To redesignate the facilities of the United States Postal Service located at 7715 and 7748 S. Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, as the "James E. Worsham Post Office" and the "James E. Worsham Carrier Annex Building", respectively, and for other purposes.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 21, 2004, at 9:30 a.m., in open session to consider the following nominations:

1. Vice Admiral Timothy J. Keating, USN, for appointment to the grade of Admiral and to be Commander, United States Northern Command/ Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command;

2. Lieutenant General Bantz J. Craddock, USA, for appointment to the grade of General and to be Commander, United States Southern Command;

3. Peter Cyril Wyche Flory to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy; and

4. Valerie Lynn Baldwin to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller.

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, July 21, 2004, at 10 a.m., to conduct an oversight hearing on ``Regulation N.M.S. and Developments in Market Structure.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Wednesday, July 21, 2004, at 10 a.m., to hear testimony on ``Bridging the Tax Gap.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. to hold a hearing on ``The Multilateral Development Banks.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 21, 2004, at 10 a.m., to hold a business meeting to consider pending committee business.

Agenda

Legislation

1. S. 1230, a bill to provide for additional responsibilities for the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Homeland Security relating to geospatial information.

2. S. 2347, a bill to amend the District of Columbia Access Act of 1999 to permanently authorize the public school and private school tuition assistance programs established under the Act.

3. S. 2409, a bill to provide for continued health benefits coverage for certain federal employees.

4. S. 2628, a bill to amend chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, to clarify the disclosures of information protected from prohibited personnel practices, require a statement in nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements that such policies, forms, and agreements conform with certain disclosure protections, provide certain authority for the Special Counsel, and for other purposes.

5. S. 2536, the Homeland Security Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2004.

6. S. 2635, a bill to establish an intergovernmental grant program to identify and develop homeland security information, equipment, capabilities, technologies, and services to further the homeland security needs of Federal, State, and local governments.

7. S. 2657, a bill to amend part III of title 5, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of programs under which supplemental dental and vision benefits are made available to Federal employees, retirees, and their dependents, to expand the contracting authority of the Office of Personnel Management, and for other purposes.

8. S. 2639, a bill to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act.

9. S. 2275, the High Risk Nonprofit Security Enhancement Act of 2004.

10. S. 593, Reservists Pay Security Act of 2003.

11. H.R. 3797, the 2004 District of Columbia Omnibus Authorization Act.

Post Office Naming Bills

1. S. 2501/H.R. 4427, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 73 South Euclid Avenue in Montauk, New York, as the ``Perry B. Duryea, Jr. Post Office''.

2. S. 2640, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1050 North Hills Boulevard in Reno, Nevada, as the ``Guardians of Freedom Memorial Post Office Building'' and to authorize the installation of a plaque at such site, and for other purposes.

3. H.R. 3340, an act to redesignate the facilities of the United States Postal Service located at 7715 and 7748 S. Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, as the ``James E. Worsham Post Office'' and the ``James E. Worsham Carrier Annex Building'', respectively, and for other purposes.

4. H.R. 4222, an act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 550 Nebraska Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, as the ``Newell George Post Office Building''.

5. H.R. 4327, an act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7450 Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis, Missouri, as the ``Vitilas `Veto' Reid Post Office Building''.

6. H.R. 4380, an act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4737 Mile Stretch Drive in Holiday, Florida, as the ``Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith Post Office Building''.

Nominations

1. Neil McPhine to be Chairman, Merit Systems Protection Board.

2. Barbara J. Sapin to be a Member, Merit Systems Protection Board.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet in Executive Session during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 21, 2004.

Agenda

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 21, 2004, at 2 p.m. in Room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building to conduct an oversight hearing on pending legislation to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 21, 2004, at 10 a.m. in Room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct a business meeting on pending Committee matters, to be followed immediately by a hearing on S. 519, the Native American Capital Formation and Economic Development Act of 2003.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, July 21, 2004, at 10 a.m., on ``An Overview of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program'' in the Dirksen Senate Office Building room 226.

Witness List

Panel I: Jeffrey S. Bucholtz, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

Panel II: Helen Bandley Houghton, San Antonio, TX; Jeffrey Thompson, San Antonio, TX; Jeffrey Thompson, Jacksonville, AK; Rita Torres, Surprise, AZ.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Subcommittee on Children and Families and Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Personnel be authorized to meet for a joint hearing on The Needs of Military Families: How Are States and the Pentagon Responding, Especially for the Guard and Reservists? during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 21, 2004., at 2 p.m., in SD-430.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 21, 2004, at 2 p.m., in open session to receive testimony on how States have responded to military families' unique challenges during military deployments and what the Federal Government can do to support States in this important work.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 21, at 2:30 p.m.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S. 738, to designate certain public lands in Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Lake, Napa, and Yolo counties in the State of California as wilderness, to designate certain segments of the Black Butte River in Mendocino County, California, as a wild or scenic river, and for other purposes; S. 1614, to designate a portion of White Salmon River as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; S. 2221, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange certain National Forest System land in the State of Oregon, and for other purposes; S. 2253, to permit young adults to perform projects to prevent fire and suppress fires, and provide disaster relief on public land through a Healthy Forest Youth Conservation Corps; S. 2334, to designate certain National Forest System Land in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System; and S. 2408, to adjust the boundaries of the Helena, Lolo, and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests in the State of Montana.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding me this time.

I certainly want to also thank my colleague, the gentleman from the adjoining district in Illinois (Mr. Davis), for his kind remarks, his gracious comments on this resolution, and for all that he does for the entire State of Illinois and the Nation, particularly for the 7th Congressional District.

