To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14 Chestnut Street in Liberty, New York, as the "Ben R. Gerow Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I want to express my appreciation to the Committee on Government Reform for bringing this bill to the floor so expeditiously. I also want to express my thanks to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), who is managing the Democratic time, and the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), who is managing the time for the majority.

I also wish to express my thanks to the elected officials, civic organizations, and individuals in Liberty and Sullivan County, New York, for recommending and endorsing this legislation; as well as the family of Ben Gerow for providing photographs, newspaper articles, and detailed biographical information; and, finally, to the current postmaster in Liberty, New York, Gene DeCarlo, for his assistance.

It is a testament to Ben Gerow's significant contribution to Liberty that there is such overwhelming support in the local community for naming this post office in his honor. There is a true groundswell of support for this legislation. It is endorsed by Liberty community leaders and organizations locally, including the town of Liberty Democratic and Republican Committees, the town of Liberty and the Village of Liberty Boards, the village mayor, the Sullivan County Historical Society, the Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerce, and many Liberty residents and others in Sullivan County who have signed petitions.

Ben Gerow was born in Liberty, New York, in 1880, and died in 1961 at the age of 81. He lived virtually his entire life in Liberty, New York, where he was a pioneer of the automobile age who became a county sheriff, member of the New York State legislature, and a postmaster.

Ben Gerow was involved in the automobile business for 30 years. He was the first man in Liberty to own a gasoline-fueled car. He owned and operated one of the best-known businesses in Sullivan County, Gerow's Garage Machine Shop and Supply Store. He was the first Cadillac dealer in Sullivan County and also sold Fords, Dodges, and owned a rubber tire business. He was a lifelong firefighter as a member and president of the Liberty Hose and Truck Company No. 20.

Legend has it that Ben Gerow was an instrumental coconspirator in the introduction of the first motorized fire truck in Liberty and all of Sullivan County. With a few chosen friends, he got hold of an automobile chassis and a motor, refurbished and repainted it, and outfitted it with the hose and other firefighting equipment. Then one of his crew set fire to a bunch of orange crates, and Ben's motorized equipment whizzed by the firefighters from companies number one and three who were carrying their heavy hose carts by hand. This carefully staged incident reportedly ended the era of man-powered fire trucks in Liberty and in Sullivan County generally.

Ben Gerow was an active civic leader: a founding member of the Liberty Elks Lodge, a member of the Mongaup Lodge, and Free and Accepted Masons, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In addition to being a successful businessman, community leader, and honorable public servant, Ben Gerow was married to Angeline Wheeler for 61 years. Together, they raised 14 children in one of Liberty's largest families. It is notable that five of their sons served in World War II all at the same time. Overall, these two wonderful people had 65 descendents, including 34 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

At the age of 50, Ben Gerow retired from business and entered politics, a natural transition, given that he is said to have been known by virtually every member of the population in Sullivan County. A lifelong Democrat, he was elected Sullivan County sheriff in 1930 and then elected to a 1-year term in the New York State Assembly in 1933. He was appointed postmaster to the Liberty post office by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934, and he served in that position for 12 years.

Under Mr. Gerow's administration, the current Liberty post office building was sited and built as a Works Progress Administration project. Given his many accomplishments and contributions to Liberty, naming the Liberty post office in honor of Ben Gerow nearly 60 years after he retired from his long tenure as postmaster is clearly fitting, it is appropriate, and, one might say, long overdue.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3234) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14 Chestnut Street in Liberty, New York, as the ``Ben R. Gerow 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 the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3234, introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) designates this U.S. Postal Service facility in Liberty, New York, as the Ben R. Gerow Post Office Building.

All members of the New York State delegation have signed onto this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, Ben Gerow spent his entire life living, working, and serving in the town of Liberty in the Catskill Mountains of southeastern New York State. Mr. Gerow was a respected State assemblyman, sheriff, firefighter, and businessman.

Ben Gerow made a comfortable living for 30 years as owner and operator of his own automobile service station. He retired from his business at age 50 and entered the race for sheriff of Sullivan County, which he won. Three years later, he won another election, this time to a seat in the New York State Assembly. After serving a 1-year term in the legislature, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt selected him to be postmaster of the post office in Liberty, New York, where he served for 12 years.

Ben Gerow passed away in 1961 at the age of 81. Passage of this meaningful bill will fittingly rename the post office in Liberty after Ben Gerow, the very post office at which he served as postmaster. Mr. Speaker, for all these reasons, I congratulate the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) for his efforts in shepherding H.R. 3234 to the floor, and I commend him for honoring Ben Gerow.

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

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

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

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

As a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join the gentlewoman from Virginia in rising in support of H.R. 3234, legislation naming the postal facility located at 14 Chestnut Street in Liberty, New York, after Ben Gerow.

H.R. 3234 was introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) on October 2, 2003. The bill has met the Committee on Government Reform's policy and has the support and cosponsorship of the entire New York delegation.

A lifelong resident of Liberty, New York, Ben Gerow was a successful businessman and politician. He owned a garage, operated a Cadillac dealership and tire business, and was a firefighter. He later served as county sheriff and in the New York State Assembly. In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Mr. Gerow postmaster of the Liberty post office.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey), for seeking to recognize the legacy of Postmaster Ben Gerow by naming the Liberty post office in his honor. It is interesting to note that

this measure has been endorsed by a host of Liberty community leaders and organizations, including the village mayor, local chamber of commerce, and residents. I would urge swift adoption of this resolution.

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

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

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.