Congressman James Grove Fulton Memorial Post Office Building

Floor Speech

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Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt) for yielding me time and for her work and the work of the Committee on Government Reform on this bill.

We are here to remember and consider a Congressman beloved in the hearts of those in southwestern Pennsylvania, James G. Fulton. Now, there were two things you were not allowed to say in the congressional office of James Fulton. The first was, ``I can't,'' and the second was, ``I don't know,'' this according to Congressman Fulton's long-time aide Richard Beeman, who wrote these words in the eulogy that were included in the Congressional Record on October 21, 1971.

Consistent with these simple mottos, warm-hearted, thoughtful, plain-spoken James Fulton represented the Pittsburgh area in Congress with great charm and distinction and a vibrant can-do spirit for 27 years.

James Fulton was born in Dormont Borough in Allegheny County in March of 1903, and it was the elected officials in Dormont who recommended that we consider him for naming this post office. He graduated from Pennsylvania State College, now known as Penn State University, and later from Harvard Law School.

He pursued many diverse interests in his young adulthood; went on to private practice in Pittsburgh; as it was noted before, became the publisher of the Mount Lebanon News; earned a seat on the Allegheny County Board of Law Examiners; and then served 2 years in the Pennsylvania State senate in 1939 and 1940.

At the relatively advanced age of 39, he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve in 1942, and heroically served in the South Pacific as a lieutenant. What is perhaps most remarkable about Fulton's service was that he actually ran for Congress while still fighting the war abroad.

Indeed, in November 1944, while still in the service, Fulton was elected as a Republican to the 79th Congress to represent the Pittsburgh area. When he was honorably discharged in early 1945, he began what became a nearly 27-year career in the U.S. House of Representatives.

His primary interest in the House was to facilitate U.S. innovation in science technology. He rose to become ranking member of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics. Sadly, he died in office on October 6, 1971, at the age of 68. But among his accomplishments is something that is still remembered today in our region. He worked tirelessly in dealing with some of the many flood control issues in the hilly areas of southwest Pennsylvania. Still today when we are beleaguered by huge storms in our area, people note that it was his work on flood control projects which to this day have a lasting legacy of saving many homes in the region.

In the years following his death in 1972, the James G. Fulton Fellows Program was established as a living memorial to Congressman Fulton. This program remains today open to undergraduate students who permanently reside in Allegheny County who want to work for a Pennsylvania Member of Congress. The program reflects the fact that Congressman Fulton mentored more than 100 college students during his tenure in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, last but not least, I thank my good friends from the Committee on Government Reform, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis), the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), for helping me to honor such an esteemed former Member of this body as Congressman Fulton.

I also want to recognize Sara D'Orsie on the committee's majority staff and Denise Wilson of the staff of the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) for their important efforts.

Mr. Speaker, with enactment of this legislation, this post office building will stand as a prominent tribute to the public service career of a Pittsburgh icon, Congressman James Fulton. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this measure.

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