Francis Rooney: “I thank the gentleman from California. Mr. Speaker, today is a great day for the residents of Fort Pierce, Florida, and…”

“I thank the gentleman from California. Mr. Speaker, today is a great day for the residents of Fort Pierce, Florida, and the Treasure Coast. Over two decades ago, the late Congressman Tom Lewis and his district director, Ann Decker, started the long process of making the courthouse a reality. The countless hours of dedication and work by those who followed him are now being rewarded with the construction of a new courthouse. I was greatly honored that one of my first official events as Congressman was to participate in the historic groundbreaking for this building. I introduced this legislation to honor the distinguished life and career of the late Florida Supreme Court chief justice, Alto Lee Adams, by naming the new courthouse in his memory. This courthouse will fill a vital role for the city of Fort Pierce, bringing much-needed jobs and investment to the community with this greatly needed new Federal courthouse. It is only fitting that the courthouse be named in honor of a man who himself gave so much to his community and the legal community of the State of Florida. {time} 1750 Chief Justice Alto Lee Adams attended the University of Florida College of Law in 1921. As was mentioned, he practiced law in Fort Pierce. He was appointed circuit court judge for St. Lucie County and was appointed to the State supreme court in 1940 by then-Governor Fred P. Cone. He served as a justice on the Florida supreme court from 1940 to 1951 and chief justice from 1949 to 1951.…”