Thursday, December 20, 2007
Governor Culver Applauds Renaming Des Moines Federal Building After Neal Smith
(Des Moines)- Today Governor Chet Culver applauds news that the Federal Building in Des Moines will likely soon have a new name. Late Wednesday, Congress approved legislation to name the building in honor of former Rep. Neal Smith, an Iowa Democrat who was first elected in 1958 and served until he was defeated in 1994.
Governor Culver said, “Neal Smith is one of Iowa’s most faithful public servants. He spent more than three decades in Congress and represented Iowa values, hard work and service to the rest of the country. It is a fitting tribute to his character to name the Federal Building in Des Moines after Neal Smith.”
Two Iowa Democrats, Representative Leonard Boswell and Senator Tom Harkin worked hard to get the legislation passed. Early in his career, Senator Harkin worked as a congressional aide for Smith.
The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Bush.