To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1114 Main Avenue in Clifton, New Jersey, as the "Robert P. Hammer Post Office Building".

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner) for his generous words.

I want to also thank this Congress for moving this and putting this on a fast track. Hopefully next month this Post Office will open up, and it will be a fitting gesture from Congress.

I rise today to speak in strong support of H.R. 1625, legislation to name the new postal facility in Clifton, New Jersey, after a really great public servant, Robert P. ``Bob'' Hammer, former city manager of Clifton, New Jersey.

He was a man who understood what public service was all about. He was honest. His word was his bond. He had integrity. He was a fixture at city hall and in the community, a leader who worked each day to improve the life of every Clifton resident. He was a city manager for 7 years before succumbing to a serious health problem in December 2002 at the age of 54.

In his position as city manager, Madam Speaker, Bob Hammer oversaw a blooming Main Avenue business district. How many towns throughout this landscape we call America are older towns trying to fight back and become part of the economic dream. It is our hope that the new downtown Post Office will be an anchor that holds the redevelopment together and brings residents down to the local businesses. This was one of his dreams.

Naming this Post Office after Bob is an appropriate tribute for an extraordinary individual. He helped improve city parks and playgrounds and ushered in scores of new businesses and homes to this great city even during very tough economic times. He was credited with guiding Clifton through a period of economic growth all while maintaining minimal tax increases. There is no question that Robert Hammer left Clifton a better city than when he started.

How often can we say that for individuals throughout this great country, and that is all anybody can ever ask of us, did we leave the place a little better than how we found it?

A father of five, Bob Hammer developed strong friendships with his humor and his professionalism. He was a leader in the truest sense of word, and a tremendous public servant. My friend and mayor of Clifton, New Jersey, James Anzaldi, said that never in his 30 years of service in Clifton government has he known anyone with Hammer's leadership qualities.

A native of Stanhope, New Jersey, Bob earned a Master's Degree in public administration from Farleigh Dickinson University, and a Bachelor's Degree in commerce from Rider College.

He was a member of the New Jersey and International City Managers Association, the New Jersey Finance Officers Association, and New Jersey International Clerks' Association. He was also an adjunct staff member of Montclair State University, which is also in the Eighth Congressional District.

Before working for Clifton, Bob Hammer was a borough administrator in Oakland, Bergen County, and borough administrator in Bloomingdale, Passaic County. He was a parishioner of St. Philip the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Clifton and a member of the St. Philip's Knights of Columbus. He was also a past president of the Clifton Rotary. He was a dedicated husband and a great father and son. I know how proud the whole family feels about him.

Our thoughts are with his wife Kathy; his five children, Megan, Kelly, Sean, Brett and Staci; and his parents, Stanley and Vera Hammer, of Stanhope, New Jersey. My staff and I have fond memories of working with Bob on a host of issues over the years. He was on my transportation advisory committee. We worked on Clifton highway interchanges, access to mass transit facilities, and pedestrian safety measures. Government and politics is all local, as someone who stood in your place, Madam Speaker, said many, many times.

Most recently, I was able to work with Mayor Anzaldi and Bob and other Clifton officials and representatives of the U.S. Postal Service to make the new postal facility in Clifton, New Jersey, a reality. The new postal building, which is currently in its final phase of construction, is on schedule to be completed next month. It will service the people of Clifton. The fact that this construction got done at all is a tribute to Bob Hammer.

Madam Speaker, I urge the House to pass this fitting tribute to my friend and our friend, Bob Hammer.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1625) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1114 Main Avenue in Clifton, New Jersey, as the ``Robert P. Hammer Post Office Building''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1625.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 1625, introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1114 Main Avenue in Clifton, New Jersey, as the Robert P. Hammer Post Office Building. The entire delegation from the State of New Jersey has cosponsored this legislation.

Madam Speaker, Robert P. Hammer was the highly regarded city manager of the New York City suburb of Clifton. He was credited with promoting rapid business expansion which helped to revitalize this northeastern New Jersey community. He improved countless roads, city parks, and single-handedly orchestrated a complex reorganization of city departments that greatly increased their efficiency. Unfortunately, Mr. Hammer's 7-year tenure as Clifton city manager and his distinguished life was cut tragically short when he passed away last December 20, just over 1 week before the beginning of his retirement.

By scanning the news clips that covered his funeral service last December, the words that appear time and again to describe Mr. Hammer include ``wonderful,'' ``respected,'' ``friend,'' ``leader'' and even ``hero.'' The prayers and condolences of this House go out to Mr. Hammer's wife, Kathleen, and their five children, Megan, Sean, Kelly, Staci and Brett. He was a man who was genuinely devoted to public service. He cared deeply about his community, his friends, and his family, and worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all Clifton residents.

I urge all Members to honor Mr. Hammer by supporting the passage of

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for introducing this legislation. I urge all Members to support the passage of this measure.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I simply join with the gentleman from New Jersey in promoting passage of this resolution. I think he has eloquently spoken of the tremendous value of Mr. Hammer to the community where he lived and worked. I simply join with him and urge swift passage of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 1625, which names a facility of the U.S. Postal Service, located at 1114 Main Avenue in Clifton, New Jersey, after Robert P. Hammer, was introduced by Representative Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) on April 3, 2003.

Mr. Robert Hammer served as the Clifton City Manager for seven years before he passed away on December 20, 2002. Long heralded as a distinguished public servant, Mr. Hammer held a number of important positions in city government.

A native of Stanhope, New Jersey, Mr. Hammer had a bachelor's degree in Commerce from Rider College and a master's degree in public administration from Farleigh Dickinson University. In addition, he was a certified municipal finance officer and a registered municipal clerk. He served on numerous State associations and was known throughout the State for his leadership ability and for being inclusive and promoting unity.

Madam Speaker, the Mayor and City Council of Clifton, New Jersey, support this bill. As I understand it, the postal facility to be named after Mr. Hammer, is being built in Clifton and should be operational this month.

I support this measure and urge its swift passage.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I am delighted that the Senate is poised to pass H.R. 1625, a bill to designate the United States Post Office located at 1114 Main Avenue in Clifton, NJ, as the ``Robert P. Hammer Post Office Building.''

Robert Hammer was a dedicated public official, working as City Manager of Clifton, NJ, for 7 years before his death last December at the age of 54. Among the many accomplishments during his tenure, Bob Hammer oversaw a nationally recognized recycling program and helped improve town parks and playgrounds.

It is particularly gratifying that the Senate will pass this measure in time for the facility's dedication ceremony this Saturday, June 14. It will mean so much to Bob's family to have this bill passed in time for the dedication.

I also thank Senator Collins and Senator Lieberman for their help in

getting this measure passed so expeditiously.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1625, and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate.