Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Reuben E. Lawson Federal Building Act of 2023”.
Reuben E. Lawson Federal Building Act of 2023
AN ACT
To redesignate the Richard H. Poff Federal Building located at 210 Franklin Road Southwest in Roanoke, Virginia, as the Reuben E. Lawson Federal Building, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress finds that—
Reuben E. Lawson dedicated his life and career to promoting the ideals of equality and inclusion as a lawyer for the Roanoke chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (commonly known as the “NAACP”) who actively worked to end segregation in Southwest Virginia;
arguing a number of significant cases in the Western District of Virginia, Reuben E. Lawson fought to ensure the enforcement of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), so that schools in the Roanoke region would be fully integrated; and
Southwest Virginians are indebted to Reuben E. Lawson for his important work in ending segregation, and it is fitting that he be remembered in the current home of the court in which he valiantly fought.
Sec. 3 Reuben E. Lawson Federal Building
Redesignation— The Richard H. Poff Federal Building located at 210 Franklin Road Southwest in Roanoke, Virginia, shall be known and designated as the “Reuben E. Lawson Federal Building”.
References— Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Richard H. Poff Federal Building shall be deemed to be a reference to the “Reuben E. Lawson Federal Building”.