To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 339 Hicksville Road in Bethpage, New York, as the "Brian C. Hickey Post Office Building".

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 October 22, 2003, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing on ``Counterterror Initiatives in the Terror Finance Program.''

Mr. President: I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Wednesday, October 22, 2003, at 9:30 am on the Federal Involvement in the Regulation of the Insurance Industry.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a hearing Anti-Semitism In Europe.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 at 10:30 a.m. to hold a business meeting to consider pending Committed business.

Agenda

Legislation

1. S. 129, Federal Workforce Flexibility Act of 2003.

2. S. 1741, National Women's History Museum Act of 2003.

3. S. 1267, District of Columbia Budget Autonomy Act of

2003.

4. S. 1522, GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2003.

5. S. 1561, a bill to preserve existing judgeships on the

Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

6. S. 1567, Department of Homeland Security Financial

Accountability Act.

7. S. 1612, Homeland Security Technology Improvement Act of

2003.

8. S. 1683, Federal Law Enforcement Pay and Benefits Parity

Act of 2003.

9. H.R. 1416, Homeland Security Technical Corrections Act

of 2003.

10. H.R. 3159, Government Network Security Act of 2003.

post office naming bills

1. S. 1405, a bill to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 514 17th Street in Moline,

Illinois, as the ``David Bybee Post Office Building.''

2. S. 1415, a bill to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 141 Weston Street in

Hartford, Connecticut, as the ``Barbara B. Kennelly Post

Office Building.''

3. S. 1590, a bill to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 315 Empire Boulevard in

Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, as the ``James E. Davis

Post Office Building.''

4. S. 1659, a bill to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 57 Old Tappan Road in

Tappan, New York, as the ``John G. Dow Post Office

Building.''

5. S. 1671, a bill to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 10701 Abercorn Street in

Savannah, Georgia, as the ``J.C. Lewis, Jr., Post Office

Building.''

6. S. 1692, a bill to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 38 Spring Street in Nashua,

New Hampshire, as the ``Hugh Gregg Post Office Building.''

7. S. 1718, a bill to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 3710 West 73rd Terrace in

Prairie Village, Kansas, as the ``Senator James B. Pearson

Post Office Building.''

8. S. 1746, a bill to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 339 Hicksville Road in

Bethpage, New York, as the ``Brian C. Hickey Post Office

Building.''

9. H.R. 1610, to redesignate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 120 East Ritchie Avenue in

Marceline, Missouri, as the ``Walt Disney Office Building.''

10. H.R. 1882, to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 440 South Orange Blossom

Trail, in Orlando, Florida, as the ``Arthur `Pappy' Kennedy

Post Office Building.''

11. H.R. 1883, to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 1601-1 Main Street in

Jacksonville, Florida, as the ``Eddie Mae Steward Post Office

Building.''

12. H.R. 2075, to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 1905 West Blue Heron

Boulevard in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the ``Judge Edward

Rodgers Post Office Building.''

13. H.R. 2254, to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 1101 Colorado Street in

Boulder City, Nevada, as the ``Bruce Woodbury Post Office

Building.''

14. H.R. 2309, to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 2300 Redondo Avenue in

Signal Hill, California, as the ``J. Stephen Horn Post Office

Building.''

15. H.R. 2328, to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 2001 East Willard Street in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the ``Robert A. Borski Post

Office Building.''

16. H.R. 2396, to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 1210 Highland Avenue in

Duarte, California, as the ``Francisco A. Martinez Flores

Post Office Building.''

17. H.R. 2452, to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 339 Hicksville Road in

Bethpage, New York, as the ``Brian C. Hickey Post Office

Building.''

18. H.R. 2533, to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 10701 Abercorn Street in

Savannah, Georgia, as the ``J.C. Lewis, Jr., Post Office

Building.''

19. H.R. 2746, to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 141 Weston Street in

Hartford, Connecticut, as the ``Barbara B. Kennelly Post

Office Building.''

20. H.R. 3011, to designate the facility of the United

States Postal Service, located at 135 East Olive Avenue in

Burbank, California, as the ``Bob Hope Post Office

Building.''

Nominations

1. Jerry S. Byrd to be an Associate Judge of the Superior

Court of the District of Columbia (Family Court).

