A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1475 Western Avenue, Suite 45, in Albany, New York, as the "Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office".

Mr. Speaker, I simply want to thank Senator Schumer, Senator Clinton, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), and all the members of the New York delegation, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, and all of those who worked so hard to bring this legislation to the floor today.

John Finn was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. He literally laid down his life for his friends. Mr. Speaker, we consider this bill today in memory of all of his service through the years to the Albany Police Department, and also for his wife, Maura, his children, Clara and Molly, and all of his fellow police officers and friends.

I ask all of my colleagues to approve this legislation as a small tribute to a true American hero, Lieutenant Finn.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time to comment on S. 2693, which designates the United States Post Office at 1475 Western Avenue in Albany, New York as the ``Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office.''

This bill was introduced by our former colleague, my good friend from New York, Senator Chuck Schumer.

I was pleased to introduce the House companion to this legislation, HR 5053, which passed the House unanimously on October 6th of this year.

I would also like to thank the gentleman from New York, Mr. Sweeney, for his steadfast support of this legislation and his leadership on issues of importance to the law enforcement community.

And I also thank Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings for his steadfast support for the entire Finn family.

Mr. Speaker, John Francis Finn was born in Port Jefferson on Long Island. He was the son of Bill and Mary Finn, and he was a great brother to Bill, Michael, Mary and Rose. He graduated from Smithtown High School, also on Long Island, and the University of Albany.

He joined the Albany Police Department on January 31, 1991. He had a 13-year career with the Albany Police Department with many diverse assignments. He completed them all with exemplary commitment, dedication, and compassion.

He was named a detective in the juvenile unit in 1993, promoted to sergeant in 1996, and promoted to lieutenant in 2001.

Mr. Speaker, on December 23, 2003, Lt. Finn responded to an armed robbery at a convenience store. Although he was wearing a protective vest, the suspect, armed with a semiautomatic weapon, struck Lt. Finn three times in the lower abdomen and leg.

Overe the next few weeks, John underwent numerous surgeries and received exceptional care at the Albany Medical Center.

He passed away 51 days later, on February 12th of this year, becoming the ninth member of the Albany Police Department to be killed in the line of duty.

Mr. Speaker, over 5,000 officers and mourners from around the northeastern United States attended the memorial service in February at the Pepsi Arena in Albany. The service recalled John's distinguished career and life of service and sacrifice. He had received two lifesaving awards from the Albany Police Department.

In 2000, the Kiwanis Club named him Officer of the Year, and the Albany County Youth Recognition Awards have been renamed in honor of Lt. Finn.

Governor Pataki named Lt. Finn Police Officer of the Year in 2003 and presented that award to Lt. Finn's wife, Maura McNulty-Finn, and to his two daughters, Clara and Molly.

Maura was the love of his life, and Clara and Molly were his pride and joy. He brought his daughters to work with him when he volunteered, as he frequently did.

He was also instrumental in creating the Children and Family Services Unit in the Albany Police Department.

Mr. Speaker, at John's memorial service, I quoted scripture in saying, ``No greater love can one man have than that he lay down his life for his friends.'' That is what John Finn did.

At this particular time, when we have many service personnel serving overseas, we are mindful of their sacrifice. We remember their service on a daily basis, as well we should.

We should always remember that had it not been for all the men and women who wore the uniform of the United States military, the rest of us would not have the privilege of going around bragging, as I often do, about how we live in the freest and most open democracy on the Earth. Freedom is not free. We paid a tremendous price for it.

I think we sometimes neglect to remember the sacrifices made by those protecting the homeland, who put themselves at risk every single day, just like John Finn did on December 23, 2003, when he gave his life for his friends.

So I am honored to be here today, Mr. Speaker, to recall John's life of service and sacrifice, to pay this small tribute to him, and to do what I know he would really like--to thank all police officers across the Nation who put their lives on the line for us every single day.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2693) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1475 Western Avenue, Suite 45, in Albany, New York, as the ``Lieutenant John F. Finn 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 S. 2693.

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

Mr. Speaker, this legislation designates the postal facility located at 1475 Western Avenue in Albany, New York, as the Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office.

Lieutenant John Finn, a 12-year veteran of the Albany Police Department, was shot three times while chasing a robbery suspect on December 23, 2003.

Amazingly, he endured in spite of his wounds for nearly 7 weeks, before sadly passing away on February 12 of this year.

Last month, on October 6, the House passed H.R. 5053, an identical bill that memorialized Lieutenant Finn's service and bravery to his grateful Nation. With passage of the Senate bill here today, the House can ensure that the Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office will soon be established in Albany.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty) for advancing H.R. 5053, and Senator Schumer of New York for shepherding today's bill, S. 2693, through both Chambers.

Lieutenant Finn and his family greatly deserve this honor, and I urge passage of this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I again urge support for passage of Senate 2693. We are blessed by the courageous service of individuals such as Lieutenant Finn who went into harm's way for the safety and security of all of us fellow citizens.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty), the sponsor of this legislation in the House of Representatives.

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 the consideration of S. 2693, legislation designating the postal facility in Albany, New York, after Lieutenant John F. Finn.

This measure, which was sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer, passed the Senate unanimously on October 10, 2004. S. 2693 is identical to H.R. 5053 which passed the House by a voice vote on October 6, 2004.

A 12-year veteran of the Albany, New York, Police Department, Lieutenant John F. Finn was shot while pursuing a robbery suspect. Sadly, Lieutenant Finn passed away last year from his wounds.

Mr. Speaker, we appreciate the enormous sacrifice paid by Lieutenant Finn for protecting his community. Therefore, I join with all of those who would seek to honor his life, his work and his memory and urge swift passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, 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 S. 2693, S. 2839, H.R. 5039, H.R. 4381, H.R. 4556, H.R. 4618, and H.R. 4632 en bloc, and that the Senate proceed to their immediate consideration, along with H.R. 4046, H.R. 5027, H.R. 5133, H.R. 5147, and H.R. 5051, which are at the desk, en bloc.

I would be happy to.

We will make that part of our unanimous consent request. And you might consider making it 10 minutes instead of 20 minutes, but you will have up to 20 minutes.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read a third time and passed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, and that any statements relating to the bills be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I am certainly not going to object, but will the majority leader yield for a minute?

I had intended to make a few remarks as in morning business when I thought we would be staying in session for several more days. I figured I had a lot of time to do it. I am certainly glad that the leaders have been able to work out an arrangement to the contrary. But I wonder if your wrap-up request could include allowing me to speak as in morning business, if the Senator from Nevada does not mind, for maybe 20 minutes. It will not take any longer than that.

I do not think there will be much time before the vote tomorrow.

Afterwards we are all going to be trying to catch planes, so I ask if I could have a few minutes.

I appreciate it.