SENATE APPROVES NAMING FBI FIELD HEADQUARTERS IN HONOR OF J. JAMES EXON

June 25, 2008 - Senators Ben Nelson and Chuck Hagel announced today that the Senate has passed a resolution they co-sponsored to name the FBI field office now under construction in Omaha in honor of the late Nebraska Senator and Governor, J. James Exon.

"I can't think of a Nebraskan more deserving of this honor than Jim Exon. For more than a quarter century Jim served Nebraska with a rare understanding of its people and values. His legacy will live on in many ways, including through his work to stem the spread of child pornography through the Internet," Nelson said.

The naming of the FBI building in honor of Exon is now before the House for consideration.

In 1995 Exon introduced the Communications Decency Act which passed Congress overwhelmingly and was signed into law by President Clinton. It was the federal government’s first attempt to address internet abuses involving children.

His landmark legislation was later ruled unconstitutional in a 7-2 ruling by the Supreme Court, however, in that ruling the court affirmed the principle that government does have a legitimate, important interest in protecting children from pornography and predators on the internet, thus setting the stage for legislation that was passed following Exon’s retirement from the Senate in 1997.

The new field office, being constructed by Noddle Companies of Omaha, will provide the FBI with more security and 112,000 square feet of space which is about double the amount of space available at its existing headquarters at 10755 Burt.

Exon served two terms as Nebraska's Governor from 1971 to 1979 and three terms as U.S. Senator from 1979 to 1997. He passed away June 10, 2005 at the age of 83.

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	Press Release	June 25, 2008
SENATE APPROVES NAMING FBI FIELD HEADQUARTERS IN HONOR OF J. JAMES EXON June 25, 2008 - Senators Ben Nelson and Chuck Hagel announced today that the Senate has passed a resolution they co-sponsored to name the FBI field office now under construction in Omaha in honor of the late Nebraska Senator and Governor, J. James Exon. "I can't think of a Nebraskan more deserving of this honor than Jim Exon. For more than a quarter century Jim served Nebraska with a rare understanding of its people and values. His legacy will live on in many ways, including through his work to stem the spread of child pornography through the Internet," Nelson said. The naming of the FBI building in honor of Exon is now before the House for consideration. In 1995 Exon introduced the Communications Decency Act which passed Congress overwhelmingly and was signed into law by President Clinton. It was the federal government’s first attempt to address internet abuses involving children. His landmark legislation was later ruled unconstitutional in a 7-2 ruling by the Supreme Court, however, in that ruling the court affirmed the principle that government does have a legitimate, important interest in protecting children from pornography and predators on the internet, thus setting the stage for legislation that was passed following Exon’s retirement from the Senate in 1997. The new field office, being constructed by Noddle Companies of Omaha, will provide the FBI with more security and 112,000 square feet of space which is about double the amount of space available at its existing headquarters at 10755 Burt. Exon served two terms as Nebraska's Governor from 1971 to 1979 and three terms as U.S. Senator from 1979 to 1997. He passed away June 10, 2005 at the age of 83. ###