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".

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 thank the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) particularly, and the leadership for their cooperation in bringing this bill to the floor as quickly as we have.

I too rise with great honor to support my bill, H.R. 4380, which will name the post office at 4737 Mile Stretch Drive in Holiday, Florida, the Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith Post Office. I cannot think of anything more fitting than to name the only post office in Holiday, Florida, after one of her bravest citizens, Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith. While Paul was many things to many people, he can be remembered best as a distinguished soldier and American hero and a great family man.

Paul was raised in Tampa, Florida, by a single mother who instilled the values of hard work and determination in Paul and his three siblings. Paul would later use these values in battle in Baghdad.

Paul attended the Tampa Vocational-Technical High School in 1989 and joined the U.S. Army following graduation. He served tours of duty in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War and during the Bosnia and Kosovo conflicts. Throughout his career, Sergeant Smith distinguished himself as a fine soldier. He was awarded five Army Commendation Medals, six Army Achievement Medals, a Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, a NATO Liberation Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, three Good Conduct Medals, a Sergeant Morales Club for his courageous actions during combat, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

His most valiant action as a soldier occurred on April 4, 2003, outside of Saddam International Airport in Baghdad. Sergeant Smith's unit, the Bravo Company of the Eleventh Engineer Battalion of the Third Infantry, was tasked with securing a prison for Iraqi prisoners of war at the Baghdad Airport, which had just been secured by American forces. Sergeant Smith immediately thought of the grassy courtyard he had seen that was encompassed by a tall stone wall and next to a tower that overlooked it.

He gave the orders to build a prison, not knowing that the tower and surrounding area was still occupied by members of the Iraqi Republican Guard. While Sergeant Smith and his men were working in the POW prison, they spotted members of the Republican Guard nearby. Paul called for a Bradley, which was at a nearby road block, and he prepared his men for engagement. Sergeant Smith took charge and led the effort while they waited for the Bradley, which would bring an intimidating fire force.

Even though Sergeant Smith and his men were outnumbered by more than two to one, they continued to fight back. Paul jumped on an Army vehicle and began firing a 50 caliber machine gun. He fired and reloaded and continued to fire. Sergeant Smith's determination and bravery gave him the strength to lead the fight until he was shot and killed.

Sergeant Paul Smith, Mr. Speaker, never wavered, he never questioned his decisions, and he never gave up. He fought the hard fight, and by doing so he saved the lives of all of his men and the more than 100 American soldiers in the surrounding area. For his efforts, Sergeant Smith has been nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor, the military's highest honor. As my colleagues know, the Medal of Honor is awarded in the name of Congress by the President of the United States. Only some 3,400 men and women who have distinguished themselves, as the famous words state, ``at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty,'' have received the Medal of Honor since its inception in 1861. The last action in which the Medal of Honor was awarded was in 1993 posthumously, to two soldiers who died fighting in Somalia. Sergeant Paul Smith's courage under pressure and his undying honor to protect the men under his guard make him the perfect candidate for the Medal of Honor.

While Sergeant Paul Smith epitomizes the phrase ``American hero'' and will not be forgotten because of his fearlessness and conviction, he will always be remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father, and a deserving son and brother. Not only did he leave his men in the battlefield that day, but he also left behind his wife, Birgit, and their children, Jessica and David; his mother and stepfather, Donald and Janice Rvirre, and two sisters and a brother. I hope they understand the importance of what Paul did that day and know that America thanks him and his family for the incredible sacrifice he made.

Mr. Speaker, for these many reasons, I believe that naming the Holiday, Florida, post office, which is just miles from where the Smith family now resides, after Paul is just one small way we as Americans can show our appreciation for the most precious sacrifice Paul made for us and generations to come.

Ronald Reagan once said, ``Freedom is never more than one generation

away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.''

Mr. Speaker, may Paul Ray Smith's memory be eternal, and may God bless the Smith family, and may God bless America.

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 my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4380, legislation designating the United States Postal Facility in Holiday, Florida, after Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith. This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) on May 18, 2004, was unanimously reported by our committee on July 8, 2004. The bill enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire Florida delegation.

When Paul Smith graduated in 1989 from Tampa Bay Vocational-Technical High School, he did what a lot of young men and women do: he joined the Army. Sergeant First Class Paul Smith served in the Army's Eleventh Engineer Battalion, Bravo Company from Fort Stewart's Third Infantry Division, Mechanized. His unit was assigned to build a compound for Iraqi prisoners of war near the captured Baghdad Airport. As a combat engineer, Smith was part of a group that built bridges for troops to cross to difficult areas and found and destroyed enemy weapons.

According to news accounts, it was during the early morning of April 4, 2003, when Sergeant First Class Smith and his combat engineers were working on setting up roadblocks on the highway between the old Saddam International Airport and Baghdad. His battalion was attacked after knocking down the gate to a Republican Guard complex. At that point, a small group of American soldiers was confronted with over 100 Iraqi fighters.

Sergeant First Class Smith, after looking after his wounded troops, jumped into a damaged tank and fired upon the Iraqis with 50 caliber bullets for an hour and a half. His unit credits him with killing 30 to 50 of the enemy. When the fighting was over, Sergeant First Class Paul Smith was found shot in the head, the only soldier of his unit to die that day.

For killing the enemy and defending his unit against attack, Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith has received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He has been nominated for the highest military honor: the Medal of Honor.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith in this manner. Sergeant First Class Smith was a loving husband and father, and now a hero. I urge swift passage of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4380) 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''.

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

General Leave

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. 4380 commemorates the incredible bravery and patriotism of Army Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith. On April 4 of 2003, Sergeant Smith of Holiday, Florida, was tragically killed in action in Operation Iraqi Freedom during a fierce fire fight near Baghdad.

Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Smith was a member of the Bravo Company, Eleventh Engineer Battalion of the Army's

Third Infantry Division. He enlisted after graduating from high school and served an accomplished 13-year career in the Army. Sergeant Smith served valiantly in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Shield, Kosovo, and Bosnia. He earned several military honors, including the Bronze Star as well as the Purple Heart.

Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Smith leaves behind a wife and two children in Holiday, Florida; and we pray and we hope that this post office designation will always remind them of the bravery and the love of their husband and father, Paul Ray Smith. Our entire Nation owes Sergeant Smith an incredible debt, and that is why I strongly urge the passage of H.R. 4380. I certainly thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for advancing this legislation that honors the courageous Sergeant Paul Ray Smith.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I would certainly urge all Members to support H.R. 4380, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4380, and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.