House votes to name federal building after Tip O'Neill

The House voted on Wednesday to name a federal building on C Street SW in Washington, D.C., after former Rep. Thomas "Tip" O'Neill (D-Mass.), who served as Speaker for a decade, from 1977 to 1987.

The voice vote was preceded by comments from House leaders in both parties and many from O'Neill's home state of Massachusetts. The bill, H.R. 6604, was sponsored by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who like others praised O'Neill as a great leader of the House.

"Tip O'Neill is an outstanding political leader, and patriot who always carried the torch for the Congress and the American people," she said.

The current House Speaker, John Boehner (R-Ohio), also praised O'Neill, who died in 1994, as someone everyone respected.

"This is one of those moments when you wonder how the honoree would feel, especially when it's someone like Tip, who never quite held back his opinions," Boehner said. "Perhaps he would have enjoyed seeing leaders from opposite sides of the aisle come together to give him a well-deserved hurrah."

Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), who managed the brief debate for Democrats, credited O'Neill with never losing touch with the reason he was elected, which was to help his constituents.

"At the end of the day, if you've forgotten who you represent, then I think you've stayed here too long," Capuano said. "Mr. O'Neill never did."

The bill is one of eight that the House is considering on Wednesday, all of which name federal buildings.

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