Building is named for Jim Hansen

WASHINGTON — It may not be as good as winning the crowded governor's race that he has entered, but former Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, won a unanimous vote of respect Wednesday in the U.S. House.

It voted 418-0 to rename in his honor Ogden's federal building , where Hansen had a congressional office for 22 years. If the Senate also passes the bill, it will soon be renamed as the "James V. Hansen Federal Building."

The bill was introduced by Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, and is cosponsored by Reps. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, and Jim Matheson, D-Utah.

"Over his 42 years of public service, Jim Hansen has shown what it means to be a true statesman and a man of the people," Cannon told the House. Hansen served 22 years in Congress (retiring last year), eight years in the state Legislature and 12 years on the Farmington City Council.

"No Utahn has served longer in the House of Representatives than Jim Hansen with 11 terms," Bishop said. "He is the only Utah congressman who has ever actually served as the chairman of a full committee."

Hansen chaired two committees in his career: Resources, and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Cannon added, "Jim Hansen never lost an election. I credit his ability to listen and understand the people he represented."

In a written statement, Hansen said he is "deeply touched" that his former colleagues and peers would name the federal building for him. "It really means a lot to me and I'm grateful for their recognition."