To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2055 Siesta Drive in Sarasota, Florida, as the "Brigadier General (AUS-Ret.) John H. McLain Post Office".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3068) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2055 Siesta Drive in Sarasota, Florida, as the ``Brigadier General (AUS-Ret.) John H. McLain Post Office''.

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. 3068.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to join with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) to introduce H.R. 3068, which was introduced by my colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Harris), which designates this U.S. Postal Service facility in Sarasota, Florida, as the Brigadier General John H. McLain Post Office. The entire delegation from the State of Florida has signed on as cosponsors to this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, Brigadier General John McLain was a national hero who this body appropriately recognizes today. A veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, General McLain served his Nation in the U.S. Army for 37 years. He earned countless honors during his career, including the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.

John McLain was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 21, 1919. After finishing high school, he enlisted in the Army in 1940. His very enlistment at this time exhibited bravery and a love of country, as Hitler's Nazi Germany had already invaded several countries in Europe by this time at the outbreak of World War II. Sure enough, McLain was soon sent to Europe as part of General George Patton's Third Army. He fought bravely during the infamous Battle of the Bulge that began in December 1944 and was promoted to the rank of captain for his valor.

When he returned to his hometown following World War II, McLain enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated with honors in 1947. As war erupted in Korea, Captain McLain volunteered for active duty, despite being a Reserve in the Army. During the war, he served as a senior advisor with the Korean Military Advisory Group. After he returned safely home from his second war in 1953, he returned to the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned his second degree, this time a master of arts.

The Korean War concluded General McLain's distinguished combat service, but he remained in the Army Reserves until his retirement in 1977. He deservedly earned the rank of brigadier general in 1972. It is important to note that the general spent much of his years following his active duty teaching. He taught English classes at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida, and St. Petersburg High School in Edgewood, Pennsylvania. He also returned to his alma mater to teach English history classes at the University of Pittsburgh.

From the time of his retirement until his death, General McLain lived in Sarasota with his wife of 50 years,

Patricia Ann. He contributed to his community by volunteering countless hours at schools and organizations in the Sarasota area.

Mr. Speaker, for all these reasons, I urge all Members to support passage of H.R. 3068 that will name this post office after Brigadier General John McLain. General McLain will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on November 5 with full military honors.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for her work toward honoring General McLain through this legislation.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his help in passage of both these pieces of legislation. I also know the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Harris) badly wanted to be here for consideration of H.R. 3068. I commend her for her work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation honors a devoted American patriot, Brigadier General John H. McLain. I, along with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), urge all Members to support its passage.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to respectfully appeal to my colleagues for their support of H.R. 3068, which will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2055 Siesta Drive in Sarasota, Florida as the ``Brigadier General (AUS-Ret.) John H. McLain Post Office''.

Brigadier General John H. McLain, Army of the United States, Retired, was a soldier, teacher, father and friend. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 21, 1919, he arrived in Sarasota, Florida in 1986.

General McLain's original enlistment in the Army's field artillery occurred in September 1940. He received his commission as a second lieutenant in this unit during December 1942. General McLain fought in the Second World War's European Theater, participating in the Battle of the Bulge and in the relief of Bastogne as a member of General George Pafton's Third Army. While he left active duty with the rank of captain in 1945, he volunteered for service in the Korean War as soon as that conflict began. General McLain served as a senior advisor to a Korean field artillery battalion until the 1953 armistice.

When he returned to the Reserves, General McLain became Chief of Staff of the Army Reserve Command (ARCOM) in Oakdale, Pennsylvania. He obtained his promotion to Brigadier General in 1972, while serving as Deputy Commander of ARCOM.

General McLain returned to active duty in 1974 with the Department of Defense Study Groups for Guard and Reserve. His induction into the Field Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in 1976 capped a heavily decorated career that included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star medal, the European Theater of Operations Medal with three campaign stars, the World War 11 victory medal, the Korean Service Medal with three campaign stars, and the United Nations Service medal. In August 1977, General McLain retired after almost 37 years of active and reserve duty.

General McLain was also an accomplished scholar. He held a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, while he completed courses at the Army War College, National War College, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, as well as Yale, Michigan State, and Florida State Universities. He taught English grammar, composition, and literature at Admiral Farragut Academy (St. Petersburg, FL), St. Petersburg High School, Edgewood (PA) High School, Presbyterian Junior College, Florida State University, and the University of Pittsburgh, where he also taught the history of England.

General McLain was a member-in-perpetuity of The Military Order of the World Wars and as a member of The Sons of the American Revolution. He maintained a lifetime membership of the Reserve Officers Association, The Military Officers Association. In 1990, he served as President of the Military Officers Association of Sarasota. General McLain also received a listing in Who's Who in America.

Moreover, he received Booker High School's Senior Volunteer of the year award for the 1999-2000 school year.

Mr. Speaker, while we lost General McLain on September 23, 2003, his greatest legacy lives on in the outstanding family he left behind. Patricia Ann, his loving and devoted wife of 50 years, and his four children will continue to honor their father through their exemplary contributions to our world.

The dedication of this postal facility is the least that we can do to memorialize the extraordinary gift this gentleman and hero gave our nation in dedicating his entire life to protecting freedom, promoting education, and touching lives.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join with my colleague, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), in support of H.R. 3068, legislation naming a postal facility in Sarasota, Florida, after Brigadier General John H. McLain.

This measure was introduced by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Harris) on September 10, 2003. H.R. 3068, which was unanimously approved and reported by the Committee on Government Reform on September 18, 2003, has the support and cosponsorship of the entire Florida congressional delegation.

General McLain served his country bravely for nearly 4 decades, both on active duty and as a Reservist. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1940 and served in World War II and the Korean War. He attained the rank of brigadier general in 1972 and was inducted into the Field Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in 1976. During his career, he received the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal, among others.

An active member of his community, General McLain passed away last month on September 23, 2003. He left behind a wife, four children, grandchildren, and a great grandchild. General McLain will be buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery on November 5, 2003.

Mr. Speaker, naming a postal facility after the late General John H. McLain continues in our tradition of honoring individuals of great character and service to their community and to their country. I urge swift passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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.