2. Joseph Michael Ryan to be an Associate Judge of the

Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Family Court).

3. Dale Cabaniss to be Chairman, Federal Labor Relations

Authority.

4. Brian F. Holeman to be an Associate Judge of the

Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

5. Craig S. Iscoe to be an Associate Judge of the Superior

Court of the District of Columbia.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, October 22, 2003, at 10 a.m., on ``Judicial Nominations,'' in the Hart Senate Office Building room 216.

Witness List:

Panel I: Senators.

Panel II: Janice R. Brown to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed hearing.

Mr. President: I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, and Coast Guard be authorized to meet on Wednesday, October 22, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., on Fisheries Oversight to be held in SR-428A.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding me this time. I

thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his very generous remarks today. I am really proud to stand in support of this legislation.

At the outset, let me commend Councilwoman Mary McCaffrey from the Oyster Bay Town Board in Nassau County, Long Island. She is the one who initiated this proposal with me and has worked tirelessly with me and also the Hickey family to bring about this day.

Mr. Speaker, on September 11, 2001, we saw the greatest rescue operation in the history of the world; 25,000 people were rescued from the Twin Towers in Lower Manhattan that day. This was brought about because of the heroic efforts of the New York City Fire Department, the police department, the rescue services, the emergency workers, all of whom answered the call, put their lives at risk, many of whom lost their lives that day to save so many of their fellow citizens, fellow Americans, and people who just happened to be in the World Trade Center that day. Because of the 343 men of the New York City Fire Department, because they were willing to put their lives on the line and die that day, 25,000 others were rescued. That is something we can never fittingly thank and show our appreciation to those who laid down their lives and thank them for what they did that day.

More than 100 people in my district were killed, many police officers, firefighters; but no one symbolized the heroism more that day than Brian Hickey. He was a member of the New York City Fire Department for more than 20 years. He was a captain. He commanded Rescue Company 4 in Queens. As was pointed out, he lost several of his colleagues several months before that in a terrible accident on Father's Day, and he was back on the job only several days before he went into the south tower, led his men into the south tower, unquestioningly, unflinchingly, went in and did what had to be done. That was really typical of Brian Hickey. He was a man who was wounded many times during his career with the fire department, but never, ever once did he back away from the challenge. Never once did he not show bravery and courage, which really does symbolize the FDNY.

It is very fitting that the post office facility in Bethpage be named in his honor, because Brian Hickey was raised in Bethpage. He met his wife, Donna, while attending high school in Bethpage. He raised his four children in Bethpage. He was a member of the Bethpage Volunteer Fire Department and was elected a member of the Board of Fire Commissioners. So he really is a man of Bethpage. And to me it is so appropriate and so fitting that when people walk past the postal facility on Hicksville Road, they see the name Brian Hickey, that it reminds them of what Brian Hickey did and also what all of the members of the FDNY did on that terrible day back on September 11.

Mr. Speaker, the attack on the World Trade Center and the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, that was really the first great battle and the first great war of the 21st century. Now we almost take it for granted that the right thing was done in responding to that. We take for granted so many of the men and women charging into the Twin Towers to rescue their fellow human beings. But the fact is, suppose they had not? Suppose there had been a sense of panic or caution, or just a moment's hesitation. Think of the signal that would have sent to the world. But instead, the signal that went out from the Twin Towers was one of indomitable courage on behalf of the American people.

So really, what Captain Brian Hickey and the other firefighters and rescue workers did that day was send a message to the world that America was going to fight back, that America was in no way going to be cowed or intimidated by what was done by this terrible attack. So as horrific as the attack was, the bravery of the men and women that went into the Twin Towers was unsurpassingly greater than that. They showed the true essence of Americanism.

Brian Hickey, those who knew him knew what a gutsy guy he was, what a courageous guy he was. He often told his wife that he would rather die in a fire tragedy than have some long illness. This is what he wanted to do, was to be there with the other firefighters entering whatever call they were given, responding whenever they had to, doing what had to be done. That is the FDNY. That was Brian Hickey. Twenty years of his life he gave to the FDNY, and then he gave his entire life to the world by surrendering that life in such a valiant cause on September 11.