Additionally, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) and others for their efforts in bringing this legislation to the floor today. I owe a great debt of gratitude to the entire Illinois delegation for their cosponsorship of this worthy piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise in support of H.R. 3340, a bill that I introduced back in September of last year, which designates the U.S. post office located at 7715 and 7748 South Cottage Grove Avenue in my hometown of Chicago as the James E. Worsham Post Office Building.

This bill pays fitting tribute to Mr. James E. Worsham, who has served the Chicago community with considerable distinction as a hard- working and dedicated postal worker. Before joining the postal service, Mr. Worsham served in the U.S. Air Force for 4 years and then the city of Chicago as a traffic court clerk for 4 years.

Mr. Worsham began what would become an illustrious postal career on the southeast side of Chicago at the Grand Crossing Station on January 16, 1963, the station that we are proposing to name after him today.

Mr. Speaker, back on January 16, 1963, it was an infamous day in the city of Chicago. On that particular day in the city of Chicago, the actual air temperature reached 27 degrees below zero; and Mr. Worsham, a new letter carrier, having no experience as a letter carrier, was sent out into the elements to deliver the mail. It was his first day, and he was not appropriately dressed for the prolonged exposure to the severe weather conditions in Chicago; and as a result, he suffered extreme frost bite to his ears. Undaunted by this initial experience, he returned to work the next day and adhered to the literal meaning of a carrier's creed: neither rain nor snow, heat nor cold, nor frost- bitten ears shall stay a carrier from his appointed rounds.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Worsham's coworkers were first to recognize his leadership skills and his fiery and staunch determination to get the work done. Because of this, his coworkers elected him to become their shop steward, and Mr. Worsham continued to climb the professional and leadership ladder. He held numerous high-profile positions such as sergeant at arms, auditor and chief steward for Branch 11. In January of 1979, while holding these positions, he ran for the president of Branch 11 and won overwhelmingly.

Mr. Speaker, as president, his skills became known throughout the Nation and the national president of the association recruited him to become a national trustee at the same time that he maintained his position as president of Branch 11.

Upon retirement, Mr. Worsham did not stop there, nor did he slow down. He became director of Retired Members for the Letter Carriers here in Washington, D.C. for the last 4 years. Mr. Worsham continues to fight for the rights of postal employees, and he continues to ensure that the public receives the services that they are entitled to.

Mr. Speaker, again, I believe that this legislation is a fitting tribute to Mr. James Worsham, and I strongly encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 3340.

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 my colleague the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller) in the consideration of H.R. 3340, legislation redesignating the Grand Crossing Postal Station in Chicago, Illinois, after James E. Worsham.

This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush) on October 20, 2003, was unanimously reported by our committee on June 24, 2004. H.R. 3340 enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire Illinois delegation.

Mr. Worsham, a native of Chicago, began his postal career in 1963 as a letter carrier assigned to the Grand Crossing Postal Station. His hard work and dedication was quickly noticed by his coworkers, and he was drafted to become shop steward. From that point on, Mr. Worsham was a man on the move. His leadership qualities were recognized not only by his coworkers but from the branch president and others in the local National Association of Letter Carriers' office. Mr. Worsham was subsequently slated to run for the sergeant at arms position. He later became an auditor and chief steward for Branch 11.

A career milestone occurred in 1979 when Mr. Worsham was elected president of Branch 11. He served in that position until his retirement. Upon his retirement, President Worsham became director of Retired Members for NALC, a position he held here in the Nation's Capital. He later returned to Chicago to serve again as president of Branch 11.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush), for seeking to honor the illustrious and stellar career of James E. Worsham, and I urge the swift passage of H.R. 3340.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for his comments and the colorful tale that he told us.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3340) to redesignate the facilities of the United States Postal Service located at 7715 and 7748 S. Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, as the ``James E. Worsham Post Office'' and the ``James E. Worsham Carrier Annex Building'', respectively, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3340.

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

Mr. Speaker on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I rise in support of H.R. 3340. This bill redesignates two postal facilities in Chicago, Illinois, as the James E. Worsham Post Office and the James E. Worsham Carrier Annex Building, respectively. My esteemed colleague, the gentleman from Chicago, Illinois, introduced this legislation and all members of the Illinois State Congressional delegation have cosponsored this bill. I share their support of H.R. 3340, and I urge all of my colleagues to likewise support this bill.

James Worsham was a native of Chicago and enjoyed an admired career as a letter carrier and a leader of a postal employees union. After bravely serving our Nation for 4 years, Worsham began his postal career as a letter carrier in 1963. He ultimately joined the National Association of Letter Carriers and he rose to the ranks of Branch President and National Trustee.

Today, we honor Mr. Worsham's sustained diligence within the postal community.

Mr. Speaker, again I urge support of H.R. 3340.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3340, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding me this time.

I am very pleased to join with my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush), who introduced this legislation to rename a post office formerly known as the Grand Crossing Post Office for Mr. James Worsham.

James Worsham is synonymous with development of the letter carriers union in the city of Chicago and in the State of Illinois. He has provided tremendous leadership to the extent that the Illinois Letter Carriers are actually one of the most effective organizations of letter carriers in America. As a matter of fact, the Chicago local has a bevy of activities in which they are constantly involved, not only in terms of protecting the rights and privileges of union members but also being greatly involved in civic, community, and public interest activity.

Mr. Worsham has been honored by his local union. As a matter of fact, they have actually renamed the union hall the James Worsham Union Hall, and now with redesignating these postal facility buildings. He had actually retired from local leadership, became a national employee of the union, and then came back and was petitioned by his members to run again after having been away from the union for a number of years in terms of local leadership.

So I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush), for having the foresight and understanding of how we recognize someone who has given practically all of their adult life to a movement. So I am pleased to join in support of this resolution. I urge its passage. I want to commend Mr. Worsham for an outstanding career as a postal worker, a union leader, and as a great American.