To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 410 Huston Street in Altamont, Kansas, as the "Myron V. George Post Office".

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3733) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 410 Huston Street in Altamont, Kansas, as the ``Myron V. George Post Office''.

Madam 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 the bill under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun), the sponsor of the bill, I rise in support of H.R. 3733 that designates this postal facility in Altamont, Kansas, as the ``Myron V. George Post Office.'' This is a well-deserved honor for Congressman Myron George, who, despite passing away more than 30 years ago, remains one of Kansas's favorite sons to this day.

Congressman George served four terms in the House representing the people of southeast Kansas.

His respected career in the Congress followed his service in the United States Army during World War I, and when he returned safely home from the war, he learned the printing trade on the staff of his father's newspaper, the Altamont Journal. George ultimately became the owner and the publisher of the Edna Sun in Edna, Kansas, and he published that newspaper for 17 years until 1941.

While he still owned the Edna Sun, Myron George became an officer with the Kansas State Highway Commission in 1939 and, as a result of his decade of work with the Commission, he was elected to the first of his four terms to the United States House of Representatives in 1950. During his tenure in the House, Congressman George was known for his modesty and effectiveness. His greatest achievement was using his experience on the Kansas Highway Commission to work with President Dwight Eisenhower to implement the Federal Interstate Highway System for which the Eisenhower administration was famous.

Madam Speaker, I strongly urge every Member of the House to support this legislation that honors Congressman Myron George, and I certainly congratulate the gentleman from Kansas for shepherding H.R. 3733 through the committee process. I look forward to hearing his words.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun).

Madam Speaker, I urge that all Members support the passage of H.R. 3733.

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

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise as the sponsor of H.R. 3733, a bill to honor the memory of former southeast Kansas Congressman and favored son, Myron George.

First of all, I want to thank the entire Kansas delegation for their cosponsorship and support of this bill. I also want to offer my thanks to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) for their efforts.

This proposal has widespread support throughout the Altamont and surrounding communities. I have received letters of support from the Labette County Board of Commissioners, the mayor and city council members of Altamont, as well as the owner of the post office building.

Born at the turn of the century, Congressman George grew up in Altamont, Kansas. He was a World War I veteran, stationed in Panama, and a newspaper publisher. George served as an officer of the local American Legion post, a member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a member of the local Methodist church.

In 1939, Congressman George turned to official public life. For over 10 years, he served on the Kansas State Highway Commission, followed by 8 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his time in Congress, his first priority was to provide excellent constituent services. Legislatively, he is best remembered for his continued efforts on behalf of transportation issues. He worked with another great Kansan, President Eisenhower, to develop and implement the Federal Interstate Highway System.

Congressman George also worked towards securing local funds for water projects. He helped establish an Army ROTC unit at Kansas State Teachers College, and he fought for continued operation of the Kansas Ordnance Plant in Parsons.

In 1959, Congressman George returned to southeast Kansas where he lived until his death in 1972.

Madam Speaker, renaming the Altamont Post Office in honor of Congressman George is a fitting reminder of his role and dedication to his community and to all Kansans. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

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.

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

I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 3733, legislation naming a postal facility in Altamont, Kansas after Myron George. This measure was introduced by the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun) on January 27, 2004 and unanimously reported by the Committee on Government Reform on February 26, 2004.

Myron Virgil George was born in Kansas in 1900 and attended grade school and high school in Altamont, Kansas. He served in the United States Army for 2 years before he learned the printing trade at the Altamont Journal.

After serving as an officer with the Kansas State Highway Commission for 11 years, Myron George ran for Congress in 1950 in a special election. He served in the United States Congress until 1959. He returned to his home State and engaged in public relations in the transportation and construction fields until his death in 1972.

Madam Speaker, I urge the swift adoption of H.R. 3733.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, March 16, 2004, I was unable to cast my floor vote on rollcall numbers 58, 59, and 60. The votes I missed include rollcall vote 58 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 551, Thanking C-SPAN for its service to the House of Representatives; rollcall vote 59 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3733, the Myron V. George Post Office Designation; and rollcall vote 60 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 433, Honoring the life and legacy of Luis A. Ferre.

Had I been present for the votes, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall votes 58, 59, and 60.