So on behalf of Donna Hickey and her four children and all of the constituents of the 3rd Congressional District, I want to thank all my colleagues who bring this to a vote today. I urge a speedy adoption. I can assure you if anyone deserves to be honored, it is Brian Hickey.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2452) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 339 Hicksville Road in Bethpage, New York, as the ``Brian C. Hickey Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2452.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2452, introduced by my distinguished colleague from the State of New York (Mr. King), designates the postal facility in Bethpage, New York, as the Brian C. Hickey Post Office Building.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation honors an extraordinary American. For more than 2 years now, people all over the world have heard stories of the uncommon courage of the New York City emergency service personnel who responded to the September 11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York. When the first plane hit the north tower, numerous firefighters, law enforcement personnel, medical personnel and others traveled to the World Trade Center, entered the building, headed up the stairs towards the fire, and never appeared again.

Captain Brian Hickey was one of these intensely brave patriots whom we lost on that fateful day. Captain Hickey was with the Fire Department of New York for 20 years. He was the leader of Rescue Company No. 4. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Captain Hickey never hesitated as he put the lives of others ahead of his own and marched up the stairs of the south tower to fight the overpowering blaze. Just before 10 a.m. that morning, the south tower unthinkably collapsed, the first of the two towers to fall.

It is very fitting and appropriate for this House to revisit the courage, the patriotism, and the amazing compassion for fellow Americans exhibited by people like Brian Hickey on September 11, 2001. That unbelievably tragic day united all Americans in a way that no event has done in more than a generation. We will be wise to never forget what this Nation went through on that fateful day and to always remember the sacrifices of Brian Hickey. Captain Hickey made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation and for his fellow citizens. With the passage of H.R. 2452, this Congress can immortalize Brian Hickey's courageous legacy by naming this post office after him in his hometown of Bethpage, New York.

For all of these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 2452, which honors the life and service of Captain Brian C. Hickey. I commend the gentleman from New York for his work on such a meaningful piece of legislation, and I look forward to his words regarding Captain Hickey.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from New York (Mr. King).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I would again like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) for his work on this bill. This honors a true American hero, Captain Brian Hickey. I strongly urge all Members to support H.R. 2452.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 2452, the bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 339 Hicksville Road in Bethpage, New York, as the Brian C. Hickey Post Office Building.

As a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am honored to join my colleague in consideration of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2452 was sponsored by the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) on June 12, 2003. This measure has met the committee cosponsorship policy and has the support of the entire New York delegation.

Mr. Speaker, Brian Hickey, a 20-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department, was fire captain of Rescue 4, an elite group based in Woodside, Queens, New York. On September 11, 2001, Brian was filling in for a Rescue 3 captain when an emergency signal was sent to the men of Rescue 3 from the Bronx to the World Trade Center minutes after a plane hit the north tower. None of the eight men in the company survived. Mr. Hickey was not formally identified until June of this year when a bone fragment was identified as belonging to him. Prior to that, the only item found 2 years ago at Ground Zero was Brian's battered New York City Fire Department helmet.

Who was Brian Hickey? Well, according to Fire Commissioner Bill Ura, a close friend and colleague, Brian was a 27-year member of the Bethpage Fire District. A lifelong resident of Bethpage, Brian served as chief officer of the Nassau County Fireman's Training Center and as an elected official of the Bethpage Volunteer Fire District.

He was noted as being a loving father, husband, and son. Brian was doing what he was trained to do on September 11, 2001, and that is respond to major fires, rescuing his firefighting colleagues and the public from harm.

Captain Hickey's death on 9-11 was especially tragic because he had just returned to duty after barely escaping death a month earlier when an explosion occurred and he was blown out of a building in Queens, New York. He survived, but three of his men died. As I understand it, Brian Hickey, after recuperating from his injuries, returned to work on Wednesday, September 5, 2001, and perished at the World Trade Center on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my profound sympathies to the family and friends of Captain Brian Hickey and commend my colleague for seeking to honor the life and work of a firefighter who died in the line of duty.

Brian Hickey really represented the best of what America has been and what America continues to be, that is, made up of ordinary people who are willing to do extraordinary things when situations and circumstances call for them. So I would urge swift passage of this legislation as we honor the life and the legacy now of Brian Hickey.

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