James Oberstar: “I rise in support of H.R. 1018, a bill to designate the court of international trade building at 1 Federal Plaza in New…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1018, a bill to designate the court of international trade building at 1 Federal Plaza in New York City as the ``James L. Watson United States Court of International Trade Building.'' Judge Watson, a native New Yorker, was born in Harlem in 1922 and lived and worked his entire life in New York. During World War II, he served with the legendary Buffalo Soldiers Division in the 371st Infantry Regiment, 92nd Division in World War II. After being wounded during service in Italy, he was decorated with a Purple Heart, the Battle Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, and a U.S. Army Commendation. After the war, Judge Watson graduated from New York University in 1947 and from Brooklyn Law School in 1951. He was elected to the New York State Senate in 1954. In 1962, President Kennedy selected him to accompany then Vice-President Johnson to the Jamaican Independence celebration. In 1963, he was appointed to the Civil Court of New York and hired our colleague Charlie Rangel as one of his staff attorneys.”