011 reported. A motion to order H.R. 2011 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)(I) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in this report. 

COST OF LEGISLATION

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. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 308(a) of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee references the 

report of the Congressional Budget Office included in the report. 

2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the performance goals 

and objective of this legislation are to designate the Federal Building and United States Courthouse located at 100 East 8th Avenue 

in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as the George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse. 

3. 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. 2011 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, May 24, 2007. 

Hon. JAMES L. OBERSTAR, 

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has reviewed H.R. 2011, a bill to designate the federal building and 

United States courthouse located at 100 East 8th Avenue in Pine 

Bluff, Arkansas, as the ‘‘George Howard, Jr. Federal Building and 

United States Courthouse,’’ as ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 23, 2007. 

CBO estimates that enactment of this legislation would have no 

significant impact on the federal budget and would not affect direct 

spending or revenues. 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 


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pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew 

Pickford. 

Sincerely, 

PETER R. ORSZAG, Director. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives, H.R. 2011, does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 

clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or joint resolution 

of a public character shall include a statement citing the specific 

powers granted to the Congress in the Constitution to enact the 

measure. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

finds that Congress has the authority to enact this measure pursuant to its powers granted under article I, section 8 of the Constitution. 

FEDERAL MANDATES 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 

(Public Law 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. 2011 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 TO THE 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 (Public Law 104–1). 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

H.R. 2011 makes no changes in existing law. 

Æ 


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