09.24.09

Durbin Announces Congressional Passage of Bill to Name Lipinski Federal Building

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that a bill to name the Federal building located at 844 North Rush Street in Chicago, Illinois, as the "William O. Lipinski Federal Building" has passed the United States Senate. The building serves as the headquarters of the United States Railroad Retirement Board. The legislation passed the House earlier this month and will now go to the President for his signature.

 

“I worked with Congressman Bill Lipinski on many issues that impacted the state of Illinois,” said Durbin. “This is a fitting tribute to a man who spent the most of his life in public service including over twenty years as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

 

Former Representative William O. Lipinski was a leader on transportation issues while he represented the 3rd and 5th Congressional Districts of Illinois. Representative William Lipinski was born in Chicago on December 22, 1937. He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and served in the United States Army Reserves from 1961 to 1967. After serving in the armed forces, Representative Lipinski held several different public service positions in Chicago, Illinois, including working at the Chicago Park District for over 17 years. He was an Alderman in Chicago, a city councilman, and held several different positions within the Democratic Party in Chicago. Representative Lipinski was elected to Congress in 1982, and served until 2005.