To redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7 Commercial Boulevard in Middletown, Rhode Island, as the "Rhode Island Veterans Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for allowing me this time. I also want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon), for also acknowledging me and recognizing this piece of legislation, and also my friend, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kennedy) from the other side of the aisle for being here as well.

As the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon) mentioned, there are over 100,000 veterans living in my State of Rhode Island; and we are proud to support a few veterans from World War I and almost 40,000 from World War II. Rhode Island has close to 30,000 from Vietnam and roughly 20,000 from the Korean War. And more recently, Rhode Island is home to 4,000 veterans from the Persian Gulf War. Just a few weeks ago, 300 soldiers from Rhode Island's Military Police returned from Iraq.

These men and women come from different backgrounds and they live in different cities and towns and many of them are still working and also many of them are retired. But the one thing that they have in common is they have fought for this country to preserve the freedom of our Nation. They have all put their lives on the line in the name of democracy, and if they were not standing post in the front lines, they signed up and they could well have been put on the front lines. So all veterans, whether serving stateside or overseas, deserve our recognition.

Our Nation's veterans have answered the call to duty and have served our country in times of greatest need.

During my time in Congress I have had the honor to meet with several of Rhode Island's veterans, and I discovered that every time I sit down with one of them, I hear another fascinating story. Like Ray's story, a World War II veteran living in Lincoln, Rhode Island. He was the only man from an 11-member crew to survive. He remembers falling from the plane and landing in his parachute in a group of trees on a snowy mountainside, but he does not remember anything after that. Next

thing he knew he was in a German prisoner of war camp.

Sixty years later he comes back to Czechoslovakia to return to the place in Europe where he had been shot down. When he arrived not only was he welcomed by the mayor but he was given a key to the city, and all the local townsfolk held a big parade on his behalf, in addition to all wanting his autograph and wanting his picture.

It was during this trip, 60 years later, that he learned how he survived. He learned from the villagers how they had found and taken him to a nearby facility for treatment. They discussed how they were going to hide him. At that point, the German authorities were already on their way and they were able to apprehend him.

After 60 years someone from the town handed Ray the gloves that were on his hands 60 years before when he had parachuted to safety and then later on put in the prisoner of war camp.

As we can imagine, there are many stories like this that are all too frequent for those who occupy the VFW posts and American Legions and all of those places where our veterans congregate.

One of those places that all people congregate are the post offices, and that is why for millions of Americans who are not familiar in their daily lives with the sacrifices of our Nation's veterans, when they go into the post office, they are going to have to see once again that they owe everything in their lives to our Nation's veterans, and that is why I believe that our local post office back at home in Rhode Island is a perfect memorial to celebrate our veterans in Middletown and in Newport. Newport is one of the great homes of our Nation's Navy, and I know it will be appreciated by all of those who have served our country in uniform to be able to see that their post office is named for their fellow veterans.

We have wonderful memorials here in Washington, D.C. and, thanks to this legislation, we are going to have a wonderful memorial in our own backyard.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3942) to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7 Commercial Boulevard in Middletown, Rhode Island, as the ``Rhode Island Veterans 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 and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I rise in support of H.R. 3942. This legislation redesignates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 7 Commercial Boulevard in Middletown, Rhode Island, as the Rhode Island Veterans Post Office Building.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation's Armed Forces are comprised of dedicated, skilled, and courageous individuals from all 50 States and every territory. Today, I am pleased to take time along with my colleagues to honor those who have served our Nation from the State of Rhode Island.

According to the 2000 census data, over 102,000 veterans live in Rhode Island, comprising 13 percent of the adult population of the State. This post office designation in Middletown is intended as a tribute to those 102,000 Rhode Islanders.

As we all know, U.S. military men and women remain engaged today in the war on terror in faraway places like Afghanistan and Iraq. Here at home we can never give too much back to our brave active duty personnel or our veterans to whom we owe our Nation's freedom. That is why I am pleased that the House is considering H.R. 3942 today. I ask all Members to support its swift passage.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy) for his work to honor our Nation's military service veterans from the great State of Rhode Island.

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

Mr. Speaker, I support the passage of H.R. 3942.

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 such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy), who is also the sponsor of this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join with my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 3942, legislation naming the postal facility in Middletown, Rhode Island, after Rhode Island veterans.

This measure which was introduced by the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy) on March 11, 2004, and unanimously reported by our committee on April 1, 2004, enjoys the support and co-sponsorship of the entire Rhode Island delegation.

Beginning with World War I through the Persian Gulf War, veteran Rhode Islanders from the First Congressional District in Rhode Island have bravely defended this great Nation from the great World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Persian War. There are over 45,000 veterans living in the First District. Statewide over 93,000 men and women have returned home to Rhode Island after serving in the military.

Designating the post office in Middletown, Rhode Island is an excellent way to honor Rhode Island veterans for their service to our country and to remember the enormous sacrifice the soldiers and their families have made and continue to make.

To the veterans of America, for your unselfish service and devotion to our country and your unwavering defense of our freedom, we thank you. I also want to commend the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy) for introducing this legislation. I urge its swift passage.

Mr. Speaker, 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. President, I am pleased that the Senate passed legislation, H.R. 3942, earlier this month to redesignate the U.S. Post Office in Middletown the ``Rhode Island Veterans Post Office Building,'' and I thank Congressman Patrick Kennedy for introducing this important legislation in the House of Representatives. I recognize the important contributions and sacrifices that our military veterans have made for our country. The celebration of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion at Normandy this month again highlighted the great sacrifices that our brave soldiers have made, and continue to make today in Afghanistan, Iraq and throughout the world. I am proud to support naming the U.S. Post Office in Middletown in their honor.