To redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 121 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge, New Jersey, as the "New Bridge Landing Post Office".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2130) to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 650 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge, New Jersey, as the ``New Bridge Landing Post Office,'' as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill under consideration.

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

``These are the times that try men's souls.'' Mr. Speaker, political theorist Thomas Paine uttered these famous words during the cold of November 1776. When the American Revolution commenced, the colonial freedom fighters battled the mighty British forces while barefoot and often wearing little more than blankets and torn clothing. The early days of the war featured humiliating, devastating losses for the overwhelmed Colonial Army.

On November 20, 1776, General George Washington led his troops in a retreat over the Hackensack River across the New Bridge Landing. Once they reached safety, General Washington and his men set up the first headquarters of the new Continental Army at New Bridge. Thomas Paine was inspired to write the first essays of the American Crisis near the New Bridge landing site, intended to rally Americans during the first days of our Nation. The New Bridge landing provided General Washington's troops with an important chance to regroup. This gave Americans a small boost that led to the unlikely defeat of the Royal British Army and the independence for the brand new United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation, H.R. 2130, introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) renames a post office in River Edge, New Jersey, as the New Bridge Landing Post Office

Building. This designation, on this historic site, will serve as an appropriate reminder of the struggle that Americans endured during the Revolutionary War.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the gentleman from New Jersey for this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers and I support H.R. 2130. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 2130, legislation naming a postal facility as the New Bridge Landing. H.R. 2130, which was introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) on May 15, 2003, was unanimously approved by the Committee on Government Reform on November 6, 2003. This measure has the support and cosponsorship of the entire New Jersey congressional delegation.

According to preservation New Jersey, New Bridge Landing has great historical significance. The Landing, an inland port situated on a strategic site, was an important shipping point for hundreds of years and was the scene of many fights during the Revolutionary War. Other historic structures that helped make up New Bridge Landing are the Steuben House, a stone Dutch mansion built in 1750; a 19th century swinging bridge; a tidal mill site; and the site of New Bridge Landing, a river embarkation point. Three other buildings were moved to the site to save them from demolition: The Demerest House, the Westervelt Barn and the Campbell-Christie House.

According to the Bergen County Historical Society, throughout the war the New Bridge was considered an important, strategic route, guarded by troops from both sides at different times. George Washington's retreat across this bridge on November 20, 1776, saved his troops from entrapment by advancing troops.

Mr. Speaker, given the historic nature of New Bridge Landing, it seems quite appropriate to redesignate this postal facility in River Edge, New Jersey. I urge swift passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe I am going to have any additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2130, a bill to redesignate the United States Postal Service facility at 650 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge, NJ, as the New Bridge Landing Post Office.

As a life-long resident of New Jersey, a history buff, and the Congressman who formerly represented the Borough of River Edge for my first 6 years in Congress, I am delighted to be a cosponsor of legislation that will highlight the unique, strategic role that New Jersey, and specifically River Edge, played in the birth of our Nation and the Continental Army's success in the Revolutionary War. Renaming the River Edge postal facility--located just two blocks away from Historic New Bridge Landing--will help ensure that future generations will have a window into New Jersey's colonial life that was home to more Revolutionary War engagements than any other of the 13 original colonies.

New Bridge Landing has played a pivotal role in the development of River Edge since Native Americans first inhabited the area. During the Revolutionary War, GEN George Washington retreated from historic Fort Lee across New Bridge Landing, leading the unprecedented march of a ragtag band of volunteer soldiers and a committed people in pursuit of the timeless ideals of liberty, freedom, and equality that our Nation enjoys today. Its proximity to the Hackensack River later made it a hub for industrial development; it was used as both a tidal mill and bustling shipping point for iron.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and gratitude for those revolutionary fighters that I ask all my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 2130, so that future generations of New Jerseyans will remember what those heroic patriots accomplished at New Bridge Landing so long ago.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 2, 2004, at 10:15 a.m., in closed session to receive a briefing on the situation in Iraq.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 2, 2004, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on ``The Role of State Securities Regulators in Protecting Investors.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet Wednesday, June 2, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. on fire fighting aircraft.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet Wednesday, June 2, 2004, at 2:30 p.m. on nominations.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 2, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., to hold a hearing on the Greater Middle East Initiative.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, June 2, 2004 at 10 a.m. to hold a business meeting to consider pending Committee business.