To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 695 Marconi Boulevard in Copiague, New York, as the "Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office".

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first begin by thanking the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis), the Gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) and all members of the Committee of Government Reform for reporting H.R. 3917 so promptly.

I also thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for managing debate on this bill that honors former Suffolk County Presiding Officer Maxine S. Postal, who died so tragically this past January after a courageous battle with the rare brain disorder Creutzfeld-Jakob.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Members to support H.R. 3917, a bill I introduced that designates the Copiague, New York post office as the Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office.

The speed this legislation moved through the House is a tribute to the great respect and admiration held for Maxine Postal. She was a good friend and wonderful public servant.

Maxine was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 24, 1942. She graduated from Brooklyn College, achieving a master's degree in fine arts.

For the past three decades, Maxine served her Long Island community with distinction and tireless dedication.

I had the honor of first knowing Maxine and working with her in 1987, when she became the first woman to represent the 15th Legislative District in Suffolk County.

Maxine achieved many legislative accomplishments, including efforts to protect the environment through recycling and preserving open space, ease the tax burden, ensure access to better health care and treatment, and work to revitalize and beautify community centers.

She never stopped fighting for the best interests of the people she represented, the working families of Suffolk County.

Maxine died on New Year's Day, a few weeks after being diagnosed with Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease. CJD is an extremely rare brain disorder, affecting only one person in a million.

Maxine was diagnosed with the sporadic form, which is not associated with contaminated beef like the variant form. In most cases, CJD causes the rapid development of neurological and neuro-muscular symptoms and often proves fatal in less than a year after the disorder becomes apparent.

To those of us who knew Maxine, we will remember her bravery and courageous battle against this fatal disease.

We will continue to miss her, but will always be inspired by her leadership. She had an unparalleled ability to stand firmly on principle while bringing diverse views together in bipartisan coalitions that moved Suffolk County forward.

Franky, not just Suffolk Country but New York and our country could use more elected officials like Maxine Postal. She is a model of what a public servant can and should be.

The Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office will serve as a lasting tribute to her many years of public service and her invaluable impact on Suffolk County. So that years from now, a new generation of Long Islanders will cherish her service and honor her memory.

She was an extraordinary New Yorker, a proud American and a vital member of our community.

I ask for my colleagues' unanimous support of H.R. 3917 in honor of Maxine S. Postal's bravery and outstanding accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3917) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 695 Marconi Boulevard in Copiague, New York, as the ``Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office''.

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 the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3917, introduced by the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel), designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 695 Marconi Boulevard in Copiague, New York, as the ``Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office Building.''

Since first being elected in 1987, Maxine Postal was an esteemed member of the Suffolk County Legislature in New York. There is little question that she was an effective public servant and respected across political party lines. Her hallmarks in the legislature included fighting for tax relief, promoting community recycling programs, and revitalizing area recreation centers for citizens of Suffolk County.

Outside of her work in the legislature, her community contributions included serving as treasurer of the Amityville Board of Education and founding a library and a local soccer league.

Mr. Speaker, one cannot capture the worth of a local leader like Maxine Postal in a mere list of accomplishments. That is why I am pleased that enactment of this legislation will immortalize her legacy by naming a post office after her in the town she represented in the county legislature.

Mr. Speaker, Maxine Postal sadly passed away on New Year's Day, 2004, succumbing to a rare brain disorder known as CJD. She had announced her resignation from the legislature just days before she died. Maxine Postal was a valued public servant who is most deserving of this post office commemoration.

I thank the gentleman from New York for advancing this legislation through the Committee on Government Reform to the House floor for consideration today. I urge all Members to support H.R. 3917 that honors Maxine Postal.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3917. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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 with my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 3917, legislation naming a postal facility in Copiague, New York, after Maxine Postal. This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) on March 9, 2004, and unanimously reported by our committee on March 18, 2004, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire New York delegation.

Maxine Postal was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1942. She grew up in Brooklyn, was educated in Brooklyn, and taught school in Brooklyn. In 1968, she opened the Busy Bee Nursery School and Kindergarten in Brooklyn, New York. Mrs. Postal used her vast teaching experience and expertise to serve as president of the Hauppauge Library Board and later as president of the Amityville Board of Education.

In the late 1980s, Mrs. Postal was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature where she served for 15 years until her death of Creutzfeldt-Jakob, a rare brain disorder, on New Year's Day at a hospice on West Palm Beach, Florida.

While an active member of the county legislature, Mrs. Postal was a liberal Democrat, I like that, dedicated to improving the lives of those in her community. She was a tireless advocate for the homeless, the downtrodden, and the poor, using her position on the social services committee to better living

conditions for those living on the streets. She was a woman of the people who fought for everyone and championed the rights of all to live free from discrimination and oppression.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join the sponsor in honoring the life of Maxine Postal and pleased that we are seeking to remember her good works, her good deeds, her advocacy for the poor, the downtrodden, those who are oftentimes forgotten. So it is my pleasure to urge swift passage of this resolution.

I know that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) had wanted to be present but could not make it, and I wanted to indicate that so that, as sponsor of this legislation, his name is listed in the Record as individuals pick up the Congressional Record and see or read the proceedings.

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.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday my original flight from my congressional district in North Carolina was canceled, forcing me to take a later flight. Therefore I was unavoidably detained and missed the following three votes: passage of H.R. 2584; passage of H.R. 3723; and passage of H.R. 3917.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes'' on each of these rollcall votes. I ask unanimous consent that this statement be recorded in the appropriate place in the Congressional Record.