North Platte’s downtown Federal Building would be named for the late U.S. Rep. Virginia Smith of Chappell under bills introduced Thursday by Nebraska’s congressional delegation.

Sen. Pete Ricketts of Omaha and current 3rd District Rep. Adrian Smith of Gering introduced bills in their respective houses of Congress to name the former 1964 post office building at 300 E. Third St. the Virginia Smith Federal Building.

Sen. Deb Fischer of Valentine cosponsored Ricketts’ Senate bill, while Reps. Mike Flood of Norfolk and Don Bacon of Omaha joined Adrian Smith as cosponsors of the House bill. All five are Republicans.

Virginia Smith, an Iowa native who died at age 94 on Jan. 23, 2006, narrowly won her first of eight House terms 50 years ago this November over Democrat Wayne Ziebarth of Wilcox.

On Capitol Hill, the effervescent Republican farmer’s wife showed a knack for persuading majority Democrats and urban Republicans to pay attention to rural Nebraska’s needs.